Gonzo Lawmakers - Day 24

A daily recap of the Georgia Public Broadcasting show "Lawmakers". The show airs weekdays at 7:00pm with a replay at 5:30am the following weekday.

Day 24

* We must speak of the budget, precious. No, no. We must speak of the budget, precious. Not listening, not listening!

* It's Friday! That's means PROJECT TOM CRAWFORD!

* Governor Perdue announced the revenue figures and it ain't good. First, we're going to take some of the stimulating from the 2011 budget and move it back into the 2010 budget. He also is dropping his "bed tax" on hospitals but to make up for that one, he wants to remove the sales tax exemption on non-profit hospitals. That's huge.

* He says there's too much "don't cut us, cut them". He's getting pretty harsh with the hospital lobby.

* The Democrats are pounding on the leadership about cuts in education and the furloughs. Good politics but given the shortfalls, far from realism. They want to "invest in education" but the only method they have for funding it is catching the "cheats". In other words, they think there is a pot of gold under the couch cushions.

* Calvin Smyre wants to do away with tax exemptions but doesn't say which ones. That is the trick isn't it?

* Chip Rogers pet property tax bill passed the Senate. He's using an example of someone who bought a house for $13,000 but was appraised at over $100k. He puts forth that someone who can afford such a cheap hovel certainly couldn't afford the taxes. He's right. Which is why I guarantee it wouldn't be an individual buying it. It would be a developer. But we are talking politics here. Why confuse things with honesty?

* Today's show is depressing.

* Less paper - more internet reports. Good thing they thought of this now. Lord knows, we needed the last 15 years to prove that whole internet thing isn't just a fad.

* Rep. Mike Jacobs bullying bill got tabled. That means it probably won't surface again this session. No protection for Jacobs from bitter Young Democrats.

* Scowling House clerks! The streak continues!

* Senate Transportation Committee. That means Valarie at Hogwarts. DOT board members will get shorter terms. Not so secret dirty secret, the Leg can't stand the Board's independence. They will chip away at their power however possible.

* PROJECT TOM CRAWFORD! Tom! You actually look quite sharp today! Still a striped tie, but it goes well with the pale blue shirt and charcoal jacket. We're approaching small town funeral director again, but, lord knows, it's a big improvement over the recent 70's sugar daddy looks.

* Milton County is back! Fulton absorbed the then rural county back in the 20s but now it wants to break away again. Rep. Jan Jones, the new Speaker Pro Tem, is pushing this one. It's going to be a nasty fight because of all the goopy usual mess - race, the Constitution, MARTA funding, taxes. What a mess. The big bears here are the liabilities for Grady and MARTA.

* Rep. Wendell Willard (R-Sandy Springs) is saying Miton would still pay for MARTA. It's a geographical thing plus there is a MARTA station in Sandy Springs. An interesting note, the Sandy Springs area was not part of the original Milton. So why do the upstarts want it? Pretty simple. Cold hard cash. It along with its neighbors Alpharetta, Johns Creek and the city of Milton are some of the wealthiest in the state.

* Speaker Ralston and Lt. Guv Casey Cagle got to play with some new medical devices. It's a teleconferencing deal. They are poking and prodding two of the most powerful men in the state. Feel free to makes your own jokes. Bonus points for a shot at Glenn Richardson.

* Lawmakers Flashback! Apparently it's the only reason some people tune in. Not sure I would have said that. And it's a gun bill! Yeehaw! 1994 is the year and we're discussing background checks. Some Rep is holding up a street sweeper in the chamber. That's quite a prop. Denmark Groover is talking about something called the "catfish substitute". It's an old country boy round about way of saying he's goina gut it.

* Lawmakers was honored in the House today! Nwandi got to stand up on the Speaker's dais along with Executive Producer Ashlie Lewis. How exciting! They got in a plug. Including the internet broadcast. Give a teevee person a mic and they will plug away!

* Ricky Bevington and her BOOK OF DOOM! Oh, it's good news. Robins AFB is hiring 500 people.I wonder if that came from the stimulating. Ricky got her stories mixed up. Probably because she's giving good news.

* Chief Justice Carol Hunstein is giving her first State of the Judiciary on Tuesday. Leah Sears speeches were always appointment teevee. We'll just have to wait and see how the new robe on the block delivers because for now, that's a wrap!