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- Tuesday, May 21, 2013 DAWSONVILLE, GA
Archive By Section - Opinion: Letters/Columns
Advocates present case for charter amendment
Rep. Edward Lindsey, R-Atlanta, majority whip of the Georgia House of Representatives asked me if I would talk to the proponents of the upcoming constitutional amendment on charter schools and get their side of the story. This was after Lindsey and I had publicly crossed swords over the issue.
Valuator useful to clarify opinions
I got called a "liberal" the other day by a reader in Cherokee County who doesn't think much of my opinions and suggested "Someone should retire his word processor." My word processor, Barney, was elated at the thought. Barney hates this job. When I brought Barney home, it was with the promise that he and I would create poetry. I was afraid to tell him the truth about writing snarky columns because I figured he ...
Wait times for Georgia driver’s licenses improving
On July 3, 2012, the Georgia Department of Driver's Services (DDS) enacted a secure ID program to enhance the integrity and security of your Georgia driver's license or identification card. In order to ensure that your renewal or application process runs smoothly, I would like to discuss how these changes will affect you - the constituents of the 51st Senate District.
Some ‘gleanings’ that are good anytime
With summer winding down, with school and football (How about those Tigers?) reving up, with the Republican National Convention and the Democratic National Convention energizing the political scene, it's time to leave commenting on the contemporary to experts. Instead, let's relax with some quotations I have taken from various sources.
Skeeter Skates weighs in on Middle East
I was in the middle of preparing a Power Point presentation for you on why House Speaker David Ralston, R-Blue Ridge, needs a campaign war chest of $356,415.19 to run unopposed for reelection in his district. The neat part was going to be explaining the $1,000 campaign contribution from the American Kennel Club, located in New York. You will be interested to know The American Goat Association, located in Pipe Creek, Texas, did not contribute ...
Reflections from a rocking chair
Actually, it's a recliner, but "rocking chair" creates the image of a retired senior, which I have been for many years. After returning from Linda Williams' memorial service a few weeks ago, I was reflecting on the wonderful service that Linda gave to Dawson County during her 16 years with the Dawson County Chamber of Commerce, and realizing, sadly, that she had no time at all to enjoy her retirement.
Perfect steak tartare
Technically we were not to be where we were. There was a corporate policy about driving through dangerous jungles after sundown. It was an ivory tower policy, but we were now nearly lost as we worked our 4x4 along a muddy, red clay slop of a path in the western rain forest of Suriname. We figured senior management wouldn't even try to find us out here.
Parents best for local control of charter schools
A controversial 4-3 Georgia Supreme Court decision in May 2011 is jeopardizing Georgia's ability to establish statewide K-12 public education policy. The decision narrowed the state's general ability to authorize public charter schools. Since the end of the 2012 Session of the General Assembly, I have discussed HR 1162 and HB 797 with many constituents. More recently, GAE and PAGE have increased their objections to the "Charter School Amendment" and its enabling legislation, to the ...
Amendment debate gets ugly quick
I knew it was going to get ugly, but I didn't know it would get this bad this quickly. I am talking about the constitutional amendment on charter schools to be voted on in November that asks, "Shall the Constitution of Georgia be amended to allow state or local approval of public charter schools upon the request of local communities?" Dr. John Barge, Georgia state school superintendent, opposes the amendment. House Majority Whip Edward Lindsey, ...
Contact legislators, EPD about sludge spreading
Sen. Steve Gooch opened his talk at the Tea Party meeting Aug. 14 by referring to two words that he heard from his preacher "which seemed to speak directly to" him in church the prior Sunday - "Stewardship and Responsibility." Perhaps we need to get hold of that sermon and share it with the Georgia Environmental Protection Division, or EPD, and all our state legislators, to help them understand the role they play in the ...
Speaker may propose full ban on gifts
Are you sitting down, dear reader? House Speaker David Ralston, R-Blue Ridge, has announced that he will propose a full ban on gifts from lizard-loafered lobbyists in the next session. Before you fall over in a dead faint, let me remind you that politicians are crafty sorts. They excel at saying one thing and doing another - "another" being whatever is in their self-interest. That is why we need to wait and see if the ...
Reflecting on the election
Now that the dust has settled from our recent Dawson County election, I would like to offer some reflections on the various candidates' campaigns - reflections on the good, the bad and the ugly campaign tactics and strategies. The good: We were most impressed by three candidates who cared enough to walk in the sweltering heat and knock on our door and share their thoughts and vision with us.
Support for Chip Rogers raises doubts
What in the world was State School Superintendent John Barge thinking when he endorsed the reelection campaign of State Sen. Majority Leader Chip Rogers, R-Woodstock? Chip Rogers, in case you are not aware, is not exactly public education's best friend. Rogers talks about education "being in his blood" and then proceeds to bleed public schools by promoting a variety of schemes, including school vouchers, virtual schools and pushing the state to take control of the ...
Chivalry is still alive in Dawson County
I wanted to let everyone know that chivalry is still alive and well in Dawson County. I went to the post office last week and as I got in my car to leave, my car would not start.
Watching games 16 years after Atlanta
Hard to believe, but it has been 16 years since the Olympic Games were held in our state. As I watch the festivities in London, I remembered the phone calls I had received over the past year from media members in Great Britain, asking me if I had any thoughts on what was going to happen when the Games began in London.
Articles by Section - Opinion: Letters/Columns
Knocking down the silos
I stood on an oil rig miles off the coast of Africa as the final pipe joints were pulled from a just completed well. The mood was somber because we had not found oil. The following week I sat in an uncomfortable meeting where our corporate vice president declared my efforts had resulted in the driest well in years. Back in my office overlooking the beautiful San Francisco hills I pondered what to do next with the project.
Skeeter not impressed with reform
When the phone rang, I knew who was on the other end: Skeeter Skates, owner of Skeeter's Tree Stump Removal and Plow Repair in Greater Metropolitan Pooler. I can't tell you exactly why but the phone always sounds more urgent when Skeeter calls. One thing about Skeeter Skates. He gets right to the point. Niceties aren't his style.
The final countdown
In January, the Georgia State Senate started the first term of the 152nd legislative session of the Georgia General Assembly with a challenging task list. We were asked to find a way to fill a large anticipated Medicaid shortfall, evaluate the ethical behavior of elected officials, do more with less in the state budget, revamp the state's juvenile justice system, clarify points from 2012's tax code overhaul and find ways to expand access to higher ...
Some more learnings to share
In my last column, I shared some observations about current happenings and promised some more. So here they are. As Christians observed Holy Week leading to Easter, one of the emphases has been on service and sacrifice.
Honoring District 51
One of the best parts about serving in the Georgia State Senate is the ability to honor groups and individuals in the Senate chamber. I am proud to represent District 51 at the State Capitol, and I am even more proud of the efforts that keep our district one of the best places to work and raise a family in Georgia. While the work we do in the Senate is great, it pales in comparison to the way each of you represents the pride and labors of our communities.
Some things I have been learning
It is IRS time and I've been putting together information to take to the CPS who has figured Taylor taxes for decades (one thing I have not completely learned). Surprisingly, I admit my gratitude that, even with a limited income, I usually must pay some extra dollars. That means that I have had money to live well enough and have something left. Fortunately, I don't have huge medical bills or credit interest payments and I ...
From the mountains to the ocean
It is a theological fact that God really likes Georgia. That is why He put mountains in north Georgia and the Golden Isles smack up against the Atlantic Ocean and added a bunch of lakes and parks and historical sites in between. Otherwise, we could have been Iran. Or Detroit. I stopped by last week to visit the man who is entrusted with these assets, Commissioner of the Department of Natural Resources Mark Williams, to ...
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