The AJC reports that today SB 66, the bill that requires a women seeking an abortion to have an ultrasound, cleared the senate committee chaired by Sen. Don Thomas, who curtailed debate on the language and details of the legislation, complaining that he had a plane to catch. Women's health is less important to him than his travel plans. At least we know where we stand.
This is an awful bill that serves no medical purpose whatsoever. The purpose of this legislation is to inflict emotional pain on women who choose to have an abortion. Consider (this is where the snakes come in) that three of the Senators: Sen. David Shafer (R-Duluth), Sen. Don Balfour (R-Snellville), and Sen. Judson Hill (R-Marietta) actually opposed an amendment that would have exempted victims of rape and incest from the requirement. They're a fine lot, aren't they? For their sake, I hope that no girl or women they care about (the assumption that they care about any female is a reach) is ever a victim of sexual violence.
Thursday, February 15, 2007
Snakes and a Plane
For the Record
Congressman Marshall's plan to vote no on the war resolution falls in the category of the 50% of his decisions I disagree with. I would like to tell you that I am surprised by his choice, but I am not. I don't agree with this, but in the past, I have heard him make the case that you don't criticize and analyze a war while you are in it because it is demoralizing to the troops. I don't know how you get the cart out of the ditch unless you acknowledge that it is, indeed, no longer on the road. I think that his resolve on this issue is related to his military service and background, not his political ambition. I think that he really believes that he is doing the right thing by not opposing the Commander in Cheif while we are at war. I could not disagree more.
Sphere: Related ContentWednesday, February 14, 2007
Edwards Tonight on "Larry King Live"
Tonight at 9 pm, John Edwards will be Larry King's guest tonight and will discuss his plan for drawing down troops in Iraq. One of the things I like about Edwards is that he not only has a vision for where the country needs to go, he has concrete plans to get us there. That appeals to me. If you agree that it is time for a genuine exit strategy, then Sen. Edwards suggests that you call the Capitol Switchboard at (202) 224-3121 and say so.
Here are the four planks of his plan to get us out of Iraq:
1. Stop the escalation and force an immediate withdrawal by using funding caps to restrict the total number of troops in Iraq to 100,000, which would require an immediate draw-down of 40,000-50,000 combat troops without stranding or underfunding a single soldier still in Iraq. Any troops beyond the 100,000 level should be redeployed immediately.
2. Block the deployment of troops that do not meet readiness standards and that have not been properly trained and equipped. American Tax dollars must be used to prepare and supply our troops, not escalate the war. It is simply wrong to send our troops into harm's way without all the training and equipment they need.
3. Make it clear that President Bush is conducting this war without authorization. The 2002 authorization did not give Bush the power to use U.S. troops to police a civil war. President Bush exceeded his authority long ago. He now needs to end the war and ask Congress for new authority to manage the withdrawal of the U.S. military presence and to help Iraq achieve stability.
4. Require a complete withdrawal of combat troops in Iraq within the next 12-18 months without leaving behind any permanent U.S. military bases in Iraq.
Incredible Bigotry
The routine Telegraph column on the actions of Planning and Zoning is seldom interesting reading, but today the headline, "Church Permit Plan in North Bibb Draws Fire" caught my attention. Seems that some property owners oppose the proposed church because this is an area with significant commercial potential. The church being there would limit retail options, especially for establishments selling alcohol. The irony of folks in North Bibb (Cecil Staton country) opposing a church so that they can make more money by selling to establishments that can sell alcohol is fodder for another post, but today it is the statement of the current property owner that demands attention:
Here's what the property owner, Frank Perez, had to say:
Frank Perez, owner of the Gateway Drive property, said if the church isn't allowed, "I have a back-up contract for a Hispanic gay club."(The Telegraph, 2/14/2007)
The bigotry captured in that statement is sickening. Here's a guy advocating for a church to be built, yet he exhibits this kind of hate. If the church has an ounce of compassion, if they profess to follow Jesus in any fashion, they ought to publicly condemn this statement and withdraw from negotiations to purchase the property from this man.
Dames Aflame
Harvard University named historian Drew Gilpin Faust as its first female president Sunday. The announcement ended the search for a successor to Lawrence Summers, whose remarks on genetic differences between the sexes sparked controversy. Faust discusses her new role with Jim Lehrer.
In media interviews over the weekend, Faust shared the advice her mother gave her long ago: "'this is a man's world, sweetie, and the sooner you learn that, the better off you'll be." Faust explained that her mom's advice was perhaps "a bitter comment from a woman of a generation who didn't have the kind of choices my generation of women had."
Tuesday, February 13, 2007
Marshall: Best Bet for Senate
Of the names that are currently being tossed about, Rep. Jim Marshall is our best bet to win the U.S. Senate seat currently held by Saxby Chambliss. Marshall is a conservative Democrat who won in a district where Bush polled at 61% in 2004. (In Georgia, Bush polled at 58%, so Georgia is actually "less" Republican than Marshall's district.) Sure, in the district, he had the advantage of incumbency, but his district had been re-drawn, and he was an unknown quantity in portions of the new district. Sure, it would be a risk for Marshall to run, and I can understand why House Democrats might he hesitant, but I think that it's worth the risk. Despite what my friend Jami Gaudet told Politico, there is no possibility that Jack Ellis could win a Democratic primary for that congressional seat. We can field a viable Democratic candidate, and frankly, if it came down to it, I'd trade a seat in the House for a Senate seat any day of the week.
The bottom line? If Marshall is inclined to run, I think he can win. He has a very smart, effective campaign staff. He can raise the money quickly. He has legislative experience, and most important, the experience of surviving three very hard-hitting campaigns. He is battle tested, both literally and politically. I hope he runs.
It's Time to End This
Today, in committee, the Macon City Council will once again take up the hotel issue. They are set to vote on whether to extend, for 90 days, the MOU that has lapsed. Recently, the Bibb County Commission failed to get a second on the motion to sign off on the funding (and the lengthy tax abatement). I am not sure what can happen in 90 days that would change the minds of the County Commission and School Board. I know that the School Board never voted on the issue, but I'm betting that they would've had concerns similar to the County Commission.
Rule of Thumb: If Charlie Bishop and Joe Allen agree, the deal has got to be bad.
Too much water is under the bridge on this one. We need to go back to the drawing board and try to get more of what we really want rather than settling for what we think we have to accept. This deal is going no where. Time to call it a day and move on.
Call committee members DeFore, Ficklin and Hill-Chambliss. Now. Tell them to kill this in committee. Today.
Policy Meat or Prime Cut Leadership
Ariana penned this post on Barack and the media that caught my eye this morning. Her premise is that mainstream media attempts to minimalize popular candidates by asking for more details on the plans. Her response (and Barack's) is that real leadership is what is needed not more white papers that can't get implemented in a void of leadership.
What do you think? Which is more important for the next Presidential candidate--better policy papers or leadership?
It's Not Over
The "historic" day for Bibb County will just have to wait a bit. The hearing in Federal Court lasted all day, and on Friday and today, more than six hundred letters regarding the deseg order were delivered to the court. Judge Fitzpatrick gave counsel three weeks to review the letters to determine whether they wish to file any other motions as a result.
One thing does need some clarity, however. It is a commonly held but incorrect idea that the Bibb County Public Schools have asked the court to declare them a unitary system. I even heard a reporter make that statement on the news tonight. That's just wrong. This lawsuit was brought by parents, not by the BOE. The school board has not, to my knowledge, taken an official, public position on the issue.
Monday, February 12, 2007
Ponder to Announce for Macon Mayor
On Valentine's Day, Macon City Council President Anita Ponder will be announcing her candidacy for Mayor of Macon. The email I received tonight was headlined with the logo, "Ponder the Possibilities." I understand that there will some significant star-power at the event, including Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin.
First, a disclaimer. I have not yet, and do not intend to take sides in the Mayor's race. I do not live in the City, and do not get to vote in the race. I have several friends who are running simply wish all of them well. That said, I think that Ponder has a good shot at becoming Macon's next mayor. I know all the issues. None of the candidates are perfect. I think that there will be a runoff in the democratic primary, and if she makes it to the runoff, given the demographics of the City, I think that she just might take the whole thing. It will be interesting to watch this one as just an observer.
Standing Room Only Today in Federal Court
Today is an historic day in Bibb County. If everything goes as expected, Judge Fitzpatrick will lift the federal desegregation order and declare the Bibb County Public Schools "unitary." The hearing began at 10 o'clock this morning, and at noon it had not concluded. There was standing room only in the courtroom.
People who have lived in Bibb County very long know that in so many of our efforts-political, religious, and civic-the issue of race and discrimination rears its head. Well-intentioned people have wrestled with the issues and tried to build bridges, but we still see the impact, in not so subtle ways. We see it big issues, like when we try to address the issue of consolidation of city and county government. For instance, people who I consider to be friends have referred to the Mayor's position as a "black" post and the County Commission Chair's position as a "white" post. Such attributions lie close to the root of the problem. We see it in small issues, like the reflexive "Macon and Bibb County" phrase that is commonly used to describe the area. One thing is certain, whatever happens today in Federal Court, the issues of race and discrimination will remain a powerful undertone in this community-one that commands our attention and best efforts toward understanding.
Runge Not Working for Edwards
I got a call from Emil Runge a few minutes ago. He is not and was not as we posted last week, in fact, working for the Edwards for President Campaign and does not know where Creative Loafing got that story. Runge said that no one had contacted him about it. See, you just can't trust what you find in the mainstream press...
Emil is still one of my favorite people, and I am sure that he will be successful in whatever new venture he undertakes. Sorry for repeating the rumor here!
Sunday, February 11, 2007
Childbirth Creates Education Experts
Hallelujah! The Georgia General Assembly has stumbled on the solution to the education crisis in our state. Staggering dropout rates, scarce resources, bottom-of-the-barrel SAT scores and all other ills that plague Georgia schools will be resolved if only we put parents in charge. Professional training and schooling are not necessary to become an expert on education. Either election to the General Assembly or childbirth, both equally painful, will do the trick.
Just ask Georgia Republicans. This year, the common thread through several controversial bills is that when Republicans say "local control", they're not talking about locally elected boards of education, or even the teacher in the classroom. They're talking about parents. Speaker Richardson made that perfectly clear last session when he chastised members of GPTA as they packed the gallery in opposition to the 65% Deception. Maybe if they'd just been "GPA" he would've been a bit more hospitable. The nasty little secret Republicans don't want to tell you is that all of this has nothing at all to do with making our schools more successful. If they cared about that they would fully fund public schools. The real agenda is shifting public funds to the private sector thus splintering and dis-empowering a powerful voting block-educators and public school advocates-with whom they are often at odds. This is all about the Political Prime Directive: Re-Election.
The bills that limit the power and authority of locally elected boards of education, superintendents and other professional educators abound. For starters, HR 1 and HB 14, sponsored by Clay Cox (you will see his name again) calls for a constitutional amendment (HR1) or new law (HB 14) to allow local school superintendents to be elected rather than appointed. Why stop there, Rep. Cox? Let's also elect Medical Directors for local hospitals.
And how about Rep. Chuck Martin's brilliant idea to reduce the required number of school days from 180 to 170. That's what HB 262 would do. Apparently, families need more time to be together and "a shorter school calendar would give students who struggle with their studies more time for tutoring and summer school. It would also allow those who have a hard time focusing in the classroom to spend more time on homework and studying at home." Magic. Students will learn more by spending less time at school. Don't worry, you are not alone. Editorial boards around the state have failed to see the logic, too.
In a particularly petty and transparent attempt to teach his own unruly school superintendent in his home county of Gwinnett a lesson, Rep. Clay Cox (I told you that you would see his name again) has also sponsored HB13, a bill that takes the power to set a local superintendent's salary out of the hands of local boards of education. You see, Gwinnett Superintendent Wilbanks was a vocal opponent of last year's 65% Deception and also made the mistake of supporting Cox's opposition during the last election cycle. Tell you what, Rep. Cox, how about giving voters the authority to decide what your salary and compensation should be for your part time job as a legislator?
Of course, the two bills that have gotten the most attention are SB10, the voucher bill for children with disabilities and SB 39, the Charter Systems bill. As both of these bills head for the Georgia House, remember that both re-distribute your tax dollars to the private sector with little oversight or control by anyone you elected. Apparently, for this Republican-led legislature, increased accountability is a necessity for professional educators, but, for parents and the private sector, it is but a nuisance. As is often the case with "education reform" these bills are sound-bite friendly but severely lacking in data to support the effectiveness of the proposed strategies. They have an air of "truthiness", if you will.
The real truth is that education is more science than art. No doubt, parents are critical partners in the fight to more effectively educate children. They are the experts on their children, but professional educators are the experts on education. And politicians? Generally, they're just experts on getting re-elected.
Saturday, February 10, 2007
Not One Dime Until the Children are Covered
According to the AJC, Speaker Richardson's plan to solve the PeachCare crisis is to eliminate 30,000 or more children from the PeachCare rolls by tightening the household income ceiling to 200% of poverty. I have a better idea. How about before we start kicking kids off PeachCare, we require all state legislators and constitutional officers to pay the full cost of their health insurance? I jest. Only a little. The reality is that we have to decide, on a local, state and national level what our funding priorities are. Do we want to fund "Go Fish" or children's healthcare? Do we want to fund cyber-security or children's healthcare? What are our priorities? If I told you that my household budget would not allow me to pay for medical care for my children, yet I chose to spend money to take them fishing or buy a computer, what would you think? This is the same issue on a different scale.
We have to remember that eliminating coverage will not eliminate need and will not keep children from getting sick. What we will be doing is eliminating critical preventative medicine that, if provided, could save taxpayers money in the long run. Eliminating kids from the PeachCare rolls is bad policy, and as the budget is debated, I urge legislators, Democrats and Republicans to have the courage to stand up and say, "Not one dime until the children are covered."
Friday, February 09, 2007
Moffett "Strongly Considering" Race for Macon City Council President
Keith Moffett, a Democrat recently named as one of Georgia Trend's 40 Under 40 and who ran for the school board in 2004, says that he is "strongly considering" entering the race for Macon City Council President.
The recent proposal to reduce the size of Macon City Council includes the provision that only one citywide seat will be elected and that person will become Council President. Previously, council elected the President. With this choice now in the voters' hands, there is likely to be considerable interest in this post, and with the precedent sent by the recent race for Superior Court Judge, the cost of this race will be substantial. Potential candidates are beginning to put out feelers. Other than Moffett, what names are you hearing?
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