The Lord giveth & the Lord taketh away. The Other Georgia gave to the metro. Will the metro now take away? -- Legislation on transportation dollars.
Do you remember my 11-16-04 post entitled "Rep. Chuck Sims et al., Part IX. -- The first thing we do, let's kill The Other Georgia. After that, we can kill all the lawyers?"
It noted that "[i]ncluded in the first list of prefiled bills to be taken up in the Georgia senate . . . is one seeking to change the way that federal money for roads is divvied up between metro Atlanta and the rest of the state."
"Under the current formula, the millions of federal dollars used for road-building money is divided equally among all 13 congressional districts."
"In recent legislative sessions how one voted on transportation bills was often determined by the location of one's home district.
"This is anticipated to continue even now with the legislature controlled by the GOP. Suburban and rural Republicans will have some different priorities just as urban and rural Democrats have in past legislative sessions."
The post also noted that when House Majority Leader Jerry Keen of St. Simons was House Minority Whip, he said: "Transportation in the metro [Atlanta] area means congestion. Transportation in rural areas means paving roads and economic development.
"Will Rep. Keen forget his constituents now that he is House Majority Leader?
"This transportation bill is going to be one to watch. It could prove much about how much control the Republican leadership is able to exert on the rank and file. The bill could prove to be one of the toughest fights that could split Republicans during the upcoming legislative session.
"Legislators in interstate-heavy suburbia [who] want superhighways taken out of the formula . . . will face the traditional opposition from rural legislators who want as much road money as they can get for economic development."
Folks, I was sort of asleep at the wheel when I concluded the post by saying:
"[Poster child party switcher] Rep. Chuck Sims et al., I hope you will remember what "your" Majority Leader said when he was Minority Leader, and that you will not trade keeping your seat on the House Ways and Means Committee (or whatever it was prior to switching parties) for voting against your District's interest."
How was I asleep at the wheel?
I should have addressed the same question to other legislators who, while not party switchers, may being allowing their ambitions for higher office to transcend their paramount obligation to represent their constituents who sent them to Atlanta.
A case in point is Sen. Tommie Williams (R-Lyons) who was my Senator prior to our Party being guilty as charged of engaging in the pigs get fat and the hogs get slaughtered in its last ill-conceived redistricting plan necessitated by the 2000 census data.
As we are aware, this plan resulted in the federal courts having to correct and apply common sense to a selfish redistricting plan that backfired -- much the same way the state Democratic Congressional redistricting plan did following the 1990 census -- and without question played a significant role on Nov. 2 in the Democratic Party becoming the state's minority party in both legislative bodies.
On 11-21-03 the ajc reported the following about Sen. Williams, who, as you no doubt know, has ambitions for being Georgia's lieutenant governor come 2007:
"State Senate Transportation Chairman Tommie Williams (R-Lyons) drew strong applause [at a recent Georgia Economic Development Association seminar] when he said the General Assembly in 2005 would change the state requirement that transportation funds be spent equally among all the state's congressional districts."
"Williams is among a group of state Senate Republican leaders who have already introduced legislation that would exempt interstate and developmental highways, the Georgia Regional Transportation Authority and MARTA from congressional balancing as well as changing the balance formula."
Bill Shipp noted about this time last year:
"Where Georgians live often determines how they feel about central issues affecting their lives and jobs.
"For instance, transportation is often viewed very differently in South Georgia and North Georgia.
"Gridlock and never-ending 'rush hour' traffic plague the highways of much of North Georgia, including metro Atlanta. Informed citizens, yearning for relief from congestion, could not comprehend the recent decision by state transportation officials to shortchange the most crowded region of the state in favor of providing more road financing for sparsely populated rural areas [many in South Georgia resented Lt. Gov. Mark Taylor for publicly criticizing this act by DOT officials at the time; it just goes to show that neither party has a monopoly on ambition for higher office].
"But if you live in parts of South Georgia -- whether you are a Republican or a Democrat -- you probably thought: 'It's about time. Too many billions have already been spent on North Georgia and metro Atlanta. It's time our part of the state received more attention and more money. We need it for growth. North Georgia has more than enough growth already.'''
Several years ago Bill Shipp wrote:
"Quite simply, transportation is what metro Atlanta is all about, why Atlanta exists. Transportation is to Atlanta what gambling is to Las Vegas. Taking away the metro area's ability to move increasing amounts of people and goods would all but assure a long-time economic decline that would have a dire impact on all of Georgia."
I couldn't agree more; Atlanta is the engine that keeps this state going. But just as it is to the metro area, transportation also is the lifeline for the rest of the state, the Other Georgia. All roads outside of Altanta are not just asphalt leading to nowhere.
Four years ago Bill Shipp wrote:
"Former Gov. Joe Frank Harris spent much of his time in the 1980s battling the idea of 'two Georgias.' He insisted that only one united Georgia existed. And if he didn't, he would do everything possible to make certain that it did.
"After Harris left office in 1990, the notion of 'two Georgias' -- one affluent and suburban, the other poor and rural -- faded from vogue.
"Politicians detested the term because it signaled their failure to bring economic development to large areas of the state. Many citizens felt uncomfortable with the 'two Georgias' label, because it meant great geographical sections of the state -- and much of the population -- failed to secure their share of the good life.
"Economic boom times came to much of Georgia in the 1990s. Prosperity spread. Our population grew. 'Two Georgias' joined 'yuppie' and 'slums' as terms we don't use much now.
"Gov. Roy Barnes and Lt. Gov. Mark Taylor initiated grand rural development programs to stamp out the 'two Georgias' idea forever."
For the citizens of the Other Georgia, the "idea" -- we think of it as the reality -- of "two Georgia's" never left our minds, much less was somehow stamped out just because politicians deny their existence and do not want to talk about it.
I was correct in my 11-16-04 post saying the above-noted transportation bill is going to be one to watch during the 2005 legislative session.
But in saying in this post that this legislation "could prove much about how much control the Republican leadership is able to exert on the rank and file," and "could prove to be one of the toughest fights that could split Republicans during the upcoming legislative session," as noted, I was asleep at the wheel.
I had assumed those in leadership positions -- Sen. Williams is Chairman of the Transportation Committee -- would remember who brung 'em to the dance.
As this fight is being fought involving this test of the control of the Republican leadership over its rank and file, the Other Georgia -- as our numbers and influence has diminished -- trust that you in the metro do not forget that the legislators from the Other Georgia have served Georgia, the whole state of Georgia, with your interest at the forefront.
As stated by Mr. Shipp in March 2001 following the release of the 2000 census data:
"Admittedly, predicting the collapse of rural domination may be premature. When the U.S. Supreme Court struck down the county unit system in 1962, everybody said the state would be governed henceforth by suburbanites and city dwellers. It didn't happen. The rurals stayed in charge.
"But the population shifts from South Georgia to North Georgia, and from country to suburbs, over the past decade have been so dramatic, it is difficult to see how the downstaters can continue to rule.
"You may argue that it's about time the country boys got their comeuppance. Yet, these crossroads legislators have served the state well. Ironically, Atlanta and environs would not be among the fastest-growing and most prosperous regions of the nation were it not for the likes of [Larry] Walker, [George] Hooks, [Tommy] Coleman and, of course, [Speaker Tom] Murphy.
"They funneled millions into the Atlanta area for transportation. They funded the World Congress Center and the Georgia Dome. They made certain Hartsfield Airport was accessible. They are responsible for MARTA and the expansion of Georgia State and Georgia Tech. They facilitated the hotel-motel tax and made sure the Olympics left a legacy of public works, including a state-of-the-art baseball stadium.
"[T]hese legislators toiled for the enhancement of Georgia's economic engine . . . ."
The Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away. Legislators from the Other Georgia gave to the metro when it was in control. Will the metro legislators now take away from us, just when we need it most?
Name of Blog: Cracker Squire
Publisher: Sid Cottingham
Location: The Other Georgia
It noted that "[i]ncluded in the first list of prefiled bills to be taken up in the Georgia senate . . . is one seeking to change the way that federal money for roads is divvied up between metro Atlanta and the rest of the state."
"Under the current formula, the millions of federal dollars used for road-building money is divided equally among all 13 congressional districts."
"In recent legislative sessions how one voted on transportation bills was often determined by the location of one's home district.
"This is anticipated to continue even now with the legislature controlled by the GOP. Suburban and rural Republicans will have some different priorities just as urban and rural Democrats have in past legislative sessions."
The post also noted that when House Majority Leader Jerry Keen of St. Simons was House Minority Whip, he said: "Transportation in the metro [Atlanta] area means congestion. Transportation in rural areas means paving roads and economic development.
"Will Rep. Keen forget his constituents now that he is House Majority Leader?
"This transportation bill is going to be one to watch. It could prove much about how much control the Republican leadership is able to exert on the rank and file. The bill could prove to be one of the toughest fights that could split Republicans during the upcoming legislative session.
"Legislators in interstate-heavy suburbia [who] want superhighways taken out of the formula . . . will face the traditional opposition from rural legislators who want as much road money as they can get for economic development."
Folks, I was sort of asleep at the wheel when I concluded the post by saying:
"[Poster child party switcher] Rep. Chuck Sims et al., I hope you will remember what "your" Majority Leader said when he was Minority Leader, and that you will not trade keeping your seat on the House Ways and Means Committee (or whatever it was prior to switching parties) for voting against your District's interest."
How was I asleep at the wheel?
I should have addressed the same question to other legislators who, while not party switchers, may being allowing their ambitions for higher office to transcend their paramount obligation to represent their constituents who sent them to Atlanta.
A case in point is Sen. Tommie Williams (R-Lyons) who was my Senator prior to our Party being guilty as charged of engaging in the pigs get fat and the hogs get slaughtered in its last ill-conceived redistricting plan necessitated by the 2000 census data.
As we are aware, this plan resulted in the federal courts having to correct and apply common sense to a selfish redistricting plan that backfired -- much the same way the state Democratic Congressional redistricting plan did following the 1990 census -- and without question played a significant role on Nov. 2 in the Democratic Party becoming the state's minority party in both legislative bodies.
On 11-21-03 the ajc reported the following about Sen. Williams, who, as you no doubt know, has ambitions for being Georgia's lieutenant governor come 2007:
"State Senate Transportation Chairman Tommie Williams (R-Lyons) drew strong applause [at a recent Georgia Economic Development Association seminar] when he said the General Assembly in 2005 would change the state requirement that transportation funds be spent equally among all the state's congressional districts."
"Williams is among a group of state Senate Republican leaders who have already introduced legislation that would exempt interstate and developmental highways, the Georgia Regional Transportation Authority and MARTA from congressional balancing as well as changing the balance formula."
Bill Shipp noted about this time last year:
"Where Georgians live often determines how they feel about central issues affecting their lives and jobs.
"For instance, transportation is often viewed very differently in South Georgia and North Georgia.
"Gridlock and never-ending 'rush hour' traffic plague the highways of much of North Georgia, including metro Atlanta. Informed citizens, yearning for relief from congestion, could not comprehend the recent decision by state transportation officials to shortchange the most crowded region of the state in favor of providing more road financing for sparsely populated rural areas [many in South Georgia resented Lt. Gov. Mark Taylor for publicly criticizing this act by DOT officials at the time; it just goes to show that neither party has a monopoly on ambition for higher office].
"But if you live in parts of South Georgia -- whether you are a Republican or a Democrat -- you probably thought: 'It's about time. Too many billions have already been spent on North Georgia and metro Atlanta. It's time our part of the state received more attention and more money. We need it for growth. North Georgia has more than enough growth already.'''
Several years ago Bill Shipp wrote:
"Quite simply, transportation is what metro Atlanta is all about, why Atlanta exists. Transportation is to Atlanta what gambling is to Las Vegas. Taking away the metro area's ability to move increasing amounts of people and goods would all but assure a long-time economic decline that would have a dire impact on all of Georgia."
I couldn't agree more; Atlanta is the engine that keeps this state going. But just as it is to the metro area, transportation also is the lifeline for the rest of the state, the Other Georgia. All roads outside of Altanta are not just asphalt leading to nowhere.
Four years ago Bill Shipp wrote:
"Former Gov. Joe Frank Harris spent much of his time in the 1980s battling the idea of 'two Georgias.' He insisted that only one united Georgia existed. And if he didn't, he would do everything possible to make certain that it did.
"After Harris left office in 1990, the notion of 'two Georgias' -- one affluent and suburban, the other poor and rural -- faded from vogue.
"Politicians detested the term because it signaled their failure to bring economic development to large areas of the state. Many citizens felt uncomfortable with the 'two Georgias' label, because it meant great geographical sections of the state -- and much of the population -- failed to secure their share of the good life.
"Economic boom times came to much of Georgia in the 1990s. Prosperity spread. Our population grew. 'Two Georgias' joined 'yuppie' and 'slums' as terms we don't use much now.
"Gov. Roy Barnes and Lt. Gov. Mark Taylor initiated grand rural development programs to stamp out the 'two Georgias' idea forever."
For the citizens of the Other Georgia, the "idea" -- we think of it as the reality -- of "two Georgia's" never left our minds, much less was somehow stamped out just because politicians deny their existence and do not want to talk about it.
I was correct in my 11-16-04 post saying the above-noted transportation bill is going to be one to watch during the 2005 legislative session.
But in saying in this post that this legislation "could prove much about how much control the Republican leadership is able to exert on the rank and file," and "could prove to be one of the toughest fights that could split Republicans during the upcoming legislative session," as noted, I was asleep at the wheel.
I had assumed those in leadership positions -- Sen. Williams is Chairman of the Transportation Committee -- would remember who brung 'em to the dance.
As this fight is being fought involving this test of the control of the Republican leadership over its rank and file, the Other Georgia -- as our numbers and influence has diminished -- trust that you in the metro do not forget that the legislators from the Other Georgia have served Georgia, the whole state of Georgia, with your interest at the forefront.
As stated by Mr. Shipp in March 2001 following the release of the 2000 census data:
"Admittedly, predicting the collapse of rural domination may be premature. When the U.S. Supreme Court struck down the county unit system in 1962, everybody said the state would be governed henceforth by suburbanites and city dwellers. It didn't happen. The rurals stayed in charge.
"But the population shifts from South Georgia to North Georgia, and from country to suburbs, over the past decade have been so dramatic, it is difficult to see how the downstaters can continue to rule.
"You may argue that it's about time the country boys got their comeuppance. Yet, these crossroads legislators have served the state well. Ironically, Atlanta and environs would not be among the fastest-growing and most prosperous regions of the nation were it not for the likes of [Larry] Walker, [George] Hooks, [Tommy] Coleman and, of course, [Speaker Tom] Murphy.
"They funneled millions into the Atlanta area for transportation. They funded the World Congress Center and the Georgia Dome. They made certain Hartsfield Airport was accessible. They are responsible for MARTA and the expansion of Georgia State and Georgia Tech. They facilitated the hotel-motel tax and made sure the Olympics left a legacy of public works, including a state-of-the-art baseball stadium.
"[T]hese legislators toiled for the enhancement of Georgia's economic engine . . . ."
The Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away. Legislators from the Other Georgia gave to the metro when it was in control. Will the metro legislators now take away from us, just when we need it most?
Name of Blog: Cracker Squire
Publisher: Sid Cottingham
Location: The Other Georgia
posted by Sid Cottingham | 10:57 PM
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