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2017 Legislative Session

Gold dome ready for more fights over guns, campus carry

It looks like campus carry is going to get new life, at least according to Speaker David Ralston. Last legislative session, Gov. Nathan Deal vetoed just a few bills of the hundreds the legislature passed, the campus carry measure among them. This earned him quite a bit of ire from conservatives and gun advocates at the time, and now it’s being reported that Speaker David Ralston is looking to revive the measure. “Let’s put together

Equality, Rights & Justice Issues

Gov. Nathan Deal appoints 5 new judges. And they’re all white.

Gov. Nathan Deal just appointed five new judges, and they’re all white. The day after the election, Deal’s office announced three new state Supreme Court Justices and two new judges to the Georgia Court of Appeals. Five out of five of these appointments are white folks, and four out of five are white men. The governor’s lack of interest in diverse leadership is disturbing and disheartening. Georgia is rapidly on track to become a “majority

Elections

Gov. Deal’s ethically dubious funding for school takeover

Recently, the AJC revealed that Gov. Nathan Deal’s daughter-in-law is one of the major fundraisers behind his pro-school takeover push. Thanks in part to the Citizens United ruling, the donations to Gov. Deal’s pet project are largely unknown (to the public anyway), and handled by a family member of the governor. If this whole set up strikes you as ethically dubious, you are not alone. Do you remember back in 2011, when Congressman turned Governor Nathan Deal

Nathan Deal

More Cronyism: Deal Appoints Chris Carr as AG

Last Wednesday, Gov. Nathan Deal appointed Chris Carr, one of his top deputies, to become the state’s next attorney general. Based on his alliance with Deal and  connection to big business, Chris Carr seems to have been chosen to support Deal in his legislative goals and provide additional cover for Deal’s shady business practices with Copart and his other scandals. Here’s the worst part: Carr has never tried a case in court. Let that sink

How big pharma is bankrolling the overdose epidemic in Ga.

According to a recent investigation by The Associated Press and the Center for Public Integrity, makers of prescription painkillers spent $880 million nationwide on campaign contributions and lobbying between 2006 and 2015. The lobbying and campaign contributions were aimed at weakening measures concerning prescription opioids, the investigation stated, “In Georgia, state lawmakers received more than $1.2 million and were lobbied each year by an average of 41 people representing drug makers and related advocacy groups.”

Nathan Deal

Deal’s disappointing reforms just fuel the status quo

Gov. Nathan Deal just announced a 20 percent pay raise for more than 3,300 state law enforcement officers — amounting to nearly $79 million. Teachers, meanwhile, were offered a 3 percent “pay raise” earlier this year, even as schools continue to be so underfunded that 20 percent of Ga. school districts are still furloughing teachers. The $79 million “reform” disappointment from Gov. Deal begs the question: What if we actually invested in building our communities