Gov. Perdue: State Transportation System Is Broken

State lawmakers announced new legislation Thursday that would overhaul Georgia's transportation system.

Governor Sonny Perdue says the transportation system in Georgia is broken. That's why he, House Speaker Glenn Richardson and Lieutenant Governor Casey Cagle are joining forces to combine two state agencies into one - the State Transportation Authority.

Perdue says right now, the state is likely losing money because of poorly managed projects and too much gridlock on the streets. But he believes the new agency will create stronger oversight and accountability.

"It will abandon the scattered approach that spreads resources too thin and will instead focus the investment that will actually move the needle on congestion and job creation."

Mismanagement at the current Department of Transportation has left the agency millions of dollars in debt with hundreds of projects unfinished.

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Lawmakers Gather for Eggs and Issues

The state’s top political leaders will gather Tuesday morning for the annual Eggs and Issues breakfast in Atlanta. Governor Sonny Perdue, Lieutenant Governor Casey Cagle, and House Speaker Glenn Richardson are among those to address the gathering. They'll outline their key agenda points for the 2009 Legislature.

Ahead tomorrow for Perdue, he will deliver his State of the State address to all lawmakers in the House chambers. GPB will provide live coverage of Perdue's speech Wednesday at 10am--it can be heard on all GPB radio stations, and online at gpb.org.

Transgender Ga. woman sues over firing

A former state employee claimed Tuesday in a federal lawsuit that top Georgia legislative officials fired her because she said she would come to work dressed as a female as she prepared for a sex-change procedure to transform from man to woman.

Vandy Beth Glenn said Tuesday she was illegally fired from her job as a legislative editor for the Georgia General Assembly after she told her boss she was going to live as a woman full time.

She said Legislative Counsel Sewell Brumby fired her because the gender transition would make her colleagues feel uncomfortable and would be seen as "immoral" by Georgia legislators. The lawsuit also claims House Speaker Glenn Richardson, Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle and Senate President Pro-Tem Eric Johnson were in on the act.

"It's been devastating. I never thought this would happen, for one thing. And not from a public sector job," said Glenn, a transgender woman formerly known as Glenn Morrison. "This is about the right of everybody to be treated equally with respect."

"I think the lawsuit is without merit," said Brumby, who declined to discuss the case further. Richardson declined to comment. Other Georgia House and Senate staffers did not immediately return calls seeking comment.

Glenn was hired in 2005 as a legislative editor, charged with proofreading the hundreds of measures and proposals filed each year for grammar and spelling errors. The same year she was diagnosed with gender identity disorder, a condition defined by strong feelings of discomfort with a person's sex at birth and identification with the opposite gender.

For about a year, she continued to come to work as a man by day and dressed as a woman at home at night. But in October 2006 Glenn told her supervisor she planned to undergo a gender transition to become a female. Physicians had advised her to start dressing as a female throughout the transition to help her adapt.

In June 2007 she told her office she was continuing with the gender change, and gave her supervisors pamphlets on how to handle the transition and a photo album with several pictures of Glenn dressed as a woman.

Her supervisors confronted her a few months later. Brumby called her into a meeting in October 2007 and asked whether she was undergoing the transition, according to the filings.

When she confirmed, she said Brumby told her it would be viewed as immoral and said it couldn't "happen appropriately" in the workplace. She was fired and given 10 minutes to clean out her desk.

Glenn said she knows the lawsuit could result in a bruising legal fight, but she's weighed the consequences.

"It has to be done. Someone has to do it," she said. "And I seem to have been elected.

Click here for more GPB News coverage of this story.

(The Associated Press)

Lawmaker's divorce records unsealed

Some of the divorce records of House Speaker Glenn Richardson are now unsealed. A judge in Rome took the wraps off the records that had been placed under seal by another judge. Ethics watchdog George Anderson had sued to have the records unsealed. Richardson's divorce came after an ethics complaint alleged the Republican speaker had an "improper relationship" with a female utility lobbyist while he was co-sponsoring a pipeline bill being sought by her employer. A legislative ethics panel dismissed the complaint.

Fed. lawsuit charges discrimination at capitol

Glenn

Several high ranking members of the Georgia General Assembly are being sued in federal court, accused of discriminating on the basis of sexual discrimination.

A transgendered woman who worked as an editor in the state Office of Legislative Counsel, filed the case in US District Court early Tuesday. Former Navy lieutenant Vandy Beth Glenn (pictured above) was born a man, but believes she is living in the wrong physical body.

Glenn says she was fired a month after telling her supervisor she wanted to live publicly as a woman. Glenn says her direct supervisor was "very supportive." However, the lawsuit alleges the manager in charge of the Office of Legislative Counsel decided to terminate Glenn after speaking other named defendants.

"It's been devastating," Glenn says. I never thought this would happen to me for one thing. I certainly never expected it from a public sector job. I was on unemployment for while. Been looking for a new job. It hasn't been easy. It's been a tough year."

Federal law prohibits sexual orientation based discrimination.

Among those being sued are House Speaker Glenn Richardson, Senate President Casey Cagle, and Senate President Pro Tem, Eric Johnson. Glenn's direct supervisor has not been named as a defendant in the lawsuit.

Click here for more GPB News coverage of this story.

Columbus: GOP convention gets underway

The nomination, credentials and resolution committees met as the session opened at 2 p.m.

Counties across the state elected 1945 delegates and 1,200 alternates to the event, held at the city's Civic Center arena.


Senator Saxby Chambliss addressing the delegates at the afternoon session. (Dave Bender).

The delegates will elect 30 delegates and alternates to the national party convention in September in Minnesota. They will also choose the party committee man and committee woman for the Republican National Committee.

Muscogee County representative Richard Smith:

“Our purpose is to get together as a party, and do whatever's necessary to elect quality Republican candidates, who believe in the principles that Republicans believe in: smaller government, less spending – all the things that make a Republican a Republican.”

Lieutenant Governor Casey Cagle is the keynote speaker at the afternoon session.

Former Lieutenant Governor of Maryland Michael Steele will give the keynote address at a festive dinner Friday evening.

On Saturday, Governor Sonny Perdue, House Speaker Glenn Richardson and Former Louisiana Governor Buddy Roemer will head the lineup of speakers.

The convention concludes Saturday night.

Click here for more GPB News coverage of the presidential race.

Oxendine running for Governor

Georgia Insurance commissioner John Oxendine announced today that he will make a run for the Governor's office in 2 years. Oxendine, a Republican, says it was the bitter infighting among his own party during the past legislative session that convinced him to run. He says Issues like tax reform, transportation and trauma care were left unfinished because the state house and senate did not get along.

“I am disappointed,” Oxendine says. “We have some of the finest Georgians are in the House and the Senate the results that have been coming out have been disappointing.”

Oxendine says the fact that he has never been a senator or state representative would be a plus, given the current environment under the gold dome.

Lieutenant Governor Casey Cagle and House Speaker Glenn Richardson have also been mentioned as possible gubernatorial candidates.

No Tax Reform, No Transportation or Trauma Funds

The 2008 legislative session ended last night with name calling and no tax reform.
It was in the 11th our, when it became clear that the State Senate would not give in to House demands for a constitutional amendment to cut the ad valorem tax on cars . House speaker Glenn Richardson had tried all session to get some kind of tax cut to voters. He has started with the so called GREAT Plan that would eliminate all property taxes in lieu of expanded sales taxes. When the only measure left of his original idea did not make it through the House/Senate conference committee he blamed the failure on the Lieutenant governor, a fellow republican.

"It's called the Cagle birthday tax, and every time they pay it they can thank Casey Cagle for leaving it on there," the speaker told his colleagues.

He urged Georgians to flood his office with phone calls and elect a new Lieutenant Governor. For his part Cagle took the comments in stride.

"What's most unfortunate is the name calling and to have a person over there attack your caracter, that's sad, but life goes on."

Cagle defended his position saying he wanted to cut income taxes and the tag tax cut would have taken too much money out of local government funds.

Democrats looked at the in-party fighting with an eye on the November elections.

"What you campaign on is the infighting. The result of the infighting is that the major issues of the state did not get addressed and resolved," said house minority leader Dubose Porter.

The State senate failed to approve a constitutional amendment for a one cent regional transportation tax.,The measure was meant to raise money to ease traffic congrestion, especially in Metro Atlanta. It fell 3 votes short of passing in the Senate.

A ten dollar fee on cars to fund trauma care also failed.
House Majority Leader Jerry Keen said he's not too concerned over trauma care not getting funded this time. He said there is $59 million dollars in the suplemental budget, which should hold the system over until next January. That's when lawmakers could try to fix it again.

Some bills did make it this session. HB 89, the famed parking lot bill made it through but with a lot of alterations. For one, property rights supersede gun rights. The small percentage of Georgians who hold a concealed weapons permint would be allowed to carry guns into some restaurants, but they can't drink. Churches and public sporting events are still off limits.

In some ways the session ended just as it began, with water. The first measure passed by both chambers was the Statewide water plan, the last bill to pass was about reservoirs. That bill enables the construction of reservoirs, but not everyone is happy. Conservationists wanted to add language that prohibits inner- basin transfers. They worry that Metro Atlanta could one day take water from the Savannah or other rivers. But that language did not make it into the bill.

Lawmakers did do what they are constitutionally required to do in 40 days, pass a budget. They approved a 21.2 billion dollar spending plan for the fiscal year which starts July 1. It includes a 2 and half percent pay raise for teachers and state employees.

Tax reform amendment passes House

Yesterday was Crossover Day at the state Captiol, and several bills did not make the cut for consideration this year. They include constitutional amendments to make English the official language of Georgia and to give a fetus the same rights as a person.

However, the state House did finally pass Speaker Glenn Richardson's tax reform amendment. The final version, which is dramatically different from Richardson's original proposal, passed with only five dissenting votes.

As it stands, the resolution would cut taxes on cars, eliminate the state portion of property taxes, and slow down property tax assessments. It does not cap millege rates, which had been a sticking point in debate of the measure last week. The amendment now goes to the Senate where it needs a two-thirds majority to be placed on the November ballot.

Democrats defeat Republican tax cut ammendment

House Speaker Glenn Richardson lost his atempt to refrom taxes today when house democrats blocked his constitutional amendment to cap property assessments and cut car taxes.

Democrats wielded their minority power when they successffully blocked Glenn Richardson's plan to let voters decide whether they want to cut ad valorem taxes on cars and limit property assessments on homes. The measure fell 10 votes short of the two thirds majority needed to pass.

"I don't know what Galaxy these people who voted against it live in", said Republican speaker pro temp Mark Burkhalter, "but it certainly isn't the one most Georgians live in."

Republicans say the no vote will hurt Democrats come election time. For their part Democrats defended their votes saying they didn't want to hurt local governments. They sided with
municipalities and schoolboards who worry that a limit on property tax assessments could hurt their bond ratings and budgets.

Democratic House minorty Leader Dubose Porter says it would not have been a real tax cut, but a tax shift.

"It shifts to fees, it shifts to local services, it shifts to other things in the economy and hurts education," he said.

Porter says demorats would support cutting ad valorem taxes on cars if that proposal were presented by itself. The Amendment would have cut close to one billion dollars in taxes over 2 years.

Property tax ammendment faces uphill battle in state house

This week the state house is likely to take up Speaker Glenn Richardson property tax reform. The plan is facing opposition from both the left and right of the political spectrum.

Last week county commissioners and school officials lobbied at the capitol against the speaker's plan to replace the education portion of property taxes with an expanded sales tax. Richardson says his plan would be revenue neutral to the state and benefit home owners.

Democrats declared their opposition last week because they say it would add taxes back onto groceries, which their party eliminated 10 years ago.

Also last week Americans for Tax Reform, a national conservative advocacy group, urged Georgia lawmakers to oppose the plan. According to Insider Advantage dot com, the group warns that the plan could end up being a tax increase. tax reform plan would need 120 votes in the house to make it onto the November ballot.

While Democrats alone could block the legislation, some Republicans, who signed a no new tax pledge, may also oppose it. According to political insiders, only about 75 house members are comfortable supporting the constitutional amendment in it’s current form.

Democrats vow to fight Richardson's tax plan.

House Speaker Glenn Richardson's plan to reduce property taxes and raise sales taxes on groceries and personal services could be in trouble.

House and Senate Democrats stood on the steps of the state captiol today and accused Republicans of trying to pass 175 new taxes. It was a direct attack on Richardson constitutional amendment meant to help property owners.

It would eliminate the school portion of property taxes in exchange for more sales taxes. House Minority Leader Dubose Porter of Dublin says Demcorats can’t support taxing groceries and many personal services.

"The Republican Tax plan puts 175 new taxes on Georgians from Grits to Graves," he said

Glenn Richardson called the Republican's charge "rediculous political posturing." He said he would continue to fight for his tax plan.

In order to pass as a constitutional ammendment, Richardson would need a two thirds majority. Democrats say they have enough votes to block it if it comes to the house floor.

Controversial human life amendment gets hearing

Lawmakers are holding hearings this week on a controversial resolution that seeks to give fertilized eggs the same protection as a person. Known as the human life amendment, groups opposing abortion call HR 536 their best shot at overturning Roe v. Wade and making abortions illegal in Georgia. Oponents say the amendment could impact not only abortion rights, but curb fertility treatment and birth control because it says the right to life begins at fertilization. Republican House Speaker Glenn Richardson has said that he does not like the measure as it is written, because it could do away with the death penalty. Georgia Right To Life issued a robo call last week criticizing Richardson for his stance. Meanwhile Georgia’s Catholic Bishops oppose the amendment as well saying it is an unrealistic way to reduce or prevent abortions. The hearings will continue Wednesday at the capitol. To make it onto the ballot in November HR 536 would need a two thirds majority in both the state house and senate.

Richardson introduces property tax cuts

Georgia House Speaker Glenn Richardson appeared before the House Ways and Means tax reform subcommittee Thursday to present his plan to cut school and automobile property taxes across the state. The proposal would eliminate school and car taxes, worth $422 million over three years. That revenue would be made up by broadening the state sales tax to include groceries, lottery tickets and some services. Richardson insists that school funding will not be affected by the plan.

Richardson backs McCain

House Speaker Glenn Richardson is endorsing Senator John McCain's presidential bid. Today Richardson praised McCain's vow to cut wasteful government spending, appoint conservative judges and defend the country against the threat of terrorism. Other Republican leaders have not yet endorsed any candidates. Governor Sonny Perdue and Lieutenant Governor Casey Cagle both said they don't plan to back a candidate before Tuesday's primary.