Politics

Rep. Ramsey: ‘We have to do due diligence’ in redistricting hearings

Legislators are knee-deep in getting public input on how to handle the redistricting process.

This summer, the Georgia Legislature will convene in a special session to redraw district lines based on the latest population figures from the U.S. Census. The changes will affect all Georgia House and Senate seats as well as the state’s congressional seats in the U.S. House of Representatives. Read More»

Fayette GOP breakfast Saturday, June 4

The Fayette County GOP Breakfast will take place June 4 at 9 a.m. at the International House of Pancakes in Fayetteville. Breakfast starts at 8:30 a.m. and the meeting begins at 9 a.m. Speakers will be Dr. Bob Todd, Chair of the Fayette County Board of Education and Marion Key, Vice Chair of Fayette County Board of Education. Be part of the solution - stay informed and become active in your community. All interested persons are invited to attend. For more information, please call 770-716-1545 or go to FCGOP website for more details.

Israel, foreign policy, deficits draw Rep. Westmoreland’s attention

3rd District Congressman Lynn Westmoreland (R-Grantville) speaks to the Fayette County Chamber of Commerce. Photo/Ben Nelms.

Congressman Lynn Westmoreland (R-3rd District) had a foreign policy question for members of the Fayette County Chamber of Commerce in Fayetteville May 20.

“How do others look at us?” Westmoreland asked, narrowing the focus of the international perspective to Israel in conjunction with the statements by President Obama that Israel’s borders be set like they were prior to the 1967 war.

“Will we be a strong ally for Israel, our most reliable ally? The Golan Heights (the high ground in the West Bank) provide a clear view of Israel,” the Grantville congressman said. Read More»

Fayette GOP censures Hearn, wants new appointee to elections board

Fayette County Commissioner Lee Hearn.

Displeasure with an apparent ethical misstep by Fayette County Commissioner Lee Hearn has stretched beyond giving ammunition to his political opponents.

Now the Fayette County Republican Party is weighing in on the matter, asking the entire commission to rescind the appointment of John Addison Lester III, Hearn’s second cousin, to the Fayette County Board of Elections. All five commissioners are Republicans. Read More»

Rep. Ramsey gets his illegal immigrant bill signed into law

Rep. Matt Ramsey looks on as Gov. Nathan Deal (center) affixes his signature to the nationally controversial illegal immigration legislation authored by Ramsey. Photo/Governor’s Office.

WIth several swift flicks of a pen, Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal May 13 approved the immigration reforms negotiated in an eleventh-hour deal between the two chambers of the Georgia Legislature.

The measure is aimed at preventing illegal immigrants from gaining employment, and it also allows law enforcement officers to check the immigration status of persons being investigated for misdemeanor crimes and traffic stops. Read More»

Chance: Regional road tax would help Fayette get money back

State Senator Ronnie Chance (R-Tyrone)

While some are up in arms about the possibility of a regional transportation sales tax being enacted in Fayette County, there is a good bit of upside, according to State Sen. Ronnie Chance of Tyrone.

Currently, some 90 percent of the state’s transportation funding is spent north of Interstate 20, Chance told The Citizen in an interview Monday.

If the new tax is approved by voters next year, it will help “level the playing field” in that regard, Chance said. Read More»

Tax reform likely not on summer agenda, Sen. Chance says

He’s for “tax reform,” but the most recent proposal that threatens to add sales taxes to a host of currently untaxed services and items in exchange for reducing the state personal income tax may be too complex for the Georgia Legislature to take up this summer, according to Sen. Ronnie Chance of Tyrone.

Gov. Nathan Deal has suggested tax reform could be considered this summer when the legislature meets in special session to redraw district lines using new Census population data. Read More»

Sen. Chance unsure on rolling back gas tax hike

Starting Sunday, May 1, Georgians began paying an extra 2.8 cents a gallon in gas tax. For a tank averaging 12 gallons, that’s an extra 33 cents, adding what some consider “insult to injury,” thanks to the rise in gas prices. Read More»

PTC urges veto for tree cutting bill

Bill gives billboard companies authority to remove, trim trees on state rights of way

At its April 21 meeting, the Peachtree City Council voted unanimously to ask Gov. Nathan Deal to veto a bill that would give billboard owners free rein to cut down and trim trees on state-owned right of way.

House Bill 179 was passed by both sides of the legislature this year. Peachtree City Rep. Matt Ramsey voted against it, while Tyrone Sen. Ronnie Chance voted in favor.

The bill allows for an area as long as 350 feet from the edge of pavement to be cleared of trees on state-owned right of way, and 250 feet along the right of way fence or boundary. Read More»

Cain, Gingrich win west Ga. GOP straw poll

Delegates to the Georgia GOP 3rd Congressional District convention on April 16 had their say in a Presidential straw poll that resulted in a first-place tie between radio talk show host Herman Cain and former U.S. Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich and an unexpectedly strong showing by Donald Trump. Read More»