About Flagpole. (Athens, Ga.) 1987-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 31, 2011)
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Call or visit us at u’une.BerTvsteinFuneralHorne.com to receive more information and a free Dignity Memorial* Personal Planning Guide. Away From Home Protection* I 24-Hour Compassion Helpline* National Transferability I Bereavement Travel 1 Personal Planning Services Grief Support I Veterans Benefits I Child & Grandchild Protection Proud members of the Dignity Memorial* Network. BERNSTEIN FUNERAL HOME AND CREMATION SERVICES 3195 Atlanta Highway I Athens, GA 30606 1 706-543-7373 www.BemstdnFuneralHome.com ANTI-TEA PARTY VS. TEA PARTY The battle over the T-SPL0ST election date during this special legislative session has been described as a showdown between the anti-tax Tea Party and the various chambers of commerce who supported the transporta tion tax. That analysis was accurate as far as it went but does not give enough credit to another major player: the state's local govern ments, which are represented by the ACCG (Association County Commissioners of Georgia) and the GMA (Georgia Municipal Association). ACCG and GMA lobbyists worked against the deal that was nearly made to move the date of the transportation tax referendum from the July 31 primary to the November general election. The Tea Party appeared for a while to be successful in their demand that the T-SPL0ST vote could only be moved if all future tax votes were also held in con junction with general elections. Tea Party members figured that such a move would make it easier for them to campaign against the passage of local tax increases. Local governments prefer to hold their tax votes on other dates, however, and their lobbyists worked the capitol hall ways effectively to shoot down that Tea Party compromise. With the Legislature's Democratic caucuses becoming politically powerless in the face of strong Republican majorities, ACCG and GMA have essentially stepped into the breach to become the "anti-Tea Party" group at the capi tol. It's a role they were playing before the Tea Parties were even formed. Four years ago, when Speaker Glenn Richardson and his House colleagues were trying to pass a "GREAT" tax plan that would have stripped local govern ments of their ability to collect tax revenues, ACCG and GMA helped stop that initiative, too (and earned the undying hatred of Richardson, who's no longer a legislator). One thing working in their favor is the fact that a growing number of legislators served in city or county governments before being elected to the General Assembly. Many of these lawmakers decided to run for the Legislature after Richardson nearly succeeded in passing the "GREAT" tax bill. Sen. Steve Gooch (R-Dahlonega) is a former county commissioner, as are Sen. Jim Butterworth (R-Cornelia) and Sen. Rick Jeffares (R-Locust Grove). Sen. Frank Ginn (R-Danielsville) worked as a county manager before he was elected to the Senate. Sen. Charlie Bethel (R-Dalton) is a former city councilman, while Sen. Buddy Carter (R-Pooler) and Sen. Jesse Stone (R-Waynesboro) are former mayors. Over in the House, Rep. Lynne Riley (R-Johns Creek), Rep. Jan Tankersley (R-Brooklet) and Rep. Lee Anderson (R-Grovetown) were county com missioners before running for the General Assembly. Rep. Susan Holmes (R-Monticello) and Rep. Jay Powell (R-Camilla) were once the mayors of the cities they represent. Other former may ors include Rep. John Meadows (R-Calhoun) and Rep. Brett Harrell (R-Snellville). Rep. Matt Hatchett (R-Dublin) and Rep. Katie Dempsey (R-Rome) were once city council members. "They understand how local government works, and they understand inter-govern mental relationships," said an ACCG lobbyist. "When you put an idea out there, they can think it through to reality." That sounds about right. County commis sioners and mayors know that many of their constituents will expect to have roads paved, schools built and parks opened. The only way local governments can pay for such things is by collecting taxes—-and sometimes a tax increase is required. If the fight over the T-SPLOST election date should be renewed in the regular session next January, you can bet that both the Tea Party and the anti-Tea Party will be right there in the middle of it. Tom Crawford lcrawford@gareport.com THIS MOklH WORD by TOM TOMORROW OKAY, LISTEN CLOSELY.* TM FROM THE YEAR 2011/ AND I'VE COME TO WARN YOU--YOUR ENTIRE PROFESSION IS DOOMED! WITHIN 15 YEARS, THE NEWSPAPER INDUSTRY WILL BE RAVAGED BY THE INTERNET.' THE VERY NOTION OF BEING PAID FOR ANY CONTENT—LET Alone CARTOONS— WILL SEEM QUAINT AND ARCHAIC.* THAT'S TERRIBLE, FUTURE me; WHAT CAN I DO TO PREPARE NOW FOR THE FORTHCOMING CAR TOON APOCALYPSE? I GUESS YOU COULD TRY TO SELL MORE T-SHIRTS OR SOMETHING...OH, AND THERE'S GONNA BE THIS THING CALLED THE IPAD, THAT SOME PEOPLE THINK MIGHT HELP SOMEHOW... But as For what you can DO IN I9R5...HMMMM... 6 FLAGPOLE.COM AUGUST 31, 2011 "TeM Y«MoRM©20H ...www.thismodemworld.com...twitter.com/tomtomonrow
