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Georgia health proposals hang in the balance as Biden official visits

By
Ariel Hart and Andy Miller
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A top federal official in charge of negotiating with Gov. Brian Kemp on Georgia’s high-stakes health care proposals visited Atlanta on Tuesday to talk about maternal health and other topics.

But Chiquita Brooks-LaSure, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services administrator, had no answers for when any of the half-million adults uninsured under current Georgia Medicaid rules might have a pathway to coverage.

Kemp and Brooks-LaSure didn’t even meet. A Kemp spokeswoman said the governor’s office got no invitation for a meeting.

Brooks-LaSure

It’s been more than a year since the Trump administration stamped a last-minute approval on two of Kemp’s health care “waiver” plans as Donald Trump’s presidential term drew to a close. And it’s been several months since President Joe Biden’s administration raised concerns and paused the plans.

Meanwhile, half a million Georgians remain uninsured in the “coverage gap”: too poor for subsidized ACA exchange insurance under federal law, and ineligible for Medicaid under current Georgia rules.

Both sides say they’re still in talks.

“We’re having conversations with Georgia,” Brooks-LaSure said, when pressed on the waivers. A bill that Democrats support in Congress, the Build Back Better Act, as currently written would provide a work-around for the federal government to provide coverage in the health insurance exchange to all poor adults in the states that have not expanded Medicaid. That bill has not yet passed the Senate.

The latest version of the roughly $2 trillion social spending bill eliminated nearly $8 billion in “disproportionate share” hospital cuts to facilities in states that don’t expand Medicaid.

Hospital groups have lobbied hard to block those cuts, which would have affected only Georgia and 11 other states that have not expanded Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act.

A spokeswoman for Kemp, Katie Byrd, said “the discussions are continuing” with the administration on the Georgia waiver plans.

Kemp discussing waiver plans last year.

 

In Kemp’s waiver proposal for increasing Medicaid enrollment, an estimated 50,000 people would end up being covered. The Biden administration would prefer that Georgia expand Medicaid to all its poor adults.

Instead, Georgia proposes to expand Medicaid only to those who meet certain activity requirements, including working at a regular job, for 80 hours per month.

Kemp’s office estimated that more than 400,000 people would not meet the Medicaid requirements and would be left uninsured. Kemp and the Trump administration argued that the proposal would improve people’s lives by valuing work. The Biden administration argues that it adds unnecessary barriers to coverage.

“I think we’ve made very clear our concern, particularly during this COVID-19 pandemic, one that we haven’t seen in generations, how concerned we are around work requirements,” Brooks-LaSure said.

The Biden administration has not approved any of the state’s proposed work requirements.

In the other waiver proposal, for the Affordable Care Act’s marketplace exchange, Kemp would block Georgians’ access to shopping on the main federal website, healthcare.gov. That’s where the majority of the state’s more than 500,000 ACA policyholders currently buy their plans.

Instead, Georgia’s proposal would direct those consumers to deal with insurance companies directly or with private insurance agents to find plans. The waiver proposal would also make other changes.

The Biden administration is pushing back on that proposal, and has requested comments from the public in Georgia. People can submit them until Jan. 9.

Brooks-LaSure spent Tuesday morning with patients and health care providers concerned with maternal mortality and African-American maternal health at the Center for Black Women’s Wellness in Atlanta. Georgia has one of the developed world’s worst rates of women dying for reasons related to pregnancy, and those rates are about three times higher for Black women.

CMS said Tuesday that it is encouraging hospitals to implement patient safety practices for managing obstetrical emergencies along with interventions to address other major contributors to maternal health disparities.

Maternal health “is a huge priority for the administration,’’ Brooks-LaSure told reporters Tuesday. “This is a crisis.”

CMS also intends to propose a “Birthing-Friendly” designation to drive improvements in perinatal health outcomes and maternal health equity.

Ariel Hart is a health care reporter for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

Hatchett again named Senate Floor Leader by Gov. Kemp

By
Staff Report
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District 50 State Senator Bo Hatchett has again been tapped by Gov. Brian Kemp to serve as one of his Senate Floor Leaders.

Hatchett, who served as floor leader during last year’s legislative session, will help steer the governor’s agenda through the legislative process. The senator from Cornelia is entering the second year of his two-year term. He recently announced plans to seek re-election.

Hatchett will serve as floor leader alongside Dist. 45 State Sen. Clint Dixon (R-Buford) and Dist. 8 State Sen. Russ Goodman (R-Homerville), both of whom Kemp also reappointed.

“I am proud to announce these great public servants as my floor leaders for the 2022 legislative session of the Georgia General Assembly,” said Kemp in making his announcement Wednesday. “Throughout my first term, we have made great strides to put hardworking Georgians first, keep the Peach State the number one state for business, expand opportunity for rural Georgia, eradicate criminal street gangs in our communities, and fight human trafficking. I am confident these outstanding legislators will help carry that important work forward, and I appreciate their commitment to the people of Georgia.”

The governor also released the names of his 2022 Georgia House of Representatives Floor Leaders. They are Dist. 72 Rep. Josh Bonner (R-Fayetteville); Dist. 122 Rep. Jodi Lott (R-Evans); Dist. 26 Rep. Lauren W. McDonald III (R-Cumming); and Dist. 178 Rep. Steven Meeks (R-Screven).

The 2022 legislative session is scheduled to convene on January 10.

SEE ALSO

Sen. Bo Hatchett announces bid for re-election

 

Norman Dove, Jr.

By
Now Habersham
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Norman Dove, Jr., age 74, of Canon, entered rest Tuesday, December 14, 2021, at the St. Mary’s Hospital, Athens.

Norman was born October 14, 1947, in Royston to the late Norman, Sr. & Vonnie Sue Osley Dove. He served his country in the United States Army and also, the National Guard retiring as a Staff Sergeant. He worked until retirement in shipping at Auto Zone. He was a member & Deacon of Grace Baptist Church in Royston. He was preceded in death by his loving wife, Marilyn Hart Dove.

Survivors include sons, Nathaniel (Rebecca) Dove & Stephen (Priscilla) Dove; grandchildren, Shelby & Oliver Dove; sisters, Mary Alice Hammond & JoAnn Hart; brothers, John R. Dove, Robert Dove & Thomas Dove; a number of nieces & nephews also survive.

Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. Sunday, December 19, 2021, at the Grace Baptist Church, Royston with Rev. Andy Huff & Rev. Rosco Jackson officiating. Burial will follow in Bowers Memorial Park Cemetery in Canon. The family will receive friends from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. Saturday, December 18, 2021, at Grace Baptist Church in Royston.

The family asks that in lieu of flowers contributions may be made to the building fund at Grace Baptist Church, P.O. Box 183 Royston, GA 30662.

Please share online condolences with the family at www.wardsfh.com. Ward’s Funeral Home is honored to serve the family of Norman Dove, Jr.

Ty Akins sworn-in as Habersham County’s District 5 Commissioner

By
Now Habersham
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Newly-elected Habersham County Commissioner Ty Akins takes the oath of office during his swearing-in ceremony at the county courthouse on Dec. 15, 2021. Habersham Probate Court Judge Pam Wooley presided over the proceeding. (photo by Carolyn Gibson)

Clarkesville business owner Ty Akins was sworn-in Wednesday morning as Habersham County’s District 5 Commissioner.

Probate Judge Pam Wooley conducted the ceremony at the Habersham County Courthouse. Akins’ mother Bonnie and daughter Maggie attended, along with a number of county staff and elected and appointed officials.

Akins with Judge Wooley, his mother and daughter after being sworn into office. (photo by Carolyn Gibson)
Habersham County Interim Manager Alicia Vaughn, Commissioners Bruce Harkness and Bruce Palmer, and Clarkesville Mayor Barrie Aycock were among those who attended Akins’ swearing-in ceremony. (photo by Carolyn Gibson)

Akins won the November 30 runoff election against Jason Hogan, claiming 65% of the 1,321 ballots cast. He succeeds former District 5 Commissioner Tim Stamey who resigned in April for health reasons.

Commissioner Akins is now the third person to hold the seat since Ed Nichols resigned in August 2019.

Bet you can’t eat just one sugar cookie

By
Mitzi Oxford
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A few years ago, Lay’s Potato Chips threw down the gauntlet in a new advertising campaign: “Bet you can’t eat just one!” It was a clever slogan with a clever commercial to match.

Now that we are in full swing of the holiday baking season, here is a sugar cookie recipe that makes the same bold claim.

Ingredients:

Directions:

  1. In a large mixing bowl, beat butter and oil with an electric mixer  on medium to high speed for 30 seconds. Add 1/2 cup granulated sugar, powdered sugar, baking soda, cream of tartar, and salt. Beat until combined, scraping sides of bowl occasionally. Beat in egg and vanilla until combined. Beat in the flour. Cover and chill 4 to 24 hours or until easy to handle.
  2. Shape dough into 1/2-inch balls for small cookies or 1-1/4-inch balls for larger cookies. Place small balls 1-1/2 inches apart on ungreased cookie sheets or large balls 2 inches apart. Flatten balls with the bottom of a glass dipped in granulated or colored sugar. Or, sprinkle flattened cookies with edible glitter, if you like.
  3. Bake in a 375 degree F oven for 8 to 10 minutes for small or 10 to 12 minutes for large cookies or until bottoms are lightly browned. Transfer cookies to wire racks and let cool. Makes 72 small cookies or 36 large cookies.

To Store

Place in layers separated by waxed paper in an airtight container; cover. Store at room temperature up to 3 days or freeze up to 3 months.

Tips

So sugar will stick to the glass, first dip the bottom of the glass in the cookie dough. Next, dip into the sugar. If you like, add a little cinnamon and nutmeg to the dipping sugar.

It’s hard to beat a good sugar cookie recipe and this is one of the best I’ve tried. As a bonus, they freeze well so you can make them now and bring them out later to enjoy.

Let the baking and cookie decorating begin!

Fear of homelessness for the holidays: Georgia rental aid plan still dysfunctional

By
Stanley Dunlap
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(GA Recorder) — Valdosta’s Nakima Reid has been waiting four months to find out if she’ll receive emergency rental assistance that would help her family keep a roof overhead.

The mother of three says she’s unsure where her family will live without the sorely needed support from the Georgia Emergency Rental Assistance Program, designed to provide rental and utility payments to low-income households in danger of eviction.

Reid is one of thousands of Georgia renters and landlords waiting for the financial relief that can cover up to 18 months of rent and utility bills from a Georgia Department of Community Affairs program that’s awaiting a response from the U.S. Treasury Department on its proposal to fix its lagging distribution system and avoid losing millions in federal funding.

By Dec. 8, $55 million of the $552 million allocated for the first round of the Georgia Rental Assistance Program had gone to 8,523 renters. More than 39,000 renters have applied and another $4 million in payments are slated to go out, according to the department’s website.

In Reid’s case, she fell behind eight months in rent after losing her job at a south Georgia pecan factory and that stress compounded with taking care of a 17-year-old son suffering from a serious medical condition.

A local organization was able to walk Reid through the application process in July and while she is about to start a new job, she will need to pay back rent by the end of December or move out of the home she’s lived in for three years.

Reid completed the rental assistance application through a local organization in July, and though she has a new job, she faces tough choices.

“I think it’s sad that a lot of us are waiting around and then getting evicted,” the 42-year-old said. “I thank God, I have the type of landlord I have. He’s been patient but he has bills he has to pay.

“At the end of the day my faith in God is strong,” Reid said. “I can’t sit around and say that God will make way without doing anything. That being said, I have good faith that something’s going to come through.”

The Treasury will soon determine if Georgia’s emergency rental program is making enough progress to prevent losing $120 million to other cities, counties, and states whose applications and payments have been processed more effectively.

More than 30 states submitted their performance improvement plans in November to the federal agency for review, with Georgia’s 9% distribution rate through September well below the 30% threshold set by the Treasury Department.

In the state’s performance improvement plan, the agency complains that it was hard to meet the challenges of launching the program under the quick turnaround. It detailed the steps it has taken to improve a program that is now delivering aid to renters and landlords 60% faster over the past month.

Those numbers should rise with a more user-friendly online portal that simplifies application reviews and payments, more community outreach, and a more efficient operation that allows Georgia residents from the 12 largest metropolitan areas to also apply directly with the state.

Also, the state is transferring $74 million in emergency rental aid to four local rental assistance programs, in big metro Atlanta counties including Fulton, DeKalb, Henry and Clayton. Those four have distributed their entire first round of federal funding for their standalone programs.

“The state fully expects to expend its (first) allocation and have a significant statewide need for the (second round of) funding through 2025 and beyond,” the updated plan says.

‘Culture of compassion’

Since the Sept. 1 expiration of a federal eviction moratorium, which protected many tenants most at risk of becoming homeless during the pandemic, the number of eviction filings in Atlanta’s five-county region has ranged from as low as 9% in Gwinnett County to 38% in DeKalb County, according to the Atlanta Regional Commission’s data tracker.

The 125,000 evictions filed by landlords during the pandemic from April 2020 through the end of this November are half as many as the year before. However, about 30,000 eviction filings in the last three months represent nearly 75% of cases from the same period in 2019, according to the commission.

One of the groups on the frontlines helping Fulton County renters avoid evictions is the Atlanta Volunteer Lawyers Foundation, which worked with the city of Atlanta on its rental aid program during the pandemic.

Executive director Michael Lucas said that programs that provide critical services like rental aid work best when operated with a “culture of compassion.”

While the state’s policy change to allow people to prove their eligibility on the front end is a good practice to speed up the process, at times there can be a disconnect, he said.

And with more eviction cases now moving through the courts, government officials, housing experts, and those in charge of social service programs warn of a tipping point in a housing crisis that for now relies on rental relief to slow the tide.

“We still saw issues that you often see in any large bureaucratic program where the policy maker said that self-attestation was allowed, but people were still being asked follow-up questions where their bank records were scrutinized,” Lucas said. “In some cases, there may be a place for that, but we saw it in places that I think didn’t make sense.”

And continuing updates to the state agency’s portal should make applying is easier for renters and tenants dealing with tense situations that become more frustrating the longer it takes, Lucas said.

“The DCA reports say that one of the biggest barriers is people not uploading the required documentation,” Lucas said. “I can’t believe that the vast majority of applicants don’t want to complete the process.”

Georgia DCA Commissioner Christopher Nunn defended his program against criticism, saying critics often ignore the existing local rental assistance programs that provided a safety net for renters in other states.

Georgia has sent payments to thousands of people requesting relief, while trying to make improvements after the program was hastily launched in March, he said.

“While DCA has streamlined compliance to a significant extent, (Emergency Rental Assistance) was not designed like other federal stimulus programs and cannot provide instantaneous benefits without an application and supporting documentation,” Nunn said in a statement. “To reach those facing an imminent threat of eviction, DCA engaged the magistrate courts early in the program. Any application for assistance that is flagged with an eviction filing is given priority handling.”

Georgia’s plan describes the obstacles behind having just six weeks to establish a rental assistance program, which meant preparing enough staff, setting up an online portal and contracting with community organizations.

In time, the state agency hired more staff after recruiting student workers to work night and weekend shifts from local colleges, set up a call center, and expanded coverage from 12 to 18 months.

The state is also working to raise the public’s awareness that this is an official government program and not a scam, since many landlords were reluctant to provide their bank information to receive the payments, the report says.

The new plan is to also identify and place outreach coordinators in 13 regions of the state.

Lucas said he believes the state would be better off spreading the word through local housing advocates instead of assigning regional outreach coordinators.

Most of the agencies serving renters rely on private donations to supplement government funding, resulting in fewer people getting the help they need, he said.

“If you empower and support local providers throughout the state with more boots on the ground, they will get the word out and help people complete the process,” Lucas said.

According to Kimberly Skobba, associate professor of financial planning, housing, and consumer economics at the University of Georgia, a community-based approach to this type of program can be effective since the local organization already has built-in relationships.

As a whole, the state appears to be making some inroads by streamlining the application process while still following federal guidelines, she said.

What to know

To apply for Georgia’s Emergency Rental Assistance Program go to georgiarentalassistance.ga.gov or for assistance, contact the Department of Community Affairs at [email protected] or 833-827-7368.

For help with Section 8 problems, contact the Georgia Department of Community Affairs:

https://www.dca.ga.gov/safe-affordable-housing/rental-housing-assistance/housing-choice-voucher-program-formerly-known

If immediate assistance is needed because you are experiencing homelessness or on the verge of homelessness, please email [email protected]. For more information, visit DCA’s Homeless and Special Needs Housing.

Georgia Legal Services Program can help with eviction cases  at 833-457-7529 or at https://www.glsp.org/housing/

John Kimsey “Kim” Lawson

By
Now Habersham
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John Kimsey “Kim” Lawson, age 61 of Cornelia, passed away on Tuesday, December 14, 2021.

Born in Gainesville, Georgia on July 25, 1960, he was a son of the late Claude Eugene and Margie Kimsey Lawson. Kim was employed by Habersham Metal Products for 21 years and then opened and operated a very successful local business (Chattahoochee Professional Door) with business partner, Jeff Gerrin, for the last 25 years. As a child, he was a member of Cornelia United Methodist Church. He has been a dedicated member of Mt. Zion United Methodist Church for the last 31 years where he and his wife, Cathy, helped lead the youth program for many years. Kim loved his family deeply and treasured spending time with his 4 grandchildren. He had a lifelong passion for music and loved being in the great outdoors.

Surviving are his loving wife of 43 years, Cathy Hurt Lawson of Cornelia; daughters and sons-in-law, Mandy & Stacy Gunn of Baldwin, Stephanie & Daron LaBruyere of South Carolina, and Ashley & Dylan James of Cornelia; grandchildren, Eden & Arlo LaBruyere of South Carolina and Lawson & Wren James of Cornelia; sister and brother-in-law, Debbe & John Mize of Cumming; brother and sister-in-law, Greg & Pam Lawson of South Carolina.

A Celebration of Life service will be held at a later date.

An online guest register is available and may be viewed at www.mcgaheegriffinandstewart.com.

McGahee-Griffin & Stewart Funeral Home of Cornelia, Georgia (706/778-8668) is in charge of arrangements.

Biden pick to lead FDA fields questions over pharma ties, abortion pill, COVID tests

By
Laura Olson
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Dr. Robert Califf testifies before the U.S. Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee on Dec. 15, 2021. (committee livestream image)

WASHINGTON (GA Recorder) — President Joe Biden’s pick to lead the Food and Drug Administration drew praise from a top Senate Republican, as well as critical questions from conservatives and others during a Tuesday confirmation hearing.

Dr. Robert Califf fielded queries on his ties to the pharmaceutical industry, the pandemic-loosened rules around abortion drugs, and frustrations involving COVID-19 rapid tests.

Califf, 70, is familiar with the role he’s been tapped for: He ran the FDA during the last year of the Obama administration. A cardiologist by training, Califf also served as the agency’s deputy commissioner for medical products and tobacco.

Before those stints with the FDA, he was a professor of medicine at Duke University in North Carolina, where Califf ran the Duke Translational Medicine Institute and the Duke Clinical Research Institute. More recently, he has served as an adviser to San Francisco-based Verily Life Sciences and Google Health.

“I’m not sure you could write a resume of somebody more qualified to be considered for commissioner of the FDA than Rob Califf,” said Sen. Richard Burr, (R-N.C.), the ranking member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee. Burr said that he will be urging his GOP colleagues to back the Biden nominee.

If confirmed by the evenly divided Senate, Califf would become the first permanent head of the FDA under the Biden administration — nearly one year after the president took office.

He would helm an agency that has faced mounting criticism for decisions throughout the pandemic, with rebuilding public trust likely to be a key task.

VIEW: Califf hearing

Criticism over pharma ties

During Tuesday’s hearing, Califf’s work with major pharmaceutical companies drew sharp words from Sen. Bernie Sanders, (I-Vt.), who fumed that nine out of the last 10 FDA commissioners have gone on to work for the pharmaceutical industry.

“Unfortunately, Dr. Califf, you are not the exception to that rule,” Sanders said, noting the nominee’s consulting work and tallying up to $8 million in pharmaceutical stocks on his financial disclosure form. “How can the American people feel comfortable you’re going to stand up to this powerful special interest?”

Califf responded by pointing to the Biden administration’s ethics pledge, saying he’s agreed to abide by strict ethics guidelines and will be held accountable if he falls short.

He also stated that he is on record with his support of allowing Medicare to negotiate with drug manufacturers in an effort to reduce soaring prescription costs.

Sanders isn’t the only senator to have viewed Califf’s pharma ties skeptically: Sen. Joe Manchin III, a West Virginia Democrat, has said he will oppose Califf’s nomination.

Manchin also opposed Califf in 2016 because the senator believes “correcting the culture at the FDA is critical to changing the tide of the opioid epidemic.” According to the West Virginia attorney general’s office, the state has “one of the highest rates in the country of non-medical use of prescription pain relievers among 19-to-25-year-olds.”

Eased access to medication abortion

Several Republican senators, including Sen. Roger Marshall of Kansas, attempted to nail down Califf on whether he supports continuing or undoing the easing of restrictions that allowed for mail-order medication abortion during the COVID-19 pandemic.

A lawsuit last year prompted the FDA to suspend during the public health emergency a requirement that mifepristone must be dispensed in person. Marshall referred to the suspension as a “casual attitude” by the agency to making mifepristone available.

A review of the regulations surrounding those abortion drugs is currently underway, and Califf noted that he’s not yet a part of any discussions.

“I think the FDA has to make this decision based on the latest data in the scientific principles,” he said, adding that he trusts the agency staff to make good decisions.

Sen. Patty Murray, (D-Wash.), who is the panel’s top Democrat, returned to the issue at the end of the hearing, telling Califf that she expects any decision on access to medication abortion to be “governed by data, not by politics.”

Rapid test availability

Much of the agency’s work will remain focused for some time on snuffing out future variants of COVID-19 and ensuring access to the vaccines and tests necessary for the nation to fully return to normal.

Califf acknowledged the difficulties surrounding the lack of access to testing, which the Biden administration has proposed to ease through insurance reimbursement and free tests for those lacking insurance.

He offered few specific policy steps, but described rapid testing as a personal issue for him. His son, Sam, had been feeling a little off ahead of traveling to D.C., but was able to get a rapid test at a pharmacy.

“It was negative, and then we all felt okay about Sam getting on the plane,” Califf said. “And so I think we really have got to redouble our efforts now with omicron.”

Califf also emphasized that more testing allows for catching infections earlier, which can increase the effectiveness of newer antiviral treatments, like a COVID-19 pill touted by Pfizer earlier on Tuesday as highly protective against severe disease.

“There’s a saying: In God we trust. All others must bring data,” Califf quipped, adding that he looks forward to reading the agency’s evaluation of the new antiviral pill.

National right-wing state-level freedom caucus launches at Georgia Capitol

By
Ross Williams
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Sen. Greg Dolezal announces the launch of the Georgia Freedom Caucus in front of a group of state legislators from around the country. (Ross Williams/Georgia Recorder)

ATLANTA (GA Recorder) — State lawmakers from around the country came to Georgia’s Capitol Tuesday to announce a network of state freedom caucuses modeled after and supported by the one in the U.S. House.

Cumming Republican Sen. Greg Dolezal, chair of the new Georgia Freedom Caucus, said the goal is to promote conservative values in state legislatures around the country.

“The state Freedom Caucus will work in each state and among states to secure rights, to defend liberty, to protect each state’s sovereignty,” he said. “The Biden administration is determined to change seemingly every aspect of the American way of life, open border policies, embracing the tenets of critical race theory, and spending our nation into oblivion. We need a local statewide effort to fight that.”

Behind him were about 40 state legislators from Wyoming, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Indiana, South Dakota, Mississippi, Arizona, Iowa, Illinois, Texas, Alaska, Idaho and Nevada.

“Georgia is the first, but it’s not going to be the last,” said Republican strategist Andy Roth, president of the umbrella group State Freedom Caucus Network. “All of these men and women behind me have been isolated and ostracized by special interests by the establishment in both parties, and all because they believe in freedom, in limited government. The State Freedom Caucus Network was created to give them a loud voice in our state Capitols. This means they will now have the resources and the manpower to fight back.”

Georgia’s contingent includes Rep. Philip Singleton of Sharpsburg, Rep. Charlice Byrd of Cherokee County, Rep. Emory Dunahoo of Gillsville, Rep. Sheri Gilligan of Cumming, Rep. Timothy Barr of Lawrenceville and Sen. Burt Jones of Jackson. Sen. Brandon Beach of Alpharetta also stood with the group Tuesday.

Singleton said the new caucus is following the national group’s lead and not publishing a list of members, though they are free to reveal that they belong to the caucus.

“Every state is going to be different, in Georgia, there’s a long history of retribution against members that don’t toe the line,” Singleton said. “Our membership is much deeper and wider than expected, certainly by leadership. There’s a hunger and a desire to drive the state, there are a lot of legislators that really want to see legislation that they care about, that they believe in, like educational freedom, they want to see those types of things passed. And we’re much stronger if our full strength is not known.”

Roth said Singleton was the primary reason for the network to begin in Georgia. The outspoken conservative has often found himself at odds with the powerful House Speaker David Ralston and now finds himself drawn into a heavily Democratic district, which Ralston denies is political payback.

The new caucus could be a headache factory for more moderate Republicans like Ralston. The U.S. House Freedom Caucus famously clashed with former House Speaker John Boehner during the Obama administration and helped open the way for more conservative-leaning Republicans like Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene to be elected. Greene is a member, according to the about page on her House website.

In next year’s legislative session, the caucus’ top priorities will be lowering the state income tax and keeping so-called dangerous ideologies out of schools, Dolezal said, adding that he views blocking bad legislation as equally important to supporting good bills.

“I don’t wake up in the morning and say, ‘You know what Georgia needs tomorrow? More law and regulation,’” he said. “So, we’re going to make sure that we’re also working with our colleagues to stop legislation to increase the size and scope of government, that reduces the liberties among citizens of Georgia.”

Jones, who is running for lieutenant governor, said the caucus will also serve to protect conservatives.

“Not only was this organization necessary to push towards our individual liberties and freedom but also push against a culture of cancellation that seems to be spreading across our many states in our country, the cancel culture as we call it,” he said. “We’ve even experienced that here with Republican conservative legislators because we spoke out and spoke up against what we call the majority, our party, and I think it’s a sad day when elected officials, the very people that represent constituents across the state, can’t really voice their opinions in these hallowed hallways.”

Jones was stripped of his position as chair of the Senate Insurance and Labor Committee earlier this year after he called to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election in Georgia.

The launch comes at a fractious time for the state GOP, as pro-Trump Republicans battle it out with establishment conservatives, most visibly in the Republican primary for governor.

Democrats won’t be bothered if Republicans want to fight among themselves, said Congresswoman Nikema Williams, chair of the Democratic Party of Georgia.

“While the GOP spends the next year engaged in a nasty and divisive internal battle, Democrats are united and laser focused on delivering on the issues that actually affect the lives of everyday Georgians — getting relief to hardworking people, expanding access to health care, and rebuilding our infrastructure from the ground up,” she said.

Dunahoo objected to suggestions the group represents a further crack in party unity, arguing that good conservative legislation will make the Republican party more popular.

“I believe that we’re going to be much stronger as a conservative party, and that we’re not against anybody,” he said. “We want to join a team that makes it stronger, and that’s the ultimate intention of this organization.”

In addition to the announcement at the Capitol, the new caucus members were set to fete former Freedom Caucus chair White House chief of staff Mark Meadows, who faces charges of criminal contempt of Congress for failing to appear before a committee on the Jan. 6 Capitol attack, at a Buckhead gala Tuesday night.

Baldwin gives final approval to 132-acre land annexation

By
Joy Purcell
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The Baldwin City Council met on Dec. 13, 2021, and granted final approval to a 132-acre annexation request. (livestream image)

The Baldwin City Council gave its final approval Monday to a major annexation on the south end of Habersham County. The council unanimously approved the second reading of a request from Acres & Acres, LLC to annex 132.724 acres of unincorporated land into the city. The parcel in question sits in the Thompson Road, Alto Mud Creek Road area near GA 365.

Council gave its initial approval on November 9. During that meeting, a number of area residents expressed their concerns about the annexation, saying apartments and the development expected to come along with the annexation would take away from the rural atmosphere of Habersham County.

Others expressed public safety concerns regarding increased traffic on GA 365, which has a high number of accidents at its crossovers and intersections.

The council pushed final approval of the annexation to its December 14 meeting in order to give the company time to draw an updaed platt showing the required minimum fifty-foot buffer alongside county property.

VIEW: Baldwin City Council meeting 

In addition to approving the annexation, the Baldwin City Council also unanimously voted to rezone the newly annexed property. They changed the zoning on the parcels along GA 365 and Alto Mud Creek Road to light industrial from its current low-intensity. They rezoned the Thompson Road property to R3 multi-family from its current moderate-intensity zoning.

The amended zoning includes a condition that any development on the R3 property is required to go through the city council.

“They do have to submit a plan prior to any acceptance of changes or building permits issued on the property,” said Baldwin City Clerk Emily Woodmaster. She clarified for the council that, if the land is sold, any future developments would still have to get the city council’s approval.

MORE: Baldwin joins low-income water assistance program

Councilmember Alice Venter acknowledges people’s concerns about possible future developments. Still, “annexing it in means we get to hold them [developers] to a higher standard” than she says they would have been held to if the land had remained in the county.

Lula Capital LLC, the developer involved in the residential development that sparked controversy last year in Baldwin, has expressed interest in the property but Venter says no plans have been presented to the city.

Atlanta tops list of Best Cities for Christmas

By
Staff Report
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If you’re looking for a place to spend Christmas, you may want to consider Atlanta. Georgia’s capital city ranks first on a new list of Best Cities for Christmas.

Atlanta ranks just above Orlando, Florida, on the list and gets high marks for generosity, traditions and fun.

The top 100 list, compiled by WalletHub, compared the 100 biggest U.S. cities based on 32 indicators of a festive and affordable Christmas including traditions, shoppings, and cost. They even factored in the percentage of residents who are fully vaccinated and the city’s overall generosity.

Atlanta scored an overall ranking of 69.5 out of 100. Orlando scored 64.70 and Las Vegas was third at 63.7.

Here’s a look at the Top 20:

Best Cities for Christmas
1. Atlanta, GA
2. Orlando, FL
3. Las Vegas, NV
4. Pittsburgh, PA
5. San Francisco, CA
6. Seattle, WA
7. Los Angeles, CA
8. Cincinnati, OH
9. New York, NY
10. Portland, OR
11. Miami, FL
12. Chicago, IL
13. St. Louis, MO
14. Raleigh, NC
15. Denver, CO
16. Honolulu, HI
17. Austin, TX
18. Cleveland, OH
19. Minneapolis, MN
20. San Diego, CA

Atlanta placed fourth on Wallet Hub’s list of Best Cities for New Year’s. Not surprisingly, New York is number one.

Don’t Look Up

By
Justin Hall
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Don’t Look Up is a movie that is getting a limited release and then moving to Netflix on Christmas Eve. Writer/director Adam McKay has assembled an all-star cast coupled with a timely premise, but it’s not as effective as it would like to be and the tone makes it somewhat difficult to care.

Leonardo DiCaprio and Jennifer Lawrence star as a couple of astronomers who discover a gigantic comet the size of Mt. Everest is on a collision course with Earth.

They try to get the attention of the President (Meryl Streep) to intervene but her advice is to “sit tight and assess.” Jonah Hill costars as her son who also works at the White House. Oh, and Lawrence’s character is very mad at the fact the general for the Pentagon charged her for snacks that were originally free.

DiCaprio and Lawrence go on a media tour to try and warn the world of the impending danger, but no one takes them seriously. Tyler Perry and Cate Blanchett star as a couple of talk show hosts who respond in jest although Blanchett does take a liking to DiCaprio in more ways than one.

We also get a lot of supporting work from the likes of Rob Morgan who assists the astronomers; Mark Rylance as a Steve Jobs type inventor with a monotonous voice; Timothee Chalamet as a drifter who connects with Lawrence in some effective scenes and even Ron Perlman as a foul-mouthed character who gets chosen to help blow the comet off its trajectory. They each get their moments and sometimes the scenes work.

The problem with this movie is that doesn’t know what tone and direction it wants to take. It wants to be a biting satire on climate change and false news while trying to bring a farcical take on the disaster genre.

The humor is scattershot with only brief moments getting a chuckle at best when it should have us howling. It feels too reserved when it should be more daring and plays many scenes too safe.

I admired the cast in a lot of scenes, but the overall execution is a letdown. This movie goes out with a whimper instead of a big bang.

Grade: B-

(Rated R for for language throughout, some sexual content, graphic nudity and drug content.)

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