Senator Ligon - please PASS, don't PUNT

Note - my last post was very favorable towards Senator Ligon. And I still wish him and his family well. I hope THIS lapse in leadership is temporary.

State Senator Ligon punted on 2d down when he said it was too hard and time consuming to even schedule a vote on SB10 - the local option bill for Sunday package sales.   It's one of the simplest shortest bills I've ever read. It surely lacks the complexity of major tax reform or budgeting which SHOULD take the bulk of their time. Those issues "chew up the clock" and take a ground game. Voting to put Sunday package sales in the hands of each of the 159 counties does not require great study, deliberative time, or expense. It may require LEADERS who can take the heat from sideline demagogues who falsely frame it as fostering “Sunday sales so the alcoholics can get likkered up”. SB10 actually ALLOWS counties who wish to call for a vote to treat Sunday package sales consistent with their existing local laws on alcohol sales. There is great variety across Georgia except in this area where the state has maintained a unique prohibition. Unique in Georgia. And one of only three states in the country with this remnant of prohibition.  Senator Ligon, if you can’t take heat, don’t punt. PASS it on to the counties who WANT the opportunity to vote.  This bill comes up every year decade after decade.  Some mistakenly thought with the GOP super majority, it would finally pass. Didn’t Republicans say they believed in smaller government, less government, local control, and free enterprise?

Triple Congratulations to Freshman State Senator William Ligon

TRIPLE congratulations to freshman State Senator William Ligon! In his first week in office, Senator Ligon scored

1. Appointment as a senate deputy whip. This is really good news for the coastal area which lost so much leadership with the departures of Senator Eric Johnson and State Rep Jerry Keen. And it’s good news to all those who support Senator Ligon’s focus on constitutional principles. As deputy whip he’ll first be TOLD what the majority supports that day/week and asked to secure a headcount for the votes. I hope he quickly becomes one who does the telling and leading to make the tough decisions. Early indicators are completely positive.
2. Appointment as Vice-Chairman of the Senate Education Committee. That’s the hot seat for making tough decisions since well over half the strained state budget is in education and government schooling.
   Plus he’s a member of Health and Human Services, Judiciary, Public Safety, and Ethics committees. And those are all vital areas. In my view Public Safety and the Judiciary are the cornerstones of the state’s role in society. And Ethical practices among officeholders and bureaucrats are essential to protect taxpayers and every day enterprise from favoritism and pork.  Five committees. That’s a lot of committee work. Add in the constituent services and other legislative duties and it’s no job for the feint hearted. While I want our legislators to put heart and soul into critical issues, they ARE (fortunately) part time citizen legislators.  I wish Senator Ligon and his young family well as they balance the demands and keep their roots strong and healthy.
3. a bold first legislative initiative to curtail Medicaid fraud. In the Brunswick News last week Ligon said Medicaid fraud costs the states an estimated $300 million per year. Optimistically, eliminating that fraud could close up to 15% of the $2B gap in the state budget.  I’m glad to see Senator Ligon tackle a big issue head-on and not waste time pandering on feel good issues that cost vital taxpayer dollars.

If you want to keep up with Senator Ligon, please visit his new website at http://www.senatorligon.com/ and keep up with the legislature at http://www.legis.ga.gov/en-US/default.aspx

And Vote Chris McFadden for Court of Appeals

Republicans make historic gains

Check out the National Conference of State Legislatures for the news on historic gains in state legislatures.
For example:

• “Republicans have added over 675 seats to their ranks in this election, dramatically surpassing 1994 gains.
• The chamber switches thus far are all Democratic to Republican except for Montana House which was tied and is now Republican, and the Oregon House which was Democratic and is now tied. …
• This is the first time in Alabama that Republicans have controlled the legislature since reconstruction.
• The North Carolina Senate has not been Republican since 1870.
• And Republicans have reportedly taken over 100 seats in the New Hampshire House.
• For the first time in history, the Minnesota Senate will be controlled by the GOP.”

See more http://www.ncsl.org/tabid/21253/default.aspx

Vote TODAY for Mary Helen Moses for Superior Court - call your friends

Dear friends, if you haven't voted yet, please vote TODAY for Mary Helen Moses for Superior Court Judge.

If you HAVE already voted, please call 2 or 3 people who know and trust you - in Glynn, Camden, Appling, Wayne, and Jeff Davis County and ask THEM to vote TODAY for Mary Helen Moses. Believe me, people get busy. They don't pay attention. It's not too late until the polls close at 7:00 pm - in little over 17 hours.

 

It is the MOST IMPORTANT vote I will cast today.

Glynn, Camden, Appling, Wayne, and Jeff Davis voters in the Brunswick Judicial Circuit have a RARE opportunity to vote in the FIRST contested race in 16 years and the first competitive challenger vs incumbent race in my memory.

I will vote for Mary Helen Moses for Superior Court Judge because I like that she (1) advocates open and modern court processes for the legal community and the public; (2) stresses the importance of listening and applying the law vs. advocating social policy; (3) conducts herself professionally with a temperament that inspires confidence; and (4) is not involved in court transactions which may raise questions of nepotism.  I think she is objective, courageous, fair & fit for the court. (And for the record she is a conservative Republican)

If you know Judge Williams from 10, 20, or 30 years ago you might be mystified at the opposition to her now. You might only remember her distinguished career and first 3 or 4 terms as Superior Court Judge. Since becoming Chief Judge (due to seniority) her circuit administrative responsibilities are much larger. And approximately concurrently, she has managed the Drug Court from its inception to its daily operations. A SIXTH term is too much. It’s time for a change. Electing Mary Helen Moses to the Superior Court will allow many changes. It will make Judge Wilkes the new Chief Judge. It will allow reassignment, reorganization, and a fresh look at the court administration.

From what I've seen personally at forums; the calls and emails I am getting from attorneys, reporters, activists, and a variety of people in criminal justice; and from the advertisements I've seen in the paper, I am very concerned about the openness and appropriateness of operations in our Brunswick Circuit Superior Court in recent years. Maybe it’s just a workload and micromanagement problem. I see an "out of touch" royal incumbency after Judge Williams 20 years in office. In Judge Williams most recent tenure, I see someone:

▪        Insufficiently concerned about the appearance of propriety. Judge Williams says if all parties agree it's perfectly ok for her to hear cases before her attorney family members. Could it be possible that parties could be too INTIMIDATED to speak or object? Wouldn't someone concerned about abuse of power avoid even the appearance of abuse of power and nepotism? Why not simply recuse herself from any cases involving her family?

▪        Insufficiently concerned about the appearance of intimidation.   I do not think it’s appropriate to use the names of Sheriffs and particularly the Chief of Police in a paid political advertisement.  Of course those law enforcement individuals are citizens with the right to vote and contribute $$ as they wish. But it's too readily perceived as intimidation. Does the Judge not recognize this?

▪        Who doesn't seem to recognize the truth if it doesn't suit her.
Judge Williams says in a Fri Oct 29 paid advertisement regarding the jail location "I have not been involved in anything about site selection, site discussions. I have never been involved in that.”  In the Mary Helen Moses radio spot, you can hear Judge Williams words in her own voice speaking to the County Commissioners "To me it just doesn't make any sense to move this jail away from the Courthouse"

▪        Who must control every drug case and administer the drug court - unlike other counties where the cases rotate among judges.

▪        Who can't tolerate open discussion or q&a in public.

▪        Who uses public funds, law enforcement, and jails to enforce her vision of social good - at a more extreme level than other similar courts

▪        Who frightens attorneys and others into silence.

I want fresh air in the Glynn County Courthouse.
We don't get to vote on federal judges. We do get to vote at the state level. Let's take this opportunity seriously and make sure no one gets too comfortable or powerful. Call someone you know in Glynn, Camden, Wayne, Appling or Jeff Davis County. Remind them to vote for Mary Helen Moses TODAY.