James July-August 2024 web - Flipbook - Page 7
Cobb County attorney and former U.S. Rep. Bob Barr
was elected by the National Rifle Association board of
directors as its new president tasked with building its
membership and supporting its endorsed presidential
candidate Donald Trump. Barr, who served in the House
of Representatives from 1995 until 2003, says “I have
been a fighter my whole life and I commit to boldly fight
for our Second Amendment rights on behalf of the millions of NRA members.” He now embarks on having the
NRA’s clout RISING . . .
A group of female state House of Representatives Democrats continue to be livid over an investigation into sexual
harassment allegations against House Minority Leader
James Beverly, D-Macon, that they say was insular and
inadequate. Rep. Ruwa Romman, D-Duluth, was the first
to call on Beverly to resign. And Beverly’s denials and
claim of vindication continue to cause chaos among the
Democrat Caucus. For example, with November elections
a top priority, House Democrats say the Beverly flap has
consumed so many meetings and angry back-and-forth
attacks that it has hampered fundraising and candidate
support. Sinking . . .
Medicaid expansion has been a tricky issue for state leaders in recent years, with Gov. Brian Kemp reluctant to go
for a full, expensive expansion while some other Republicans evaluate other options. Ahead of next year’s legislative session Kemp has tapped Caylee Noggle, a former
aide who heads the Georgia Hospital Association, to head
up the Comprehensive Health Coverage Commission. It
will review the best means for access to quality health
care in Georgia. RISING . . .
Cobb County held its County Commission races as normal this year, but could they get thrown out? A lawsuit
over whether to use the district lines drawn by county
officials or by the state legislature remains stalled in the
Cobb Superior Court. Should the judge deem the new
lines unconstitutional the county would have to redo all
its local elections— primaries and all. The legal limbo has
Cobb voters Drifting . . .
It is almost certain that former President Donald Trump’s
White House political director is headed to Congress after
winning a June 18 GOP primary runoff in Georgia’s 3rd
U.S. Congressional District. Peachtree City resident Brian
Jack was endorsed by Trump and developed an impressive fundraising/grassroots operation which helped to initially defeat other Republicans in the May 21 primary. The
district, stretching from southwestern Atlanta suburbs
to Columbus, is heavily Republican— and the 36-year-old
Trumper faces token Democrat opposition in the November election. This new Republican rock star is RISING . . .
There will be one Georgian on presidential ballots come
November. Atlanta’s Chase Oliver won the Libertarian
Party’s nomination for president, emerging from a field of
nine candidates. Oliver is no stranger to campaigning. The
former Democrat forced a runoff between Raphael Warnock and Herschel Walker by taking two percent of the
vote in their 2022 Senate race. Third parties always face
an uphill battle, but Oliver has a chance to promote his
Libertarian message during campaign season. RISING . . .
A water main break in Downtown Atlanta turned into
national headlines as much of the city was left without
water— or at least clean water— for nearly a week. “It’s
not my fault but it is my problem,” said Atlanta Mayor
Andre Dickens, and with the city’s outdated water infrastructure it’s a problem that may well rear its ugly head
again. Sinking . . .
After a dismal first quarter that showed a $231 million
loss, Southwest Airlines plans to cut half of its flights
out of Atlanta among other cost-cutting measures. The
Dallas-based airline is struggling with rising labor costs
and delays in aircraft production from Boeing. Southwest’s presence in Georgia is Sinking . . .
For years Georgia lawmakers have pondered legalizing
local option parimutuel horse racing, but when you can
skip straight to winning a Triple Crown race, who needs
it? Three-year-old colt Dornoch, owned by Atlantans
Keith Mason and Larry Connolly, won the Belmont
Stakes held in June at New York’s Saratoga Race Course.
The businessmen founded West Paces Racing (named for
the famous Buckhead street) only in 2019, but already
have found major success on the track. RISING . . .
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