There is so much to change it is easy to over look one or two dozen items.

Thanks very much.

I’m all for capitalism, as unfettered as possible. My concern is when people try to use the legislative process to cut corners and obtain an unfair advantage against competition. I also don’t like it when some folks want to use the state budget as an extension of their personal piggy banks. Based on your well-written reply, I’m sure we’re on the same page there, too.

Unfunded federal mandates, unfunded state mandates and, as you pointed out a large portion of the middle class is debt-ridden (think about that literally) because of decisions made by others. The middle income folks will wind up paying for almost all of it.

As for Milton County, I believe I see what you mean. With all of the problems we have, this should not be a front-burner issue.

The lobbyist wasn’t questioned.

Richardson wasn’t questioned.

In fact, no one was called to testify or even to provide information.

No documents were requested either from the complainant nor from any other party mentioned in the complaint. Even courts let you do discovery on flimsy claims up to a point.

And if Johnson knew about an obvious conflict of interest, why wouldn’t he say something??

When exactly does “turning a blind eye” end?

I knew what you meant RE: Speaker Murphy, well written.

Our Country is an ‘ownership society’ and I have no issue with ‘moneyed interests’ doing what they normally do – Make more money. Ayn Rand, all that, A-OK in my book.

That said, a large portion of the middle class is shackled to debt that will never be paid, not of their own making. I oppose subsidizing the wealth creation of others with my tax dollars. I also opposed Maplethorpe.

I don’t oppose the pro-Milton County camp, contrarily, it is probably good for me. But is it right, right now?

My issue coincides with the gist of your post, that is, the ‘well moneyed’ interests will waste no time putting Milton County on the agenda this year. As you point out, I suspect most Georgians find other issues far more pressing.

This is a generational opportunity for the pro-Milton camp and I have little doubt it will be exploited.

Why wasn’t any proof proferred with the allegation? Typically when you file a lawsuit, your complaint lists specifics and not just “everyone knows this happened”.

Even if Johnson knew about it himself, if he wasn’t willing to go on record with his knowledge, there was nothing the Committee could do – even though he chaired it.

Just trying to figure out how far the line of blindness extends.

Innuendo can NOT be acted on. Testimony and hard facts SHOULD be acted on – immediately.

Just the phrase “moneyed interests” makes me nervous and jittery.

In an earlier post (different topic) I mentioned how Tom Murphy used to run the state house like a whore house and how Speaker Richardson was headed down the same path. I’m confident that you understand what I meant.

It would be nice to believe that our state legislature was governed by people who are self-regulating and solely concerned with the welfare of our state. It would be nice . . . but foolish. They bear watching simply because they are people, too.

Economically and fiscally, we are about to enter into uncharted territory. We have a mess in the making: increasing numbers of unemployed and underemployed; decreasing state tax revenues for the next few years consecutively; energy costs that are about to increase even more (devalued dollar, increased stress in the Middle East with the real potential for a shooting war between Israel and Iran and if we have cap and trade then it becomes a steep increase in energy costs) and taking a greater toll on poor, rural areas because of transportation and commuter costs; decreased housing and other construction permits; the siphoning off of productive capital from the private sector to cover the increase in federal stupidity; etc.

Like I said, it’s a mess and that’s before we begin to consider the implication of costs to the state of a health care bill that is a self-destructive nightmare of epic proportions. Somehow this state must find a way to balance its budget and still perform necessary services while the federal government looks to hamstring us in an increasing number of ways.

We are going to need real leadership at the state level and just like the state house must carefully choose a speaker, we must carefully choose our state constitutional officers and our state and federal legislators. We don’t have the luxury of making mistakes because the margin for error is almost non-existent.

Adults need to be in charge.

I know it sounds gloomy, but that’s the way I see it. The scary thing is that I am an optimist.

Sadly, I must admit that Terry Coleman and I are from the same town. This goes to show that a hometown speaker is not always the best speaker.

Just to clarify, I am not, nor have ever been a supporter of Mr. Coleman’s. In fact, I was once the campaign manager for one of his opponents. It was . . . educational.

I am from South Georgia.

1 – I make no bones about the fact that I believe David Ralston would make a superb Georgia House Speaker – despite the fact that he lives probably six hours or so from me.

2 – I believe Mark Burkhalter should hold the election as quickly as is practical. To hold the election later than that hurts the Republican Party by bringing Richardson’s scandal into an election year. Party regulars need to be focused on state and Congressional elections NOT Mark Burkhalter’s selfish desire to acquire the speakership.

3 – I believe Mark Burkhalter is a slow-moving scandal in progress. This is due to several things, not the least of which is the hiring of a certain former AGL employee. I’m sure you are aware that is not the only problem.

4 – While there may be people who prefer that the Speaker not come from metro Atlanta. I’m not one of them. I just want the best Speaker we can get.

5 – We are about to be hit in the face with budget problems that are not even on most people’s radar yet. We need experienced leadership.

6 – If after his time in the state legislature and especially in leadership positions, Mark Burkhalter needs to extend the time for elections for an additional 120 days in order to secure the necessary votes, then he is not the leader we need.

7 – I hesitate to even list this because it is a distraction to the issue. To the people in 158 Georgia counties, the reformation of Milton County is a non-issue. We simply do not care.

8 – We need to move forward, hold the election for Georgia House Speaker as soon as it is practical and move forward. There are things that need to be done. I want that newly elected speaker to succeed, without regard to who they are.

The voters north of the river want Milton County and they should have the ability to choose- in fact there have been many folks in the south that have pondered reforming Campbell County.

“The fact is people like Rep. Hardin and David Ralston do not want someone from North Fulton as speaker . . . thats the bottom line”

Not only is this an amazingly asinine statement, it makes no sense. Care to futilely grasp at some type of logic for your statement? Why would it matter to anyone other than, apparently, you and Mark Burkhalter?

Even North Fulton Commissioner Tome Lowe is on the record saying resurrecting Milton is folly.

Does anyone really think this will go anywhere with the Obama Justice Department rulings on citizenship verification that they will sanction a de facto splitting of Fulton into a majority white and affluent north county and a majority black and less affluent south county under its section 5 oversight?

The Beacon is trash and should not be trusted

The fact is people like Rep. Hardin and David Ralston do not want someone from North Fulton as speaker . . . thats the bottom line