Republican incumbent Saxby Chambliss and Democratic rival Jim Martin are in a heated race for Georgia’s U.S. Senate seat. The gap between the two has closed dramatically in recent weeks as the economy has taken hold as the No. 1 issue on voters’ minds. The current crisis on Wall Street has paid dividends for Democrats as Republicans have taken the brunt of the blame.
No surprise here. But the Barr campaign had been hoping they’d get the nod. The endorsement of the Republican ticket likely has more to do with Palin, who has the sportsman “cred,” than McCain, who has been lambasted for anti-gun stances in the past. (more…)
The following is a tally of how Georgia congressmen voted in the House bailout bill. Both Senators Chambliss and Isakson voted for the bill. Only Lewis and Scott changed their vote from the previous bailout bill that failed early last week. (more…)
U.S. District Judge Marvin Shoob has dismissed a lawsuit against the city of Atlanta over a dispute regarding the legality of carrying a firearm at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport. A new Georgia law allows those with a license to carry a concealed weapon to do so in more public places than before, but the ruling means this right does not extend to unsecured areas of the airport. GeorgiaCarry.Org, a pro-gun lobby, has filed an appeal.
We will take a closer look at the gun control debate and how it impacts Georgians in the upcoming November edition of Atlanta Life.
Friday seems like a good day to do a bit of news round-up, so here goes.
:: Earlier this week, Gov. Perdue called for opening the Strategic Petroleum Reserve in order to help alleviate gas shortages across the state (which I questioned in a previous blog post). Surprisingly enough, however, the U.S. Department of Energy says it will release some 900,000 barrels of oil to two refineries who had requested the move. But the DOE made of point of noting that Perdue’s own request did not weigh on the decision to open the reserve. Whatever the case, metro Atlanta should be back to full capacity by, say, the end of the hurricane season. That’s only a few weeks off! (more…)
From Oct. 2-5, Georgians can take advantage of local and state sales tax exemptions on energy and water efficient products for their home. The exemptions are limited to product purchases of $1,500 or less. Eligible items include Energy Star appliances such as refrigerators and dishwashers, and other efficient products that meet EPA requirements. For more details and a full list of eligible products, go here.
Several polling stations across Fulton, Gwinnett, Cobb and DeKalb counties are open today for those voters ready to cast their ballot for local, state and national offices ahead of the Nov. 4 election day. Turnout is expected to be high as the Democratic and Republican base - those oft forgotten decided voters - will likely take advantage of an opportunity to bypass longer lines less than six weeks from now. (more…)
The October issue of Atlanta Life will be hitting racks in restaurants, retail shops, doctor’s offices and elsewhere in the next week.
Barack Obama and John McCain grace our cover this coming month, and inside you’ll find each candidate’s stated position on the four most pressing issues voters are thinking about: war and terrorism, the economy, energy and the environment, and healthcare. We’ve also included the positions of Libertarian candidate and former Georgia congressman Bob Barr. To learn more about Barr, check out our feature profile of him in the August issue (click the magazine cover icon on our home page to access the archives). Lastly, we’ve included information about candidates running for Georgia’s Senate seat, currently held by Saxby Chambliss, and also information about candidates vying for congressional seats from districts 6 and 7. (more…)
U.S. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas is said to be reviewing the case for a stay of execution for convicted murderer Troy Anthony Davis. Justice Thomas is not required to make any formal decision, but not doing so ensures that Davis will die by lethal injection at 7 p.m. tonight at the Georgia Diagnostics & Classifications Facility in Jackson.
Another update will be coming later this evening. Stay tuned.
When you check the mailbox tomorrow, you may find fliers blasting a political candidate for this or that position. And you might assume the attack ad is endorsed by a political opponent or watchdog group. But the truth is, you may simply have no way of knowing. That’s because a new Georgia law allows candidates, organizations and individuals supporting political candidates to send mailings to your home address without disclosing their identity. (more…)
