Government & Politics

Government & Politics

Obama Delays Asia Trip

Submitted by 41 News on Fri, 2010-03-12 09:23

President Barack Obama is delaying his trip to Asia next week to focus on his big push on health care.

A senior administration official tells The Associated Press that Obama now plans to leave Washington on March 21 and return March 26. The original dates were March 18 to March 24. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because the White House hasn't announced the delay.

Liz Foster's picture

Ga. Senate approves property tax bill

Submitted by Liz Foster on Fri, 2010-03-12 09:09

The state Senate has approved a wide-ranging overhaul of property taxes in Georgia.

The Senate voted 54-to-zero for the measure on Thursday.  Its sponsor, Senate Majority Leader Chip Rogers, says assessments in Georgia aren't keeping pace with fair market values.  The Woodstock Republican says the economy has dragged down home vales, but many assessments remain artificially high.

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House delays vote on anti-bullying proposal

Submitted by Liz Foster on Fri, 2010-03-12 09:07

Efforts to update Georgia's anti-bullying statute stalled in the House as its supporters faced opposition from fellow representatives.

Representative Mike Jacobs tabled the bill Thursday after lengthy debate with his colleagues. House Bill 927 would expand the state's current law against bullying to include students in kindergarten through fifth grade and would allow administrators to
transfer a bully to another school after the first incident rather than the third.

Liz Foster's picture

Former John Edwards aide returning to NC court

Submitted by Liz Foster on Fri, 2010-03-12 08:59

A former aide to John Edwards is returning to court just days after a North Carolina judge nearly sent him to jail over his handling of a videotape purportedly showing the two-time presidential candidate in a sexual encounter.

Shelby Coates's picture

State Leaders Discuss Georgia's Water Shortage

Submitted by Shelby Coates on Thu, 2010-03-11 16:51

For two days, state leaders visited Macon to discuss some of Georgia's toughest problems. Education and transportation were some of the hot issues, but the biggest focus was on the state's limited water supply. A judge ruled, the Atlanta area can no longer use Lake Lanier for drinking water. He gave the state a 3-year deadline to find another water source. Now, neighboring states and local cities are joining Atlanta to find a solution.

Michigan Lawmaker Threatening to Derail Health Care

Submitted by 41 News on Thu, 2010-03-11 09:18

Rep. Bart Stupak has become the unofficial leader of a small but powerful bloc threatening to derail President Barack Obama's health care overhaul.

A dozen socially conservative Democrats say they won't support the legislation without a prohibition on paying for abortions with federal money. Stupak wrote a provision to their liking for a House bill approved last November, but the Senate replaced it with wording he considers unacceptable.

Opposition from his faction could doom the measure and cripple Barack Obama's presidency.

Shelby Coates's picture

Eric Johnson Announces Budget Reform Plans

Submitted by Shelby Coates on Wed, 2010-03-10 19:06

One Republican candidate for governor says he's making it his mission to fix Georgia's budget problems. Tuesday, candidate Eric Johnson announced the steps he wants to take to reform the state's budget process. He says if elected, state agencies will be more open, and only spend the amount of money they have through a zero-based budgeting system. He also wants to set up a Back to Basics Commission to make sure state agencies are staying on task with their budgets.

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Sen. Scott Brown to Soon Release Memoirs

Submitted by Coreen Savitski on Wed, 2010-03-10 11:12

The new republican senator from Massachusetts is getting ready to publish his memoirs.

Senator Scott Brown pulled off one of the biggest political upsets in recent history when he won the seat held by the late Senator Edward Kennedy.

Now, Harper Collins says it plans to publish the Senator's memoirs in a currently untitled book slated for released in early 2011.

There's no word on how much Senator Brown will be paid for the book, however, his contract will be subject to review by the Senate Ethics Committee.

 

Shelby Coates's picture

City of Macon Holds Second Public Hearing for Tax Increase

Submitted by Shelby Coates on Tue, 2010-03-09 17:38

Dozens of people showed up at Macon City Hall, Tuesday to voice their opinions about a proposed millage rate increase. City leaders want to keep the same millage rate it's had for the past five years. Because of higher property values, it would mean a tax increase for property owners.

US Troop Withdrawal Plan on Schedule

Submitted by 41 News on Mon, 2010-03-08 09:20

The top U.S. general in Iraq says the Iraqi military performed superbly on Sunday's mostly peaceful election day and that President Barack Obama's plan to remove American combat troops from that country by Sept. 1 is proceeding on schedule.

Gen. Ray Odierno says commanders will constantly reassess the situation. But he says that as of now, every sign points to Iraqis being able to peacefully form a new government in coming months.

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