Safe as Houses

Granted I think Georgia, and many Southern states, have some challenges when it comes to shifting over to some forms of renewable energy based on a variety of geographical and geological circumstances.

However, I think the bigger challenge is the close relationships between our political leaders and the lobbyists who represent our energy providers, and that's clearly apparent in Stan Wise's 'we can't do anything' attitude that was on display yesterday ...

“My job is (to provide) safe, reliable — and affordable — electric service,” Wise said in an interview. “I support renewables. But it’s not sustainable in our state.”

Of course, given that the recently passed stimulus package literally has billions of dollars available for states to utilize and move toward a green economy, Wise's argument isn't entirely accurate. Nor is his assertion that it's not feasible to reach 25 percent usage of renewable energy.

And that's evident in a recent report by the Southern Alliance for Renewable Energy that showed that Georgia can expect to receive 25 percent to 40 percent of its energy supplied by alternative means. The discrepency, again, largely reflects the lack of political will to shift course in Atlanta as the report identifies significant sources of clean, renewable energy available offshore through wind and oceanic currents.

Most folks who followed me from my humble beginnings know that usually I blog about a variety of things. While I still intend to do so, I also feel it's important to note that The Wife and I have started an actual family blog where our relatives and friends can go. In past months, they've gone to Safe As Houses to find pictures of my daughter, but seeing how we're working hard to build up a progressive infrastructure in Georgia - and a lot of my relatives and friends are, well, Republican - I figured we'd spare everyone by just starting up a family-only blog.

So, for those interested, you can check out Emma Kate Plus Two.

In all, 24 Democrats opted to vote in favor of The Georgia Power Ponzi Scheme.

Rep. Ellis Black
Rep. Amy Carter
Rep. Mike Cheokas
Rep. Hardie Davis
Rep. Dee Dawkins-Haigler
Rep. Karla Drenner
Rep. Carl Epps
Rep. Gloria Frazier
Rep. Carol Fullerton
Rep. Mike Glanton
Rep. Keith Heard
Rep. Joe Heckstall
Rep. Henry Howard
Rep. Sistie Hudson
Rep. Lynmore James
Rep. Darryl Jordan
Rep. Kevin Levitas
Rep. Howard Mosby
Rep. Quincy Murphy
Rep. Nikki Randall
Rep. Jay Shaw
Rep. Calvin Smyre
Rep. Al Williams

The cold, calculated and systematic shift of more and more fiscal burden onto the backs of the middle class, working Georgians and lower-income citizens was made much clearer today at the Georgia House of Representatives.

We're familiar with The Great Republican Corporate Giveway Act, but today, by a 107-66 count, The Georgia Power Ponzi Scheme was sent to the governor's desk. This piece of legislation is awful on a variety of accounts, ranging from the philosophical to the pragmatic, and it's so obviously bad that it's managed to actually result in seeing us Democrats at Tondee's Tavern agree wholeheartedly with the Republicans and Libertarians at Peach Pundit.

Now, I'm not saying nuclear power is a bad idea, nor am I saying that Georgia Power is a bad company. What I am saying, however, is that a bill that aims to increase the rates now to pay for a project eight years down the road, removes all risk from the developer, forces the current ratepayer to subsidize future users, falsely touts a savings figure that has been disputed by most observers, including the Public Servic Commission, and limits any incentive for Georgia Power to avoid cost overruns is poor policy.

It's an insane business proposition that most would deem unethical in the private sector.

To top it off, it exempts the largest consumers of energy in the state - big businesses and large corporations - from this rate increase, thus passing the buck to individual users and small businesses.

And while I agree with my friends from the other side of the political spectrum that this bill is awful, it's interesting to note that they are picking up on what we've been saying here the past few weeks ...

Large Commercial customers of Georgia Power are exempt from the rate increases under this bill. This truly emphasizes that our Republican leadership is no longer “pro-business”, but “pro-big business”. Individual consumers and small business will now be subsidizing the electric rates of the largest power users.

Again, this is a bad bill for the consumers of Georgia, but it's also a bad bill politically for the Georgia GOP. It's the type of bill that succinctly captures what's been going on the past few years in Atlanta. It's the type of bill which, if articulated properly by an effective opposition, is one that electorally wipes out those who backed it.

And it should.

A lot of the folks at Peach Pundit get that. While I have fundamental ideological disagreements with many of them, I also recognize they know what they're talking about politically, and they've forcefully been in opposition to this bill for all the right reasons ranging from the realities of its impact on consumers to the consequences for their political party.

Our job, however, as progressives in Georgia is to continue to highlight this massive disconnect between what the citizens of this state want - including the grassroots GOP supporters - and what they actually get from the Republican leadership.

The actions of the past two weeks have made it rather clear where the Republicans in Atlanta stand.

Interesting to note that the two Athens-Clarke County legislators split on S.B. 31, with Rep. Doug McKillip voting against the bill and Rep. Keith Heard, in his perpetual attempt to absolutely confound his supporters, voted in favor of The Georgia Power Ponzi Scheme.

You know, I've spent much of this morning wondering how I knew the name of William Olson, and it turns out that I knew him through his profession. Olson presented the majority of cases when I served on a Clarke County Grand Jury last year, and, like Ken Mauldin said, he really is a very nice guy.

As fate would have it, though, he's also not terribly bright.

While reading this article, there were times I laughed out loud and felt I was reading a scene from Dumb and Dumber ...

A street vendor told the officer that Olson ate a hot dog and walked away without paying; he also put his hands on the vendor's chest two times, according to police.

When the officer caught up with Olson, the prosecutor said he didn't know anything about a hot dog, though he had ketchup and mustard on his shirt, police said.

I can't recall too much from Olson's time presenting the cases, but I do remember that he liked to play golf. That, and when you spoke to him, you had the feeling his mind was elsewhere.

As we enter Year Four of our attempt to normalize the sale of alcohol in this state, things like this are getting to be pretty frustrating.

From what I can gather from some reports I've heard, a lot of the legislators deliberately skipped the meeting because it's a political hot potato in the Deep South. And this Atlanta Journal-Constitution article seems to indicate that ...

The legislation has been stalled in the Senate the past three sessions and some lawmakers have expressed reservations about going on the record on the controversial issue.

Listen, these people are cowards, and it's time we say so.

The majority of Georgians support granting local communities the right to determine this for themselves whether or not they should sell alcohol on Sunday, and it's past time the Georgia General Assembly got on board. This isn't some law that automatically approves Sunday Sales - nor is it some law aimed at jackbooted thugs kicking open the doors of your Sunday School classes and showering you with shaken-up cans of PBR.

This is about local control. This is about letting local communities saying 'yea' or 'nay' to an overwhelmingly popular measure. This is about recognizing that we're one of only three states that forbids Sunday Sales. This is about generating a little additional revenue for our communities and our state at a time when we need it the most.

It's common sense, and these people are cowards if they don't get it.

Lee Becker ... burning bridges every chance he can get.

Further passing on of emails I receive, this one for a fundraiser for BikeAthens ...

... we are trying to spread the word about "Alternative Fuel" a new brew by Jittery Joe's, being sold to benefit BikeAthens. I know you have great interest in non-profits ... so I thought that you and your readers may be interested because of its mission of making alternative transportation a practical, convenient and safe option for Athens-Clarke County residents and of there's coffee involved.
 
BikeAthens also promotes transportation and land-use policies that improve alternative modes of transportation, including pedestrian, cycling, and public transit options. Funds raised by BikeAthens go to a number of projects designed to ensure safer alternative travel and to educate all travelers of road legislation. Because Athens is a city of bicyclists, pedestrians and bus riders, I thought this organization and its fundraiser would be of some interest to your readers.
 
For every can sold, BikeAthens gets a percentage of the proceeds. Alternative Fuel is currently available by the cup at all Jittery Joe's cafes, and by the can (for $9) online at jitteryjoes.com/bikeathens and directly from BikeAthens at the Bicycle repair shop in the Chase Street Warehouses. BikeAthens gets a larger percentage if the coffee is purchased directly through the organization.
 
I appreciate your time and hope that you will help us spread the word. If anyone is interested in volunteering or donating old bikes and bike parts, they can visit Bikeathens.com or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

In trying to catch up on some emails forwarded to me over the past week or so, here's a reminder that S.B. 161 - also known as 'Ava's Law' - will be discussed at the March 3 Senate Insurance and Labor Committee's meeting.

S.B. 161 would require that private health insurance companies to cover the screening, diagnosis, testing and medically-necessary therapies for the treatment of autism spectrum disorder up to $55,000 per year. It's a common sense measure, particularly given, as The Wife pointed out, that insurance covers things such as lung cancer or heart disease which are largely caused by personal actions (poor diet, smoking, etc.), but a condition which strikes a child that seemingly has no external cause isn't covered.

You can contact Sen. Ralph Hudgens, the chair of the committee, at 404.656.4700 or Sen. David Shafer, the vice chairman, at 404.656.0048. Democrats on the committee include Sen. Robert Brown, the minority leader in the Senate, and he can be reached at 404.656.5035.