Blog Topic: Government

In the Loop: Athens Reps Split on Plastic Bag Ban Ban

By Lee Becker | March 31, 2015 2:23pm

Rep. Chuck Williams (R-Watkinsville) was the only one of three Athens legislators to vote in favor of SB 139 on Friday.

Clarke and Oconee counties' three members of the Georgia House of Representatives cast opposing votes again Friday, this time on plastic bags.

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In the Loop: Beer Bill Passes, Plastic Bag Ban Ban Rejected

By Blake Aued | March 27, 2015 3:44pm

Photo Credit: Quinn Dombrowski/Flickr

A watered-down version of Senate Bill 63, the "Beer Jobs Bill," passed the Georgia House this afternoon. House members also voted down SB 139, which would have barred local governments from banning or regulating plastic bags and other disposable containers.

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In the Loop: An Athens Representative Asked GDOT for Documents, and They Wanted to Charge Her $100,000

By Lee Becker | March 27, 2015 11:48am

The Georgia Department of Transportation has told Rep. Regina Quick (R-Athens) that it will respond to her open records request for documents about the operation of the department, but only if she pays more than $100,000 in advance.

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In the Loop: GDOT Rep: My Clients Will Benefit from Road Project

By Lee Becker | March 25, 2015 4:21pm

Jamie Boswell, commercial real estate broker and area representative to the Georgia Transportation Board, readily admits that his clients will benefit from the proposed Daniells Bridge Road extension and flyover of Loop 10.

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In the Loop: Jamie Hood's Trial Will Cost More Than $300,000

By Blake Aued | March 17, 2015 5:29pm

Admitted cop-killer Jamie Hood is finally going on trial in June on 70 charges, including two counts of murder during a crime spree in 2011 that drew national attention. It’s going to cost us.

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In the Loop: Confusion Reigns on Georgia Gas Tax Hike

By Lee Becker | March 16, 2015 11:23am

Photo Credit: Lee Becker

Gas prices on Mar. 6.

Athens and Oconee County’s two Republican representatives cast conflicting votes on House Bill 170, which overhauls the state’s motor fuel tax, with Regina Quick joining the 43 Republicans in opposition and Chuck Williams voting as part of the 72 Republicans in favor.

The bill, approved by the House on Mar. 5, would have major impact on both local and state taxes on motor fuel if approved by the Senate in its present form.

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In the Loop: A Gutted Beer Jobs Bill Is Up for a Vote Friday

By Blake Aued | March 12, 2015 2:34pm

Photo Credit: Porter McLeod

Creature Comforts' David Stein pours a beer from a tank at the downtown Athens brewery.

Creative Loafing reported last month that Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle (who received $130,000 in campaign contributions from alcohol distributors in 2014) was working to kill Senate Bill 63, the "Georgia Beer Jobs Bill," which would have allowed breweries to sell beer directly to the public.

Cagle didn't kill the bill, but it looks like he's at least partially gutted it. A version with the direct-sales clause removed is coming up for a vote Friday, the last day of the session for legislation to pass one chamber and move on to the other.

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In the Loop: Half a Million Georgians Signed Up for Obamacare

By Blake Aued | March 10, 2015 4:38pm

In Georgia, 541,080 consumers enrolled in or renewed health coverage through the Affordable Care Act exchanges during the latest open enrollment period, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced today.

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In the Loop: The Guns on Campus Bill Is Back

By Blake Aued | March 10, 2015 10:16am

Photo Credit: Dede Giddens

Remember the UGA frat boy who got in trouble a couple weeks ago for firing a gun in the airduring a beef with a neighboring fraternity? That would be totally legal, if a Georgia lawmaker gets his way.

For the third year in a row, a state legislature has introduced a bill to legalize carrying guns on college campuses. From the Atlanta Journal-Constitution:

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In the Loop: New Downtown Delivery Zones Are 'Working Well'

By John Huie | March 6, 2015 11:48am

Photo Credit: Blake Aued

New downtown truck delivery zones seem to be "working well" two months in, Athens Downtown Development Authority director Pamela Thompson said Thursday. An evaluation is underway, but feedback so far has been positive, she told the Downtown Master Plan Committee.

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