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Political hardball got Georgia tort damage limits passed. Now comes the collateral damage.

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3 months ago

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georgiarecorder.com – Maya Homan – 2025-03-26 00:00:00

by Maya Homan, Georgia Recorder
March 26, 2025

Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp’s big 2025 legislative push to pass lawsuit damage limits is ready for his victory lap, but as the dust settles in the wake of Thursday’s razor-close House vote on Senate Bill 68, some legislators’ nerves are still frayed and one longtime lawmaker lost his job over his vote. 

Lawmakers in both parties are beginning to feel the fallout of their votes on the pivotal bill aimed at overhauling Georgia’s civil litigation system as party leaders and powerful business interests take note of who toed the party line and who crossed it. In the House, where the bill passed along razor-thin margins, eight Republicans broke ranks to vote against the legislation and three Democrats joined the majority to secure the bill’s passage. In the final Senate vote, two Democrats crossed party lines to vote in support of the legislation, and one Republican opposed it.

State Rep. Vance Smith, a Pine Mountain Republican, was ousted from his position as CEO of the Harris County Chamber of Commerce during a Friday afternoon Zoom call. He tearfully recounted his dismissal during a speech in the House chamber Tuesday.

Though SB 68 successfully cleared both chambers, Kemp repeatedly twisted arms throughout the session to coerce lawmakers into passing the bill. At the start of the 2025 session, he had pledged to drag lawmakers back to Atlanta for a special session if “meaningful, impactful” changes were not made to the state’s civil justice system by the end of the regular session on April 4. A key lieutenant also threatened the governor would use his substantial campaign warchest to back primary challengers to any Republicans who opposed the bill, and ahead of the final Senate vote, Republicans briefly paused floor proceedings to assemble for a caucus meeting attended by Kemp.

Republicans in both chambers might have to wait until the 2026 election season to see if Kemp makes good on his promise.

Smith, whose west Georgia district spans parts of Harris, Muscogee and Troup counties, first joined the Georgia Legislature in 1993. He has long been a reliable member of the Republican caucus, making his vote on Thursday somewhat unexpected. In an emotional speech on the House floor Tuesday morning, Smith made veiled references to the fallout from his decision.

“A lot of things have transpired since last week when we left,” he said, thanking his family and members of the house for their support over the past few days. He also tearfully quoted the Bible verse Jeremiah 29:11, “‘for I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’”

Though Smith expressed surprise over the Harris County Chamber of Commerce’s abrupt decision to fire him, he told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution that he did not regret his vote. The Georgia Chamber of Commerce and local chambers formed a powerful alliance in the fight to get a bill passed intended to limit jury payouts for medical malpractice and negligent property owners.

House leaders also addressed the strong reactions to Thursday’s vote, with House Majority Caucus Whip James Burchett, a Waycross Republican who sponsored the bill in the House, urging Georgia residents to “hold legislators accountable for their votes under the Gold Dome at the ballot box – not by taking aim at their ability to support their families.”

“Numerous members have suffered threats to their livelihoods and independence because of their votes on Senate Bill 68,” Burchett said in a statement issued Tuesday afternoon. “These retaliations undermine the strengths of our citizen legislature, which depends on members voting their conscience after fully weighing the issues and determining what they think is best for their communities and our state.”

Democrats are also grappling with the aftermath of SB 68’s passage, with House minority leaders sharply criticizing the members of their caucus who broke ranks to vote for the legislation.

“We were sent here to make hard decisions, and hard decisions are hard because you have to look people in the eye that you disappoint,” said Rep. Stacey Evans, an Atlanta Democrat, shortly after the bill passed in the House. “Those victims won’t be here every day, but the chamber will be here. Insurance companies will be here, and I think too many of my colleagues were worried about walking down the hall and looking them in the eye and not worried about the people back home.”

Rep. Mack Jackson, a Sandersville Democrat who is Black with a history of splitting from his party on pivotal votes, criticized the House Democratic caucus in a speech on the House floor last Friday, comparing an unnamed Democratic colleague to segregation-era figures like Bull Connor and George Wallace. 

“I realized that somewhere in her subconscious mind, she thought that she had bought me and my freedom to choose,” he said, referencing a conversation in which the unnamed colleague brought up her contribution to his most recent re-election campaign. “I gave her her money back because I don’t want anyone to think that they own me and can talk down to me as if I’m a child.” 

He also described other conversations with fellow Democrats who expressed disappointment with his vote, and requested that their campaign contributions be refunded.

“I’ll refund everything, because I don’t ever want anybody to think that they own me,” he said.

Rep. Michelle Au, a Johns Creek Democrat and doctor who also voted in favor of the bill, took to social media to explain her decision, posting a two-page statement on the social media site X (formerly Twitter).

“It is by no means a perfect bill,” Au wrote. “There are elements I object to. But on balance I think it protects our fair, equal access for all to our justice system while hopefully addressing the ways our litigation environment has become untenable for many.”

The second part of Kemp’s tort package, Senate Bill 69 that would increase regulations around third-party lawsuit financing, passed the House Rules Subcommittee on Lawsuit Reform Tuesday evening. It is expected to come up for a vote on the House floor later this week.

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Georgia Recorder is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Georgia Recorder maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor John McCosh for questions: info@georgiarecorder.com.

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Rising utility bills, clean energy on the minds of Georgia voters as they choose energy regulators

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4 hours ago

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June 17, 2025

By

georgiarecorder.com – Stanley Dunlap – 2025-06-17 02:00:00


Two Georgia Public Service Commission seats are on the ballot for the first time since 2020, following delays from a voting rights lawsuit. Voter turnout remains low, with only 1% participation after three weeks of early voting. Frustration over rising Georgia Power rates, fossil fuel use, and environmental concerns is fueling interest. The Democratic District 3 race includes Keisha Waites, Peter Hubbard, and Robert Jones. A runoff may occur if no candidate wins over 50%. Republican incumbent Tim Echols faces Lee Muns in District 2. Winners will serve shorter terms and face major energy policy decisions, including a proposed rate freeze.

by Stanley Dunlap, Georgia Recorder
June 17, 2025

Clayton County father of three Arterio Clements said he felt sticker shock after receiving a $400 electric bill while also paying more for other expenses such as homeowner’s insurance.

The 46-year-old Riverdale resident voted Friday for Robert Jones, a former utility executive in California in the Democratic primary for the Georgia Public Service Commission. But he said he will support whoever the Democratic nominee is this fall.

“I can’t believe how much my bill has gone up,” Clements said. “I’m doing everything I can to save money. Nothing’s going to change unless we can send a message (this) election.”

Clements’ frustration is common among many Georgians who have watched state regulators approve a series of Georgia Power rate hikes and sign off on the utility’s increased reliance on fossil fuel sources in recent years.

The Clayton County Board of Elections Registrations welcomed residents during three weeks of early voting. Stanley Dunlap/Georgia Recorder

Even so, turnout has been ultra low in the primary election for a pair of commission races on the ballot this year. After three weeks of early voting, turnout sits at 1% – with about 75,000 voters casting a ballot so far. Tuesday is the last chance to vote in the primaries.

This year’s commission races represent the first time since 2020 that voters will have a chance to change the makeup of the panel. The elections were delayed for several years due to a lawsuit challenging the statewide method for the district-based seats, which plaintiffs argued dilutes the strength of Black voters.

The commissioners have faced criticism for allowing Georgia Power to raise rates by an average of $43 per month since 2023.

Georgians who vote Tuesday will need to choose a Democratic or Republican ballot.

Unsure where your polling place is? You can check here.

Georgia’s polls will be open Tuesday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. for the Republican and Democratic primaries that will decide who will appear on the Nov. 4 ballot.

A runoff will be held July 15 between the top two vote-getters in the Democratic District 3 race if nobody receives more than 50% of votes Tuesday.

The winners of November’s election will begin their term in a year when commissioners are expected to consider requests from Georgia Power to recoup costs from storm damage and overrun fuel costs. These expenses fall outside of the proposed rate freeze announced last month.

On Tuesday’s District 3 Democratic primary ballot, three candidates are vying to challenge Republican Commissioner Fitz Johnson later this year. The Democratic candidates are Keisha Waites, a former Atlanta City Council member and ex-state representative; Peter Hubbard, founder of the clean nonprofit Center for Energy Solutions; and Robert Jones, a former utility executive in California.

Commissioners are normally elected to six-year terms, but the winners in this year’s elections will serve shorter terms to get things back on schedule after the delay. The District 3 winner will be up for election again next year, while the District 2 seat is set to go back up in 2030.

Candidates must live in a given district but are elected statewide, meaning Georgians across the state decide who represents a district on the commission.

In the District 2 Republican primary, incumbent Commissioner Tim Echols is seeking re-election to serve a third term against Lee Muns. The winner of the GOP primary will face Savannah Democrat Alicia M. Johnson in November. District 2 includes a large swath of east Georgia.

Georgia Public Service Commissioners Fitz Johnson, left, and Tim Echols listen to expert witnesses testify at May 27 hearing for Georgia Power’s 2025 long-term energy plans. Stanley Dunlap/Georgia Recorder

The metro Atlanta Democratic primary was upended June 11 when likely frontrunner Daniel Blackman was disqualified for not meeting the commission’s residency requirement. Candidates must live within the boundaries of the district for 12 months to be eligible to run for office.

The ruling means that Blackman’s votes will not be counted, potentially resulting in thousands of ballots being discarded. Voters in Georgia will be notified of Blackman’s eligibility by signs posted in voting precincts Tuesday.

In 2020, Blackman came close to winning a seat on the commission, later going on to serve as the Environmental Protection Agency’s Southeast regional administrator under the Biden administration.

Atlanta’s Joe Hornbuckle said he was aware of Blackman’s ineligibility when he voted Friday in the Democratic primary. The EMT said he’s worried about the long-term damage to the environment if state regulators allow Georgia Power to continue investing in fossil fuel energy sources.

“Why are we still using coal if there’s a way for other options that would be better,” Hornbuckle said. “I’m not the biggest expert on something like this but it makes sense to me.”

Later this summer, the commission will make key decisions on Georgia Power’s plan to invest heavily in fossil fuels and renewable energy to meet what the utility says is its forecasted demand, which is primarily driven by data centers.

Additionally, the commission is set to hold a June hearing on Georgia Power’s request to freeze its base electric rates for the next three years.

Kennesaw State University professor of political science and former Cobb County Republican Party Chair Jason Shepherd said the low turnout is disappointing but understandable, considering the election centers on a utility commission that’s not well known statewide by the average person.

Shepherd said he voted for Echols because of Echols’ efforts to promote the state’s solar and electric vehicle industries.

“Having a market-based view of green energy, rather than having the government force the hand, helps create all the incentives that allow for innovation,” Shepherd said Monday. “In addition, yes, it took forever to get Plant Vogtle online after overrun costs, but it finally happened, and that’s going to secure Georgia’s energy supply for the next several decades.”

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Georgia Recorder is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Georgia Recorder maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Jill Nolin for questions: info@georgiarecorder.com.

The post Rising utility bills, clean energy on the minds of Georgia voters as they choose energy regulators appeared first on georgiarecorder.com


Note: The following A.I. based commentary is not part of the original article, reproduced above, but is offered in the hopes that it will promote greater media literacy and critical thinking, by making any potential bias more visible to the reader –Staff Editor.

Political Bias Rating: Center-Left

This content leans toward a center-left perspective as it highlights voter concerns about rising utility costs and the approval of rate hikes by regulatory commissioners, while giving attention to Democratic candidates advocating for change and clean energy solutions. The article provides critical views of fossil fuel reliance and features voters expressing frustration with current policies. However, it also includes balanced input from a Republican commissioner supporting market-based green energy initiatives, suggesting an effort at fair coverage while maintaining a slight left-leaning emphasis on consumer protection and environmental issues.

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Kayak safety, staying safe this summer

Published

7 hours ago

on

June 16, 2025

By

www.wjbf.com – Isabella Moody – 2025-06-16 23:01:00

SUMMARY: As kayaking gains popularity in Augusta, safety remains a top priority, especially during the summer. Steve Wright, owner of Savannah Rapids Kayak, emphasizes the importance of knowing your route, being comfortable in water, knowing how to swim, staying hydrated, and wearing sun protection. Savannah Rapids offers two routes: a calm canal for beginners and families, and a more challenging upriver path for experienced paddlers. Life jackets are legally required, and matching kayaks to individuals is standard practice. Wright advises learning proper paddling techniques and considering a guide for rapids. On-site staff and emergency support are available for added safety.

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The post Kayak safety, staying safe this summer appeared first on www.wjbf.com

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President Trump pushes ICE to focus on major cities

Published

12 hours ago

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June 16, 2025

By

www.youtube.com – FOX 5 Atlanta – 2025-06-16 18:04:09

SUMMARY: President Trump announced that ICE will intensify arrests and deportations in major cities such as Los Angeles, Chicago, and New York, aiming for the largest mass deportation program in history. This follows nationwide protests, including in Atlanta and New York, against his immigration policies during the “No Kings” rallies. ICE’s daily arrest target has increased from 650 to 3,000. New York City Mayor Adams supports these efforts, highlighting that 79% of Democrats agree undocumented individuals who commit crimes should be deported after serving time. Trump also paused planned raids on hotels, restaurants, and farms to avoid economic disruption.

President Donald Trump on Sunday said ICE must “expand efforts to detain and deport” illegal immigrants in “America’s largest cities,” including Los Angeles, Chicago and New York

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