GLORIA TATUM | Atlanta Progressive News

Author Archives: GLORIA TATUM

Progressives Delighted with Gov. Deal’s Veto of Troubling “Religious Freedom” Bill

March 29, 2016 GLORIA TATUM One comment

With additional reporting by Matthew Charles Cardinale (APN) ATLANTA — Gov. Nathan Deal announced on Monday, March 28, 2016, that he will veto HB 757, the so-called “Religious Freedom Bill” passed by the Legislature earlier this year. http://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/en-US/Display/20152016/HB/757 Many progressive advocates, faith leaders, and elected officials have responded with delight. “As a Rabbi, I’m relieved and […]

APN 2016 Legislative Session Wrap-Up, Part One: Things that Failed

March 27, 2016 GLORIA TATUM Leave a comment

(APN) ATLANTA — The Georgia General Assembly wrapped up the 2015-2016 Legislative Session during the early morning hours of Friday, March 25, 2016, staying some 45 minutes past midnight in an unusual procedural move. Most of the progressive bills that Atlanta Progressive News has followed during the Session have failed. This outcome reinforces what we already know, that […]

Legislature Approves City of Stonecrest Referendum, Declines on Greenhaven

March 26, 2016 GLORIA TATUM Leave a comment

With additional reporting by Matthew Charles Cardinale, News Editor (APN) ATLANTA — The Georgia Legislature has approved a November 2016 voter referendum on a new City of Stonecrest in Dekalb County, while it did not approve a proposed referendum on a new City of Greenhaven, that also would have occurred in DeKalb County. CITY OF STONECREST SB […]

Rep. Peake Maneuvers Medical Cannabis around Sen. Unterman

March 19, 2016 GLORIA TATUM 6 comments

(APN) ATLANTA — Deja Vu: State Sen. Renee Unterman (R-Buford) is again holding another medical cannabis bill hostage in the Senate Health and Human Services Committee that she chairs. Several years ago she held HB 855 hostage, and now its HB 722. http://atlantaprogressivenews.com/2014/03/17/medical-cannabis-bill-approved-by-georgia-senate-committee-heads-to-full-senate/ However, the unsinkable State Rep. Allen Peake (R-Macon), who authored HB 722, has come […]

Arrest of KSU Professor at Capitol Reveals First Amendment Issues

March 17, 2016 GLORIA TATUM 7 comments

(APN) ATLANTA — Assistant Professor of Philosophy Amy Donahue, of Kennesaw State University, had no intention of engaging in civil disobedience went to the Georgia Capitol with two other philosophy professors with signs stating their opposition to the Campus Carry bill, HB 859, but she wound up in jail nonetheless. Capitol police told the women they could not carry […]

Bill to Add Requirements for Cityhood Passed State Senate, Pending in House

March 13, 2016 GLORIA TATUM Leave a comment

(APN) ATLANTA — SB 375, a bill to provide stricter requirements for incorporation of new municipalities in Georgia, passed the State Senate on February 29, 2016, in a vote of 55 yeas to one nay. It is sponsored by State Sen. Steve Gooch (R-Dahlonega) and has been in the House Governmental Affairs Committee since before Crossover Day. http://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/en-US/Display/20152016/SB/375 […]

Affordable Housing Advocates Target Georgia Legislature

March 10, 2016 GLORIA TATUM 3 comments

(APN) ATLANTA — On Tuesday, March 08, 2016, Housing Georgia brought together hundreds of people to advocate and educate legislators about housing solutions and to lobby for several bills working their way through the General Assembly. Housing Georgia is a diverse statewide coalition that advocates and educates for safe, decent, and affordable homes for Georgians. Georgia has a […]

Georgia Considers Grand Jury Changes in Police Killing Cases; Opinions Mixed

March 6, 2016 GLORIA TATUM One comment

(APN) ATLANTA — HB 941 would change Georgia’s grand jury process for police officers accused of causing death or bodily harm. The bill is sponsored by State Rep. Rich Golick (R-Smyrna) ; it has unanimously passed the House of Representatives and is now in the Senate Non-Civil Judiciary Committee. http://www.legis.ga.gov/Legislation/20152016/158453.pdf It purports to fix Georgia’s Grand Jury […]

Georgia Senate Hears “Campus Carry” Gun Bill

March 4, 2016 GLORIA TATUM 6 comments

(APN) ATLANTA — HB 859, Campus Carry, sponsored by State Rep. Rick Jasperse (R-Jasper), passed the House on February 23, 2016, and had its first Senate Judiciary hearing on Wednesday March 02. HB 859 is yet another model legislative bill pushed by the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC), along with the National Rifle Association (NRA) and local gun groups […]

APN Georgia Assembly Crossover Day Overview, 2016

March 3, 2016 GLORIA TATUM One comment

(APN) ATLANTA — Monday, February 29, 2016 was Crossover Day for the Georgia Legislature. This is the day that bills must pass from one chamber to another in order to still be active for consideration in becoming a law. Atlanta Progressive News has provided extensive and comprehensive coverage of the legislative session again this year. The following is […]

Senate Hearing Held on Cannabis Penalties; No Vote Taken

March 1, 2016 GLORIA TATUM Leave a comment

(APN) ATLANTA — On Thursday, February 25, 2016, the Senate Judiciary Non-Civil Committee held a first hearing on SB 254, the Marijuana Misdemeanor Bill. The bill is sponsored by State Senator Harold Jones (D-Augusta) a former prosecuting attorney. http://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/en-US/Display/20152016/SB/254 http://atlantaprogressivenews.com/2016/01/24/sen-jones-discusses-bill-reducing-cannabis-possession-charges/ Sen. Jones’s bill would eliminate felony charges for possession of cannabis (“marijuana”) for personal use, regardless […]

Two Bills Would Protect Georgia’s Bodies of Water

February 26, 2016 GLORIA TATUM Leave a comment

(APN) ATLANTA — Members of the Georgia Water Coalition from around the State of Georgia lobbied on Wednesday, February 17, 2016, at the State Capitol for priority conservation bills, HB 966 and SB 36. The Georgia Water Coalition is a group of more than 180 organizations representing over a quarter million Georgians. HB 966 – Provides a 25 […]

HB 722, In-State Cultivation, Gutted, but Peake Fights Back with Referendum Proposal

February 26, 2016 GLORIA TATUM Leave a comment

(APN) ATLANTA — On Monday, February 22, 2016, the House Judiciary Non-Civil Committee eliminated in-state cultivation of medical cannabis from HB 722. The revised HB 722 still adds several medical conditions to Georgia’s existing medical cannabis immunity laws; and adds one cannabinoid, Tetrahydrocannabinol Acid (THCA). HB 722 has been gutted from 24 pages down to only seven. […]

City of Stonecrest Passes Out of Committee; Greenhaven is Tabled

February 25, 2016 GLORIA TATUM 6 comments

(APN) ATLANTA — Two cityhood bills involving DeKalb County are making their way through the Georgia House of Representatives: HB 613, provides for the incorporation of the City of Greenhaven; SB 208, provides for the incorporation of the City of Stonecrest, both in south DeKalb. Stonecrest passed the House Governmental Affairs Committee, while Greenhaven was tabled in the House […]

Georgia Power’s Latest Twenty Year Plan remains Slow on Renewables

February 25, 2016 GLORIA TATUM 7 comments

(APN) ATLANTA — Georgia Power’s 2016 Integrated Resource Plan (IRP), released on Friday, January 29, 2016, continues to keep renewables on a slow track. The company files an IRP every three years to outline how it can best meet Georgia’s changing energy needs for the next twenty years. Georgia Power talks about the benefits of renewables, but the […]

« 1 … 9 10 11 12 13 … 26 »