(APN) ATLANTA — A class action lawsuit filed on Wednesday, February 10, 2016 in U.S. District Court alleges that Georgia Secretary of State Brian Kemp has continuously defied the National Voter Registration Act (NVRA) by continuing to enforce sections within the Georgia Election Code when they have been condemned by the U.S. Department of Justice (USDOJ). Common Cause Georgia […]
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(APN) ATLANTA — State Sen. Josh McKoon (R – Columbus) is currently championing legislation focused on increasing transparency at the Capitol, something that is greatly needed. McKoon–perhaps best known for his staunch support of the controversial Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA)–has previously taken the lead on transparency and government reform issues. As a freshman during the 2011-2012 Legislative […]
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(APN) ATLANTA — William Perry, the government watchdog who recently left Common Cause Georgia, where he had served as Executive Director, is officially launching his own organization. Two, in fact. First, Georgia Ethics Watchdogs is a 501(c)(4) nonprofit organization that will focus on filing ethics complaints against public officials who violate the law. “It’s really difficult to be […]
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(APN) ATLANTA — On August 11, 2015 Common Cause announced the resignation of its Georgia chapter director, William Perry. Perry helmed the state chapter for over four years, serving as a vigilant government watchdog on issues of ethics, transparency, public spending, and money-in-politics. His efforts were directed large at the City of Atlanta and the State of Georgia. […]
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(APN) ATLANTA — The national organization Common Cause has filed a whistleblower Internal Revenue Service (IRS) tax fraud claim against the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC). They are charging ALEC with falsely claiming to be a tax-exempt non-profit organization, to subsidize its lobbying and model legislation to benefit corporate interests. The first complaint was filed against ALEC in […]
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(APN) ATLANTA — In a surprising turn of events, the Atlanta City Council voted down Mayor Kasim Reed’s nomination of disgraced former Councilman Lamar Willis (Post 3-at-large) to the Fulton County/City of Atlanta Land Bank Authority. Willis lost his City Council seat to Andre Dickens in 2013 after serving for twelve years, during which time he committed numerous ethics […]
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(APN) ATLANTA — Disgraced former Atlanta City Councilman Lamar Willis (Post 3-at-large) could soon assume a public leadership position once again. Mayor Kasim Reed recently appointed Willis to serve on the Atlanta Land Bank Authority, which acquires tax-foreclosed properties to turn over to developers or keep for long-term planning. The appointment must be approved by City Council before […]
Read moreAPN 2014 Endorsements Pt. 1: “Nunn of the Above,” Gibeling, Stokes By Matthew Charles Cardinale, News Editor (October 12, 2014) (APN) ATLANTA — The Atlanta Progressive News Board of Directors has issued endorsements in Georgia’s 2014 General Election. Previously, in the 2014 Primary Election, we endorsed State Sen. Jason Carter (D-Decatur) for Governor; and former Decatur Schools Board Chair Valerie […]
Read more(APN) ATLANTA — With the successful effort by independent candidate Bill Bozarth to petition his way onto the ballot in State House District 54, in interesting three-way race has emerged in this District that includes much of Atlanta’s Buckhead community. Atlanta Progressive News conducted telephone interviews with all three candidates over the last few weeks. This article is part one […]
Read more(APN) ATLANTA — As election season shapes up for 2014, at least two Atlantans have announced their intent to seek access to the ballot as independent candidates for State House. Bill Bozarth, a long-time activist and former Executive Director of Common Cause Georgia, is running for State House District 54, the seat being vacated by State Rep. Ed […]
Read moreThis article first appeared on the Inter-Press Service website at: http://www.ipsnews.net/2013/02/notorious-former-super-lobbyist-urges-ethics-reform/ ATLANTA, Georgia, Feb 28 2013 (IPS) – Notorious former Republican super-lobbyist Jack Abramoff, who spent more than three years in federal prison for tax evasion, conspiracy to bribe public officials and fraud, is now touring the U.S. urging ethics reform at the federal level. During a visit Wednesday […]
Read moreWith additional reporting by Marko Robinson, Staff Writer (APN) ATLANTA — Arthur Blank, a billionaire and owner of the Atlanta Falcons, a football team, wants a new, better stadium, in Atlanta’s Vine City neighborhood, just down the street from where the Georgia Dome currently sits. The current Dome is operated by the Georgia World Congress Center Authority (GWCCA), an entity […]
Read more(APN) ATLANTA — Just over a year since the Board of Commissioners of Fulton County rejected pay-to-play reform, and just a few months since Mayor Kasim Reed bashed the notion of pay-to-play reform during remarks before the City Council of Atlanta, Common Cause Georgia and its ethics reform partners have made great strides in gaining support for pay-to-play reform, both […]
Read more(APN) ATLANTA — Joe Beasley, John Evans, Vincent Fort, William Perry, Common Cause, Tim Franzen, Occupy Atlanta: what do these people and organizations have in common? They have all been the focal points, at different times, of vicious, public attacks by Kasim Reed as Mayor of Atlanta. Reed is so used to being the darling of Atlanta’s corporate media establishment […]
Read more(APN) ATLANTA — In our continuing coverage of the upcoming July 31, 2012, Partisan Primary and Non-Partisan General Election, Atlanta Progressive News sent questionnaires to all three candidates in the House District 63 race: TJ Copeland, Ronnie Mabra, and Linda Pritchett. All three candidates provided their responses, which are provided below. Yesterday, July 25, Secretary of State Brian Kemp ruled […]
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