Recent editorials from Georgia newspapers:
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Feb. 19
The Savannah Morning News on Gov. Nathan Deal’s silence on coastal oil exploration:
Nathan Deal’s term as Georgia’s governor ends in less than 11 months.
Given his continued silence on potential oil and natural gas field exploration off our coast, we’re left to wonder if he’ll take a position on the issue before he leaves office.
Deal is the lone holdout among 22 coastal state governors in declaring a stance on President Donald Trump’s plan to allow energy company surveys of the Atlantic Ocean seafloor. These seismic tests are the initial step in a process that could lead to offshore drilling.
In all fairness to the governor, he is dealing with a family emergency. His wife, Sandra, underwent breast cancer surgery in January and is currently undergoing chemotherapy. Deal missed last week’s Savannah-Chatham Day at the Capitol, an event he’s attended throughout his two terms leading the state, to be at the first lady’s side.
Still, Deal is performing his other job duties. He named nine appointees to state boards Friday, introduced criminal justice reform legislation last Wednesday and proposed a state tax code overhaul on Tuesday. He issued a statement about another key Coastal Georgia issue - the federal government’s funding for the harbor deepening project - a week ago today.
Yet he remains mum on the offshore drilling issue. Our state legislative delegation, led by Sen. Lester Jackson and House representatives Carl Wayne Gilliard and Ron Stephens, filed identical resolutions opposing all exploration activities earlier this month. Those resolutions are expected to be adopted before the session ends in March.
Deal’s press secretary said last week the governor “does not comment on pending legislation.” That approach would indicate he might take a position once Georgia General Assembly rules on the resolutions.
In the meantime, he’s missing an opportunity.
Florida won’t see drilling activity along its Atlantic coastline because that state’s governor, Rick Scott, vehemently opposes it. Scott, like Deal a Republican, met with Trump’s interior secretary, Ryan Zinke, five days after the administration announced plans to open Atlantic waters to exploration.
Zinke acknowledged the governor’s push back led to taking drilling “off the table” in Florida.
“Our tactic was open everything up, then meet with the governors, meet with the stakeholders so that when we shaped it, it was right,” Zinke told reporters after the Florida decision. “The president made it very clear that local voices count.”
First, good for Trump. Putting the drilling debate aside, his allowing state leaders a significant say on issues that impact their constituents matches a long-held Republican tenet.
Second, shame on Deal. The chance to curb drilling plans came and, quite possibly, went. He could have coaxed Zinke to stop in Atlanta on his way back to Washington, D.C., from Tallahassee and didn’t. And as his peers in North Carolina and South Carolina voiced their positions - both against exploration and drilling - Deal said nothing beyond voicing his doubts about Georgia’s coastline being a profitable offshore drilling locale.
That’s skillful politicking, but poor leadership.
Deal’s reticence has also stoked fears that he will go against the legislature and support exploration. His U.S. Congressional voting record hints at such an attitude - in four House terms representing districts north of Atlanta between 2003 and 2010, Deal voted against tax incentives for renewable energy, energy production and conservation and no on removing oil and gas exploration subsidies and extending a drilling moratorium.
He would have powerful allies in supporting exploration. Georgia’s leadership at the federal level, specifically the coast’s U.S. Congressman, Rep. Buddy Carter, and Sen. David Perdue, advocate for American energy independence and voice an “all of the above” approach.
Carter stressed the importance of collecting a full energy resource inventory while visiting with our editorial board just last week.
“This is my home, and I’m not going to do anything to jeopardize the coast,” Carter said. “Yet it’s shortsighted to not get an inventory and see what’s out there at least. We have to have energy independence for our national security. We have to keep an open mind about it.”
Carter is consistent on energy - he stood up to Georgia Power and supported solar energy initiatives while serving in the Georgia General Assembly. But his stance on oil exploration means Deal won’t feel federal pressure to oppose seafloor surveying.
And with his governorship winding down, Deal has little political incentive to stand with the state legislature. Doing so won’t earn him any chits to be played later.
Deal’s stance on exploration and drilling will be his own. When, and if, he takes one.
Online: http://savannahnow.com/
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Feb. 18
The Augusta Chronicle on why there is no reason for banning Sunday morning alcohol sales:
As a historically Christian paper, The Chronicle has long defended the faith and religion in general against an increasingly anti-religious secular culture.
(…)
Having said that, it doesn’t mean we want Christianity imposed on non-Christians.
And you have to wonder: Isn’t a ban on Sunday morning sales of alcohol kind of doing that? It’s difficult to see how Georgia’s law banning sales until 12:30 p.m. stands up constitutionally - especially considering that the state exempts its own facilities, such as Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium, from the ban it imposes on private restaurants.
To be honest, the ban also imposes the Christian sabbath on non-Christians - not to mention Christians who don’t think a glass of wine at Sunday brunch is necessarily proscribed by the faith.
So we’re glad to see that the state Senate has passed the so-called “Brunch Bill,” which would move the starting gate for onsite consumption of alcoholic drinks to 11 a.m. on Sundays.
Sales of alcohol to go, such as at supermarkets and package stores, would continue to be prohibited until 12:30 p.m.
The state House must still approve the bill - and even then, after a presumed governor’s signature, 11 a.m. alcohol sales would have to be approved by local voters in area referendums.
Even some senators who personally oppose Sunday morning consumption voted to allow local voters to choose for themselves and their own communities.
Society has compelling - and, notably, secular - reasons for banning alcohol sales and public consumption in the overnight hours. It’s a public safety issue having nothing to do with either faith or custom. But it can’t logically be argued that moving up restaurant servings to 11 a.m. on Sundays would contribute to alcohol abuse; it’s silly to think much of it occurs late Sunday morning.
And even if it does, it’s going to go on somewhere other than a restaurant, ban or not.
America has become infinitely more religiously and culturally diverse than it was when such bans were instituted. Moving up sales a modest hour-and-a-half one day a week is a fairly modest recognition of that fact.
Online: http://chronicle.augusta.com/
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Feb. 20
The Lagrange Daily News on investing in tourism:
Super Bowl LII is officially in the history books and hundreds of Georgians are already at work preparing for next year’s game at the new Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. Among them are hoteliers, transportation providers, event management firms and other members of the state’s $60.8 billion tourism industry.
Tourism is the fifth largest employer in our state, supporting over 450,000 jobs every year. And it continues to grow - not only in metropolitan areas like Atlanta, but in communities throughout our state where hospitality, attractions and unique experiences draw visitors from around the globe. The Georgia Travel Association was created in 2016 to support the individuals and companies that comprise this booming economic sector and to ensure that all Georgians understand the contributions they make both to our economy and our quality of life. According to the Georgia Department of Economic Development, everyone million in sales of travel goods and services directly generates nine jobs - the equivalent of over 10 percent of the non-farm payroll in our state. While our organization appreciates the support and investments made by leaders like Gov. Nathan Deal, we believe that more can be done to support tourism in communities large and small, rural and urban.
First and foremost is an increase in funding for tourism marketing. Georgia currently lags far behind our Southeastern neighbors and other states that have chosen to invest heavily in advertising and promotion. Increased expenditures would have an especially important impact on smaller communities that simply do not have the resources available to promote agritourism, historical sites or their outdoor economies. Second is to ensure that all potential visitors know that not only is there something for everyone in our state, but that everyone is welcome. It is critical that our leaders resist passing any legislation or creating any policies that are discriminatory or could be interpreted or perceived to be discriminatory. Not only would these measures have a detrimental impact on leisure travel, but they could prevent our state from reaping the economic benefits that come from large conventions and major events such as the Super Bowl or the Final Four
When we invest in and support tourism, everybody wins.
Online: http://www.lagrangenews.com/
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