Georgia’s Republican Future Being Set At Capitol...

[Raffi Ella]

Georgia’s Republican Future Being Set At Capitol

August 16, 2011 13:00 pm
by Charlie · 20 comments

Today’s Courier Herald Column:

The special session currently underway at the Capitol will tackle three seemingly unrelated items: Reapportionment, Georgia’s motor fuels tax rate for the next six months, and setting the date of a referendum to collect 10 years of sales taxes to fund regional transportation projects. Viewed individually, each has a somewhat unique story with somewhat defined consequences. When taken together, the items say a bit about the next decade in Georgia under Republican rule.

There is little doubt that when the ink dries on the new legislative maps that Republicans will still control the state legislature with ease for the next several election cycles, and will likely still have strong majorities when the maps are redrawn in 2021. Georgia will now be as Republican as it was Democratic in the 50’s and 60’s. At our core, we have always been a one party state, with the early part of the last decade a transition period from one party to another.

Republicans gleeful at this prospect also need to consider what this means for their party. In a one party state, only the “true believers” claim allegiance to the opposition party. Most who wish to get ahead in government and politics will simply take the path of least resistance and be “Republicans”. Likewise, voters will be offered fewer and fewer choices in Democratic primaries. Centrist independents and even some proud liberals will become accustomed to voting in Republican primaries and a few will even likely join and participate in party activities.

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It just goes from bad to worse in GA.

read more at the link:

http://www.peachpundit.com/2011/08/16/georgia%E2%80%99s-republican-future-being-set-at-capitol/