Governor Perdue Exercises Bold Leadership

September 2, 2005

In the wake of the devastation in Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama, Governor Sonny Perdue has reacted swiftly and boldly to meet the needs of those directly and indirectly impacted by hurricane Katrina.

Mobilizes State Resources

The Department of Human Resources Department of Family and Children’s Services opened seven shelters throughout Georgia including three in Southwest Georgia in Albany, Columbus, and Valdosta. The DHR Public Health Division began receiving patients being flown in to Dobbins Air Force Base and will transport them to hospitals in Atlanta and Augusta. In addition, residency requirements for food stamps and other emergency financial support programs are being waived for survivors who come to Georgia.

Governor Perdue sent a strategic team from the Georgia Department of Homeland Security to Mississippi for the month of September. He directed a team from Georgia Forestry Commission to help with clean-up in Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana. He also assigned 20 GBI Agents to assist in Mississippi.

Deploys National Guard Assets

The Georgia Army and Air National Guard will be providing an estimated 1500 soldiers and airmen for relief operations. Relief missions will include security, engineering, medical, airlift and support operations. The first Georgia National Guard assets sent to the affected area left on Wednesday (8/31) when three CH-47 Chinook heavy-lift helicopters left for Louisiana and Mississippi. Additionally, Georgia Army National Guard UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters and UH-1 Huey helicopters are also currently positioned in the affected areas. The first Georgia units are expected to be in place on Saturday.

Slashes Government Red-Tape

Due to a disruption in a pipeline to Georgia, Governor Perdue waived environmental regulations that required higher additives in gasoline in some parts of the state. He also obtained a waiver from the Federal Department of Transportation to lift truck driving restrictions which now allow deliveries by truck 24 hours per day.

Gives Stern Warning to Price Gougers

We were all shocked by gasoline pump prices that skyrocketed last Wednesday due to the shortage caused by Katrina. Prices went from around $2.70 per gallon to $3.50 and some places in Atlanta reported prices over $7.00 per gallon. Governor Perdue responded immediately with an Executive order enacting Georgia’s price gouging statute. “We will not tolerate the exploitation of Georgia consumers as we recover from the effects of Hurricane Katrina,” said Governor Sonny Perdue. “Violators of this price gouging statute will be punished to the fullest extent possible.”

Citizens are asked to report any suspected incidences of price gouging to the Georgia Office of Consumer Affairs at (404) 651-8600 or (800) 869-1123. Any violators of Georgia’s price gouging statute will be punished to the fullest extent of the law.

Calf-Ropes and Hog Ties Skyrocketing Gas Prices

In one of the boldest steps taken by any Governor, Sonny Perdue announced today that effective midnight, September 2, he is enacting a one month moratorium on the gasoline tax. Having just enacted the provisions of the price gouging statute, Governor Perdue observed that the state should not gouge its citizens either. “In the present circumstances, keeping that money in the pockets of Georgia motorists is a higher priority than a fattened bank account.” said Perdue.

Recognizing that the vast majority of dealers in Georgia are honest, hard-working, people, Governor Perdue issued a clear warning to those who would attempt to take advantage of this situation when he said, “Let me be very clear. I expect this tax moratorium to be passed on to consumers and Georgia citizens who drive. We will be watching and we trust that our dealers will respect that and will pass on this more than 15 cents per gallon savings to their customers each and every day.”

Literally within minutes of the Governor’s announcement at noon, prices at the pump plummeted to under $3.00 at stations across Southwest Georgia.

Georgia Law requires that the Legislature ratify the Executive Order, therefore Governor Perdue is calling a special session of the legislature from September 6 – 10 to ratify his actions. Let me add a little note here. Someone, somewhere is going to complain that the Governor is wasting money by calling a special session of the legislature. We need to be proactive on this point. A special session is going to cost about 33 thousand dollars per day. The ratification of Sonny Perdue’s bold leadership will save Georgian’s about 75 million dollars in the next 30 days. It ain’t rocket science – it’s just plain common sense – and that’s the kind of Governor we have.

Donald E. Cole, Chairman
Dougherty County Republican Party
P.O.Box 72224
Albany, GA 31708
victory@doughertyrepublicans.org
www.doughertyrepublicans.org

Fish Fry for Sonny

July 14, 2005

You Are Invited to A Fish Fry for Sonny

Hosted by Governor and Mrs. Sonny Perdue

August 6, 2005 - 12PM Start (please arrive any time before 1PM)

Georgia National Faigrounds and Agricenter

Miller Murphy Howard Building

401 Larry Walker Parkway

Perry, GA 31069-1367

$10 admission per person

Children under 10 free



The food and entertainment will be inside the

air-conditioned Miller Murphy Howard Building



This is going to be a casual event that’ll be fun for the entire family.

A bluegrass band will provide entertainment,

and fried catfish will be the main course.



Governor and Mrs. Perdue will be greeting guests as

they arrive and visiting with all attendees from 12-2pm.





Free T-Shirts with the Sonny Fish Fry logo will also be given out!



Great door prizes will be given out by the event sponsors!

RSVP Today!



Mandatory RSVP to www.votesonny.com or 770-220-0210



One of our college Republicans, Caitlyn Cooper, is playing a key role in this event by gathering door prizes. This is a good advertising opportunity as there will be people from across the state at the event. If you give a door prize, you never know who will take note of where it came from. It’s a great investment. Give Caitlyn a call or reply to this e-mail with your desire to help out. Caitlyn’s number is: 229-291-1700. Thank you, Caitlyn for your hard work and the super job you are doing.

Governor Perdue Pays a Visit to Albany

January 8, 2005

Governor Sonny Perdue paid a trip to Albany today. He visited the Albany Outreach Center and the Alzheimer’s Caregiver Time Out (ACTO) program. The Albany Outreach Center is housed in facilities owned by the First United Methodist Church. The ministry receives funds from the Department of Human Resources, Division of Aging Services through the SOWEGA Council on Aging. Governor Perdue used the opportunity to announce his intention to re-introduce the Faith and Family Services Amendment in the upcoming legislation. The Faith and Family Services Amendment would insert twelve words “Except as permitted or required by the United States Constitution as amended” into the Georgia Constitution to bring it in line with the United States Constitution. This amendment to the Georgia Constitution will allow faith-based social service providers to compete for state funds without facing discrimination. “I want faith-based, community organizations to be able to continue contracting with state agencies to provide vital social services,” said Governor Sonny Perdue. “Faith-based service organizations should have the same opportunity as other organizations to compete and serve citizens in need throughout our state.”

The Faith and Family Services amendment passed the Senate in the last session by the required 2/3rd majority but was locked in committee in the Democrat controlled House. This year the amendment should get a fair hearing and open debate on the floor of the House.

We are proud that Governor Perdue came to visit Albany again.

Senator Chambliss to Chair Senate Agriculture Committee

December 28, 2004

The Atlanta Journal reported in the December 21, 2004 edition that Moultrie’s own Saxby Chambliss will become chairman of the Senate Agriculture Committee when the 109th Congress convenes in January. Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist made the announcement last week. This is a great Christmas present for the farmers in Southwest Georgia. Chambliss will be the first Georgian to chair a House or Senate committee since Sen.Sam Nunn.

Chambliss must give up his Judiciary Committee seat but will remain on another vital committee to Georgia, the Armed Services Committee.

Senator Chambliss is taking his place among distinguished leaders in the Senate from Georgia such as Paul Coverdell, Richard Russell, Herman Talmadge, and Sam Nunn. Thank you, Senator Chambliss for your positive leadership.

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