Recently the Atlanta Regional Commission sent out a puff piece titled “Regional Snapshot”. This article explored the “Congestion Cost Per Commuter” arriving at the astounding conclusion that congestion is greater where there are more jobs, and that Atlanta has some of the worst congestion in the country. They calculate the “cost per commuter” at $924 each.
What’s missing from their snapshot is any discussion of what they think we should do about it. They are engaged in a massive promotional effort to get everyone to vote in a 1 percent sales tax to pay for the TIA T-SPLOST list of transportation projects, which is supposed to provide relief for this congestion.
Using their own numbers, here’s what they recommend:
· TIA-AR-037, MARTA North Heavy Rail with a project cost of $6,271 per person
· TIA-CO-035, Enhanced premium transit with a project cost of $14,881 per person
· TIA-CL-006, Clayton County bus service with a project cost of $15,267 per person
· TIA-AR-041, GRTA Express bus with a project cost of $18,842 per person
· TIA-M-023, I-20 East transit corridor investments with a project cost of $38,462 per person
· TIA-AT-004/007, Atlanta Beltline & Streetcar with a project cost of $106,530 per person
· TIA-M-028, Clifton Corridor Transit, with a project cost of $137,255 per person
As I have shown in my prior article “Debunking The Transportation Myths – Part 1″ these projects do absolutely nothing to relieve congestion and in fact they absorb most of the funds needed for congestion relief.
The ARC is not acting in the best interests of the region, but rather pushing the interests of the in-town developers and Kasim Reed. Spending $6 billion and not reducing our $924 per commuter cost at all is not even rational.

Tonight, Barack Obama gave his third official State of the Union address.  Despite his constant excuses and empty rhetoric, the glaring weaknesses and disastrous effects of his Presidency are now clear for everyone to see.  America’s economy is in shambles, its greatness scarred.

We are on the front lines, in the trenches, carrying out our mission to take back America for us and for our children and our grandchildren. We stretch every dollar you give to continue our aggressive education and election programs across Georgia.

Please consider contributing $25, $35, $50 or more to help the GAGOP ensure that if Barack Obama gives another State of the Union address, it will be as an outgoing President.

I ask you to remember that this is the most critical election of our lifetime and I pray that you will be as generous as you can.

All my best,

Sue P. Everhart, Chairman

P.S. If you would prefer to mail a contribution, please send it to the GAGOP at P.O. Box 550008 Atlanta, GA 30355. Thank you!

The most predictable issue that Oden was pushing was for the residents of Rockdale to stop thinking of Rockdale as a County and start thinking “regionally” as part of the Metro Atlanta Region (ARC). The push for the continuation of government power was so great that the Chmn. brought in his pitchman from the ARC to push the idea that we need to come together as a region, and oh by the way, our County doesn’t matter as much any more?

The Rockdale Republican Party recognized the dangers of the new transit authority Chmn. Oden boasted he was helping in it’s creation. Voters need to pay special attention to this as if the TSPLOST tax referendum passes in July, we will no longer have a county government to complain to about the taxes we pay as now we have to fight a colossal government giant.

Do your part Rockdale-Don’t let Chmn. Oden and the other “more government” bureaucrats get their wish. Register people to vote, and tell everyone to VOTE NO on July 31 to keep our Georgia Constitutional “Home Rule” provision intact.

Many of the campaigns are revving up and the party is planning activities almost every weekend. This is the time to contact us and get involved. The goal for the Rockdale Republican Party next year at this time is to report a sense of gratification as the voters will have returned a conservative Chairman to run our County the way it was meant to be – For Rockdale County!

Don Williamson
Chairman
Rockdale GOP
770-401-3573

Dear Friends,

This week, the Senate convened for the second session of the 112th Congress. During the recess, I was able to visit the Georgia Capitol and speak to the state House and Senate, to meet with constituents and to speak to a variety of different business and community groups in the state. On Monday night, I held a telephone town hall meeting to engage with constituents from across the state and hear more about the issues on the top of their minds so that I can continue to effectively represent Georgians’ interests in Washington.

Keystone XL Pipeline
As soon as the president announced last week that he was rejecting the construction permit for the KeyStone XL pipeline, I sent a letter to President Obama criticizing the decision and argued that it is a missed opportunity to secure America’s energy future and to create tens of thousands of badly needed jobs for Americans. Last Fall, I also sent a letter to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to express his strong objections when the administration last year initially postponed a decision on the proposed Keystone XL pipeline until after the 2012 election. I will continue to do everything I can to support this critically important project, which would bring 70,000 barrels of crude to the U.S. from our strong ally Canada and at the same time, create thousands of American jobs.

State of the Union Address
On Tuesday, which marked the 1,000th day since President Obama’s Democrat majority in the Senate last offered a budget plan, the president delivered the annual State of the Union address to the nation with the theme of “fairness.” I took to the floor of the Senate in advance of the speech to discuss this failure to offer a budget and how it is unfair to the American people. Real “fairness” would be government doing what American families have had to do: sit around the kitchen table, prioritize spending, cut spending and stop borrowing money we can’t pay back.

When it comes to tax reform, we need a comprehensive approach. The president’s own commission, Simpson-Bowles, recommended that we do away with many of the current tax expenditures and tax deductions, lower the tax rate on our taxpayers and produce more income. That would bring capital off the sidelines and investment back to small business. We need a comprehensive approach, not a winners-and-losers approach to tax reform.

Additionally, if on the one hand, the president talks about energy security and wanting to create more jobs for Americans, and on the other hand, he rejects 20,000 jobs, which the Keystone XL pipeline would have brought about, and 70,000 barrels of crude from Canada, one of our best friends, then he is saying one thing and doing something else—that’s wrong for our country. We need leadership on energy security.

Debt Limit Increase Request
On Thursday, I voted in support of a resolution of disapproval on the president’s request to increase the debt limit by an additional $1.2 trillion. Even though the resolution passed the House last week by a vote of 239 to 176, the failed vote in the Senate now means that, under the Budget Control Act of 2011, the president’s requested debt increase of $1.2 trillion will go into effect because Congress has failed to pass a resolution of disapproval within 15 days of the president’s request.

Our country is experiencing a very serious financial crisis that has been felt by families and businesses across America. I find it very troubling that the president is asking to increase the nation’s debt limit when his Democrat majority in the Senate has failed to submit budget in more than 1,000 days.

What’s on Tap?

Next week, the Senate will begin debate on S. 2038, known as the STOCK Act that would prohibit insider trading by members of Congress and aides using information obtained through the course of their duties.

Sincerely,
Johnny Isakson

CONYERS — Incumbent Rockdale County Magistrate Court Judge Clarence A. “Rudy” Horne announced he will seek a sixth term in office in the 2012 elections.

Horne has overseen county Magistrate Court proceedings since succeeding Hyram Pierce in 1992. The court typically handles thousands of actions per year that involve civil small claims, landlord/tenant matters, garnishments, abandoned motor vehicles, ordinance violations, criminal arrest and search warrants, probable cause hearings and bad checks.

Click HERE to read the entire article

Dear Friend,

Yesterday the President once again chose political expediency over the best interests of our country and its future. In a purely political move, Obama formally rejected the Keystone XL Pipeline. In doing so, he destroyed the possibility of immediately creating 20,000 American jobs, along with the potential of 100,000+ jobs that would have been created as a result of the economic effects of the project.

We need a President who understands what America’s best interests really are! Take a stand today!

The President was quoted as saying that the XL Pipeline was “not in the best interest of our nation.” If creating American jobs, increasing America’s energy independence and creating a huge ripple effect in our struggling economy aren’t in our “best interest,” then I guess I don’t know what is. Here is one thing I know for sure….Barack Obama’s big-government, job-killing ideologies certainly aren’t in our best interests!

With Obama and his liberal allies pouring millions into Georgia, it is critical that the GAGOP continues our aggressive education and election programs across the state. Please consider contributing $25, $35, $50 or more to help our cause!

As everyday American citizens, we may not have the power to enact something like the Keystone XL Pipeline ourselves; however, we do have the power to place such responsibility in the hands of someone who will work for America’s REAL “best interest”…a new Republican President. It is crucial that we take the opportunity in November to change the course of our country. Join us today by visiting our website at www.gagop.org/contribute!

We have a long road in front of us before November, but I am confident that together, we will take back our America and elect Republicans from the top of the ticket to the bottom!

Best,

Sue P. Everhart, Chairman

P.S. If you would prefer to mail a contribution, please send it to the GAGOP at P.O. Box 550008 Atlanta, GA 30355. Thank you!

CONYERS — Local resident and a regular at Rockdale County government meetings Sam Smiley tossed his hat in the ring for the post 1 seat on the county Board of Commissioners.

#Smiley’s announcement Wednesday means there will be contested races in both the Democratic and Republican primaries in July. Smiley will run in the Republican primary against Tom Harrison. Incumbent Commissioner Oz Nesbitt is seeking a second term and will face Jerry Sheppard in the Democratic primary.

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The Republican effort to win the newly remapped fourth congressional district has begun with a bid from Henry County church pastor Chris Vaughn.

Vaughn, 45, has been the senior pastor of The Landing church since 2008 and has lived in Rockdale County in the Meadowbrook subdivision since 2002. This will be his first time running for elected office.

“I want my children to have a better life than me,” Vaughn said, after attending the annual Rockdale NAACP and Chamber of Commerce MLK Breakfast. “I want to leave an inheritance and I don’t think that’s where we’re going right now. Not nationally, not in our districts.”

Although he has no prior experience in public office or government, he said his background as a senior pastor gives him relevant experience.

“I’m constantly dealing with people who want to do it the old way versus the new way,” he said. “It’s always trying to bring some level of agreement to the table.”

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