Fight for congressional majorities launches against backdrop of presidential campaigns
The 2024 struggle for control of Congress is expected to be especially close, with the state and national parties spending millions of dollars. Candidates winning a seat in the House spent on average about $840,000 in 2000, but that price tag has steadily increased ever since, reaching $1.4 million in 2010 and $2.8 million in…
Congress was full of postponements in 2023. Now 2024 could be even less productive.
Even when the House and Senate brokered deals in 2023, several of the laws passed were just short-term extensions, allowing members of Congress to delay the tough job of compromise on big-picture legislation until 2024. Pictured is the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 2, 2024. Jennifer Shutt/States Newsroom WASHINGTON — Congress got next to nothing done…
Drawn into friendly political fire, new Georgia redistricting maps prompt lawmaker reshuffling
Rep. Rob Leverett is an Elberton Republican who chairs the House Reapportionment and Redistricting Committee. The maps he led through 2023’s special session will pair up House incumbents from both parties. Ross Williams/Georgia Recorder When a federal judge gave the final OK to newly-drawn electoral maps last month, it spelled curtains for the political careers…
Judge rules True the Vote’s 2020 mass voter challenges don’t amount to illegal intimidation
In the lead up to Georgia’s 2021 U.S. Senate runoff elections, which would determine Senate control, the conservative activist group True the Vote announced that it would challenge the eligibility of 364,000 Georgia voters, drawing a voter intimidation lawsuit. John McCosh/Georgia Recorder A federal judge ruled Tuesday that a Texas group’s campaign to challenge the…
A ‘chaotic’ January? Congress faces two shutdown deadlines with no action yet on spending
The spending stalemate has aggravated both Democrats and Republicans on the Senate and House Appropriations committees, who say leadership needs to give them the green light to begin talks ahead of the Jan. 19 deadline to enact four spending bills and the Feb. 2 deadline for the other eight appropriations measures. Shown is the U.S.…
Wild Hog Supper 2024 kicks off season of Georgia legislative events for policy wonk feasting
On Jan. 7, Gov. Brian Kemp. state lawmakers and lobbyists are set to return to Atlanta for the Wild Hog Supper, which serves as the largest fundraiser for Feeding Georgia and as a kick off for the legislative session. Jill Nolin/Georgia Recorder (2020 file photo) Georgians who may be feeling the post-holiday blues will have…