Political Sea Change
Radio Commentary, 90.7, 91.7 New Life FM, November 14, 2014 – By Sue Ella Deadwyler
The hard work of Tanya Ditty, State Director of Concerned Women for America of Georgia; Jane Robbins, American Principles Project Senior Fellow; and other education experts was rewarded when their resolution passed the Georgia Baptist Convention last Tuesday. The intent of the resolution is to counteract the disastrous effects of Common Core State Standards on education in Georgia.
The resolution asks the legislature to (a) withdraw Georgia from the Common Core State Standards and testing; (b) prohibit all state officials from entering into any agreement that cedes any measure of control over Georgia education to entities outside the state; (c) on both state and local levels, assure transparency and accountability of curriculum and content standards; (d) and prohibit the collection, tracking and sharing of personally identifiable student and teacher data outside the state. A copy of the resolution will be sent to Governor Deal, Lt. Governor Cagle, Speaker Ralston, and members of the General Assembly.
In the November 4th General Election, Georgia Republicans built on past successes of 2005 when they took control of the Georgia General Assembly, and 2011 when they gained more control by electing Republicans to every state-wide position. Republicans retained all those seats this year and replaced a Democrat congressman with a Republican. Result: Effective January 12, 2015, Georgia will have a Republican Governor, Lt. Governor, Attorney General, Secretary of State, Secretary of Education, Commissioner of Insurance, Commissioner of Agriculture, Commissioner of Labor, both U.S. Senators, 12 Republican Congressmen out of 14, and a majority of members in both House and Senate of the General Assembly. On the national level, the Conservative Intelligence Briefing reported that Republicans gained majorities in 69 legislative bodies, elected 31 Republican governors, gained at least 12 seats in the U.S. House of Representatives held all their seats in the U.S. Senate, avoided a run-off in Georgia, defeated a well-funded Independent in Kansas, easily won the seat in Kentucky, and elected Republicans to eight Democrat Senate seats, which may become nine if Republicans win the run-off in Louisiana.
When President Obama took office in 2009, Democrats controlled 62 of 99 state legislative bodies. Now, Democrats will control only 30; Republicans will control 69; and have complete control in 24 or more states. Incidentally, the victories were not caused by gerrymandering. Republicans did not draw re-districting maps in most states where Republican had gains.
For Georgia officials, oaths of office will be administered January 12, 2015, when the General Assembly convenes. After the governor is sworn in, he will administer oaths to state-wide constitutional officers, including the attorney general, who promised to defend Georgia’s definition of marriage when the case is heard in court. For Georgia Insight I’m Sue Ella Deadwyler, your capitol correspondent.