Your morning jolt: Does the governor know what you’re doing? ‘I am the governor’

Over on Lake Jackson down toward middle Georgia, Fonnette Harris saw some machinery on the lot across the water, dredging up dirt from a boat slip, then dumping it deeper into the lake.

She and her husband hopped into their pontoon boat and hailed the fellow on the opposite shore – asking if he had a permit and knew there were state regulations against dredging.

He said no. “We asked, ‘Does the governor know you’re doing this on his property?’ and he said, ‘I am the governor,’” Harris told the Macon Telegraph. Here’s the lead:

Gov. Sonny Perdue recently dredged soil from Lake Jackson without a permit, dumping it into the lake and angering some neighbors and environmental advocates.

Georgia Power officials said the activity at Perdue’s vacation home was not a violation, although a Georgia Power permit should have been obtained first. They said Perdue stopped digging as soon as he was informed that a permit was needed.

State and federal environmental regulations generally forbid property owners from dumping silt in a waterway or even allowing erosion off their property. The Ocmulgee River flows out of Lake Jackson and through Macon.

Perdue’s communications director, Bert Brantley, said Perdue will obtain a proper permit in the future if he needs to do work at the lake, but he has no immediate plans to do so. Perdue’s boat slip, like many at the lake after heavy rains this fall, had become clogged with mud.

“The amount (dredged) was so small I don’t think there was any thought that there would be any environmental damage,” Brantley said. “With the investment he’s made there, he loves the lake and only wants what’s best for it.”

Georgia’s congressional delegation was deeply invested in the Saturday theatrics surrounding House passage of a health care reform bill. My AJC colleague Bob Keefe has many of the details here. This taste of the scene comes from the New York Times:

Representative Barbara Lee, Democrat of California, stepped forward. “I ask unanimous consent to revise and extend my remarks in support of affordable health care in this Democratic bill so that domestic violence may never be used again as a pre-existing condition.”

Representative Tom Price, Republican of Georgia, began a series of objections.

Representative John D. Dingell, Democrat of Michigan, who was presiding as the speaker pro tempore, dismissed the objections and continued to pound the gavel, asking for order. But Mr. Price would not relent.

As one after another of the Democrats stepped forward, Mr. Price began to shout. “I object. I object. I object. I object.”

Mr. Dingell: “The gentleman is out of order.”

Republicans continued to shout objections and demand parliamentary inquiries, which allow them to interrupt.

A woman’s voice meekly called out from the Democratic side: “Regular order please.”

Mr. Price continued shouting: “I object. I object. I object. I object. I object. I object.”

The Republicans demanded additional time for debate to counter the Democrats’ theatrics. Mr. Dingell continued to reject their demands.

U.S. Rep. Nathan Deal, hewing to a states’ rights theme, questioned the propriety of the federal legislation:

what authority in the United States Constitution gives this Congress the right to mandate that every citizen must purchase a health insurance policy, and upon failing to do so shall be fined and possibly imprisoned? I think the answer to that question is – there is no such constitutional authority.

To no one’s surprise, two Georgia Democrats, Jim Marshall and John Barrow, voted against the health care bill. But what’s got many Democratic women steamed is that three Democrats from Georgia – Barrow, Marshall and Sanford Bishop – endorsed the restrictions on abortion funding included in the final bill.

This from Blog for Democracy:

Sanford, Sanford, Sanford – you definitely broke my heart with this vote. I am truly saddened that you don’t believe a woman should have a right to choose her own health care. Would have never thought you would do such a thing.

While you ponder that, consider these items found while perusing this morning’s ajc.com:

Misused fees lead state to lose federal funds.

Atlanta mayor’s race: The sprint to win.

Fulton County certifies vote results in Atlanta, makes four runoffs official.

Runoff system a Southern relic.

State bans smoking in mental hospitals.

Gwinnett Braves parking revenue falls short of county expectations.

Some opinion:

Cynthia Tucker says voters are thinking about jobs, not Obama.

Kyle Wingfield on a first step toward tax reform in Georgia.

Learning Curve: Tough charter choices.

Tech firms invent shortage panic.

From elsewhere in Georgia:

MDJ: Fran Millar on Georgia’s need for a real Department of Transportation.

AC: Atlanta mayor hopeful Norwood maintains Augusta roots.

MT: Kidd, Black to face off in House 141 runoff.

And beyond:

WP: Authorities scrutinize links between Fort Hood suspect, imam said to back al-Qaeda.

NYT: At 91, Mandela endures as South Africa’s ideal.

WSJ: General Casey lends sway to request for troops.

For instant updates, follow me on Twitter.