Your morning jolt: The complications of impeaching Thurbert Baker
Crucial details – a name would be handy, for instance – are missing, but rumors are swirling that Friday could see an attempt by House members to impeach Attorney General Thurbert Baker for his refusal to join a legal challenge to the new federal health care law.
PeachPundit says a piece of paper is floating around with 30 names on it.
We’ll add some background to the mix: On Wednesday, a spokesman insisted that Gov. Sonny Perdue harbored no ill will toward Baker, a Democratic candidate for governor. Said Bert Brantley:
“We asked him to participate and go with us, and he has not chosen to do that. And that’s fine. That’s his — he’s been the attorney general for a long time. He certainly knows his stuff. He’s also a candidate for governor. And so we know there are multiple things that he’s thinking about, looking at. And that’s fine.”
Perdue and former U.S. House speaker Newt Gingrich have a joint press conference this morning. The governor is likely to announce that he’ll pursue a legal challenge on his own.
Secondly, any attempt to impeach Baker would eat up much of the crucial 30th day of business in the House. And that could affect another lengthy, previously scheduled debate on the creation of Milton County.
Impeachment also requires a simple majority vote in the House, and a two-thirds vote by the Senate. The numbers argue futility.
In Washington, House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer voiced concern Thursday over warnings of violent reprisals against members of Congress who voted for landmark health care legislation, saying the threats are being taken “very seriously.”
Ten House members are reportedly receiving beefed-up protection. We’re assured that U.S. Rep. John Lewis of Atlanta, who had a nasty encounter with a tea party crowd on Saturday, was not among them.
Wednesday was not a good day for Gov. Sonny Perdue. As my AJC colleague Nancy Badertscher notes:
The Georgia House handed Gov. Sonny Perdue a major defeat Wednesday, rejecting his proposal to merge the Georgia Department of Corrections and the Board of Pardons and Paroles.
The 108-59 vote against his plan followed more than an hour of heated debate on the floor.
Advocates for the change argued that it would eliminate unnecessary duplication of bureaucracy and help streamline operations. Critics said it would create a giant agency and might not save money.
Tom Baxter of InsiderAdvantage adds these tidbits:
This bill had not attracted much attention before last week, when WSB-TV reported that the governor’s office put pressure on the state Pardons and Paroles Foundation – which is not a part of state government – to fire lobbyist Wendy Clifton, who had been hired to work against the measure.
Legislators were also informed through e-mails of a transition team which had been working on the proposed consolidation even before the bill was introduced, and opponents complained of other strong-arm tactics. Opponents in the hall even passed around a photograph of a car already marked with the emblem of the newly combined department.
That wasn’t the worst for the governor. Travis Fain of the Macon Telegraph picked up signals that Perdue’s transportation initiative may be falling apart:
[T]he House and Senate both re-appointed conference committees for a couple of pieces of transportation legislation: House Resolution 206 and House Bill 277. Those were the vehicles for last year’s version of a transportation funding plan, which then Speaker of the House Glenn Richardson seemed to put on hold at the end of the session.
If the House and Senate are getting ready to fire that conference committee back up, that means they don’t think the governor’s transportation bill is going anywhere.
The Georgia Hospital Association’s acquiescence to the bed tax? It came with some serious strings, according to my colleague Aaron Sheinin:
As part of an agreement struck between lawmakers and the state’s hospitals for the medical centers to accept a new tax on patient revenue for the next three years, lawmakers have agreed to protect hospitals from “bills harmful to hospitals” for three years, according to a copy of a memo obtained by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
Late Wednesday, Gov. Sonny Perdue issued a writ setting May 11 as the date for a special election to fill the state Senate seat of David Adelman of Decatur. Adelman was confirmed last week by the U.S. Senate to become the U.S. ambassador to Singapore.
Jason Carter, grandson of the former president, and attorney Thomas Stubbs have already spent months campaigning for the seat.
Another possible reason for Ralph Reed’s decision to opt out of the 7th District congressional race? It may have interfered with his book tour — for a sequel to last year’s “Dark Horse.” Here’s the promo that Reed sent out last night:
And finally, former Hawks star Dominique Wilkins has a photo op at the state Capitol this afternoon with Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle and other state legislators. Wilkins will be named Georgia’s diabetes ambassador.
Lawmakers are currently debating bills – one pitched by the governor – to permit Georgians to buy health insurance policies from insurance companies in other states. Critics say the measures would allow insurance companies circumvent coverage now mandated by the state – for such diseases as, say, diabetes.
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199 comments Add your comment
Pete and repeat
March 25th, 2010
11:56 am
Boot…very thoughtful and helpful comment. Thanks for that.
FMX
March 25th, 2010
11:57 am
Quantarious Mack are you suppose to be funny or something? There are adult people on having an adult discussion. Okay we get that you are a bigot and a racist but how is that helping the discussion. The only thing that it is doing is making you look stupid and ignorant. Comments like yours and others are just feeding the negative stereotype of southerners.
White people, black people or hispanic people just remember how someone feels about you is their problem so don’t give in to haters and bring yourself down to their level–FMX
tax cuts all around
March 25th, 2010
11:58 am
Those playing politics are strictly the Republicans. Oh and while you are at it, why not crank up the lawsuits for secession? Or for more unconstitutional laws to limit medical malpractice lawsuits- why not limit to $25,000 this time?
Benton Arsenic
March 25th, 2010
11:58 am
Maureen, Alaksa is far too beautiful a state to be used as a hog pen for Sonny, Rush and the rest of them. Maybe we could send them to Guam?
tax cuts all around
March 25th, 2010
12:02 pm
Stan Thank you Stan-nice and accurate post. Don’t forget “Go Fish”. A huge legacy.
Patriot and one of the bigger taxpayers
March 25th, 2010
12:03 pm
I appreciate your comments, Pete and Repeat. I don’t think people understand what the journey of becoming a doctor is like. I definitely didn’t have a clue because my parents and closer relatives were not doctors. It is years of dedication, convection, and scarifice. But it was my choice, and I don’t want anyone having pity for me. I just people would respect doctors more these days, it is getting really bad. We don’t make NFL and NBA players money, not even close. Tuition, malpractice insurance, rent, supplies, staff salaries, pathetic medicaid fee schedule, and business loans are killing us.
BootObummer
March 25th, 2010
12:04 pm
No problem, pete and repeat. I am glad that I could help your simple little mind.
CB
March 25th, 2010
12:04 pm
It’s interesting that Purdue is having a press conference with Newt Gingrich. It was Newt who was responsible for worsening the political mood in Washington during his term as Speaker. While Dems and Repubs always disagreed, it was Newt who told Repubs not just to debate and disagree with their opponents, but to “demonize” them. It was Newt who came up with the words Repubs should use to describe Dems. Newt took a bad situation and made it ten times worse, all for political gain.
Sam
March 25th, 2010
12:05 pm
Can Perdue be impeached as well for failure to follow his own legal advice?
tax cuts all around
March 25th, 2010
12:06 pm
CB That’s when he wasn’t divorcing wives. Ah those conservative values!
Stan
March 25th, 2010
12:07 pm
Jack Hipo….why don’t you grow a brain……your party could do no wrong for the past 8 years and you think liberals can do nothing right…..that is the sign if a completely partisan person who lacks the mental capacity to recognize the both parties are run by humans who are prone to doing some things well and some things not so well. You come across as a poor losers
tax cuts all around
March 25th, 2010
12:11 pm
JACK HIPO You miss the point. You LOST in NOvember 08 in a landslide- you lost the heathcare debate= you lost the healthcare vote. Now man up and kick us out in November 10 and 12. Stop whining about “they took my country away” But knock off the revolutionary comments and hate speech. You lost before- now go out and win(if you can). We feel your pain!!!
Alright
March 25th, 2010
12:13 pm
How in the world did Health care become such a controversial issue? We fear that poor people and minorities may have the same opportunity to go to the doctor like those of us with employer health care plans that we pay high premiums for limited care. Someone needs to regulate this so called free enterprise system where only the haves can benefit. For a country that was built on thievery, lies and hatred, you would think that at some point people would develop a conscience.
Cheryl
March 25th, 2010
12:14 pm
@ Retired Soldier, you asked for someone to point out the constitutional grounds for HCR and I will be happy to do so for you. It will also answer why those scamming you all into thinking they can Impeach AG Baker are doing just that, as are the “leaders” in the State Gvmt, and Federal Gvmt, who are leading protests against it. It’s all a sham, they know it well.
The first constitutional basis for health insurance, The Federal Government has the right to levy taxes on the citizens. If the government could require individuals to participate in a government health insurance program paid for by a tax on individuals, it can achieve the same result by requiring the purchase of private insurance. The fine for not purchasing the private insurance is nothing more than the equivalent of a tax to pay for the insurance. (btw, there is no pay of be prosecuted portion in the bill nor jail time) The penalty, is in fact the inability to claim tax credits which will be offered to you if you purchase an insurance plan, otherwise, not credit, and you have to pay the tax. Completely Constitutionally sound.
The second constitutional basis for upholding the new law is the Commerce Clause. Ever since the 1930s, the Supreme Court has consistently held that the act of even one individual in one state can affect the national economy and thus be subject to federal control.
The effect of health care on the economy already constitutes over 17 percent of the economy, and predictions are that it will rise to almost 25 percent within the next two decades. The federal government has the right to regulate the industry.
The third basis on which to uphold federal power over health care insurance is the extent to which the federal government pays health care costs. Between Medicare and Medicaid as well as the Department of Veterans Affairs, estimates are that the federal government already pays over 25 percent of the nation’s $2.5 trillion health care bill. It is by far the largest payer of health care costs.
So you see, all of this invasion and usurping of liberties, etc…. is a bunch of malarkey, and those who are leading the American people to do it, are just doing it for political purposes. It has nothing to do with socialism, or communism or any of the other things they led you to believe.
Lastly, please, when you can, go back and read Bob Dole/Newt Gingrich’s counter proposal to the Clinton’s Universal Health Care. Outside of a few amendments, it is almost identical to the Health Care Law we now have. It’s ironic that Newt is leading the charge against the plan HE and Bob Dole Wrote! How’s that for getting snookered!
bbdawg
March 25th, 2010
12:14 pm
Wonder why Thubert Baker is standing up to Sonny now when he refused to do so over the investigation of Michael Adams. Every Georgian should read “Behind the Hedges” by Richard Whitt who died suddenly before he could promote or defend his book.
DZ
March 25th, 2010
12:15 pm
Rep. John Lewis is either a liar or getting senile. He is just trying to rile up sympathy by using the race card to further his and his party’s self-centered agenda. It’s getting old.
1. Why did nobody else hear the slur? No recording devices (news cameras, etc.) on site picked up the alleged slur.
2. How do you know it was not a Democrat supporter trying to make tea partiers look bad? Don’t laugh. These are politicians we’re talking about.
3. It was a big loud crowd. He must have some amazing hearing for a 70-year old man.
David
March 25th, 2010
12:15 pm
So all yall would hate Jesus or the bible it does say take care of your sick and poor
Bill Campell
March 25th, 2010
12:20 pm
Why is it OK to say ” rednecks ” on this site but other racist slang is forbidden? Racism works both ways!!
unregistered_independent
March 25th, 2010
12:21 pm
The GOP is failing America at the state and federal level. They offer no ideas beyond cutting taxes for the ultra-wealthy and powerful, and removing regulations from industries that would put profit over principle. Now that the GOP has splintered into the Tea Party, who will probably run a Sarah Palin or someone equally uneducated and unqualified, the Democrats stand to win and keep on winning.
GOP: In Gold We Trust
Stan
March 25th, 2010
12:26 pm
Bill Campbell….Redneck is not racist…..my father is a “Proud Redneck”…..he would think you are an absolute toe-sucking idiot if you thought of his self-professed title as racist
Pete and repeat
March 25th, 2010
12:27 pm
DZ…You are kidding, right? I mean…really…
Marlboro Man
March 25th, 2010
12:36 pm
The people who will get taxed can afford them, if you don’t like income taxes just make less. (yeah right)
Ed
March 25th, 2010
12:40 pm
AG Baker does not have to be impeached by the Legislature. They can just cut his department out of the State budjet and that will take little time and a simple majority.
Pete and repeat
March 25th, 2010
12:40 pm
Marlboro…I’ll switch incomes (and tax bills) with one of these rich dudes any time.
Bo Doodley
March 25th, 2010
12:45 pm
Impeach Baker because he doesn’t agree? How damn stupid. I didn’t vote for the man, and probably won’t if he runs again, but I’m sick and tired of all the political BS games. We may not see eye to eye, but, by God, he’s got every right to his own opinion. BTW, State attorneys general are constitutionally independent state officers and have autonomy in their decisions to take action on behalf of their states.
Also, back when the Dems had control, they were just as guilty of playing games as the GOP is now so don’t go there with the “neocon this, nazi that” BS. It only shows your stupidity.
Dawilla
March 25th, 2010
12:46 pm
Yes, impeach that jacka$$. How can he be the AG and not know the constitution?
mp
March 25th, 2010
12:46 pm
Why does Perdue grandstand with Gingrich? Gingrich is famous for being a hypocrit and blowhard, and was long ago drummed out of elected office. Why does Gingrich think his opinion matters or that he should share facetime with our governor, who should be spending more time on things that really matter–like Georgia becoming a third world outpost?
BootObummer
March 25th, 2010
12:46 pm
There goes Pete and repeat again… wanting to take money he didnt earn. DEMOCRATS!!!!
bainbridgejim
March 25th, 2010
12:48 pm
Great Idea Ed, Let crime run wild just to manifest a partisan squabble…Heck all the boiler rooms may even give us some short term relief for our unemployment problem. Can bad ideas be impeached too?
TheTruthHurts
March 25th, 2010
12:49 pm
this is what happens when you tow the line for Socialist Democrats that want to take over the US and help the losers of society suck of the Govt. teet cause they are too damn lazy and stupid to work for it themselves…..Suckers!!
tax cuts all around
March 25th, 2010
12:52 pm
TheTruthHurts You wouldn’t know a socialist if he bit you in the butt. Go back and ask Boortz or Rush what to say now.
ThirstyinGwinnett
March 25th, 2010
12:53 pm
So, um, how are the water negotiations going?
FMX
March 25th, 2010
12:56 pm
Main Entry: ig·no·rant
Pronunciation: \ˈig-n(ə-)rənt\
Function: adjective
Date: 14th century
1 a : destitute of knowledge or education ; also : lacking knowledge or comprehension of the thing specified b : resulting from or showing lack of knowledge or intelligence
2 : unaware, uninformed
Bo Doodley
March 25th, 2010
12:56 pm
“David
March 25th, 2010
12:15 pm
So all yall would hate Jesus or the bible it does say take care of your sick and poor”
That BS doesn’t work Señor DuMass.
In the Bible, people take care of others from their heart because they want to, not because some government idiot is FORCING them to. Wth that statement, you also make an assumption, Señor, that everyone against this is some bible thumping fruitcake. Not everyone’s a Christian, Señor. Some people just don’t want to be FORCED to take care of some crackhead who contributes absolutely nothing to the community.
Besides, this debate isn’t over the sick and poor, Señor.
tax cuts all around
March 25th, 2010
12:56 pm
ThirstyinGwinnett Or better yet- how is the ethics reform that those trusty Georgia Republicans promised coming along? Hmmm? Day 30 is just around the corner… The crisis has passed – maybe the public has forgotten! Unfortunately they undoubtedly have.
tax cuts all around
March 25th, 2010
1:00 pm
Bo Doodley No it is about the health care indutry which is strangling the very life out of this economy and the baudget of most Americans. But you Republicans don’t seem to care one whit about that. Let the free enterprise system take care of it indeed!!! That’s how we got in this mess and the one with the Wall Street meltdown. Ah that love of greed that is the basis of wall street.
Georgia Attorney General Faces Impeachment Threat After Refusing To File Anti-Health Care Lawsuit | GoodPorkBadPork.com
March 25th, 2010
1:02 pm
[...] the impeachment process appears to be in motion, some see it as a futile distraction that will not succeed because the threshold for impeachment is so high. It requires a vote of [...]
Farsider
March 25th, 2010
1:02 pm
lets get this straight. Blindly partisan GOP wackadoos are attacking Bakers refusal to sue because of his “partisanship”?
Pot, meet kettle.
TheTruthHurts
March 25th, 2010
1:03 pm
tax cuts all around….you sound like one of the the losers i was talking about. I bet you still live at home with mommy are are excited you don’t have to work for a living….another deadbeat loser that needs to leach off the successful productive people of society…..you would not know what working hard or success was if it bit you on the butt!!
ThirstyinGwinnett
March 25th, 2010
1:03 pm
I think about Lake Lanier pretty much every day since 2012 will be here real soon. Can’t our legislators figure out a way to steal money based on water negotiations and then get all interested in it? That’s what drives them right? Insider deals, government contract, slush funds, and sex?
Shocked as a Conservative
March 25th, 2010
1:04 pm
so since the Dems tried every trick in the book and got their way, does that mean we have to stoop to their level by playing nasty? As a conservative who was against the HC Bill based on fiscal and Constitution Matters, but why do we have to get rid of someone who thinks this has no play. If he is impeached, and this lawsuit is frivilous, could he take the state to the cleaners in a lawsuit?
lmno
March 25th, 2010
1:06 pm
Well, the good thing about this is that we will know who is right and who is wrong in short order.
If one of the other states wins the lawsuit, then everyone can say that our AG should have filed as well. If they all lose, and I suspect they will, then we can thank the AG for not wasting our money.
And for the 10th time today.
None of you said a word when Medicare Part D passed. You didn’t care and I don’t know why.
Bo Doodley
March 25th, 2010
1:07 pm
tax cuts all around, love the assumption of “you Republicans”. You have no idea, guess that puts you in the “you idiots” group.
Cheryl
March 25th, 2010
1:08 pm
I am having a real problem with people like TheTruthHurts, BootObummer and their cohorts who just refuse to take the time to read anything that will tell them what the Law actually is. Nowhere does it state that people get to not work and “suck off the Govt. Teet. The bill does in a few years time lift the income limit to $29,000 for a family of four to be eligible for medicaid but a family making $29,00 is a working family, but you cannot deny they are poor. That is 133% below the Poverty level, and there are many many working American families who fall into this category, lots of them right here in GA, but many in Appalachia, Pennsylvania, Alabama, Mississippi, Texas, Louisiana, Florida, South Carolina, Tennessee and Kentucky, Michigan go on and on. Other than that, all Americans will be required to purchase health care insurance. People who are currently uninsured for at least the last 6 months because a pre-existing condition kept them from being eligible to purchase it, will be able to do so, within the next 90 days, and Medicare recipients will receive a $250 rebate from that doughnut hole clause in acted by Medicare Part D (Bush & Republican Congress did this). Now why would you have a problem with this? Do you want our Seniors having to eat dog food because they can’t afford the high priced medication (Part D bans negotiation of medicine prices by Medicare for its recipients so they pay the highest prices in the world) that they have to take to live. Why would you want people who need health care but are not allowed to purchase it, to just get sick and die when they don’t have to? What kind of person would want that? Your dreams of revolting against a socialist/communist/Marxist regime are just that, Dreams, they are not rooted in reality at all. If you didn’t want to just carry on with nonsense, you would find out the real information, and not just say what somebody else who is just as ignorant told you. Some people just like to be mad about anything, but you will never be right being mad about this one. There is no right in your anger – it’s just anger.
TheTruthHurts
March 25th, 2010
1:13 pm
Cheryl,
Stop pretending you think you know everything when you don’t. Your reading the Democrats talking points and think its the gospel. You probably believed them when they said The Post Office and Social Security would be profitable ventures and run perfectly. Wow what a surprise to find out they lied…. Time to face the FACTS The GOVT CANNOT RUN ANYTHING SUCCESSFUL….You may want to trust your healthcare to the GOVT…..but the majority of US does not!! Get a grip and wake up already damn!
Ms Concern:
March 25th, 2010
1:14 pm
Good Job Mr Baker, UNBOSSED AND UNBOUGHT, Bravo to you.
SMH
March 25th, 2010
1:16 pm
Moron….Your name fits you perfectly! And I hope you did not reproduce….
Safire
March 25th, 2010
1:18 pm
I live in Georgia, which is a backwards state filled with hateful rednecks who are mostly secret members of the KKK. Not only are they backwards, and ignorant, they are also evil!
There is a reason why this state is red, and it has nothing to do with being a Conservative. They condoned everything the Bush Admin did with ALL his UNFUNDED mandates, like 2 wars, and cutting taxes for the rich during the 2 wars, which they had no money for. Bush and Paulson scared the public with gloom and doom asking for BILLIONS of dollars to bail out Wall Street written on a piece of paper. Yes, you all loved it, and happily swallowed.
They hate Obama for one simple reason, he is Black. Period!
I am glad the guy stood up for his right to have a THINKING BRAIN, which the ignoramus have yet to have developed. ALL people of color should get of their duffs and VOTE people into office that will look out for your best interests. The rednecks are always going to try and keep you down. The haters will always threaten you and hope you listen.
No, BootObummer, which is a slur against someone who you are not fit to lick his boots, it is people like you and your kind who have ruined this great country. No matter what you call him, he is a great man, and you can just crawl back into your double-wide and lick your wounds, because no matter what you do, friend, he will be our President for the next 7, yes I said, SEVEN years!
Maybe if you had a bit more than a 6th or 12th grade education you would know that slavery days are OVER! Too bad and too sad for the likes of you.
fedup
March 25th, 2010
1:19 pm
When the economy will takes a nose dive because of this health care bill, the libs will find out why the devil conservatives were so against it but yet again maybe they won’t
It’s getting ugly out there « Dating Jesus
March 25th, 2010
1:22 pm
[...] March 25, 2010 · Leave a Comment The story is Georgia lawmakers have filed papers to impeach the Georgia’s attorney general, Thurbert Baker, when he declined to sign onto a multi-state lawsuit that seeks to block the recent health care legislatio…. [...]