Bait-and-switch: The Capitol coup against Casey Cagle
Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle at his debate with Democratic rival Carol Porter. AP/David Goldman
A bait-and-switch was pulled on those of you who went to the polls on the first Tuesday of November.
For months, Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle had crisscrossed the state, warning that if Democrat Carol Porter were elected to replace him, a Republican-controlled Senate would immediately strip her of all power.
She would be an inert figurehead with a staff and a $91,609-a-year state salary, the Republican incumbent argued.
The lieutenant governor was re-elected by a comfortable margin. The people had spoken.
Three days later, at a closed meeting on the Mercer University campus in Macon, Republican members of the Senate voted to strip a stunned Cagle of nearly all his authority. When the General Assembly convenes in January, he’ll be little more than the figurehead he warned against.
As people in polite company say, payback is a harsh mistress.
That conclave in Macon, with its palace coup against Cagle, is significant as the first political consequence of an election that may have given Republicans a 20-year grip on the state.
With a GOP hand on every lever of import, the power struggles that matter are likely to be internal — and often behind closed doors.
Senators have bucked the lieutenant governor before. The last time was in 2003, when newly empowered Republicans grabbed the reins from Lt. Gov. Mark Taylor, a Democrat. They gave control back to Cagle after his 2006 election.
Picayune complaints about his management style aside, the immediate cause of Cagle’s demotion is the hospital bed tax passed by the Legislature this spring — which became necessary to balancing the state budget.
The lieutenant governor signed an agreement on the tax with Gov. Sonny Perdue and House Speaker David Ralston, R-Blue Ridge, but failed to adequately consult Senate leadership.
When two Republican senators balked, Cagle — using the powers conceded to him by the Senate — yanked their committee chairmanships.
Status is important and personal at the state Capitol. To be called Mister or Madam Chairman adds a full six inches to any lawmaker’s height.
Over the summer, Senate President pro tem Tommie Williams, R-Lyons, Majority Leader Chip Rogers, R-Woodstock, and others quietly gathered up the necessary commitments from GOP senators and candidates yet to be elected.
The trap was sprung while Cagle was still celebrating his re-election. Over the lieutenant governor’s protests — he flew to Macon to argue his case personally — Cagle was stripped of his power to name the chairmen and other members of Senate committees.
Details of the coup haven’t been placed in writing, and the chambers’ two top leaders, Williams and Rogers, have declined to offer specifics.
But the Senate will be ruled by an eight-member Committee on Assignments. Cagle will still preside over the Senate — a power given to him by the state Constitution.
For those of you who yawn at such things, let me put it in crass political terms: Power in the state Capitol is all about “the ask.” He who must be asked — for a line item in the budget, for a few words to tip legislation this way or that — has the power.
With the lieutenant governor in complete control of the Senate, lobbyists lined up eight or 10 deep in his office — lobbyists who control access to hundreds of thousands of dollars in campaign contributions, and thus entire political futures. Committee chairmen were ignored.
Lobbyists will now have to curry favor with several Senate leaders.
But Cagle will still deserve some attention. In their haste, Senate revolutionaries may have overlooked an important weapon in the lieutenant governor’s arsenal.
Cagle, we’re told, retains his authority to appoint conference committees, where senators engage House members in the crucial final rounds of negotiation over important legislation — including the state budget.
It is a power used primarily during the last days of a four-month session. But if used properly, and if Senate Republicans let Cagle keep it, this oversight could become the equivalent of taking a general’s sword but leaving him the loaded cannon.
Unfinished revolutions can be messy things. Ask any Frenchman.
As a footnote, at the same private meeting in Macon, Senate Republicans decided that — after listening to the daily sermon and declaring their allegiance to the U.S. flag — all members of their chamber will also be required to swear fealty to the Georgia flag.
The move is certain to prompt another round of heated discussions about state sovereignty. State Sen. Emanuel Jones, D-Decatur, chairman of the Legislative Black Caucus, has already said he will absent himself rather than recite the pledge.
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96 comments Add your comment
The Ghost of Lester Maddox
November 14th, 2010
11:07 am
Yep, just because you hold the Governor or Lt. Gov’s seat doesn’t mean you can act like God on the throne in modern day Georgia…..just ask King Roy and Bobby Kahn how well that goes over.
The last Emperor Georgia had was Tom Murphy, and another Emperor ain’t likely to appear again.
chuck padden
November 14th, 2010
11:27 am
The AJC story today on Sonny Perdue’s crooked deal at the GA Ports is just the tip of the iceberg. Next expose should be on Sonny and Lance Tolland. Sonny and Lance are best buddies and fly airplanes together. Sonny gave Lance the contract to privatize the State’s airplane fleet. Lance operates the fleet and also buys and sells airplanes with Sonny. Sonny stays at Lance’s Sea Island home just about every other weekend. Sonny uses Lance’s helicopter free all the time. Sonny bouncing around the St. Simons Airport in Lance’s helicopter has become a local joke. Lance goes on most of Sonny’s foreign trips so he can develop his/Sonny’s future bidness deals. It is illegal for Sonny to accept gratuities from a State vendor, but Sonny ignores those pesky little laws. Nathan Deal will be emboldened by Sonny’s illegal activities so there is no telling what mischief Deal will do when he is Governor.
Michael
November 14th, 2010
11:32 am
Isn’t their pledge to the Georgia flag an un-pledging of allegiance to the USA flag? And which Georgia flag? The one Sonny had the people vote on in the ultimate bait and switch? Or the former cross of St George born that celebrated civil war heritage, you know, dominance over blacks.
GT/MIT
November 14th, 2010
11:34 am
So your trying to convince us,or maybe yourselves, that the scenario would have been any different had the jackasses won. Wake up folks, politics is a dirty business. Elephant crap stinks as badly as donkey doo. I seem to recall Georgia jackasses had 100 plus years to do something constructive and only managed to step into their own pile. The last jackass to hold the Governors office, one Roy Barns, not only heaped his crap onto the pile, then step in, he was of the opinion that you were so ignorant you wouldn’t smell it on his shoes this election. Maybe it time we Georgians woke up to the fact that party affiliation is not whats important, honesty and integrity is. If we will persist in that demand, then just maybe, we will attract some candidates that will clean up the crap. I wonder if that would work in Washington as well,,,,Naw.
skydog
November 14th, 2010
12:07 pm
Where are the jobs Repubs?
Oh yeah, the elections over , who cares?
We don`t govern, we just rack up political office numbers and gloat in our togas eating grapes.
Larry
November 14th, 2010
12:25 pm
We have not heard the last of the dirt on Casey. As for the Senators who seized power…..they could not manage their way out of a paper bag. The Senate continues to be dysfuntional!
GT/MIT
November 14th, 2010
1:14 pm
After browsing the comments on this forum it seems ole Roy might have been right, you don’t have much of a sense of smell. I once thought it would be great to win the lottery but now I think it would be even better to have the Atlanta koolaid concession. Oh, and by the way skydog (or could it be dawg?)you do of course realize that the newly elected haven’t taken office yet don’t you?? Do you think that they are going to bring a sack full of jobs with them and pass them out on the capitol steps? Anyway, wouldn’t you much rather just wait for Robin Hood to rob a few of the rich and pass a couple of bucks along to you? Seems to be all the rage these days. Sad commentary!!!!
double
November 14th, 2010
1:16 pm
Cagle should change to democrat party.The best watchdog is AJC impartial news reporting at it’s best.
Sharia Lawyer
November 14th, 2010
1:31 pm
Remember another bait and switch back in 2004 – “If John Kerry is elected we will be paying $2.00 a gallon for gas”?
Calhoun
November 14th, 2010
2:21 pm
To: 3Dawgz
November 13th, 2010
10:00 pm
You say:
Calhoun or whatever your name is.. grow up and at least attempt to use your brain.. If you haven’t got one… ask a neighbor or your cousin.
I say:
Thanks for your squeal.
Sorry for the delay in responding. Went to bed early.
Yeah, yeah, yeah, that’s what my wife says – “You ought to grow up and leave those blog imbeciles alone.” But I just can’t help myself. Shooting down the Deal haters’ statements, restatements, lies, and distortions is way too much fun. Now, if you, 2Dawgz, have something that is worthy of challenging my intellect, pray do pass it along.
More squeals and howls?
AryanNegroHood
November 14th, 2010
2:21 pm
Medicare + unemployment benefits + social security retirement + public school system + property taxes = SOCIALISM.
FREE MARKET SOCIETY= rich poeple vs. poor people….CLASS WARFARE, Is this what Georgians want?
No diploma on her wall
November 14th, 2010
6:15 pm
Republicans seem to be all racists now – and proud of it. My oh my. Sad times for GA.
This is Mrs. Norman Maine
November 14th, 2010
6:26 pm
Mr. Galloway, there wasn’t really a bait and switch. The Republicans could have announced their intentions up front and the people of this state would still have voted for Mr. Cagle. Many Republican voters have not courage and no ethics, they only care that their side wins. What was more important to them was that a Republican occupy that seat; it doesn’t matter what he actually does while in office.
Brainiac
November 14th, 2010
6:44 pm
If/When Deal is driven out of office because allegations against him are proven true then Cagle becomes “GOVERNOR CAGLE”. Stand by!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Corey
November 14th, 2010
6:50 pm
Only in Georgia will people march to the polling place in droves and vote for a man to be governor who mouthed “ghetto grandmothers.” These “ghetto grandmothers” are the only glue which is keeping some of these poverty stricken communities from totally disentegrating. They worked for decades scrubbing your floors, taking care of your children and cooking your meals, and the only thanks they get it is a disparaging lable
GT/MIT
November 14th, 2010
7:05 pm
My goodness, I hope beyond hope that most of you are somehow rendered incapable of breeding. I can’t recall ever having seen such a display of unmitigated stupidity on a single topic in my life.
the mehlman rings twice
November 14th, 2010
7:23 pm
The better question is who cares about bank failures when Obama’s birth certificate is far more important?
JM
November 14th, 2010
8:28 pm
I might let Nathan Deal wash my dog..as long as no money was involved.
tom mitchell
November 14th, 2010
8:30 pm
I want to make some quick money. How do I become a legislator?
Oh My!
November 14th, 2010
9:29 pm
I was entertained by your term “payback is a harsh mistress.” I guess such is the case when one doesn’t, “tie their own shoes.” HA
Reality Check
November 14th, 2010
9:32 pm
The 21st Century finds the Democrats proving to be this century’s bigots and racists! But then again the Democrats owned black slaves in the 19th century and passed the Jim Crow laws and fought against civil rights legislation in the 20th century so really nothing has changed,
Port O'John
November 14th, 2010
9:55 pm
I disagree, this is not the “Republicans eating their young”, its really “Republicans eating their dumb” selves. Its kind of fun to watch.
Alabama Communist
November 14th, 2010
10:01 pm
In a Typical Republican Bait and Switch tactic, Cagle up ended owning a 1982 Toyato that had a big sign on the back of it……” Buy American and save my job”
John Williams
November 14th, 2010
10:03 pm
Poor Susan, Jeff, et al. With all that should concern you about the future state of Georgia you still find it necessary to comment on the Black Caucus as if that is a group that has any power. So sad.
Hello World, Goodbye Georgia
November 14th, 2010
11:10 pm
Who really cares about the Republicans, Democrats, Black Caucus, etc… (YOU SUCKERS!)
Don’t you see your being brain washed to fight while big business (2% which control everything..Hello.. who pay the lobbyist salaries) are increasingly becoming international….
This is a WORLD economy NOW!!! Georgia is looked upon as nothing in the grand scope of things…
The election had nothing to do with the people(voters)….this election was already bought and paid for….The people(2%) at the TOP didn’t get there by being DUMB….they know how to prey on peoples emotions to get them to vote in their best interest!!!!!
Judging from these blogs they are doing a great JOB!!
Georgia Lovers…. I wonder if your flag or China is more popular…Hmmmm
ED
November 14th, 2010
11:35 pm
I understand some prominent members of the General Assembly are being watched and observed for questionsable behavior. I hear more dirt will soon come to light on some ranking members who were caught up in the sex, lies and lobbyists comments earlier in the year.
Bill30097
November 15th, 2010
12:26 am
When GalledAway goes after that crook Sanford Bishop or John Lewis’s lies bout the Tea Party, I will take him seriously.
Honesty-N-Govt
November 15th, 2010
12:40 am
Quote Unquote
I knew this was about their girlfriends. Richardson wishes he was still in on the Gold Dome Club action.
Honesty-N-Govt
November 15th, 2010
12:42 am
Quote – “To be called . . . Chairman adds a full six inches to any lawmaker” – Unquote.
I knew this was about their girlfriends. Richardson wishes he was still in on the Gold Dome Club action.
killerj
November 15th, 2010
8:34 am
I See The Losers Are Still Pissed,”Good”.More To Come Losers,Go Tea party.
ROBOCOP
November 15th, 2010
8:35 am
Sonny’s been stealing from us since the day he took office in 2002. Despite that and other revelations regarding the Governor-elect and his long-time Chief of Staff, Chris Riley, voters continue to put these crooked Republicans in office. I hope they skin us alive and take every penny these voting suckers give them. By the time Sonny Perdue and Nathan Deal’s “Dixie Mafia” get done, the only folk in Georgia who’ll have money in their pockets will be them and their friends.
You people are such fools….such chumps!!!
SpaceyG
November 15th, 2010
9:03 am
Yeah, bring back Babe Alley. Maybe this time someone will get with the program and actually report on what it is and how it operates. It’s not like everyone at the Gold Dome hasn’t known all about this, er, trick of the trade all along. For chrissake Georgia media, you can SEE and DOCUMENT the whole silly darn thing! I did. Just walking through the halls Tweeting pictures of lobbyists and high heels and trash and such last session. (Sample is here: http://twitsnaps.com/87701) It does exist, other than for a brief respite last session where they kept it pretty much on the DL because Glenn Richardson’s wife went all rogue and yapped a lot. I’m sure it’ll be back in January. And I’ll be snapping and Tweeting away in 2011. Just like last session. If Georgia political media could move beyond the *everyone go file the exact same story* mindset, get a little more creative, reach beyond the boys-on-the-bus mentality, then who knows what could happen. But it’s going to take some media creativity. Something sorely lacking in traditional political journalism. Otherwise the special interest lobbyists will only continue to have their way with OUR state government. Everyone else be damned. Snap of that kinda *action* here: http://twitsnaps.com/80291
Dan J
November 15th, 2010
9:07 am
why did they not expose them before the election they knew before the election and waited until after the election to report the story ask yourselves why and you will know what to expect for GA over the next 2 4 and 8 years
SpaceyG
November 15th, 2010
9:08 am
Excellent question, Dan. And here’s the DL Babe Alley 2010 action shot. Link above didn’t work. http://twitsnaps.com/87701
GT/MIT
November 15th, 2010
9:32 am
I was feeling a bit remorseful about my last post referring to some of your comments as “unmitigated stupidity”, but I see that you were busy overnight proving I was indeed correct in that assessment. You have taken the Democratic party, once a party of honorable men and trashed it. Maybe you should refer to yourselves as idiocrats or even simpler, dumbocrats. If the the majority of comments on this forum are an indication of your lack intelligence, then society, at least your little piece of it is truly intellectually bankrupt.
SpaceyG
November 15th, 2010
9:38 am
Sunshine people, sunshine. And take some pictures and videos while you’re exploring the lobbyista in 2011, fer chrissake. Name some names. Show some faces. I mean how much DOES a digital cam cost these days? Ten bucks? Jeez. I can’t for the life of me understand why mere text and a few cheesy stand-ups in front of an empty chamber from the Mayor of Cougarville seem to be the breadth and scope of Georgia legislative reporting.
Paddy O
November 15th, 2010
10:21 am
The GA voters have spoken: The Democratic party in GA, which saw fit to strip the heritage of those who responded to THEIR STATES call to take up arms, and suffered terribly for that loyalty. can now be called THE BLACK DEMOCRATIC PARTY. Good luck running all those big cities with all that crime.
Paddy O
November 15th, 2010
10:29 am
Drugs, fornication, rampant theft and violent murder. But somehow, black poverty is the crackers fault. MLK would remind you that you are judged by the content of your character. Appears the roosters have come home.
please
November 15th, 2010
11:12 am
good for those legislators to actually have some foresight and thought here. they know that cagle is an empty vessel (no college degree) who is unable to formualte an original thought. he should have no power, so good move good ole boys!
please
November 15th, 2010
11:21 am
GT/MIT, i will indulge you with a comment since you so badly want it. it must be hard to be so smart as to be able to pass judgement on people’s intellect who have some fun on a blog. i highly doubt you went to eiher GT or MIT but an anonymous blog is a good place to pretend like it, isnt it?
catlady
November 15th, 2010
11:37 am
Upon further reflection, I don’t think it is about “the ask.” I think now it is about “the buy.”
catlady
November 15th, 2010
11:55 am
Wouldn’t it be funny if we had TWO governors in jail for enriching themselves off the citizens?
And, with Cagle’s “bad back” (guess that’s why he can’t tie his own shoes), who is THIRD in line for the governorship if Deal is in jail and Cagle is “unavailable?”
GT/MIT
November 15th, 2010
12:28 pm
please…..I will give you this much sir, you do seem to be able to at least formulate a complete sentence unlike most of your “fun loving” bloggers. I do appreciate your indulgence however even though you misstated my intent, My comments were not intended to judge anyone’s intellect but to merely point out the total lack of it, and believe my when I say, it wasn’t hard at all. Finally, you are free to conclude anything you wish regarding my internet persona since it bears absolutely no significance, incidentally, based upon your two latest posts, I’ve concluded a couple of things about you, they also are insignificant, but you wouldn’t like them.
missmollie
November 15th, 2010
8:04 pm
The Donkey Brigade just won’t quit. Give it up you all!!!
Nub
November 15th, 2010
8:59 pm
40 years later and the pick-axe crowd still rules. New dance same tune.
missmollie
November 16th, 2010
8:12 am
GT/MIT: You have a real gift of the pen…be careful don’t misuse it…seriously…