Governor Kemp Appoints New Georgia Bureau of Investigation Director

Governor Brian P. Kemp (R) announced on Monday he has tapped Mike Register to replace Vic Reynolds as the newest Director of the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI).

“Mike [Register] has a strong track record of strengthening public safety and protecting Georgia’s communities,” Governor Kemp said.

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Judge Declines Request to Block Georgia’s Fetal Heartbeat Law That Bans Some Abortions

A Fulton County Superior Court judge declined a request to block Georgia’s fetal heartbeat law that bans most abortions after six weeks.

Georgia lawmakers passed House Bill 481, the Living Infants Fairness Equality Act, in 2019. However, a federal judge initially blocked the law, commonly called the “Heartbeat Bill,” because the U.S. Supreme Court had previously upheld the 1973 Roe v. Wade ruling.

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Governor Kemp Announces Certified Nurse Program Grant as Healthcare Staffing Shortages Linger

Governor Brian Porter Kemp announced in a Monday press release that a grant that will award some $800,000 to 500 Georgian high school students through the Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) Pilot Program.

“Here in Georgia, we are committed to meeting the needs of our young people as they prepare to enter our world-class workforce following years of pandemic disruptions, and we are excited to see how this program will make a difference in their lives as it also helps us fulfill a critical workforce need,” the Republican governor said.

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Governor Kemp Appoints Bill Hamrick to Statewide Business Court Bench

Governor Brian P. Kemp (R) tapped Bill Hamrick to serve as the Georgia State Business Court Judge on Wednesday. 

“Having served with Judge Hamrick in the State Senate when I first entered public life, I witnessed firsthand his dedication to the law, to its fair application, and to our state,” Governor Kemp said. 

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Kemp Leads GOP Gubernatorial Group in Response Against Tax Proposals

Georgia Governor Brian P. Kemp and South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster led Republican governors in a response today in opposition to the $740 billion spending proposal to fix inflation.

“The Democrats’ solution to a 40-year high inflation is passing another reckless tax and spending spree to the tune of $74 billion, affecting Americans in every tax bracket,” the Republican gubernatorial coalition said in a statement Thursday.

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Governor Kemp Extends Gas Tax Suspension, Supply Chain State of Emergency

Governor Brian Kemp (R) signed two executive orders on Wednesday that extended the gas tax suspension and renewed the state of emergency for supply chain disruptions. These executive orders will be effective through September 12th.

“I have extended the temporary suspension of the state’s motor fuel tax to alleviate the financial burden placed on Georgians due to the federal government’s gross mishandling of inflation,” Gov. Kemp said. 

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Burt Jones Challenges Stacey Abrams on Music Midtown Cancellation

Burt Jones, Republican nominee for lieutenant governor of Georgia, took exception to the assertion by Stacey Abrams that Governor Kemp is more concerned with “protecting dangerous people” than the economy of the state by affirming the right for Peach State citizens to bear arms with the signing of the constitutional carry law.

“Music Midtown is the new All Star Game. It’s still illegal for criminals to carry guns, and Georgia continues to see record voter turnout. Notice a trend? Her name is Stacey Abrams–and she’s still being dishonest with Georgia voters,” Jones tweeted on Tuesday.

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Brian Kemp Extends Lead Over Abrams to Eight Points in Latest Poll

A poll published Friday by Beacon Research, found that Governor Brian Kemp (R) has extended his lead over Democrat nominee for Governor, Stacey Abrams, by eight points.

“I’m not surprised about his lead over Abrams. I know for a fact a lot of people are disgusted about the Democrat policies,” Barrow County GOP Executive Committee Rep. Laura Petcu (04) told The Georgia Star News on Friday.

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Governor Kemp to Supply Teacher With Extra Funds to Purchase Educational Material

Governor Brian Kemp on Friday announced additional funds for teachers across the state as students are set to return to the classroom.

According to a release from his office, “full-time, public-school teachers and staff members” will each receive $125 to purchase educational materials.

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Georgia Court Appointees Andrew Pinson and Ben Land Promoted, Sworn onto State Bench

Georgia Judiciary Appointees Andrew Pinson and Benjamin Land were sworn onto the state bench in promotional appointments made by Governor Brian Kemp (R) on Wednesday.

“Today, I had the honor of swearing in Andrew Pinson to the #SupremeCourtGA and Ben Land to the @AppealsCourtGA, its first judge from Columbus. They both have upheld wisdom and integrity on the bench, and they will continue to do so in the important cases that come before them,” Governor Kemp said. 

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Georgia Students Improve on Standardized Testing, According to New Data

Students across the state of Georgia improved their scores on standardized tests, as educators seek to improve learning loss caused by lockdowns and online learning amid the coronavirus pandemic.

According to new data from the Georgia Department of Education, scores remained the same or increased on 17 of 21 assessments, when compared to the results of the previous year.

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Court Rules Georgia Heartbeat Law May Take Effect

A three-judge panel of a federal appeals court ruled unanimously Wednesday that Georgia’s 2019 Heartbeat law that bans abortions once a fetal heartbeat is detected may take effect.

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit ruled the Georgia law (HB 481), known as the Living Infants Fairness and Equality (LIFE) Act may proceed to take effect after a federal judge blocked it in a decision that found the law violated the right to abortion created by the U.S. Supreme Court in Roe v. Wade in 1973.

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Copper Foil Manufacturer to Invest $430 Million in Richmond County Facility

A high-quality electrodeposited (ED) copper foil manufacturer Denkai America announced Wednesday in a joint statement with Governor Brian Kemp that it will invest $430 million in a Richmond County-based facility that will create 250 jobs over the next five years.

“As Georgia continues to lead in the emerging electric vehicle market & next-gen jobs, I’m proud to announce that Denkai America will invest $430M & create 250 new jobs over the next five years in Richmond County through its new manufacturing facility and North American Headquarters!” Kemp said. 

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Governor Brian Kemp Holds Notable Lead over Stacey Abrams, According to New Poll

Governor Brian Kemp holds a notable lead over Democrat Stacey Abrams, according to a new poll commissioned by the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP).

The survey, which spoke to 1,197 likely Georgia voters, gave Kemp a 7-point edge over the Democrat in their rematch of the 2018 gubernatorial race.

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Poll Says Georgia Gubernatorial Race Is Too Close to Call

It’s been a hot start to Georgia’s summer and the Peach State’s gubernatorial race is a dead heat.

A new Quinnipiac University Poll found that 48% of voters support incumbent Republican Gov. Brian Kemp, while an equal number of voters support Democratic challenger Stacey Abrams.

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Democrat Stacey Abrams Claims Companies Face ‘Danger’ of Residing in Georgia

Stacey Abrams, who is running to replace Republican Governor Brian Kemp, claimed that companies that choose to do business in the state and their female employees face a “danger” for the decision.

The comments follow a decision from the Supreme Court that reversed the decision in Roe v. Wade, which could allow a six-week abortion ban to be enacted in the state.

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Georgia Republicans Hopeful That State Can Reinstitute Fetal Heartbeat Law That Restricts Abortion

Friday’s U.S. Supreme Court ruling on abortion could allow Georgia to reinstitute its fetal heartbeat law that bars most abortions after about six weeks.

On Friday, the nation’s highest court overturned Planned Parenthood v. Casey and Roe v. Wade, a ruling that established abortion as a constitutional right. The opinion comes in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, a challenge to Mississippi’s 15-week abortion ban.

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Governor Brian Kemp Calls on Stacey Abrams to Resign from ‘Anti-Police Organization’

Republican Governor Brian Kemp called on his Democratic opponent Stacey Abrams to resign from the governing board of the Marguerite Casey Foundation.

According to Kemp and the Republican Governors Association, the group has repeatedly posted on social media to advocate to “#DefundthePolice” and “#AbolishthePolice” 

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Kemp Touts 1,100-Acre Development of ‘The Middle Georgia Megasite’

Georgia Governor Brian P. Kemp announced on Wednesday the purchase of a 1,100-acre economic development site that will be the location of the “Middle Georgia Megasite.”

“Even after announcing the two largest projects in the State’s history back-to-back, we remain focused on attracting key industries and investment by providing the project sites companies need,” said Governor Brian Kemp in a press release.

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Brad Raffensperger Calls for Federal Amendment on Election Security

In a follow-up tweet that expounded on his letter penned in January on election reform, Georgia Secretary of State, Brad Raffensperger, reiterated his call for a federal Constitutional amendment on U.S. citizenship and election integrity.

“A citizenship amendment is a necessary security measure that will ensure that only American citizens are voting in our elections. We need an amendment now,” Raffensperger said.

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Burt Jones States Intent to Fight Inflation with Tax Cuts for Georgia

Republican Candidate for Lieutenant Governor, Burt Jones, took to Twitter on Friday to propose a possible solution to Bidenflation, which recently peaked at a record 8.6%.

“Inflation is out of control—and it’s making virtually everything more expensive for Georgia families. As Lieutenant Governor, I’ll be focused on continuing to cut taxes, lower costs, and put more money back into the pockets of hardworking Georgians,” the Trump-endorsed Jones said.

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Kemp Takes Aim on Key 2022 Issues: Abrams Lied About Election Integrity, Supports the Defund the Police Movement, and Wants to Raise Taxes on Georgia Families

Governor Brian Kemp took to Twitter on Sunday to follow-up critiques of his Democrat gubernatorial opponent, Stacey Abrams, on vital 2022 political issues.

“Stacey Abrams lied about election integrity, supports the Defund the Police movement, and wants to raise taxes on Georgia families as they fight Bidenflation. I’ll keep fighting to ensure Georgia continues to be the greatest state in the country to live, work, and raise a family,” said Governor Kemp on Sunday.

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Georgia Gov. Kemp Appoints New State Election Board Chair

Governor Brian Kemp tapped William S. Duffey, Jr. to be the next Chair of the State Elections Board.

“I announced the appointment of Judge William Duffey as Chair of the State Elections Board. With vast experience & as someone who upholds the highest ethical standards, he will help to ensure our elections continue to be secure, accessible, & fair,” said Kemp in a tweet on Friday.

William S. Duffey Jr, was a United States District Judge for the Northern District of Georgia before his retirement in 2018. Before he received a post on the federal bench, Duffey was the United States Attorney for the Northern District of Georgia.

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Georgia to Create Behavioral Threat Assessment Teams to Improve School Safety

Georgia is working to create Behavioral Threat Assessment Teams throughout the state as a part of a broader school safety effort.

Eight regional Homeland Security Coordinators, all sworn law enforcement officers, will lead the teams and respond to threats or concerning behavior that may be considered a pathway to violence. The BTATs will provide help and guidance to local schools and communities to mitigate potential threats.

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Republican Governor’s Association Launches Attack Ad Against Abrams After Kemp Wins Primary

The Republican Governor’s Association (RGA) Wednesday released an attack ad on Democrat gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams, who will square off for a rematch against Gov. Brian Kemp (R) in the Peach State’s November election.

“Typical Stacey Abrams. She believes only she knows what’s best,” the ad opens after quoting Abrams, who once said that she thinks people need to be told what to do. 

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Kemp Takes Aim at Abrams over ‘Worst State’ Comments

Stacey Abrams’ comment that “[Georgia] is the worst state in the country to live’ drew a response from incumbent Georgia Governor, Brian Kemp, on Monday when he tweeted a different sentiment.

“Stacey Abrams may think differently, but I believe Georgia is the best state to live, work, and raise a family. And Marty, the girls, and I will work hard every day from now until November to keep it that way for four more years!” said Kemp. 

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Exclusive: On Primary Election Eve, David Perdue Discusses His Campaign and His Path to Victory

Neil W. McCabe, the national political editor of The Star News Network, interviewed former senator David A. Perdue Jr. about his campaign against Gov. Brian P. Kemp in the May 24, 2022, Republican gubernatorial primary.

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Poll Shows Perdue Closing the Gap Against Incumbent Kemp in GOP Gubernatorial Primary, but Runoff Uncertain

Poll shows former U.S. Senator David Perdue is closing the gap against incumbent Governor Brian Kemp in the GOP gubernatorial primary, but a the possibility of a runoff election is uncertain.

InsiderAdvantage released poll results showing Kemp at 52 percent and Perdue at 38 percent with 3 percent undecided.

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Stacey Abrams Says of Georgia: ‘We Are the Worst State in the Country to Live’

Georgia Democrat Stacey Abrams made waves with her statement on Saturday at the Gwinnett County Democratic dinner when she stated, “I am tired of being told that we are the best state in the country to do business when we are the worst state in the country to live.”

Abrams is running unopposed for Georgia’s Democratic primary for governor. She will face the eventual winner of the Republican primary election which will be decided on Tuesday. Abrams’ statement received criticism from Republicans.

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Georgia Bill Requires Superior Court Judge to Grant Bail in Human Trafficking Cases

Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp signed legislation to keep defendants facing human trafficking charges from immediately returning to the streets after their arrest.

Senate Bill 461 adds human trafficking to the list of violent and sexual offenses that require a Superior Court judge to grant bail. The list also includes treason, rape, murder and aircraft hijacking.

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Trump Calls Brian Kemp the Worst Governor in the Country on ‘Election Integrity’

45th President of the United States, Donald Trump, stated on Wednesday that Georgia Governor, Brian Kemp, is ‘the worst election integrity Governor in the country.’

Trump added that Kemp, “loaded the great state of Georgia up with RINOs.”

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Perdue Campaign Says ‘MAGA Surge Keeping Kemp Below the Threshold to Avoid a Runoff’

The Trump-endorsed David Perdue for Georgia Governor campaign issued a statement on Wednesday that says Perdue is surging and Trump voters are turning out in an unprecedented way.

“Our Trump-endorsed campaign is experiencing a surge in early-voting MAGA voters that the public polls aren’t picking up. Our internal models show this MAGA surge keeping Kemp below the threshold to avoid a runoff, and our position is strengthening with each day of early voting,” said the campaign.

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In Georgia Governor’s Race, Perdue Hits Kemp for $1.5 Billion to Soros-Linked Company

A scandal is brewing in Georgia’s Republican gubernatorial primary, with candidate and former Sen. David Perdue accusing incumbent Gov. Brian Kemp of engaging in shady backroom deals and lining the pockets of liberal megadonor George Soros as part of a massive new economic development project in the Peach State.

“This may be the worst deal I’ve seen in my business career, honestly,” Perdue told the “Just the News, Not Noise” television program on Friday. “This was just done the wrong way. And I’ve called the governor out on that, and we’ve had no response.”

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Mike Lindell Calls Kemp, Raffensperger, and Carr the ‘Triple Crown of Crime’

Minnesotan entrepreneur, conservative politico, and CEO of My Pillow, Mike Lindell, spoke to The Georgia Star News on Saturday at the Atlanta Motor Speedway, where he criticized the three most infamous election integrity antagonists in the Peach State when he declared, “you guys have the Triple Crown of Crime down here with Kemp, Raffensperger and Carr and all of them need to go.”

Lindell continued, “I mean, this is our country. Of all the stuff I’ve been out there fighting for with the election crimes. And then you have Republicans, the Republicans have turned on, not just Georgia, but on our country. I mean, you’ve got to get new people and we got to get people that have the people’s back.”

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Arizona GOP Gubernatorial Primary Leader Kari Lake Denounces Georgia RINOs, Lauds Dinesh D’Souza’s 2020 Election Ballot-Trafficking Film 2000 Mules

Former Phoenix news anchor and mother of two, Kari Lake, gave high praise to filmmaker Dinesh D’Souza’s documentary film, “2000 Mules”, which highlights the ballot-stuffing operations that occurred across multiples states during the 2020 presidential election.

“We just saw Dinesh D’Souza’s movie. It’s outrageous. It’s called 2000 Mules. I think every man and woman in this country should see it,” Lake declared Friday at a campaign stop to support David Perdue’s run against Georgia Governor Brian Kemp at the Appalachian Gun & Range.

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Perdue Slams Kemp and Calls for Special Legislative Session to Ban Abortion in Georgia

Former U.S. Senator David Perdue slammed opponent Governor Brian Kemp’s lack of current action on abortion in Georgia in the wake of the leaked U.S. Supreme Court draft decision overturning Roe v. Wade.

“I was extremely disappointed by the governor’s bureaucratic response to the news that the Supreme Court may soon overturn Roe v. Wade,” said Perdue on Thursday. “Georgia voters deserve to know where their governor stands on this issue. I’m calling on Brian Kemp to join me in calling for an immediate special session of the legislature to ban abortion in Georgia after Roe v. Wade is overturned. You are either going to fight for the sanctity of life or you’re not.”

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David Perdue Blasts Brian Kemp’s ‘$1.5 Billion Payday’ to George Soros’ Company

David Perdue, a former U.S. Senator and the Trump-endorsed candidate for Georgia Governor, blasted incumbent Governor Brian Kemp’s plan on Monday to “give $1.5 billion of Georgians’ tax dollars to a George Soros-owned woke corporation.”

“Brian Kemp just announced his plans to give $1.5 billion of Georgians’ tax dollars to a George Soros-owned woke corporation whose stated purpose is to combat climate change,” said Perdue. “This is the worst deal I have ever seen in my 40 years in business — $200,000 in taxpayer money per potential job. Think about how many small businesses in Georgia could be helped for this kind of money, instead of padding George Soros’ pockets.”

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John Fredericks-Led ‘Team Trump Georgia Bus Tour’ Kicks Off, Highlighting Election Fraud and the Goal to Turn Georgia Counties Red

The Team Trump Georgia Bus Tour, a state-wide circuit supporting Trump-endorsed political candidates, hit the road Monday morning at Wild Wings restaurant in Dunwoody, Georgia.

DeKalb County Republican Party Chairman Marci McCarthy stated, “We’re thrilled to be here in welcoming the John Fredericks Georgia Trump Bus Tour here in DeKalb County, Georgia! We’re the kickoff stop, and we are going to vote DeKalb red.”

Garland Favorito, the head of the Georgia-based election integrity group, VoterGA, added, “It’s really got to change now or we’re going to lose Georgia, and if we lose Georgia we’re going to lose America, and if we lose America we’re going to lose the world. So this is huge.”

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Exclusive: Former Director of ICE Tom Homan Endorses David Perdue for Governor

Atlanta, Georgia – In an exclusive statement obtained by The Georgia Star News, former Acting Director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Tom Homan has endorsed David Perdue in the race for Governor of Georgia.

Homan had nothing but harsh words for the incumbent governor, Brian Kemp in his statement backing Perdue.

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Kemp Takes Fire During GOP Gubernatorial Debate, Perdue Campaign Claims Victory

ATLANTA, Georgia – Incumbent Republican Governor Brian Kemp took rhetorical attacks from all of his opponents during the Georgia Public Broadcasting-hosted GOP gubernatorial debate that aired on Sunday evening.

The debate took place as part of the The Atlanta Press Club’s Loudermilk-Young Debate series, which aired on GPBS.

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The 12 Pivotal Primary Races of 2022

As the midterm elections approach, a number of important party primary races have yet to determine a nominee.

Many of the races still don’t have a clear frontrunner, despite fast-approaching election dates and millions of dollars spent, increasing the importance of every decision made until voting begins.

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Latest Poll Shows Stacey Abrams Trailing Both Potential Georgia GOP Opponents

A SurveyUSA poll released on Thursday shows Democrat Stacey Abrams trailing both former U.S. Senator David Perdue (R-GA) and Governor Brian Kemp in possible November matchups in the contest to be the next governor of Georgia.

In a hypothetical fall matchup against Abrams, Perdue leads by three percentage points, 49 percent to 46 percent.

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David Perdue Lambastes Brian Kemp in First Georgia Gubernatorial Debate

In the first gubernatorial debate faceoff hold on Sunday, April 24, former U.S. Senator David Perdue hammered his GOP primary opponent, incumbent Georgia Governor Brian Kemp.

During an exchange, Perdue blamed Kemp for failing to secure Georgia’s elections, leading to his 2021 Senate runoff loss. “The only reason I’m not in the United States Senate is because you caved in and gave the election to liberal Democrats in 2020.”

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Kemp Creates Commission to Find Solutions to Georgia’s Healthcare Worker Shortage

Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp signed an executive order to create a special commission to examine how to fix the state’s healthcare worker shortage.

The 15-member Healthcare Workforce Commission must report its findings to the governor by the end of the year. Recommendations could include loan forgiveness programs, expanding education programs or technology investments.

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Georgia Tax Revenues Are Up 45.5 Percent over Last March’s Collections

Georgia is rolling in the dough.

State officials said net tax collections for March exceeded $2.7 billion, an increase of $862.9 million, or 45.5%, over last March. So far this year, net tax collections topped $22.5 billion, an increase of nearly $3.6 billion, or 18.9%, compared to last fiscal year.

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Federal Judge Rules Stacey Abrams Cannot Yet Collect Unlimited Donations in Georgia Governor Race

A federal judge has ruled that Stacey Abrams cannot yet collect unlimited donations in the Georgia governor’s race.

U.S District Court Judge Mark Cohen from the Northern District of Georgia ruled that Abrams cannot collect unlimited donations as allowed under Georgia law because she is not yet the official Democrat nominee for governor.

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Gov. Kemp Signs Trio of Bills Intended to Assist Georgia Farmers

Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp signed a trio of bills intended to support the state’s farmers.

“As the global marketplace continues to react to Russia’s unprovoked and unjust war in Ukraine — Europe’s breadbasket — the importance of the ag sector here in America, and especially here in Georgia, will only continue to grow,” Kemp, a Republican, said in prepared remarks. “Our farming families are more important than ever, and that’s one of many reasons why [it is] so crucial we protect their way of life.

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