Compiled by Staff

PERDUE STARTS FED HEALTHCARE SUIT

Governor Sonny Perdue pushed his suit against the federal healthcare bill a step further with the appointment of a team of pro-bono lawyers.

The legal team is led by Frank C. Jones, a Macon attorney who spent many years at the influential Atlanta firm of King & Spalding. 

The lawyers take the place of state Attorney General Thurbert Baker, who declined the governor's request to sue the feds, saying he believes such a suit would be groundless and a wast of state money.

Two of the team members are professional issue-pushers during the legislative session.  One is Josh Belinfante of RobbinsLaw, who is a former lobbyist for the Governor's Office and now working on behalf of the Georgia Chamber of Commerce.  Another is John Parker, who works for the Georgia Alliance of Community Hospitals.

But the Democratic Party of Georgia is skeptical that such a suit can go forward, explains spokesman Eric Gray, without somehow drawing on state resources -- even if it's just a matter of a clerk's time. 

Party Chairwoman Jane Kidd asked the Governor's office for all correspondence between Perdue and any government or private organization concerning the idea of suing the federal government.  In response to her Freedom of Information Act Request, Perdue's office sent a single e-mail, saying that's all there is. 

The Democrats have not decided whether to press the FOIA further. 

GDOT'S BUDGET SO TIGHT, IT CAN'T AFFORD TO BORROW

The Georgia Department of Transportation is asking the governor and Legislature to cancel plans to borrow money for road projects because its budget is so tight it might not be able to make debt payments.

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports that GDOT asked to cancel $300 million the state planned to borrow.

State Transportation Board member David Doss says the state may also have to pass up millions in federal funding for road projects because it won't be able to supply the 20 percent local financial match.

The board's legislative committee on Wednesday backed a resolution Doss introduced to notify the Legislature that the state will likely lose the federal funds. The full board is set to take it up Thursday.

AG CAMPAIGN DONATIONS DURING SESSION RAISE QUESTIONS

Democratic gubernatorial candidate Thurbert Baker accepted almost $15,000 worth of contributions after the Jan. 11 start of the legislative session despite a ban on elected officials taking donations while lawmakers are conducting business.

Baker, the state's attorney general, says the 16 contributions are all legal. State law allows elected officials to collect donations during the session as long as they were solicited at an event before it began.

Baker spokesman Jeff DiSantis said the donations -- totaling $14,700 -- came from donors linked to events as far back as May 2009. Two donations from a Sept. 15 fundraiser in his hometown of Rocky Mount, N.C. did not arrive until April 6.

"The law is crystal clear that contributions from events held before the session can be accepted,'' DiSantis said.

"The campaign followed that law to the letter and fully disclosed its contributions in a timely manner.''

But Rick Thompson, former head of the state Ethics Commission, questioned the months-long lag between some of the fundraising events and the arrival of a check at Baker campaign headquarters.

"It would appear that he may be within the letter of the law but I question whether he is within the spirit of the law,'' he said.

He said the ethics commission has never weighed in on establishing an acceptable timeline between when a donation is solicited and when it is received.

Of the 13 candidates running for governor in Georgia, five currently hold elected office and are barred from taking contributions during the legislative session. None of the others -- including Republican money leader John Oxendine -- reported contributions after Jan. 10, according to a review of campaign disclosures.

But Republican Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle, seeking re-election to a second term, took in five contributions worth a combined $5,000 after the session's start. A spokesman for his campaign said all were solicited prior to business getting underway at the Capitol. Cagle's donations were all received by Jan. 21 -- less than two weeks after the session's start.

Baker is one of five candidates seeking the Democratic nomination for governor. His opponents include former Gov. Roy Barnes and House Minority Leader DuBose Porter.

GA UNEMPLOYMENT RATE HITS RECORD HIGH

Georgia's unemployment rate hit a record high 10.6 percent last month.

That's up slightly from the 10.5 percent reported in February and up 1.6 percentage points from 9.0 percent at the same time last year.

The Georgia Department of Labor released March unemployment figures on Thursday.

The state's unemployment rate has exceeded the national rate, which is now 9.7 percent, for 30 consecutive months. The number of jobless workers in Georgia rose to 497,500 last month from 494,321 in February.

Labor Commissioner Michael Thurmond said modest job growth over the last two months suggests that a recovery may be gaining traction.

END IN SIGHT FOR LEGISLATIVE SESSION

There's an end in sight for this year's marathon legislative session.

House and Senate lawmakers on Wednesday adopted a schedule that sets Thursday, April 29 as the final day of the 40-day session. That's during the busy week when candidates in Georgia qualify to run for office.

Budget woes have dominated the legislative session this year and have kept lawmakers at the Capitol later than normal. Most legislators are facing re-election and are eager to get home and hit the campaign trail.

The adjournment resolution passed in the House 155-2 on Wednesday, which the Senate later adopted.

Lawmakers are set to hold their final two days during the week of qualifying, when the Capitol is typically filled with candidates filing paperwork to seek office.

GEORGIA LABOR CHIEF LEANING TOWARD US SENATE BID

Georgia Labor Commissioner Michael Thurmond said Friday that he's leaning toward a run for U.S. Senate.

The 57-year-old Democrat told The Associated Press he is strongly considering a challenge to Republican Sen. Johnny Isakson. Thurmond said his experience as labor commissioner would serve him well if he decides to run, because jobs are a top priority for the nation.

"In thinking about what role I could play in helping some 15 million Americans at the end of this downturn who, as we begin to reach the point of recovery, find themselves unemployed ... obviously, the Senate offers me that opportunity,'' Thurmond said.

Isakson is seeking a second term and has $4.4 million in the bank for his re-election bid. Isakson recently returned to the campaign trail after being hospitalized for an irregular heartbeat and a blood clot.

Thurmond, who served with Isakson in the Georgia General Assembly, said the senator's illness will not factor into his decision.