State. Rep. Rashad Taylor urges Perdue take action on MARTA
April 7, 2009 at 6:19 pm by Thomas Wheatley in NewsGov. Sonny Perdue said earlier today he’d like to avoid a special legislative session to reconsider a bill that would give cash-strapped MARTA more control over its main source of revenue.
Well, State Rep. Rashad Taylor, D-Atlanta, has offered the governor another option. The freshman lawmaker today wrote Perdue urging him to issue an executive order to help MARTA. (Click here to view the letter.)
“Because of the House’s failure to pass SB 120, Metro Atlantans are now looking to you for leadership on this issue,” Taylor wrote. “If the law will allow, I urge you to issue an Executive Order suspending the capital reserve restrictions that currently tie MARTA’s hands. If you are unable to do this by Executive Order, I ask that you call a special session of the Legislature so that we can pass legislation that will give MARTA access to its capital reserves… We must do better for the capital city and for the citizens who rely on public transit to work for Georgia’s present and future.”
Taylor, who serves on the House MARTA Oversight Committee, will join other lawmakers tomorrow for a press conference about the issue at 2 p.m at downtown’s Five Points MARTA station.
April 7th, 2009 at 11:02 pm
I also think it’s about time that the buisiness leaders in Atlanta and throughout Georgia start to speak out about the importance of MARTA funding – like Andisheh said the other day – you don’t think that Arthur Blank’s Falcons, Bernie Marcus’ Fishtank, the Braves, and Philips Arena aren’t gonna feel the pain of this? They need to speak up. The time for doing so privately is over.
April 8th, 2009 at 8:34 am
The business leaders “speak” through the Metro Atlanta Chamber. I agree they need to step up on MARTA. The chamber has been a complete failure on transportation issues in GA. They have lobbied the state hard for three years and still have not been able to get the Republicans to pass anything. Sam Williams, the president of the Chamber, makes over $500,000 a year. He needs to resign.
Also, I don’t know why Rep. Taylor didn’t do the research first to find out if the Gov can issue an executive order. It seems silly to write the Gov and not know those things.
April 8th, 2009 at 10:36 am
S. DeKalb Voter thanks for the comment. The law is not exactly clear if he can do the Exec Order for MARTA becauuse it was created by a local constitutional amendment and not just by general law. The Gov can do Exec Orders on General law. This portion of the funding problem for MARTA is in general law. I consulted with lawyers at the Capitol, the majority of whom think he can do it. But there are some who may advise him that he can’t. That’s why I said if he believes the law allows… because there is some question… maybe the supreme court may need to rule on it or the AG issue an opinion.
April 8th, 2009 at 11:40 am
Thanks for the clarification. That part of the letter makes sense now. I still can’t seem to figure out how the Chamber, and all their high paid lobbyists, failed on transportation, again.
May 26th, 2009 at 3:52 pm
I agree the buisness and political leaders of GA should support the expansion of Marta. I think there are politicians that have personal agendas that have limited the possibilities and opportunities that an expanded Marta would bring to the Atl metro region. They need to set aside their personal agendas and do what’s best for their constituents and long term prosperity for the region.