Georgia Today Podcast Summary
Episode: Crossover Day; CDC Employee Terminations Rescinded; Federal Rehabilitation Act Lawsuit
Release Date: March 6, 2025
Host: Sophie Gradis

1. Crossover Day and the 2025 Legislative Session

Crossover Day Significance
Today marks Crossover Day, a pivotal deadline in Georgia's 2025 legislative session. Bills must pass either the State Senate or House by this day to proceed toward becoming law.

House Legislative Agenda
The Georgia House is actively deliberating over more than two dozen bills. Among these are proposals for special tax refunds. A notable legislative achievement today was the passage of an income tax cut.

• Income Tax Reduction: The House approved reducing Georgia's flat income tax from 5.39% to 5.19% at [02:46].
  • Representative Sue Hong (Republican): "The cut is possible thanks to a strong economy and limits on spending... we are able to put money back into our taxpayers."
  • Representative Sam Park (Democrat): Criticized the tax cut, stating it "mostly benefits the wealthy and will be small for most taxpayers," noting that the bottom 60% of Georgians would save less than a dollar a month.
  • The measure passed with a 110 to 60 vote, largely along party lines. Governor Brian Kemp signed the 2025 fiscal midyear budget this morning, which includes nearly $900 million in spending.

Senate Legislative Agenda
The Senate has nearly 60 bills on its calendar, including:

• Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Funding: A bill proposing to withhold state funding from any public school promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion.
• Online Sports Betting Legalization: Legislation suggests asking Georgia voters to decide on legalizing online sports betting.

Budgetary Insights

• Chris Carr (Republican): Emphasized the budget's focus on storm relief, community safety, strategic investments, and returning funds to taxpayers.
  • Quote at [03:22]: "A budget that gives relief to Georgians devastated by Hurricane Helene, makes our schools and communities safer through strategic investments and yet again returns hard earned money to the taxpayers."

School Safety Funding
The budget includes $50 million dedicated to school safety.

2. Senate Bill 195: Expanding HIV Healthcare Access

Bill Overview
Senate Bill 195 aims to enhance healthcare access for individuals at risk of HIV, the virus responsible for AIDS. The bill proposes allowing pharmacists to dispense preventive HIV medications, a practice not currently permitted in Georgia.

Expert Insight

• Natalie Crawford, Rowland School of Public Health at Emory University:
  • Quote at [04:19]: "Pharmacies are disease neutral. No one knows whether you're going in for a bag of chips or for a chronic disease medication. And so this is something that really increases access in ways that we haven't seen before."
  • She highlighted that patients could obtain prescriptions and receive HIV screenings on the same day, improving privacy and accessibility for those at high risk.

3. CDC Employee Terminations Rescinded

Background
Following the Trump administration's termination of thousands of CDC employees last month, Governor Brian Kemp expressed support for "right sizing" the agency.

Current Developments

• Repurposing Employees: Today, 180 CDC employees in Atlanta were instructed to return to work as their termination letters were rescinded after additional review. Suspicious emails indicated reconsideration of previous decisions.

Impact on Emory University

• Financial Constraints: Facing federal research funding cuts, Emory University has frozen hiring and reduced spending.
  • Greg Fenves, University President: Announced via email on Wednesday that despite receiving over $400 million from the National Institutes of Health in 2024—the largest in Georgia—budget cuts necessitated scaling back operations. Emory joins other top research institutions nationwide in response to these fiscal challenges.

4. Federal Rehabilitation Act Lawsuit

Lawsuit Details
Seventeen state attorneys general, including Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr, have filed a lawsuit against the federal Department of Health and Human Services. The aim is to remove gender dysphoria protections from the Rehabilitation Act, which has long safeguarded accommodations for students with special needs.

Key Figures and Perspectives

• Chris Carr (Georgia AG):

  • Quote at [07:50]: "Our lawsuit is all about one thing: fighting the Biden Harris administration's obsession with promoting a radical, progressive transgender ideology."

• Ellen Eldredge (GPB):

  • Profiled Wynn Beeler, a junior at Maynard Jackson High School, who benefits from a 504 plan—a provision under the Rehabilitation Act—for anxiety and ADHD, ensuring accommodations like extra time on projects and a quiet testing environment.
  • Wynn Beeler's Testimony at [06:33]: Described her need for accommodations during high-stakes testing due to anxiety and ADHD.

• Marina Delaine Siegel, Licensed Professional Counselor:

  • Emphasized the importance of 504 plans in supporting students' academic needs, including those with chronic conditions.
  • Noted that prior to last year's expansion, gender dysphoria was never a factor in such plans.

Legal Arguments and Implications

• Leighton Moore (Atlanta Attorney):

  • Quote at [08:26]: "The argument that they make in the complaint about holding the statute, the 1973 act, unconstitutional is that the statute was passed under what's called the spending clause."
  • Explained that according to Moore, the spending clause dictates that only Congress can impose conditions on federal funding, likening the situation to the federal imposition of a higher drinking age linked to highway funding.

• Court Proceedings:

  • The plaintiffs have requested the court to pause the case rather than dismiss it, anticipating that President Trump might reverse the administration's rule on gender dysphoria protections.
  • Leighton Moore: Suggested the lawsuit might become obsolete if the administration reverses its stance.
  • Chris Carr: Asserted that the administration attempted to dismantle existing protections by labeling transgender dysphoria as a disability.

Broader Constitutional Debate
The lawsuit has ignited discussions on the spending clause of the Constitution, with debates intensifying over the extent of executive power in attaching conditions to federal funds.

5. Affordable Housing Initiative at the State Capitol

Volunteer Effort
Over 100 volunteers from diverse backgrounds collaborated to construct the frame of a house at Liberty Plaza within a few hours. This initiative, led by Habitat for Humanity Atlanta CEO Rosalind Merrick, aimed to highlight the urgent need for affordable housing in Georgia.

• Rosalind Merrick:
  • Quote at [10:17]: "As a community, we can solve this affordable housing crisis together. We're only ever better together."
  • Described the event as a demonstration of unity, with volunteers building house walls that will later be used in constructing homes for first-time homeowners.

Legislative Engagement
During the build, state lawmakers visited to discuss potential solutions for housing affordability, fostering collaboration between volunteers and policymakers.

6. Recovery of Abducted Boy from Colorado

Case Overview
A boy, Abdul Aziz Khan, who was allegedly abducted by his mother seven years ago from Atlanta, was located last month in Colorado amidst a burglary investigation. Authorities identified Rabia Khalid at the scene.

• Legal Action:
  • Charges Filed: Khalid faces multiple charges, including second-degree kidnapping.
  • Custody: Both Abdul Aziz Khan (now 14) and another child were taken into protective custody.

7. Atlanta County's Initiative to Recruit Federal Workers

Job Recruitment Drive
Rob Pitts, Chairman of the Fulton County Commission, unveiled a new initiative targeting former federal workers affected by recent job cuts. The county aims to fill over 600 vacancies with professionals such as technology experts, engineers, and attorneys.

• Rob Pitts: Highlighted the county's proactive approach to addressing unemployment among laid-off or frightened federal employees, leveraging their expertise to bolster local government operations.

8. Proposal to Honor President Jimmy Carter with a Statue

Legislative Proposal
State Senator Jason Estevez introduced a resolution to commemorate the late President Jimmy Carter with a statue in the Statuary Hall of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C.

• Details of the Resolution:
  • Replacement: The proposed statue would replace that of former Confederate Vice President Alexander Hamilton Stevens.
  • Committee Formation: A dedicated committee would oversee the statue's design, fundraising, and the relocation of the Stevens statue to a site within Georgia.
  • Funding: The project would be entirely funded through private contributions.

Context:
President Carter passed away in December at the age of 100, leaving behind a legacy that Estevez and supporters believe merits national recognition through this proposed memorial.

9. Broadcasting of the 2025 FIFA World Cup in Georgia

Broadcasting Rights and Coverage
Atlanta-based TNT Sports has secured the rights to broadcast 24 out of the 63 matches of the 2025 FIFA World Cup across TNT, TBS, and TruTV. This arrangement is part of a deal with streaming platform DAZ, which holds the tournament's worldwide broadcast rights from FIFA.

• Atlanta's Involvement:
  • Mercedes Benz Stadium will host six matches, including one round of 16 and one quarter-final match.
  • This event positions Atlanta as a significant hub for international sports during the tournament's June and July schedule.

FIFA's Expansion:
The 32-team tournament will see an expanded format, emphasizing the growing global engagement in soccer and the increasing prominence of Georgia as a host state.

Conclusion
Today's edition of Georgia Today provided comprehensive coverage of critical legislative developments, public health initiatives, significant legal battles, community-driven projects, and notable events impacting Georgia residents. From the strategic maneuvering on Crossover Day to the ongoing debates surrounding federal protections under the Rehabilitation Act, and from local efforts to address affordable housing to the excitement surrounding the 2025 FIFA World Cup, the episode encapsulated a wide array of issues and stories shaping the Peach State.

For more detailed information on these stories, listeners are encouraged to visit gpb.org/news.