You can tell a little about the state of politics merely by noting the topics of announcements from Congressional offices. In regards to the $1.7 trillion spending bill for Fiscal Year 2023 that was passed last week, most of Georgia’s congressional Democrats bragged about the numerous projects they had seen to be included in the bill for their local districts.
On the other hand, not a single Georgia Republican voted for the bill and most either ignored the passage completely or noted it as wasteful or inflationary – though most of these representatives likely had projects included in the bill as well.
Rep. Andrew Clyde, (R-GA) called it “American Last in action,” a nod to former President Trump’s America First slogan and Clyde’s disagreement with the Biden administration. “From everything tucked within the $1.7 trillion package to the disgraceful manner in which it was negotiated and passed, this bloated omnibus bill is nothing more than America Last in action,” said Rep. Clyde. “I resolutely voted NO on this shameful waste of taxpayer dollars and deceitful advancement of the harmful policies destroying our nation, and I look forward to fighting for fiscal responsibility and sanity under a House Republican majority next year.”
On the other side of the aisle, Rep. Nikema Williams, (D-GA) bragged about her bring $22.6 million for a number of projects in the 5th district. These projects included a number of Atlanta area universities, including new digital equipment for Agnes Scott, career pathway programs for the Atlanta University Center Consortium, equipment for Georgia State and Morehouse. “I secured transformational investments in our communities so everyone can thrive–no matter your ZIP Code, no matter your bank account,” said Rep. Williams. “The grants will benefit all of Georgia’s Fifth Congressional District by honoring our civil rights legacy, reconnecting neighborhoods, building equitable infrastructure, investing in our HBCUs and more. I am ready to put these resources to work for the people of Georgia’s Fifth Congressional District.”
Rep, Rick Allen, (R-GA) also took issue with the bill like his party-mate Clyde. “This bloated spending package fails to address many of the pressing issues our nation is facing and is instead chocked full of increased funding for the IRS, Green New Deal initiatives, and unrelated policy provisions” said Rep. Allen. “We must stay committed to restoring fiscal responsibility and stop increasing the financial burden on future generations.”
The tallies are a little unclear from the huge spending package but Rep. Sanford Bishop, (D-GA) might have gotten the most of any Georgia representative in the bill. Bishop garnered some $25 million for his district, with projects ranging from an industrial park in Bainbridge to the Boys and Girls Club in Albany to a sewer project in Leesburg. “It is our responsibility to keep the government open so that it can serve and protect the American people. Democrats and Republicans have come together to pass this vital bill which funds our national defense and makes sure that federal programs are there to support families, businesses, and local communities,” said Rep. Bishop.
For a number of reasons (gerrymandering, the nature of partisan primaries and ideological drift of both parties), Congressional districts have grown increasingly partisan, with very few of them actually open to either party in a general election. Only two of Georgia’s districts had results where the November winner received less than 60 percent of the vote, Rep. Buddy Carter (R-GA 1) received 59.1 percent and Rep. Bishop received 55 percent. The results is the news that flows from congressional offices and districts is completely different and the recently passed budget is a good example – granted, the House is currently (for a few days more at least) run by Democrats so Republicans will naturally oppose many measures that come up for a vote.
