Political Rewind: 'Eggs and Issues' kicks off session; Biden weighs fallout; Bailey switches course

Caption

Senate Minority Leader Gloria Butler read the Pledge of Allegiance and the evocation at the start of the 2022 Eggs and Breakfast breakfast on Wednesday.

The Panel:

Adam Van Brimmer — Editorial page editor, Savannah Morning News 

Chuck Williams — Reporter, WRBL-TV Columbus 

Donna Lowry — Host, Georgia Public Broadcasting’s Lawmakers 

Greg Bluestein — Politics reporter, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution 

The Breakdown:

1. The Eggs and Issues Breakfast dominates morning headlines.

• The Georgia Chamber's annual event traditionally marks the opening days of the legislative session.
• Gov. Brian Kemp announced his plans for a $1.6 billion tax refund to all Georgia taxpayers. He said the tax break will provide $250 for individuals and $500 for couples.
• Mayor Andre Dickens is less than two weeks into his term, but already he is taking action regarding the Buckhead city movement. Dickens announced a plan to open a new police precinct in Buckhead. GPB's Donna Lowry will have more on the Buckhead cityhood movement on Lawmakers at 7 p.m.

• The Atlanta Journal-Constitution's Greg Bluestein joined us right after the Eggs and Issues breakfast. He said Speaker David Ralston is hoping to keep a calm legislative session despite ongoing 2022 campaigning from lawmakers.

2. President Joe Biden works to deliver on promises for federal voting rights legislation. 

• In his speech Tuesday, Biden endorsed changing rules in the Senate to advance voting protections, saying the time was now to stand up for democracy.
• Republicans pushed back hard on Biden's claims.
• Stacey Abrams did not appear with Biden during his visit.

3. Chuck Bailey announces he will run for lieutenant governor instead of state attorney general.  

• Journalist Chuck Williams interviewed Bailey on his podcast Tuesday. He said Bailey offers Georgia voters a Democratic candidate with experience in law enforcement.

• Bailey could be a formidable candidate for lieutenant governor. In 2018, he had the second-most votes of any Democrat on the ticket — only finishing behind gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams.

4. Sign up for our newsletter, Georgia Today Politics!

• We are starting a weekly newsletter featuring the top headlines and some stories you may have overlooked across Georgia's ever-shifting political landscape.

Tomorrow on Political Rewind: 

We are joined by GPB's Stephen Fowler, and The Atlanta Journal-Constitution's Kevin Riley.