Political Rewind: Crossover deadline looms; Walker's businesses; former ATL mayor Sam Massell dies

Caption

Former Atlanta Mayor Sam Massell dies at 94.

Credit: Leah Fleming / GPB

The panel:

Eric Tanenblatt — Republican insider

Jim Galloway — Former political columnist, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Leo Smith — President, Engaged Futures

Rep. Mary Margaret Oliver — State representative (D-Decatur)

The breakdown: 

1. Key legislation moves forward with less than 24 hours until Crossover Day. 

• Crossover Day is the last day for bills to pass at least one legislative chamber.
• HB1013, or the Mental Health Parity Act, would bolster support for mental health services in Georgia 
  • The bill would cover mental illness the same way as physical illness. 
  • Rep. Oliver will present the bill to the Senate Health Committee today.
    • The bill passed with overwhelming bipartisan support in the House last week.
• HB304, repealing the state's gas tax, unanimously passed last week as well. It would lower gas prices by about 29 cents through May 31st. 

2. Election-related measures could advance today after hearing. 

• HB 1464 would allow public inspections of ballot boxes and allow the Georgia Bureau of Investigations to target election fraud.
• Opponents of the bill say that SB 202, which passed last year, already addresses election security concerns.

3. Herschel Walker's business success comes into question. 

• The Atlanta Journal-Constitution's investigation revealed a string of defaults, settlements and lawsuits against Herschel Walker and his businesses.
• Walker holds a commanding lead in polling for the GOP primary.

4. Former Atlanta Mayor Sam Massell dies at 94. 

• Massell was the mayor of Atlanta from 1970 to 1974.
• He was often called the "Mayor of Buckhead," but pushed back against that nickname as he set his sights on all of the metro area.

Tomorrow on Political Rewind:

We talk to Georgia restaurateur Hugh Acheson, who is feeding refugees in Eastern Europe.