Political Rewind: St. Patrick's Day ties; Kemp signs midyear budget; Perdue heads to Mar-a-Lago

Credit: Sam Bermas-Dawes, GPB News

The Panel:

Bernard Fraga — Professor of political science, Emory University

George Chidi — Freelance journalist

Karen Owen — Professor of political science, University of West Georgia

Margaret Coker — Editor-in-chief, The Current

The Breakdown: 

1. Georgia, and the nation, celebrates Irish-American heritage on St. Patrick's Day.

• Dade, Union, Towns and Fannin counties top Georgia's list with Irish populations of more than 10%.
• Savannah is famous for its annual St. Patrick's Day parade. 
  • This year's parade is the city's first since the pandemic. But the city is encouraging no kissing during this year's celebration to curb the spread of COVID-19.

2. Gov. Brian Kemp signs midyear budget. 

• Kemp approved a $30.2 billion midyear budget.
  • It includes raises and bonuses for teachers, correction officers and a $1 billion tax refund for Georgians. 
• State officials hope to retain and attract more correctional officers with raises. GPB's Grant Blankenship sheds a light on the poor retention rates among prison staff.
• GPB's Lawmakers breaks down how the budget came to the governor's desk.

3. Gubernatorial challenger David Perdue visited Mar-a-Lago to get a boost from former President Trump.

• Margaret Coker said the GOP gubernatorial primary places some Republicans in the middle of the Kemp-Perdue battle. 
• Trump is scheduled to visit Commerce, Ga., on March 26. 

4. New bill takes an aim at school boards. 

• Senate Bill 588 focuses on the public's right to attend these meetings. 
• Democrats and public school advocates say this bill duplicates laws already on the books.

5. Hispanic voters are concerned with President Biden's lack of progress on immigration.

• The New York Times reports lawyers in the Biden administration urged the court to let the president enforce a Trump-era restriction to allow the quick rejection of migrants at the border.

Tomorrow on Political Rewind: 

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