Political Rewind: GOP lawmakers eye schools in General Assembly; McMichaels' federal trial next week

Credit: Sam Bermas-Dawes, GPB News

The panel:

Dr. Andra Gillespie — Professor of political science and director, James Weldon Johnson Institute for the Study of Race and Difference, Emory University

Patricia Murphy — Politics reporter and columnist, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Rene Alegria — CEO, Mundo Hispanico Digital

The breakdown:

1. At least one of the convicted murders of Ahmaud Arbery will see a federal trial for hate crimes next week.

• Gregory McMichael withdrew his guilty plea to federal hate crime charges in the murder of Arbery.
  • Gregory and Travis McMichael planned to plead guilty to a hate crime charge earlier this week after prosecutors and defense attorneys agreed on a 30-year sentence that would include a request to transfer the McMichaels from Georgia's state prison system to federal custody.
  • The deal would have required the McMichaels to admit to racist motives and forfeit the right to appeal their federal sentence.
• Following testimony from Ahmaud Arbery's mother, Wanda Cooper-Jones, the judge rejected a plea deal in response from calls from the Arbery family.

  • She added, "I'm asking on behalf of his family, on behalf of his memory and on the behalf of fairness, that you do not grant this plea," Cooper-Jones said in the Brunswick courtroom earlier this week.

• Jury selection in the trial is set to begin Monday.

2. Attempts by Republican state lawmakers to direct education in public schools could define this year's General Assembly session. 

• Among the legislation, Republican legislative leaders put their weight behind a bill targeting transgender athletes.
  • Read SB 435 here. 
  • In recent years, over 30 states introduced similar legislation curbing the participation of trans students in athletics.
• Another proposed bill, a parental "bill of rights," is backed by Gov. Brian Kemp.
  • Proponents say the move will increase transparency and parent participation in schools.
  • Critics say HB 1178 and SB 449 could have a chilling effect on teachers thanks to the increased surveillance.

3. Gov. Brian Kemp makes changes to the Board of Regents, who govern Georgia's public universities and colleges.

• Earlier this week, the governor announced new members to the board.
• The 19-member board is set to choose a new chancellor to lead the 26 institutions of higher education from across the state. 
  • Former Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue has sought the powerful position, despite having no experience in education.
  • Sonny Perdue is also the cousin of David Perdue, who is running against the incumbent governor.

4. In the gubernatorial race, a heated schism within the state Republican party ensues while Stacey Abrams fundraises from the sidelines. 

• The leading candidates in the Republican primary, incumbent Gov. Kemp and former Sen. David Perdue, are trading sharp barbs.

• Just days ago, the Perdue campaign released an ad featuring the endorsement of former President Donald Trump.

• Meanwhile, leading Democratic contender for governor Stacey Abrams announces her campaign has raised a whopping $9.2 million dollars in two months.

Monday on Political Rewind:

University of West Georgia's Dr. Karen Owen and former columnist Jim Galloway join our panel.