Our hiatus is officially over.

State Rep. Keith Heard, D-Various, was recently elected vice chairman of the Georgia Legislative Black Caucus.

I interviewed Heard today about what to expect from next year’s legislative session. You’ll read about it in a few days, but in a word: budget.

Heard also had harsh words for Gov. Sonny Perdue for closing a Milledgeville home for 81 indigent veterans due to budget cuts, calling it “a shame and a disgrace.”

In what’s sure to become a Democratic talking point, Heard questioned how Perdue could spend $20 million on boat ramps but not $2.7 million to house veterans.

“The God that I serve says ‘Take care of the least of these,’” Heard said.

A new home for Safe as Houses

Gov. Sonny Perdue – who as recently as last week continued to tout his much-ridiculed Go Fish boat-ramp-building program in the face of both an historic drought and an historic budget shortfall – made a major economic development announcement today.

Go Fish hooked a big one.

The Forrest Wood Cup, a bass-fishing tournament with a $2.5 million purse, will come to Atlanta in August 2010. The tournament will be staged at a Go Fish “mega-ramp” under construction at Lake Lanier, with weigh-ins at the Georgia Dome and a “Family Fun Zone” at the Georgia World Congress Center.

From Perdue’s press office:

I hope none of you were alarmed by Athens’ sudden increase in middle-aged men wearing ugly sportcoats earlier this week. It was just the Biennial Institute, a three-day conference where University of Georgia professors try to teach state legislators how to not mess up Georgia any worse than it already is.

NABF: All about the cheddar

One of the nice things about the conference is that everyone who’s anyone in state government is all in one place, so it’s a great opportunity for some very interesting conversations.

For any Athens Democrats who are drinking the Obama Kool-Aid, here’s a stiff reminder that his chances in Georgia might not be so great after all.

Jackson County Republicans held a John McCain rally Thursday afternoon, drawing about 200 people to a small park in downtown Commerce, right across the street from the local Obama headquarters.

No one in the audience threatened to lynch anyone or called anyone a terrorist, but they were enthusiastic about hearing about the merits of McCain and the dangers of Obama from a Who’s Who of Georgia elected officials, including Rep. Paul Broun, future Secretary of Agriculture Gary Black and state Rep. Tommy Benton, R-Jefferson. Gov. Sonny Perdue and Secretary of State Karen Handel phoned in remarks. State Sen. Ralph Hudgens, R-Hull, was supposed to call in as well, but had technical difficulties.

Remember when Republicans were ridiculing Barack Obama for telling people to keep their tires inflated to save gas?

Gov. Sonny Perdue and Rep. Jack Kingston must not.

In light of Hurricane Ike and spiking gas prices, Perdue issued a press release this afternoon on how to improve fuel efficiency. Among the tips are no-brainers like driving your car that gets the best gas mileage if you own more than one, slowing down, avoiding idling and, yes, properly inflating your tires.

Are Sonny and Paul BFFs?

Let’s nip that in the bud right now.

Rep. Paul Broun played a useful role for Gov. Perdue over the summer as a pawn in his fight with House Speaker Glenn Richardson. Richardson told legislators to open their pocketbooks for Barry Fleming and they complied. So guess which side Perdue came down on?

Not that he particularly cared. When I talked to him about the 10th District Friday, he couldn’t even remember that Jim Whitehead was the establishment choice last year.

So, barring Bobby Saxon pulling off a miracle, Broun will represent us until at least 2012, when there’s a good chance Richardson will take his revenge by drawing Athens out of the district. All the Republican bigwigs know now that Broun is here to stay.

I know you are (fiscally irresponsible), but what am I?

Local officials often accuse the state of approving unfunded mandates that force cities and counties to raise taxes or cut popular services. That ongoing debate, which seemingly reached its peak during last year’s Great Glenn Tax fiasco, took a turn for the schoolyard this week.

“I didn’t do it. Nobody saw me do it. You can’t prove anything,” Gov. Sonny Perdue said to various and sundry mayors and county commissioners.

Perdue told the Gainesville Times Wednesday that he wants to cut the state property tax credit – $266 per homeowner on average – because it’s done nothing to curb local tax bills that are going up faster than land values in Oakey Woods.

It’s one of two things: Either the Georgia GOP establishment is finally embracing U.S. Rep. Paul Broun, or it’s a trap.

Gov. Sonny Perdue and Broun are teaming up for September skeet shootout/fundraiser in Eatonton to benefit TeenPact, the Christian youth leadership academy founded by Broun’s campaign treasurer, Tim Echols, whom Perdue recently appointed to some state board or other. No word on whether Dick Cheney is attending.

$250 gets you in, $500 gets you a photo and for $2,500 you can shoot clay pigeons with Perdue and Broun.

Im on ur floorz, droppin ur lejislayshun.

State Sen. Bill Cowsert, R-Athens, will be one of Sonny Perdue's floor leaders next year. Says the governor's press office:

"Cowsert joins Senator Bill Heath (District 31) and Senator Ronnie Chance (District 16) who also serve as Administration Floor Leaders in the Senate. Cowsert will replace Senator Joseph Carter, who has announced that he will run for Superior Court judge in the Tifton Judicial Circuit.

“'Bill is a smart, analytical member of the Senate that has already won the respect of his colleagues,' said Governor Perdue. 'I look forward to his contributions as we continue to move Georgia forward.'”

Things one could possibly read into this:

A) Cowsert is deathly afraid of Tommy Malcom and Perdue is giving him a little boost.

B) Cowsert is being groomed for bigger and better things.

C) Sonny just thinks Bill's a heck of a guy.