Its another death, wound, stab in the heart for anybody that works in the university system to have someone like this, he said. Employees turn their back on Agriculture secretary over being - CNN Former US Secretary of Agriculture and former Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue were named chancellor of the University System of Georgia by the Board of Regents today (USG). Perdue led Ossoff in the . [46] The land was adjacent to the 20,000 acres (81km2) Oaky Woods preserve being sold by Weyerhaeuser. Steve Fennessy: It's interesting the the letter was addressed to Sachin Shailendra, who at the time was chair of the Board of Regents, but is one of those members who redistricting kind of pushed out so he's no longer on the Board of Regents. But her critics have said thatwhat she calls a COVID Crime Wave and her handling of the firing of Atlanta police officer Garrett Rolfe, who shot Rayshard Brooks last summer, made her vulnerable if she had chosen to run. Eric Stirgus: His name is Steve Wrigley and he retired. He was confirmed by the Senate on April 24,[49] with Bernie Sanders and nine Democrats voting against him. Yes, there is a acting chancellor. "To me it was a boondoggle because of the amount of money they were spending and the location," said Rep. Alan Powell, R-Hartwell, a member of the House Appropriations Committee. Raphael Warnock. He won the 2002 Georgia gubernatorial election, defeating Democratic incumbent Roy Barnes 51% to 46%, with Libertarian candidate Garrett Michael Hayes taking 2% of the vote. There, he managed a workforce of 110,000 employees in the U.S. Department of Agriculture with the stated objective of being the most efficient, effective and customer-friendly agency in the . One is looking at his record, as you know, the governor of Georgia. "[36], On November 13, 2007, while Georgia suffered from one of the worst droughts in several decades, Perdue led a group of several hundred people in prayer on the steps of the state Capitol. She said that this is coming from a place of strength and not weakness. We're a nonprofit (so it's tax-deductible), and reader support makes up about two-thirds of our budget. Steve Fennessy: How big is the university system? From the year 2017 to 2021, George has served as the 31st United States Secretary Of Agriculture. Steve Fennessy: News that Sonny Perdue will, in all likelihood be the university system of Georgia's next chancellor comes at a time when state legislators are debating bills about how racial history should be taught in classrooms. After Perdue took office, in 2003 and 2004, Georgia moved up from last place in the country in SAT scores. In research shared with POLITICO, Accountable.US alleges that farm policies backed by the secretary could potentially have benefited his own or his familys interests beyond the two agribusinesses that were sold. Sonny Perdue may soon head up Georgias public university system. [46] Perdue failed to disclose his ownership of the property in required financial disclosure forms. It's us but for your ears. All Rights Reserved. The Georgia Board of Regents on Tuesday named former governor and U.S. Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue as the sole finalist to lead the state's University System. Georgia Today: How Sonny Perdue's ascent to chancellor went from Perdue addressed the crowd, saying "We've come together here simply for one reason and one reason only: to very reverently and respectfully pray up a storm" and "God, we need you; we need rain." At the beginning of 2020, Perdue yearned publicly for a way to cut federally mandated wages for migrant farm workers on guest visas. His Democratic opponent was Lieutenant Governor Mark Taylor. [News tape] Alex Ames, student activist, FOX5: And as governor, he chose to defund billions of dollars and begin, you know, a decades-long spree of defunding from our teachers and, you know, students and parent schools that we attend every day. United States, Copyright 2023, Georgia Public Broadcasting. (Washington, D.C., April 22, 2020) - Today, the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue announced emergency benefit increases have reached $2.0 billion per month for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) households across all 50 states and 3 territories to increase food security during the coronavirus national emergency. [34] In a 2014 editorial published by National Review, Perdue criticized attempts by "some on the left or in the mainstream media" to connect climate change to weather events. [18], Perdue was elected as a Democrat in 1991, 1994, and 1996. USDA Increases Monthly SNAP Benefits by 40% | USDA Since joining the Trump administration, Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue's complicated network of ties to Georgia-based entities including his family's company, Perdue Partners raised questions about potential conflicts of interest as well as his working relationship with his cousin, Georgia Sen. David Perdue. Feb. 15, 2022 Georgia's public university system said on Tuesday that former Gov. Libertarian Garrett Michael Hayes was also on the ballot. You know, he was brought on actually, you know, during Sonny Perdue's tenure to take on the job. Eric Stirgus: There have been some faculty members who have, you know, written letters to the University System of Georgia, you know, stating their opposition. [News tape] WSB: In a statement, Perdue said education funding was affected by twin recessions while he was governor. Charles S. Bullock, III, The Georgia Political Almanac, The General Assembly 199394. Is that right? Perdue wrote that "liberals have lost all credibility when it comes to climate science because their arguments have become so ridiculous and so obviously disconnected from reality. Yes. Eric Stirgus: Correct. So I think there is some concern out there among some of them. Chris Saeger, a spokesperson for Accountable.US, said the reorganization of Perdues assets from one trust to another appears to be nothing more than a shell game and a maze of technicalities and denials.. Personal: Perdue. According to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, payments on the Go Fish bonds, approved by Perdue and the General Assembly in 2007, runs through December 2027 with most payments $1 million a year in bond money. [42] The floods resulted in Perdue declaring a state of emergency in 17 counties. Mother Jones was founded as a nonprofit in 1976 because we knew corporations and billionaires wouldn't fund the type of hard-hitting journalism we set out to do. "[45], The project overall has been scrutinized as a waste of taxpayer money due to mismanagement of bond money and extremely low visitors. The property (in Estill, South Carolina) had originally been purchased by ADM for 5.5 million dollars, and independent assessments and government tax assessors agree on that as a fair range; however, AGrowStar was offered the property for US$250,000, a fraction of its value. So we have not had a chancellor at least, a non-interim chancellor for at least seven or eight months, right? His nomination was transmitted to the U.S. Senate on March 9, 2017. @SecretarySonny (to use his folksy Twitter handle) stayed the course that characterized his entire time at UDSA. Both elections are set for Jan. 5, though early voting began on Monday. The income stemmed partly from the sale of conservation credits under a federal wetlands protection program. [11], Perdue played quarterback at Warner Robins High School and was a walk-on at the University of Georgia,[12] where he was also a member of the Beta-Lambda chapter of Kappa Sigma fraternity. [70], Perdue is an avid sportsman. Steve Fennessy: Initial discussion about the possible candidacy of Sonny Perdue for chancellor for next chancellor of the University of Georgia System, the president of SACS, the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Belle Whelan, sends a letter to the chair of the Board of Regents of Georgia. Eric Stirgus: Now, you know, conversely, his supporters say he was a governor of Georgia for eight years. As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. At least he is out of the gate. The secretarys office contends he has complied with the agreement. The Georgia Public Library Service and the Georgia Archives . And then also, you know, maybe among some who might be interested in working for the university system. American Oversight is now calling on the inspector general to investigate whether Perdue improperly participated in any such decision, given his ethics pledge to stay out of any matters that might have a direct and predictable effect on the financial interests of the assets in his trusts. Please consider making a gift today to support this vital public service. Sonny Perdue faces ethics questions over his business holdings Steve Fennessy: By definition, you're appointed as a regent by the sitting governor, but appointing and hiring a chancellor is supposedly, at least theoretically, not supposed to be political, right? Then the pandemic hit, ripping through migrant farm worker communities, who toiled on with little in the way of protective gear or opportunities for social distancing. Steve Fennessy: How unusual is it for a letter like that to be written? Sanders: one of the the most fun, engaging, charming, and charismatic people Ive ever been around. Perdue: he has an amazing instinctive ability to make decisions.. He served two terms,. Faster kill lines boost packer profits even as they put already pandemic-stressed workers under greater strain, while also making proper social distancing even more difficult. Revoking accreditation to schools including the University of Georgia, Fort Valley State and Georgia Southern would be a monumental step. Eric Stirgus: No, not officially, you know, because they are personnel decisions that the board makes. [3], In 2004, Perdue sued the Environmental Protection Agency to block environmental regulations on reformulated gasoline. I understand that the Board of Regents, at least in its previous iteration, was not necessarily too keen on the idea of Sonny Perdue as the next chancellor, is that correct? George Ervin "Sonny" Perdue III[1] (born December 20, 1946) is an American veterinarian, businessman, politician, and university administrator who served as the 31st United States Secretary of Agriculture from 2017 to 2021. [24], In mid-2003, Perdue purchased 101 acres (0.41km2) of land next to his Houston County, Georgia, home. [50], In September 2017, Politico reported that, according to 42 reviewed resumes, the department hired 22 former Trump campaign workers, many of which had no significant agricultural knowledge or experience with federal policies. So let's go into November with me as your nominee.". The new questions surrounding Perdues 2017 agreement follow his rebuke last week by the Office of Special Counsel for using a taxpayer-funded event to promote President Donald Trumps reelection, in violation of the Hatch Act. The Board of Regents named Dr. Sonny Perdue the 14th chancellor of the University System of Georgia effective April 1, 2022. Steve Fennessy: There's something else going on here. Brian Kemp is in a fierce battle with David Perdue. Steve Fennessy: So he left in June. [19] After his first year in office, Senator Perdue wrote then Lt. Perdue will begin his duties as the 14th chancellor on April 1, according to a press release from USG. (Washington, D.C., April 28, 2020) - U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue released the following statement after President Donald J. Trump signed an Executive Order to keep meat and poultry processing facilities open during the COVID-19 national emergency. He's also a fierce advocate for Sonny Perdue to land the chancellor job, saying his experience . | J. Scott Applewhite/AP Photo. [24], On January 18, 2017, President Donald Trump announced that he would nominate Perdue to be United States secretary of agriculture. The design of the 2001 Georgian flag was widely unpopular, being derisively named the "Barnes flag". [48], During meetings with Georgia state port officials, then-Governor Perdue discussed his family business's use of a terminal, then started a new export company in Savannah soon after leaving office. [44], Upon the end of Perdue's term as governor, many in the Georgia General Assembly condemned the project and Perdue after an advisory council (appointed by Perdue) began to funnel additional bond money to the project located in his home county. Sonny Perdue had campaigned on his cousins behalf during David Perdues 2020 re-election campaign, which he narrowly lost to Senator Jon Ossoff. The administration began acquiring bond money for the Go Fish Education Center near his home in Perry, GA. How Perdue's power benefits his friends - POLITICO The USDA's press office rejected CNN's request to interview Ziska, but not Politico's, where he went on to describe the department as internally fearful of Perdue's open skepticism towards climate change, which, according to Ziska, has led officials to "go to extremes to obscure their work to avoid political blowback". Steve Fennessy: So I'm guessing that maybe he wants to stay out of this altogether, or do we know if he is going to make any kind of public statement endorsing one way or the other? Not satisfied with fighting to take food off the tables of poor families, Perdue also set his sights on farm workers. His selection has angered professors concerned about academic freedom. Secretary Perdue has visibility into and control over the trusts and their underlying assets, and he continues to benefit from them despite the plain terms of his 2017 ethics agreement, Evers wrote to the inspector general. "[35], In 2006, Perdue signed a law that gave Georgia "some of the nation's toughest measures against illegal immigrants. They range from Georgia State University, which has the most students in the system, like about 53,000 students; Georgia Tech, Kennesaw State both of those schools have about 40,000 students each and then University of Georgia. Opponents of the choice say Perdue's appointment would jeopardize academic freedom across the systems 26 campuses. Steve Fennessy: Chancellor of the University System of Georgia it's one of the most coveted jobs in higher education. So Sonny Perdue is very much in the good graces of Donald Trump. Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue said today that he did not plan to step down from his Cabinet duties, amid reports that the president is getting ready to make several . A Big Ag corporation sold it to Sonny Perdue's company for $250,000", "Agriculture secretary pick Perdue led big political change in Georgia", "Official: Perdue flew copter without license", "Governor Perdue Makes Acting Debut in "We Are Marshall", Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, Director of the Office of Management and Budget, Director of the Central Intelligence Agency, Administrator of the Small Business Administration, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Sonny_Perdue&oldid=1142223043, Democratic Party Georgia (U.S. state) state senators, Republican Party Georgia (U.S. state) state senators, Presidents pro tempore of the Georgia State Senate, Republican Party governors of Georgia (U.S. state), Military personnel from Georgia (U.S. state), Short description is different from Wikidata, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 1 March 2023, at 05:05. Therefore the new trust Perdue listed on his 2019 financial disclosure, identifying himself as a co-trustee, poses no conflict of interest or violation of his ethics commitments, the spokesperson said. Steve Fennessy: Eric, you've covered higher education in Georgia for a lot of years. He was there at the end. Sonny Perdue's Ties to His Family Business - American Oversight Eric Stirgus: There was some support on the regents, but not enough support to get him across the finish line to be named as chancellor. As governor from 2003 until 2011, he celebrated the states legacy of chattel slaverysigning 2009 legislation making April Confederate History and Heritage Month, honoring the more than 90,000 brave men and women who served the Confederate States of America. He was an early adopter of race-motivated voter suppression, signing into law one of the nations first strict ID laws. Steve Fennessy: So what happened then? And I'm curious about why it's elicited such a ferocious response on the side of those who are for the idea, but also those who are against it. Terms of Service apply. Perdue is the first cousin of former U.S. The United States Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry overwhelmingly approved his nomination on March 30, with a 191 vote. [6] His nomination was approved by the Senate Agriculture Committee by a 19-1 voice vote on March 30. In his 2002 election campaign, Perdue promised that he would let the state's citizens vote to determine the state flag. Why Brian Kemp wants Sonny Perdue to lead Georgia's higher ed system Born George Ervin Perdue III, Perdue has been known as Sonny since childhood, and prefers to be called by that name; he was sworn in and signs official documents as "Sonny Perdue". Georgia Public Radio GPTV, Oversight group isnt reviewing Georgia regents choice of Sonny Perdue. Steve Fennessy: As you said, Sonny Perdue persuaded Donald Trump when he was president to endorse Brian Kemp. I give him my full and total endorsement.". Trump said Friday that he has directed Perdue to provide at least $16 billion in relief. You know, there were some complaints that, you know, he was involved in some changes that, you know, made it a little bit more difficult for students to get the HOPE scholarship. And then also there has been, through the congressional redistricting process, you know, because of some changes insome of the districts, you know, we've had two additional changes on the regents where two members are now no longer on the board and the governor has replaced another one of those members and all three of the members that he has replaced are people who have been, you know, very supportive of the governor in the past through campaign contributions and other ways. Perdue will not improve the state of education as chancellor - he will only ruin it.. [25] Perdue then used the new law on his 2004 tax return to defer $100,000 in taxable gains from the sale of land. We'll be back next week. [News tape] FOX5: Critics have questioned Perdue's experience, pointing out his lack of experience in the higher education setting. In December 2001, Perdue resigned as state senator and devoted himself entirely to running for the office of Governor of Georgia. Here's Why", "USGS Release: Atlanta Flooding Sets New Records", "Gov. You can keep up with Georgia today by subscribing to the show at GPB.org. [61][62], In February 2020, Perdue endorsed putting a price on carbon dioxide, a climate change policy favored by many economists. Or are they sometimes coming from outside it? The Washington Post detailed several wish-list items that ADM achieved: loosening of regulations on pork production, fewer inspections, helping lobby against proposed government bans on glyphosate by Thailand and Vietnam, and promoting ethanol and biodiesel. Ethics authorities have already issued warnings to a dozen Trump administration officials for violating the Hatch Act, but Perdues straightforward appeal to reelect Trump was seen as especially flagrant. [News tape] FOX5: The choice of Perdue has already drawn criticism from student groups and university professors who describe Perdue as a career politician with no experience in higher education. You know, it's kind of a fascinating situation that, you know, your cousin is running for governor and at the same time his political opponent could be putting you in charge of one of the most important positions in state government. I ran because I was frustrated with the government. Eric Stirgus: He has some interest in the job because, you know, he realizes the importance of higher education to the state's economy.

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