3/26: Ga.'s Gov. Perdue to name special AG for lawsuit

Savannah Morning News: Gov. Perdue to name special AG for health reform lawsuit

Gov. Sonny Perdue says he'll appoint a special attorney general to sue the federal government over the new federal health care reform law. A team of pro bono lawyers will file the lawsuit following the refusal of Attorney General Thurbert Baker to sue.

Baker wrote in a letter to the governor Wednesday that the state doesn't have "a viable legal claim" and that he didn't want to waste state resources in a time of budget crisis.

Following Baker's refusal to sue, the state constitution gives the governor the right to appoint a special attorney general who will have the same power as the state attorney general in this specific matter, Perdue said.

Georgia probably will not join the lawsuit filed by attorneys general in 14 other states who are challenging what they deem an unconstitutional overreach of federal power, but will likely file a separate suit, Perdue said.

Also in the South:

ALABAMA: Alabama is one of three states to allow controversial judicial override

ARKANSAS: Lawmakers concerned over required flood insurance by FEMA

FLORIDA: Senate approves Florida class size amendment

KENTUCKY: State unemployment rate rose to 10.9% in February

LOUISIANA: Higher education in 'precarious situation' as legislative session set to begin

MISSISSIPPI: State's lawmakers to finish budget in late April

NORTH CAROLINA: Gov. Perdue wants to lift film incentives gap

SOUTH CAROLINA: Senate agrees on prison sentencing reform

TENNESSEE: Online map tracks census returns, finds Tennessee is lagging behind

VIRGINIA: Gov. McDonnell says no 'rampant discrimination' against gay employees evident

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3/8: NC's Gov. Perdue wants census count change

NORTH CAROLINA: Gov. Perdue wants a census change on how deployed troops are counted

Gov. Beverly Perdue is focusing on changing the way deployed troops are counted. Currently, military personnel in the United States are counted as living in their barracks or off-base residence where they spend most of their time. But deployed soldiers are counted by either their home state, their legal residence or the last base they were assigned to before deploying.

Gov. Perdue wants deployed soldiers counted by their base assignments, which could mean more federal money coming to the state (up to $641.5 million over the next ten years).

While it's not likely to change for this census count, it could be considered for the 2020 census.

Also in the South:

ALABAMA: Experts say alternative energy could boost Alabama's revenue

ARKANSAS: Gov. Beebe: Making Arkansas count

FLORIDA: South Florida tourism aims to appeal to Chinese tourists

GEORGIA: State's use of medical reprieves for inmates on the rise

KENTUCKY: General Assembly enters tenth week of 2010 session

LOUISIANA: Civil Service Commission backs pay-raise plan for 61,000 state workers

MISSISSIPPI: Education and prisons at the top of budget discussions at Capitol

SOUTH CAROLINA: State's budget more dependent on fines, fees than one would think

TENNESSEE: State proposes tax on free hotel breakfasts

VIRGINIA: State AG tells colleges to end gay protections

If you have a news story about public policy to suggest, send an email to info@bettersouth.org