Looking at the pandemic, they've also had to take on some additional responsibilities, such as, you know, managing coronavirus relief funds. earned Perdue a knuckle-rap from the Office of Special Counsel, publicly for a way to cut federally mandated wages, lavished mainly huge soybean, hog, and cotton farmers, more than double the price tag of President Barack Obamas 2009 auto bailout, join us with a tax-deductible donation today. [55], In July 2019, Perdue ordered two USDA agenciesthe Economic Research Service (ERS) and the National Institute of Food and Agricultureto move from the USDA's headquarters in Washington, D.C. to the Kansas City metropolitan area. And then also, you know, maybe among some who might be interested in working for the university system. [56] The attrition rate was particularly high in the Resource and Rural Economics Division (90%) and in the Food Economics Division (up to 89%). Sonny Perdue Is Sole Finalist to Lead Georgias Public Universities, https://www.nytimes.com/2022/02/15/us/sonny-perdue-georgia-chancellor.html. So we have not had a chancellor at least, a non-interim chancellor for at least seven or eight months, right? He was the only member of the Trump administration to endorse such a plan. There may be that short list that some of these members of the Board of Regents have, but they're not allowed to discuss it publicly. He was sworn in by Supreme Court associate justice and fellow Georgian Clarence Thomas. So we have Brian Kemp in this fierce battle against David Perdue primary battle for governor. Steve Fennessy: So what happened then? The office directed the USDA chief to reimburse the government for travel expenses and other costs of the event. [23] Prior to Perdue's becoming governor, no state agency had compiled an inventory of what assets were owned by the state. Our engineers are Jesse Nighswonger and Jake Cook. [8] Perdue served as Secretary of Agriculture throughout Trump's term. Each of those firms is owned by Perdue Business Holdings Inc., and Secretary Perdues newly created FALF Management Trust of which the secretary is a co-trustee owns 100 percent of the voting stock in Perdue Business Holdings, according to his 2019 disclosure. Sonny Perdue issues state of emergency for 17 Georgia counties", "Perdue fails to disclose '04 purchase of land", "Trump to announce Sonny Perdue for Agriculture", "Sonny Perdue Sworn in as 31st U.S. Secretary of Agriculture", "Trump hires campaign workers instead of farmworkers at USDA", "Sonny Perdue is Trump's 'designated survivor' for State of the Union 2018", "Perdue tells second Iowa Ag Summit he wants to support new farmers", "Trump administration to return refined grains to school lunches", Many USDA workers to quit as research agencies move to Kansas City: 'The brain drain we all feared', ERS union predicts mass exodus ahead of relocation, 'Cut, Relocate, Eviscerate': Moving a USDA Research Agency Will Have Lasting Consequences, Employees Say, Economists flee Agriculture Dept. The policy, according to the American Association of University Professors, is the only one of its kind in the country. You know, Steve Wrigley, you know, he worked in the university system before he became chancellor, so he did have some of that experience. Let's go into November and be against Stacey Abrams together.". RELATED: Oversight group isnt reviewing Georgia regents choice of Sonny Perdue. Brian Kemp thinks so, and it looks like he's getting his way. What is it about this job that appeals to him? [7] His appointment was approved by an 8711 vote by the Senate on April 24. Eric Stirgus: You know, and then there have been other instances where, you know, Sonny has supported now-Gov. [60] In August 2019, Lewis Ziska, a USDA plant physiology climate scientist, quit after department administrators attempted to impede the publication of one of his studies in the journal Science Advances. So Sonny Perdue is very much in the good graces of Donald Trump. Eric Stirgus: Most of them are designated by congressional district. [45], During his governorship, the Georgia State Ethics Commission received thirteen complaints against Perdue. While Perdue puffed up the generosity of his boss, the USDA was busy botching the food-relief effort, awarding fat contracts to distributors ill-equipped to handle them, with the result that some parts of the country got a lot of food, while others got very little, NPR reported. 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. Higher education is where I wanted to have a real impact as governor, only to be stymied by twin recessions, he said in the board-issued statement. Eric Stirgus: Sonny Perdue, you know, encouraged then-President Trump to endorse Brian Kemp in the Republican primary back in 2018. SteveFennessyis host of Georgia Today,a weekly radio show and podcast on Georgia Public Broadcasting thatexplains stories of interest to Georgians through the experience and perspective of the reporters covering those stories. [24] The State Ethics Commission ruled against Perdue twice, finding that he had taken improper campaign contributions from donors including SunTrust Banks and that he had improperly used one of his family business's airplanes on the campaign, for which the commission fined the sitting governor. You know, then there are many others outside the metro area. Eric Stirgus: I think it's been a mix of both. He would not be the first governor to move into academia: Former Gov. Sonny Perdue has long mixed personal and political business to benefit his friends and business associates and he's on track to do it again. Later, FALF Management Trust was created. Sonny Perdue was its sole finalist to become chancellor, a choice that has outraged some professors and led a. 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? The watchdogs question whether the sale of AGrowStar and Pro Ag Products was enough to quash all potential conflicts. Thanks for listening. The latest scrutiny stems from Perdues wealth of current and former interests in agriculture, trucking and land development a complex web of trusts, land parcels, holding companies and subsidiaries. Atlanta, GA 30318 The sole vote against him came from Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY). Opponents of the choice say Perdue's appointment would jeopardize academic freedom across the systems 26 campuses. You know, looking at that and he can say that Gov. Lance Cheung/USDA; Mother Jones Illustration. Gov. He referenced the pandemic and the phrase "Cultural Revolution." Eric Stirgus: Correct. Many credit Pierre Howard for helping Perdue build the early foundation of what would become his future political career.[20]. Senator David Perdue (R-GA) abstained, as they are first cousins. [58][59], Under Perdue, the Department of Agriculture (USDA) was accused of suppressing scientific publications for political reasons. The United States Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry overwhelmingly approved his nomination on March 30, with a 191 vote. Why is accreditation important for a university system like Georgia's? Sonny Perdue may soon head up Georgias public university system. If you value what you get from Mother Jones, please join us with a tax-deductible donation today so we can keep on doing the type of journalism 2023 demands. Sonny Perdue, aka George Ervin "Sonny" Perdue III, is known to be a veterinarian, businessman, and politician of the United States of America. He served as his party's leader in the Senate from 1994 to 1997 and as president pro tempore. (David Perdue is now locked in a tight runoff election that could decide which party controls the Senate in the next Congress.). Kudlow used the opportunity to fluff Trumps economic record. [1][10] He grew up and still lives in Bonaire, an unincorporated area between Perry and Warner Robins. [News tape] WSB: He called being named a finalist a quote wonderful capstone to a career in public service. And I understand that he wasn't the biggest supporter of the idea of Sonny Perdue as chancellor. Help Mother Jones' reporters dig deep with a tax-deductible donation. Perdues response? So, you know, it'll be interesting to see. Governor Perdue stood out for his impressive experience and leadership in public service as well as a vast understanding not only of Georgia and its communities but of the issues facing the university system as we move forward, Harold Reynolds, the chair of the Board of Regents, said in a statement on Monday. "[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. Now the nonprofit American Oversight is asking USDAs inspector general to review the new structure of Perdues assets and determine whether it violates the commitments he made as a nominee for the job in 2017. Perdue made his acting debut in "We Are Marshall," a 2006 film about the 1970 plane crash that claimed the lives of 75 Marshall University football players, coaches, supporters and staff.. Subscribe to the Mother Jones Daily to have our top stories delivered directly to your inbox. The crux of the watchdog complaint comes down to a handful of Perdues businesses the secretary reported as sources of income, at least a half-million dollars, on his 2019 filing. [24], In mid-2003, Perdue purchased 101 acres (0.41km2) of land next to his Houston County, Georgia, home. Governor Pierre Howard asking for more responsibilities, and Howard obliged. The U.S. Senate confirmed Secretary Perdue by a vote of 87-to-11 on Monday evening. This week on Georgia Today, we look at some issues Bottoms faced during her tenure as mayor with CNN national correspondentRyan Young. If a college loses accreditation, warned the agencys president, Belle S. Wheelan, it could cause enrollment declines, lead to bad publicity and revoke the schools access to federal money. 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. From the year 2017 to 2021, George has served as the 31st United States Secretary Of Agriculture. We've been hearing that Gov. Very few Republican elected officials, operatives, donors and activists in Georgia have. 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. [News tape] 11Alive: He tweeted, "Brian Kemp is running for governor of the Great State of Georgia. [News tape] FOX5: Students against Sonny have collected more than a thousand signatures on a petition on Change.org. Steve Fennessy: When you look at past chancellors in the university system of Georgia, is that a position where the person who gets the job is typically coming from a higher educational background? He praised the tax cuts and the program of deregulation, which, he claimed, benefitted the people who needed it most, those in the middle, and the lower rungs. Its little wonder that Trump would train his benevolence on the little people, because hes a blue-collar guy who worked for years in the construction yards, with all kinds of folks, all colors, Kudlow informed Perdues listeners. And so, you know, I think he was one of those, you know, members who, you know, was part of that faction were against it. Eric Stirgus: I think, you know, his critics have a couple of reasons that they're concerned. [News tape] FOX5: Critics have questioned Perdue's experience, pointing out his lack of experience in the higher education setting. His nomination was transmitted to the U.S. Senate on March 9, 2017. David Perdue is saying, "I'm the big Trump guy here." According to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, "As the vigil ended, the sun shone through what had been a cloudy morning. I'm Steve Fennessy. Perdue has long been Trumps most effective advocate among rural voters, visiting all 50 states to spread the presidents message and spearheading massive taxpayer aid programs that kept farmers afloat through Trumps trade war and the pandemic. 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. The state's Board of Regents on Wednesday named a veteran finance official as the acting chancellor of Georgia's public university system, stalling former Gov. Mr. Perdue served two terms as governor from 2003 to 2011, and later became Secretary of Agriculture under President Donald J. Trump. 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.
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