Ups, Downs and In-betweens
Nigut Signs Off: Veteran journalist Bill Nigut, a Chicago native who covered politics for WSB-TV from 1983 to 2023, co-hosted his last episode of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution podcast Politically Georgia on January 31. Nigut retired after a career that spanned leading two nonprofits, one of them the Atlanta-area Anti-Defamation League, and nearly a decade hosting Political Rewind on Georgia Public Broadcasting. Both the show and the subsequent podcast were known for having guests from across the political spectrum who faced intelligent questioning and, often, respectful pushback.
Nigut, who was inducted into the Georgia Association of Broadcasters Hall of Fame in 2021, didn’t take much time off: He began teaching a theater course (his other passion) through Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) at Emory on March 4.
Kemp’s Budget: Gov. Brian Kemp unveiled his proposed budgets in January, one an amended budget for Fiscal Year 2025 and one for FY 2026, which starts in July. Among the items in the amended budget, which would add $4.4 billion to the current budget, are $615 million for hurricane relief and $1.7 billion for transportation and sewer projects.
It also includes $1.5 billion in cash for construction projects, basically opting for a “pay upfront” approach that saves money in the long term rather than the traditional route of issuing bonds.
The proposed 2026 budget reflects an increase in spending of $1.6 billion. Of that, 98% would go to education and healthcare, with $141 million for the Promise Scholarship Program to provide $6,500 vouchers toward private school tuition for eligible students; a $367 million increase in funding for higher education, dual enrollment, and HOPE scholarships and grants; and $44 million for the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities.
Kemp’s proposed budget is the opening move in a typically extended negotiation with the legislature, which by law must pass a balanced budget each year.
Legal Overhaul Proposed: Kemp’s 2026 proposed budget also includes $175 million to cover liability claims against the state, as he urges the legislature to overhaul the state’s civil law system. Supporters refer to the efforts as tort reform and say huge awards from juries are driving up the cost of insurance for Georgians. Naming it his No. 1 priority, Kemp said the overhaul would stabilize insurance costs for businesses and consumers.
Some of the proposed changes would limit a business’ liability for certain types of injuries that happen on their premises, place stipulations on how juries determine damages in personal injury cases, and split trials into two stages (one to establish liability and one to determine the amount of damages).
Opponents contend there’s no evidence that such changes reduce insurance rates. Kemp has said he will call a special session of the legislature if the proposed reform package doesn’t pass.
Signed, Sealed, Celebrating: Remember your Georgia history? In 1776, three Georgians affixed their signatures to the Declaration of Independence: Button Gwinnett, Lyman Hall and George Walton. To mark the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States in 2026, the Georgia US250 Commission is encouraging local and county groups across the state to “celebrate, commemorate and observe” the anniversary. The commission, established by Gov. Kemp, is headed by Cameron Bean, chair of the Georgia Humanities board of directors.
At georgia250.com, you can find a list of resources and ways to explore Revolutionary War history around the state. Organizers can also access Georgia’s US250 marketing toolkit to share what’s going on in their town or area. 
