what is sonny perdue doing now

Eric Stirgus: Yeah it's an important issue because, you know, colleges and universities that do not have accreditation, they can their students cannot get federal financial aid that helps pay for tuition for a lot of college students. [6] His nomination was approved by the Senate Agriculture Committee by a 19-1 voice vote on March 30. 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. Eric Stirgus: Correct. So tell us, what does the job of chancellor of Georgia universities and colleges entail? The first two companies are managed by Perdues children, according to Georgia records. He was there at the end. Steve Fennessy: How unusual is it for a letter like that to be written? The business holdings were a source of concern during his confirmation process, as well as during his time as Georgia governor from 2003-11, when he faced more than a dozen ethics complaints and was found to have funneled illegal amounts of money from his businesses to his campaign in 2002. In July, as the general election heated up, the department tapped a Depression-era funding mechanism called the Commodity Credit Corporation to come up with $14 billionwithout having to consult Congressto hand to producers of commodities like corn, soybeans and wheat, ostensibly for losses due to the coronavirus. Steve Fennessy: Chancellor of the University System of Georgia it's one of the most coveted jobs in higher education. [News tape] 11Alive: This is where angry parents are accusing the school board of trying to indoctrinate students with controversial curriculum on race and American history. 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? While it is often especially difficult for members of a governing board who are appointed by the governor or legislative body to remain independent in their work, it is imperative that they do or they place the accreditation of the institution they govern in jeopardy." 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. After the sale, the huge boiler on the property was sold for approximately $500,000, easily covering the cost of the purchase even if the rest of the land had been valueless. Senate Republicans aghast at Perdue's false election claims in - CNN The income stemmed partly from the sale of conservation credits under a federal wetlands protection program. She currently produces the Georgia Today and Battleground: Ballot Box shows. Eric Stirgus: Yeah, I mean, and that's the argument that many of Kemp's team has said. So without that accreditation, it could severely impact, you know, enrollment. Gov. (David Perdue is now locked in a tight runoff election that could decide which party controls the Senate in the next Congress.). Unquote. [32] Perdue disappointed some Georgians by not making the 1956 flag one of the choices on the ballot, despite a campaign promise to do so. Save big on a full year of investigations, ideas, and insights. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue has long been President Donald Trumps most effective advocate among rural voters. [21] He became the first Republican governor of Georgia in 131 years since Benjamin F. Founder and partner in an agricultural trading company,[4] Perdue served from 2012 to 2017 on the Governors' Council of the Bipartisan Policy Center in Washington, D.C.[3][5] He is the second secretary of agriculture from the Deep South; the first was Mike Espy of Mississippi, who served under President Bill Clinton from January 1993 to December 1994. On January 18, 2017, President-elect Donald Trump announced that he would nominate Perdue to be Secretary of Agriculture. [53] In August 2017, he announced a mentoring program for new farmers. Eric Stirgus: Georgia's top elected officials constantly talk about, you know, we need workers who are college and career ready, people who can just step into jobs. Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue pledged in 2017 to separate himself from his multimillion dollar business holdings that could pose conflicts of interest in his public duties. Alec Poitevint, long a pivotal player in the Perdue network, is now backing Kemp over David Perdue. [News tape] 11Alive: He tweeted, "Brian Kemp is running for governor of the Great State of Georgia. How did we find out about that? Meanwhile, in 2020, the pandemic ravaged meatpacking workers and put millions out of work, causing a surge in the need for food assistanceboth very much areas of concern for the agriculture department. The watchdogs question whether the sale of AGrowStar and Pro Ag Products was enough to quash all potential conflicts. Perdue is poised within . Our engineers are Jesse Nighswonger and Jake Cook. [71], In 2006, while still governor, Perdue made a cameo appearance as the coach of the East Carolina Pirates football team in the movie We Are Marshall, large portions of which were filmed in Georgia. And besides the national prominence afforded any state governor, Perdue garnered widespread attention for his actions in 2007 during the worst drought in Georgia's history. [1][10] He grew up and still lives in Bonaire, an unincorporated area between Perry and Warner Robins. His selection has angered professors concerned about academic freedom. However, most served in the early years of the war and were either forced at gunpoint or feared reprisals for disloyalty. How is that number arrived at? The terms of two of those members expired at the beginning of January, and Gov. This week on Georgia Today, we look at some issues Bottoms faced during her tenure as mayor with CNN national correspondentRyan Young. Eric Stirgus: Yes, Sonny Perdue backed Kemp's state Senate bid in 2002. [6] His nomination was approved by the Senate Agriculture Committee by a 191 voice vote on March 30. | J. Scott Applewhite/AP Photo. 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. David Perdue is running for governor in Georgia. Here's what to know It generated $102,077 in revenue or about 11 cents for every dollar it cost to run the center in years past. Eric Stirgus: You know, he's never spoken publicly about it. 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? Brian Kemp is not. Mr. Perdue, a graduate of the University of Georgia, said he considered the opportunity to lead the university system, which has more than 340,000 students, as the capstone to a career of public service. The Perdue USDAs largesse to large-scale farmers and agribusinesses went beyond cutting wages and protective measures for their workers. But last year, he disclosed he had become trustee of a newly formed fund that includes many of the same assets as his original family trust. Brian Kemp: Obviously, this is huge for our campaign. And then also, I think, you know, there's been some criticism that he's not the best qualified person for the position. (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. Why is accreditation important for a university system like Georgia's? Why are we still talking about this, then? It is no surprise that these made up accusations are coming out in the final weeks of October. [3], In 2006, Perdue was re-elected to a second term in the 2006 Georgia gubernatorial election, winning nearly 58% of the vote. A chancellors job is to defend the system against such bills, said Matthew Boedy, a rhetoric and composition professor at the University of North Georgia and the president of the Georgia conference of the American Association of University Professors. After Perdue took office, in 2003 and 2004, Georgia moved up from last place in the country in SAT scores. He was sworn in by Supreme Court associate justice and fellow Georgian Clarence Thomas. Eric Stirgus: The chancellor is hired by the Board of Regents as a 19-member body, and all of those folks are appointed by the governor and so they serve seven-year terms. [News tape] parent at recent school board meeting, 11Alive: "This isn't critical race theory. This is diversity and inclusion. Along with the recent Hatch Act violation, Perdue is facing blowback from Democrats and food banks for requiring all contractors under a $4 billion coronavirus relief program to stuff promotional letters signed by Trump into millions of food boxes delivered to hungry families. When you go this long without having a permanent chancellor on board, what signal does that send or how does that affect the operations of our schools? 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. [40], In 2008, Perdue worked with the Georgia Emergency Management Agency to implement Ready Georgia, a campaign to increase disaster preparedness throughout the state. What is that history? Similarly, while the pandemic savaged meatpacking workers, killing at least 563 as of mid-December, the ag department kept on with a trend it had started in 2019: allowing giant poultry companies to speed up their slaughterhouse kill lines. The new law saved Perdue $100,000 in state taxes. "You have got to have stuff where there is a lot of traffic. Like Trump, he's a former Democratwho ascended to political power (in Perdue's case, Georgia. So, you know, we've been hearing that this from faculty members who have been upset about, you know, some of his credentials in that space. The North American Vexillological Association had deemed it the ugliest U.S. state flag. 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. Opponents of the choice say Perdue's appointment would jeopardize academic freedom across the systems 26 campuses. 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. [19] After his first year in office, Senator Perdue wrote then Lt. Help Mother Jones' reporters dig deep with a tax-deductible donation. 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. 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 . Steve Fennessy: OK, Sonny Perdue is, I think he's 75. [14][15], Perdue is not related to the family who owns and operates Perdue Farms (commonly associated with the brand "Perdue Chicken").[16][17]. 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." But Perdue is struggling. This is Georgia Today. Eric Stirgus: You know, and then there have been other instances where, you know, Sonny has supported now-Gov. [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. Senator David Perdue (R-GA) abstained, as they are first cousins. [9], Perdue was born in Perry, Georgia, the son of Ophie Viola (Holt), a teacher, and George Ervin Perdue Jr., a farmer. 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. Please consider making a gift today to support this vital public service. [8] Perdue served as Secretary of Agriculture throughout Trump's term. Inexpensive, too! [67], Regardless of whether the deal was intended to influence Perdue's actions, and if it was if it actually had any impact, the Perdue years were good ones for ADM. [25] Perdue signed the legislation into law on April 12, 2005, three days before tax day. The board cited Perdue's, quote, "vast understanding of the issues facing the university system," unquote. And you know, I think there have been a couple of state lawmakers who have publicly come out against the idea. [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. He also won reelection in 2000. [46] Perdue failed to disclose his ownership of the property in required financial disclosure forms. Steve Fennessy: How Gov. 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. The former Georgia governor has a background in agriculture. On January 18, 2017, President-elect Donald Trump announced that he would nominate Perdue to be Secretary of Agriculture. So I think there is some concern out there among some of them. There's been a lot of different issues that colleges are facing regarding social issues and political issues. He had even served as the 81st Governor of Georgia, and his tenure was from 2003 to 2011. The Georgia Public Library Service and the Georgia Archives . "[45], The project overall has been scrutinized as a waste of taxpayer money due to mismanagement of bond money and extremely low visitors. At the beginning of 2020, Perdue yearned publicly for a way to cut federally mandated wages for migrant farm workers on guest visas. Trump-backed Perdue struggles in Republican primary challenge in - CNN Steve Fennessy: The governor appoints the regents on the Board of Regents; there's 19 of them. You know, he's a strong conservative, you know, and he's David Perdue's cousin. 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. Eric Stirgus: During his time as agriculture secretary there was, you know, there's been some criticism about his record, you know, concerning issues such as climate change. Steve Fennessy: How big is the university system? 11/08/2018 02:42 PM EST. Steve Fennessy: Well, there was also some changes that happened on the board itself, right? These emergency benefits represent a 40% increase in . In this 2017 post, I recount some of the port-related shenanigans the cousins Perdue got up to together, including launching a port-reliant export business. Sonny Perdue, aka George Ervin "Sonny" Perdue III, is known to be a veterinarian, businessman, and politician of the United States of America. Sonny Perdue plans to stay on amid Trump Cabinet shakeups 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. What Is Sonny Perdue Doing Now? Now to me, Eric, that sounds like a kind of an implied threat that appointing Sonny Perdue as chancellor could mean that we'd lose accreditation. In July, with the economic fallout from the pandemic generating a massive hunger crisis, Perdue alighted on North Carolina, a key swing state, to stage a rally promoting congressionally mandated food aid as an example of the personal benevolence of Donald Trump. The administration began acquiring bond money for the Go Fish Education Center near his home in Perry, GA. You can keep up with Georgia today by subscribing to the show at GPB.org. That's next. Sonny Perdue faces ethics questions over his business holdings publicly condemned how the university system selected Mr. Perdue, will be the first woman to head the institution, a large-scale, low-cost online Master of Science degree program. Come on board with me. Kemp can use that to the Republican base and say, "Hey, you know, I have one of the most loyal Trump guys you know, and, you know, if I appointed him to a very important position here in state government and we know we've had a long-standing relationship. [22], Perdue advocated reforms designed to cut waste in government, most notably the sale of surplus vehicles and real estate. Steve Fennessy: So there's a school of thought that Gov. [25] Perdue then used the new law on his 2004 tax return to defer $100,000 in taxable gains from the sale of land. The United States Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry overwhelmingly approved his nomination on March 30, with a 191 vote. [12], In education, Perdue promoted the return of most decision-making to the local level. Sonny Perdue Age: 75 Birthplace: Perry, Georgia Political History: Georgia state senator, 1991-2002; governor, 2003-2011; U.S. Department of Agriculture secretary, 2017-2021. But is there a way of, like, by appointing by at least advancing the candidacy of Sonny Perdue for chancellor is this a way for Brian Kemp to gain some political points with some Trump voters out there? He served two terms,. [23], In January 2003, Perdue signed an executive order prohibiting himself and all other state employees from receiving any gift worth more than $25. [24], On January 18, 2017, President Donald Trump announced that he would nominate Perdue to be United States secretary of agriculture. 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. I think Steve really was making maybe about a half million dollars when he retired, so that's way more than the governor of Georgia was making. [41] The next year, Georgia was affected by the September floods, which were the most severe in Georgia's recorded history. Sonny Perdue on Confirmation to Lead Dept. Steve Fennessy: Matthew Boedy, a University of North Georgia professor and president of the Georgia conference of the American Association of University Professors, told the New York Times that, quote, "a chancellor's job is to defend the system against such bills. The COVID-19 crisis served as yet another opportunity to promote the political fortunes of his boss, without impeding his pursuit of a pro-agribusiness, anti-worker agenda. Mr. Perdue served two terms as governor from 2003 to 2011, and later became Secretary of Agriculture under President Donald J. Trump. The board cited Perdue's, quote, "vast understanding of the issues facing the university system," unquote. So let's go into November with me as your nominee.". On December 30, 2016, Perdue's company AGrowStar purchased property and a facility from Archer-Daniels-Midland (ADM), a large American agribusiness corporation that the Department of Agriculture regulates. Can you pitch in a few bucks to help fund Mother Jones' investigative journalism? Steve Fennessy: And when Wrigley said he was going to retire, was there kind of a shortlist floated around of possible successors? [News tape] parent at recent school board meeting, 11Alive: "I don't know how or why this would be debated.". The likely appointment of Mr. Perdue, a Republican, comes during a volatile time in Georgia politics, with the State Legislature considering several bills that would ban, or limit, how race and activism are taught in the classroom. The Georgia Department of Natural Resources figures showed 21,101 people visited the Perry facility in fiscal 2015, which ended June 30. Here to help us make sense of the implications of all this is Eric Stirgis, who covers higher education at the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. His committee assignments included Ethics, Finance & Public Utilities, Health & Human Services, Reapportionment, and Economic Development, Tourism & Cultural Affairs. However, Perdue was faced with a Democratic House that would not allow the 1956 flag to be included in the referendum, due to its Confederate origins, and he needed support for a tobacco tax he wanted to pass to raise revenue. 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. Georgia Today is a production of Georgia Public Broadcasting. Sonny Perdue's . Florida Republican Sen. Marco Rubio, who like Grassley is up for reelection in 2022, said he hasn't "paid a lot of attention" to Georgia's governor race, saying "we got our hands full . Terms of Service apply. Steve Fennessy: When did we first hear that Sonny Perdue who was the outgoing Secretary of Agriculture in the Trump administration, of course a two-term former governor of Georgia was interested in the job of chancellor? Eric Stirgus: You know, it's a pretty important job in the state of Georgia. The watchdog groups are now seeking information about whether Perdue was involved in a decision by the Army Corps of Engineers which works with USDA on some wetlands restoration efforts to reallocate Soque River Conservations credits in a way that significantly increased their value. On April 1, 2022, Perdue took over as the system's 14th chancellor. [18], Perdue was elected as a Democrat in 1991, 1994, and 1996. 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). Eric Stirgus: Well, there's been a few ways. [54] In December 2018, he changed the nutrition standards for school lunches to allow more refined grains, allow milk with added sugar, and increased sodium. Sonny Perdue - Wikipedia 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? Yes. Dr. Sonny Perdue bio. Perdue will begin his duties as the 14th chancellor on April 1, according to a press release from USG. The latest scrutiny stems from the agriculture secretary's wealth of current and former interests in agriculture, trucking and land development. Like Trump, hes a former Democrat who ascended to political power (in Perdues case, Georgia governor) in a stunning upset.

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