NOVEMBER DECEMBER2014

JAMESAN INSIDE VIEW INTO ’S NEWS, POLITICS, & CULTURE LET’S DO

MORE BUSINESS TOGETHER

The Georgia Chamber is proud to introduce Georgia2Georgia, an initiative to strengthen the connection between our state’s companies and keep our economy growing.

Doing just 2% more business with companies in our state will help increase investment, create jobs and ensure a better future for us all. Take the 2% challenge at www.georgia2georgia.com today. ON THE COVER

Top row, left to right Falcons president & CEO Rich McKay Georgia state senator Jason Carter Suspended DeKalb County CEO Burrell Ellis

Second row, left to right Cobb County Commissioner Tim Lee Ex-Dekalb Commissioner Elaine Boyer U.S. Senator-elect DEPARTMENTS Third row, left to right Atlanta Mayor Atlanta Falcons owner Arthur Blank 4 U.S. Senate Democratic candidate Michelle Nunn PUBLISHER’S MESSAGE Fourth row, left to right FLOATING BOATS Georgia Governor Nathan Deal 6 Georgia Tech head coach Paul Johnson U.S. Congressman Barry Loudermilk FEATURES

JAMES INTERVIEW: P.O. BOX 724787 ATLANTA, GEORGIA 31139 Matt Towery’s Long Goodbye 404 • 233 • 3710 by Scott Bard 10

PUBLISHED BY A LOOK BACK AT 2014 INTERNET NEWS AGENCY LLC by Phil Kent 14

CHAIRMAN MATTHEW TOWERY COLUMNS CEO & PUBLISHER PHIL KENT [email protected]

CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER LOUIE HUNTER NAWLEANS

ASSOCIATE EDITOR GARY REESE AS REMEMBERED BY JIM MINTER by Larry Walker ADVERTISING OPPORTUNITIES DOLLE TOWERY 9 [email protected] 2015 CIRCULATION PATRICK HICKEY Gold Dome Legislative Priorities [email protected] by Josh Belinfante 16

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS SCOTT BARD georgia’s Appellate courts JOSH BELINFANTE set for change BRAD CARVER SHAN COOPER by 19 RANDY EVANS MAC McGREW LARRY WALKER Addressing Georgia’s Water Needs One Way or Another SOUTHERN POLITICAL REPORT by Brad Carver 21 SOUTHERNPOLITICALREPORT.COM INSIDERADVANTAGE POLLING EDUCATED WORKFORCE INSIDERADVANTAGE GEORGIA INSIDERADVANTAGEGEORGIA.COM Key to Global Innovation Leadership INTERNET NEWS AGENCY by Shan Cooper 22 INTERNETNEWSAGENCY.COM Choosing the Right Health Care Plan DESIGN & LAYOUT by Mac McGrew 25 BURTCH HUNTER DESIGN PUBLISHER’S MESSAGE

The Long and Winding Road... Matt Towery Publisher/CEO, InsiderAdvantage

t was one of the last songs ever released by the lieutenant governor and Phil was one of the few editors in a Beatles and probably an underappreciated one. Not state then-dominated by Democratic newspaper guys will- appropriate for weddings and probably too sad for funerals. ing to endorse a young Republican for statewide office. In ButI I’ve always loved “The Long and Winding Road” and its fact, I think he was the only one! phrase “That leads to your door.” Phil moved to Atlanta years ago and immediately And so through either James or your television, maybe became a media star. He joined my friend Dick Williams in a local paper or occasionally on your radio I’ve had a (who I have known well since 1983 and is a media star chance to be led to each of your doors, if only for a brief unequalled in conservative circles in Georgia) as a panelist moment. My road has not ended but it is finally taking a on Fox5 Atlanta’s “Georgia Gang” TV broadcast. And as a slightly different path. It’s a path I alone have chosen to writer and influential media and policy consultant, Phil has take and with all of the support in the world from my expanded his sphere of influence throughout our state. friends at InsiderAdvantage and James. I could not think of a journalist, political expert or busi- By the time you read this I will have handed over my nessman better suited to lead our company and our publi- position as CEO of our company and publisher of our maga- cations into the next phase. zine to Phil Kent. Although I’m not really leaving, I am giving Phil full I’ll still write a column for James and continue to serve power to alter and expand all that we do at Insider as chairman of InsiderAdvantage/Internet News. But after Advantage/Internet News and James. This juncture also 15 years of delivering polls for the news, daily political infor- gives me an opportunity to thank folks who believed in mation through our online sites, supervising magazines and me and our company over the past 15 years. That dealing with the usual fun and games of the niche media includes our faithful advertisers and readers. Add to that world, the time has come to hand our company and its our investors and everyone who helped create the compa- products off to new blood. ny—and of course Pierre Howard, my co-founder and This is my focus in my final publisher’s message in longtime friend. James. I’ll still be opining on TV and in print. But for me the For the last two years I have been looking for just the blessing of spending time with my wife Dolle, my grown right person to take our magazine, our online sites, and our and soon-to-be-married children, and actually taking time company to a new level. While I considered many potential to enjoy the many people I met on a journey through poli- and outstanding people to approach with the opportunity, tics, elected office and business is worth this turn in the the most obvious person was Phil Kent. road (or in James-Speak, water). I’ve known Phil since 1989. He was the editorial page So James hands the helm over to Phil Kent. May the editor of the Augusta Chronicle and already a media force waters be calm and the boat always be rising! in our state. Back then I was an upstart GOP candidate for

4 JAMES Solutions for Business & Government

(PWFSONFOU3FMBUJPOT

1SPDVSFNFOU

Ta x Polic y

$POTVMUJOH

GEORGIA Bank of America Plaza | 600 Peachtree Street, NE | Suite 5200 Contacts Atlanta, GA 30308-2216 Pete Robinson, Chairman Tel: 404.879.6500 | Toll Free: 888.879.6578 | Fax: 404.962.6919 Rob Willis, Principal Atlanta r Raleigh r3JDINPOEr8BTIJOHUPO %$ XXXUSPVUNBOTBOEFSTTUSBUFHJFTDPN FLOATING• BOATS

WHO’S RISING AND WHO’S SINKING IN GEORGIA BUSINESS AND POLITICS

Atlanta could be on the verge of getting a downtown mega Center, which hosts the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, the hotel with up to 2,000 rooms, which would be by far the city’s Alliance Theatre, the High Museum of Art and Arts for Learning, largest. The proposed hotel, which would be next to the new has to be thrilled to receive such a generous donation at a time downtown Atlanta Falcons stadium, is projected to be bigger when funding was starting to become an issue, particularly for than the 1,663-room Marriott Marquis that opened in the Symphony. Great news for the Arts Center and for the city of 1985. The Georgia World Congress Center Authority has been Atlanta, both of whose ships are...RISING planning a high-end convention hotel adjacent to the stadium for about a year. So prospects for further Atlanta energy, tourist MARTA saw an 8 percent increase in riders in 2014 from the accommodation and growth should be… RISING prior year, in spite of the winter storms that shut down the city in January 2014. With expansion into Clayton County on the Heigh ho, heigh ho, it’s back to work for a new U.S. horizon and ridership expected to continue to increase, 2015 Congress—and four Republican newcomers join the Georgia figures to be another year where MARTA’s fortunes are… RISING congressional delegation in January. Buddy Carter (represent- ing a Savannah-based coastal district) and Barry Loudermilk A lot of attention was paid to Georgia’s flagging education (representing north Atlanta and turf stretching up to Cherokee system in the November elections, but amid the gloom and County) bring legislative experience from their General doom there are some districts across the state that are Assembly service. Pastor and radio talk show host Jody Hice, excelling in the classroom. Buford City Schools rank first in the representing a district stretching from a tip of Gwinnett state in the 2015 Niche.com K-12 rankings, followed by Decatur County through Athens to almost Augusta, is a good fit for one City Schools, Oconee County Schools, and Forsyth County of the most conservative districts in the country. And Rick Schools. It’s easy to focus on some of the difficulties the state Allen of Augusta, who ousted Democrat incumbent John has faced regarding K-12 education, but we need to give cred- Barrow, has successful private sector business experience it where credit is due as well. For Buford City Schools and the that’s sorely needed on Capitol Hill. Here’s hoping the Georgia rest of the districts at the top of the list, the ship is...RISING delegation’s influence will be…RISING The cost of the new Falcons stadium, due to open in time for After the Ferguson, Missouri, grand jury verdict that failed the start of the 2017 season, has jumped $200 million from its to indict a police officer in a controversial shooting death, original proposed cost of $1.2 billion. The extra cost will not come Atlanta was one of several cities nationwide that experienced from taxpayer dollars, but it will likely bleed into PSL and ticket protest demonstrations—some peaceful, some not. Critics prices for what already promised to be a pricey endeavor. Not a charge Atlanta police responded too slowly and made minimal good sign when the budget starts jumping by hundreds of mil- arrests on November 25th in dealing with a wave of lawbreak- lions of dollars some 2.5 years before scheduled completion. It’s ing ranging from smashing windows to attacks on police cars. no disaster but the situation certainly seems to be… Drifting A mob even temporarily shut down part of the downtown Interstate connector. Mayor Kasim Reed said the city respond- Georgia Tech took down the on the ed with “a soft but firm hand.” Huh? Let’s hope the city cracks gridiron in an instant classic, defeating the rival Bulldogs in down harder on lawbreakers in the future. For now it seems overtime to secure their first win in the series since 2008. The the political will isn’t there. Drifting football field is not the only place the Jackets excelled in 2014 though, as they were named by Business Insider as the There are many worthy bills that will be addressed in the “smartest public college in America” on their ranking of the 2015 General Assembly. One that has especially caught our top 100 colleges in the country based on a combination of eye is “The Digital Classroom Act” authored by state Sen. “brainpower and affordability.” For Georgia Tech, both on and John Albers, R-Roswell. He asks a good question: With all of off the football field, the ship is...RISING the technological innovations that make our lives easier, why are our children still carrying backpacks filled with heavy and Legendary Atlanta developer John A. Williams hasn’t lost expensive textbooks? He is proposing that the state fund a his flair for the dramatic. During the first annual December 6th program, with a transition to take place by 2020, allowing all employee awards party of his young Fulton County-based public schools to gain access to high speed internet. Georgia apartment firm, a large American bald eagle was released to must strive to become a leader in K-12 education by providing fly around the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre ballroom its students with the educational tools and high-tech skills to underscore his “Soaring to Success” speech theme. The necessary to succeed in the 21st century, and this legislation CEO of Preferred Apartment Communities announced that the would go a long way to help meet that goal. RISING public company now owns 3,326 apartment units in nine mar- kets and 10 retail shopping centers in seven markets around Atlanta’s Woodruff Arts Center, the southeast’s largest “cul- the country. Combined with thousands of additional units to tural consortium,” will receive the largest gift in its history—$38 be converted into properties within PAC’s mezzanine pipeline, million—from the Robert W. Woodruff Foundation. The Arts their value should top $1 billion soon. Such growth over just three years is phenomenal. The business/management suc- cess of Team Williams is obviously…RISING 6 JAMES “ We’re upgrading to a smarter, more efficient power grid. Which means storm or not, we’ll be even more reliable for our customers.”

Learn more at georgiapower.com

André Georgia Power Lineman ©2014 Georgia Power

LARRY WALKER NAWLEANS [email protected] AS REMEMBERED BY JIM MINTER

his is absolutely too good to pass up. It’s by Jim T Minter, former sports writer and later editor of the Atlanta Journal Constitution—and still a great story- teller and writer, as you will see. According to Jim, all of this was precipitated by a book, The Earl of Louisiana (about Earl Long, Governor of Louisiana) by A.J. Liebling, which I sent to him (more on this great book in my 2014 Books Report—upcoming). In fact, in a later email Jim wrote, “The book made me want to go back to New Orleans, one more time, even if Kolb’s German restaurant and the Poboy place on the Canal is gone . . . can’t see a UGA trip back to the Sugar Bowl in my lifetime, and Tulane is not on the schedule.” Enough. Let’s see what Jim wrote on November 14:

Larry, I can’t tell you how much I enjoyed the Long- Liebling book! Early in my checkered sports writing career I went to New Orleans five or six times in the fall. In those days we got into a town on Thursday afternoon. Tulane played on the two hour ride up to Baton Rouge on Saturday morning Friday night. We’d go to Thursday afternoon practice in the Pie DuFour, a columnist from the Picayune, would fill you in old Sugar Bowl and back to downtown for the rest of the on everything. Saturday night in Baton Rouge was some- evening. On Saturday, I got a ride with one of the writers for thing else. Once, Coach Dodd invited me to run onto the field the Picayune or States-Item up to Baton Rouge for LSU on with him to experience how it felt. When Coach Dodd and I Saturday night. My first trip to New Orleans I happened up ran out of the tunnel leading Tech onto the field they hit that on John Rauch, who was scouting for Georgia. John and I tiger with the electric cattle prod. His screams and those of went to Pat O’Brian’s for dinner. I remember John eating four nearly a hundred thousand half drunk Cajuns made the hair dozen oysters on the half shell while I ate two. Just as we fin- on your neck stand up. I was there for Billy Cannon’s ished, about twenty cops crashed in and rounded up a bunch Halloween run, made with five minutes to spare on my dead- of kids, the bartender and waiters for serving drinks to under- line. After the game, everybody who was anybody went to aged kids. John and I were upset but our waiter told us not Bob and Jerry’s for steaks. What a gathering? Another world. to bother. It was all for show. The cops did that about once I stayed in the Capitol Hotel on the river. I remember getting every two or three months to make it look like they were up at 4 on a Sunday morning with Sterling Dupree, who was enforcing the law. We always stayed at the Roosevelt except scouting for Georgia, to watch for Sputnik on the Capitol when traveling with the Atlanta Crackers, who stayed at the Roof. We didn’t see it. I did get to climb up the State Capitol St. Charles. When we checked into the Roosevelt there would stairway and see all the bullet marks where the troopers shot be a bottle of whiskey and a vase of roses in our room. When the doctor who shot Huey. I ate my first Poboy in New I asked some of my older colleagues about it, they explained: Orleans. Roast beef and gravy. Never tasted anything so The Roosevelt manager (I can’t remember his name) was a good. Those weekends are among my best memories and former Huey Long operative who had spent time in the they all came back reading the book. Thank you again. JM Atlanta pen. While in Atlanta, the Journal had written sever- al stories about him which he apparently appreciated. So Thank you, Jim Minter, for letting me use your email and anyone from the Atlanta Journal got special treatment, even for bringing back so many great memories for so many people. during Sugar Bowl week. I also got to go bet on the horses and spent many an afternoon watching fighters train in the gyms that Liebling mentions. If I had not been there, I’d have Larry Walker is a practicing attorney in Perry. He served 32 years in the Georgia General suspected Liebling made up some of the stuff people told Assembly and presently serves on the University System of Georgia Board of Regents. him. But I know how people in New Orleans like to talk. On 9 INTERVIEW: Matt Towery’s Long Goodbye by Scott Bard

anuary 2015 marks the 15th anniversary of the founding MT Oh yes. Mack is sort of like my second father. He and of InsiderAdvantage, which owns James magazine. It Newt are like family with each other. So having all worked also marks the first year that Matt Towery will not be its together for many years, knowing everyone’s kids and family, CEO.J While he will remain both chairman of the company yes we all stay in touch. I’m proud of Mack because he really (and its holding corporation, Internet News Agency) as well as blazed the trail for everyone else. And obviously the same with chair of the combined corporate Executive Committee, he is Newt because I had the unique ability, along with Randy handing over day-to-day operations to his handpicked succes- Evans, to know Newt from being a kid all the way through to sor, former Augusta Chronicle editor and Georgia Gang TV his presidential run and beyond. panelist Phil Kent. We thought this would be a good time to catch up with SB So by 1990 you were the GOP nominee for lieutenant gov- Matt and ask him to reflect on not only James and ernor. InsiderAdvantage, but his multiple careers in law, politics, MT Yep (laughing). Back then it was like fighting for the media and business. honor to get run over by the Democratic freight train. Johnny (Isakson) ran a really strong race as the nominee for governor SCOTT BARD For younger or newer readers, would it be a but Zell beat him and Pierre (Howard) just blew me away. It’s good guess that most have no idea how involved you have funny though because my closer friends like (Senate been in Georgia and national politics? President Pro Tem) David Shafer still kid me about it. It real- MATT TOWERY Of that I am positive. It seems like yester- ly was a baptism by fire. day to me, but to most it would be old history. SB But by 1992 you were elected to the state House, had SB Some would be shocked to know you were once a become ’s political chairman and chaired the Democrat. GOP state convention, so it turned out well, right? MT As a kid I was (Governor) ’s sort of perma- MT Yes but you have to remember Republicans were a huge nent page. That really became pretty regular when he later minority back then so Johnny, who was elected to the (state) became lieutenant governor. Back in those days the new gov- Senate that year, and I were better known to the media and ernor would inherit much of the old governor’s staff. So I public because we had just run two years earlier. We didn’t bounced between Lester’s office and (successor) ’s have a deep bench, but we had a great one. Folks like Skin office totally oblivious to the war they had going on. Edge, Chuck Clay, Earl Ehrhart, (former Speaker) Mark Burkhalter and then a few years later and Casey SB So would it be fair to say you knew every room in the Cagle. I can’t even start naming all of the folks, but they were Capitol by the time you were elected to the state House of all trailblazers. Representatives yourself? MT Oh yes. And every room in the (Governor’s) Mansion as well. SB You ran or helped run a lot of campaigns. Who was the I was there when Lester was its first occupant with sort of the run best candidate? of the house, which became really ironic because when others MT Hands down, Guy Millner. He listened, learned from his like Zell (Miller) and Roy (Barnes) were there I again spent sub- mistakes, and really came so close to winning his race for gov- stantial time there as an adult. As for the Capitol, best to say I was ernor in 1994. there so much that it all sort of morphs into one look in my mind, although so much has changed over the years. SB So explain why everyone I talk to says you were one of (the late-Speaker) Tom Murphy’s closest friends? SB When did you become a Republican? MT I had known him since my days as a boy with Lester and MT 1980. I met Mack Mattingly early in his race for the U.S. I think it hurt him that I sort of made him my target as I was Senate and I had already come to know (the freshman congress- running for Lieutenant Governor. It was wrong of me and man) Newt Gingrich. It’s a long story but I ended up writing afterwards Lester and my old friend and former law partner speeches for Mack and being Newt’s debate coach in that elec- Hall Gulliver (a former Atlanta Constitution editor) got us tion year and then later worked for Mack in the Senate. To me together. I asked him to forgive me and he did. Over the they were both a breath of fresh air and I loved it. years our love for humor and just the way we saw things brought us together. Over time Newt became U.S. House SB Do you stay in touch with them? speaker and I was still his chairman, so in regard to a lot of federal behind-the-scenes issues for Tom and Zell I would try to assist. That kept us working closely together. 10 JAMES Former state Rep. Matt Towery addresses the state senate on the final day Lt. Gov. Pierre Howard presided. They later founded InsiderAdvantage.

SB You were there the night Speaker Murphy suffered his SB One last bit of political trivia. You have met every presi- stroke. dent since LBJ except… MT I was. So was . In fact the last words he ever MT (Laughing) That would be . said were “Thank you governor.” It was a tough night. I loved Murphy’s family. Such good people. SB Who did you like best? MT It’s hard to say because I was around Jimmy Carter as a kid, SB When it comes to governors, who were your favorites? and remain one of the few Republicans who argue that he was MT In different ways I liked them all. Obviously I didn’t know a much better president than we give him credit for. But I knew some as well because I was not on the scene— either too Ham (Hamilton Jordan) and Jody (Powell) and Bert (Lance) young or in school. But from on I knew or and I think that gave me more perspective than most get. know each one. I really admired and was glad we Gerald Ford was a two-second handshake. Richard Nixon was became friends in the last ten years of his life. I guess my clos- a chance encounter but led to quite a discussion which I incor- est relationships were with Lester as a kid and obviously Zell porated into my dissertation at Cambridge. I was around and Roy. Zell and I were pretty close, even though David Ronald Reagan numerous times—you know, pictures and (Shafer) and I ran the Millner campaign against him in ’94. He quick moments. He was very polite. He sneezed on my Dad had a huge book party for me at the Mansion years later. He is once and was so embarrassed he took his hanky out and just a fantastic person and great leader. It also became sort of a tra- kept apologizing. Pretty kind for a president. George Bush 41 dition to spend an hour or so with Marie and Roy every was a special person but of course others in the state know him Christmas Eve when he was governor and they have been much better. My most interaction was with and let good friends for decades. Ironically, as a lawyer, I’ve had cases me just say I’m a Clinton fan. The funniest was George W. both with and against Roy. Trust me, it’s better to be with him! Bush, who I met only twice. But he sent me a handwritten let- I might add that accomplished a great deal ter concerning my national column about Laura Bush just 10 and was as nice as they come. days before he left office. He set me straight on my comment that he didn’t read newspapers. But it was really a very warm SB How about the Republican governors? letter. His handwriting was pretty good too. MT I served with so I knew him well when he took office. I know some of the legislators had a hard time SB What elected officials are you closest to today? with him but we got along really well. I had a very close rela- MT There are a few, but I would say . Years ago tionship with his staff. I think Sonny did a really good job and we talked almost every night. But that couldn’t be done since he established the GOP brand. was elected to the U.S. Senate. Too hectic. It is because we’ve been down so many roads together. The good times and the not- SB And Nathan Deal? so-great. Weddings, funerals, campaigns—you name it and MT Another really nice guy. Very genuine and very savvy. I’m betting he will have quite a successful second term. 11 we’ve shared it. I remember in 1996 Johnny was in a GOP family and his love for nature and thus his involvement Senate runoff and we were both nervous so we decided to ride declined over the years as he took on other responsibilities. in that red truck he had and put up signs. A waste of time but But he is still the best partner I’ve ever had in business and a way to kill some. The sky was really clear except for one cloud really someone I admire so much. If I had to lose in 1990, I’m that drifted over our head and then dumped rain on both of us glad it was to Pierre. and the signs we had put up. We both just sat in the truck and I think Johnny said, “I hope that’s not a bad sign for us.” We SB You’ve had some great journalists as part of your company. laughed. And we lost the next day. But of course Georgians MT I would say the best. Bill Shipp is a legend and I was hon- know the happier end to that story down the road. ored when he sold Bill Shipp’s Georgia to us, and appreciated the years he ran it. I still can’t believe Dick Pettys has passed SB You have been political analyst for three TV network affil- away. He was not only a world-class journalist with the iates. That has to be some kind of record in Georgia. and then us, but a very kind man. We had so MT I started in 1998 with WXIA, went to WSB and now with many others like Tom Baxter, who is a consummate pro and Fox5. All three are great stations. The quality of news that gets like Bill was a legend at the AJC. produced out of Atlanta is equal to any network. SB In January, you’ll be turning the reins as CEO over to vet- SB What started you in TV? eran journalist Phil Kent, and you will remain chairman of the MT Not my good looks (laughing). Really after Powerchicks (his board of Insider Advantage. Why make this change? 1998 bestselling book about the rise of women in leadership) I MT Last year I reached out to Phil Kent because I decided to was on all sorts of national shows and it sort of all came togeth- bring in a whole new group of people. I was looking for peo- er. I had run some big campaigns, been a candidate and held ple who really had experience at every level and could do the office—all of which you need to have done to be a political ana- stuff I’d been doing at InsiderAdvantage as well, if not better, lyst. I mean nobody expects the sidekick/analyst on a football than I could do it. That included bringing back some former broadcast to have never played the sport! If you have never run employees like Louie Hunter, who does a great job. It was the a race or created a law, it’s a little hard to really know what it’s perfect time to transition and have Phil become our CEO and like behind the scenes. Louie back as COO. Phil is another first-class journalist as well as a smart businessman. SB In 2000 InsiderAdvantage was created. How did that come about? SB To what degree will you be involved in the future? MT In 1997 I left the state House to continue running my MT Very. I want to see our Southern Political Report magazine family’s company, which was a sheet-fed printing company. We and online products expand. I’ll supervise our shift to online were one of the top producers of corporate annual reports in polling through Opinion Savvy and will keep involved in edi- the world, among other products, and probably had the most torial decisions for all of our products including writing a col- sheet-fed presses in the South. Within a year, we had four umn in James. But I want Phil to be free to not only run things offers to buy our company. Ultimately, we had an offer so good but expand into new areas. I predict some really great things we couldn’t pass it up. So in 1998, at the age of 37, I was basi- from him and our team. cally retired with little to do. It was nice, but boring. So I teamed up with the very person who defeated me for lieu- SB Finally, most people think of you as a pollster and TV ana- tenant governor, Pierre Howard. We started a consulting firm lyst, but you are also a lawyer who has the highest rating that later became InsiderAdvantage. It had bigtime investors Martindale-Hubbell gives an attorney. Will you stay in both of with plans to create a huge Internet company. those areas? MT Yes. It is no secret that Dolle and I are splitting our time SB This sounds right about the time when the whole Internet between our home here and Snell Isle (Florida). In the past bubble burst. few years I’ve taken on the job of running my own family’s MT Completely. We brought in all of these Internet gurus who holdings and that takes up a lot of time, but it can be done told us to make things look really fancy, and then we’ll just sell it from any location. I’m very involved in the Hall, Booth, Smith for a lot of money. Before we could sell it, the Internet bubble law firm and have no plans to leave Fox5. I’ll keep writing my imploded. When that happened, we changed our whole view. column for Creators (Syndicate) and hope to continue helping We started buying niche publications like Bill Shipp’s Georgia and Newsmax with its new network as well. And I’m working on the Southern Political Report as well as starting James four years another book. This one is on my favorite subject: how news later. Every time the economy knocked us back, we just marched impacts investments. So, this isn’t retirement, it’s just a reor- forward. We added our research/opinion survey aspect in 2001. ganization—and a little time to enjoy some warm weather Bit by bit we just kept reinventing ourselves. with my wife and any friends who want to visit.

SB How was it working with Pierre Howard? MT Great. Pierre is a brilliant person with a very magnetic Scott Bard is a veteran of the media/publishing business including having personality. He decided to focus his time increasingly on his once owned Longstreet Press. He has worked with Matt Towery on books and publications and we chose him to conduct this interview because of his unique perspective and experience.

12 JAMES

A LOOK BACK AT 2014

by Phil Kent

take a brief trip down memory lane to remember and reflect on noteworthy Georgia events our magazine covered in 2014.

JANUARYLets “We’ seem to have a failure to communicate.” is Covenant College, a four-year Christian liberal arts institution Never would more truthful words be spoken, James said in a located in Lookout Mountain. Also, in an exclusive James inter- “Floating Boat,” after a widespread ice storm caught state view, University System of Georgia Chancellor Hank Huckaby government and most everyone else by surprise. The gover- finally admitted that the Board of Regents “underestimated nor’s own emergency management director Charlie English how much attention (did he mean “anger”?) would be seemed barely aware of its onslaught (he was demoted by focused” on dropping the name “Augusta” from the new, con- Gov. Nathan Deal 12 months later). And Atlanta Mayor Kasim solidated university in Georgia’s second largest city. Reed appeared on national television news broadcasts to angrily defend the city’s response—even as vehicles were SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER McGuireWoods Consulting is first snarled on streets and accidents were still piling up. among “Top Governmental Affairs Firms, Law-Firm Affiliated” in the popular James annual rating of lobbyists and lobbying FEBRUARY-MARCH The General Assembly passed the only firms. Recognized for their individual accomplishments were bill that it was required to pass, a $19.8 billion state budget. It firm vice presidents Brian Looby and Misty Holcomb, who also passed legislation expanding Second Amendment rights, were among the top lobbyists for associations. Cited as the including giving a religious house of worship the decision “Top Governmental Affairs Firm, Large Non-Law Firm whether or not to allow an individual with a proper permit to Affiliated” was Georgia Link, which boasts among its promi- carry a firearm inside. Lawmakers passed a bill requiring some nent lobbyists John Bozeman, Trip Martin, Boyd Pettit and food stamp recipients to submit to drug tests, but a narrow- Skin Edge. Voted “Top Female Lobbyist” is Elizabeth ly-tailored bill allowing medical marijuana usage by some Chandler. And inducted into the 2014 James “Lobbyist Hall of patients was defeated. Wireless companies also would have Fame” are well-known movers-and-shakers ranging from an easier time getting permits to build cellphone towers. retired veteran lobbyist John Thomas to Pete Robinson, , Trip Martin, Joe Brannen and Jet Toney (who MARCH-APRIL James names House Speaker David Ralston and heads the Georgia Professional Lobbyists Association). Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed as the “Most Influential” Georgians for a variety of reasons with regard to their public service. State NOVEMBER Our website headline announced the last “legislators of the year” are Sen. Jack Hill, R-Reidsville, Rep. InsiderAdvantage/Fox5/Morris News pre-Nov. 4 election poll: Terry England, R-Auburn (both chair the appropriations panel in “Deal & Perdue Could Escape Runoffs, By Narrowest of their respective chamber) and Sen. Judson Hill, R-Marietta. Margin.” The poll was proven correct! Undecided voters basi- cally broke for the GOP candidates, as did a significant num- APRIL CEO Tom Fanning of the Atlanta-based Southern Co., ber of traditional Libertarian Party voters. Republicans Perdue commenting on the progress of the $14 billion Vogtle construc- and Deal won the U.S. Senate and governor races, respective- tion of two additional nuclear reactors, said the company would ly. Republicans didn’t lose a single General Assembly seat and be building another nuclear plant at some unspecified time. The they retained every elected statewide constitutional office. Vogtle generation operation near Waynesboro is a main reason Georgians enjoy one of the lowest electrical rates in the nation. DECEMBER A few Republican lawmakers at an Athens con- clave favor hiking the state sales tax by a penny in order to MAY The crowded Republican U.S. Senate primary produces help fund an estimated $1 billion in vague transportation/infra- a runoff election between businessman David Perdue com- structure projects. Some others call for raising the gas tax for peting against U.S. Rep. ; Gov. Nathan Deal eas- such projects. Democrat legislators say they would help—in ily beats opponents John Barge and David Pennington for the return for unspecified favors. Conservatives are not happy and GOP gubernatorial nod; Democrat Michelle Nunn coasts to the governor was non-committal. her party’s U.S. Senate nomination; Democrat primary voters give the gubernatorial nomination to state Sen. Jason Carter. NOTABLE 2014 DEATHS Several prominent Georgians died in 2014 including founder of the Chick-fil-A restaurant chain JULY Superintendent Maria Carstarphen takes over the helm S. Truet Cathy, longtime Atlanta Braves announcer Pete of the Atlanta public schools, a system still reeling after a Van Wieren, former Gov. Carl Sanders, business entrepre- massive school test cheating scandal was discovered in 2010. neur/philanthropist Herman Russell, and attorney and 1986 (As this magazine goes to press, the trial of defendants in the gubernatorial candidate Guy Davis. scandal could continue in Fulton County Superior Court until springtime.) Also, in the July 22 runoff to decide the GOP U.S. Senate nomination, Perdue narrowly defeats Kingston.

JULY-AUGUST In the annual James ranking of colleges and universities, , Georgia Tech and the University of Georgia are rated as the top three. The top regional college CATHY VAN WIEREN SANDERS RUSSELL

14 JAMES Phil Kent is the new CEO of InsiderAdvantage and a panelist on Atlanta Fox5 WAGA TV’s “The Georgia Gang.”

2015 Gold Dome JOSH BELINFANTE Legislative Priorities [email protected]

espite predictions that 2014 would Education reform will continue. The or even obtain significant medical equip- be the year that Georgia would governor has signaled that he is going to ment without the state’s permission and a Dbecome politically “purple” and competi- tackle one of the most contentious of showing of need. Rumblings were made in tive, Gov. Nathan Deal handily won reelec- education reforms: revising the 1980s the past, but opponents of the CON sys- tion; Republicans maintained constitution- funding formula for the State’s contribu- tem held back to allow for Medicaid fund- al majorities in the state House and Senate, tion to local school districts known as ing and the election cycle to reset. With and U.S. Senate candidate David Perdue’s Quality Basic Education (QBE). No issue the provider fee funding Medicaid through victory demonstrated that Republican wins hits home for many legislators than QBE the executive branch, those constrained by are not limited to state politics. Having for several reasons. First, over half of the the current system may be looking to the erased the color purple for the time being, state’s budget is spent on educating General Assembly to loosen or eliminate the Republicans have an unquestionable Georgia children, and QBE dollars make CON. Pitting doctors against hospitals and mandate in Georgia. So, what will they do up a significant portion. Second, parents hospitals against each other can be tricky with it in 2015 and beyond? of children in public schools can be a leg- business, particularly now that many of By the time this article is printed, the islator’s most active constituent, as groups Georgia’s physicians are themselves answers may be clearer. But, the governor like PTAs and others have learned how to employees of hospital health systems. has provided us with some insight as to mobilize quickly. Third, school districts In some ways, the 2015 session is per- his legislative package, and leaders of the can be the biggest employers in many leg- fect to tackle these big issues. Every mem- House and Senate will continue to push islative districts, meaning the impact goes ber serving just won an election; there are their own agendas in this balanced budg- well beyond students and their parents. no statewide elections for four years, and et state. On the table for 2015 will with that security is a desire to do be some heavy lifts, including the big things. In other ways, how- transportation, education, health ever, the 2015 session may be act care and continued calls for tax one in a multi-act play. Legislators reform. A term-limited governor often need more than one session to and legislators fresh off re-election study, examine and receive feed- efforts make the time right for big, back on significant issues. And, if bold reforms. But in politics, noth- the very controversial efforts are put ing is ever exactly as it seems. off until the 2016 legislative session On transportation, the study and election year, the likelihood of committee charged with finding big bold change decreases. Finally, the next big idea will be presenting additional delays mean the its findings. While the governor is inevitable injection of politics of expected to take the lead in trans- 2018, as elected officials will make portation reform, some legislators hope Finally, QBE has never been fully funded official their efforts to succeed Governor that a gas tax hike or an extra penny sales and is, consequently, always a political Deal and those who seek to succeed him. tax to pay for additional roads and main- issue used by the party out of power to In politics, timing can be everything, tenance is on the table. It remains unclear challenge the other on education fund- but policy does not always wait for a con- how much of the focus will be regional ing. Similarly, the education lobby has venient time and can force tough deci- (e.g., multi-county SPLOSTs) and how often used it as a rallying cry against the sions to combat a lingering or new crisis. much will be statewide (e.g., a hiked gas state. To say the least, the issue is politi- For Georgia Republicans, the mandate to tax). Larger policy debates may also be cally charged and will test the cohesive- act is undeniable but so is the clock. considered in the transportation reform ness of even the constitutional majorities. Constitutional majorities will not last for- effort. For example, will the state contin- But, no one reasonably disputes the cur- ever, and elections are not terribly far ue to incent electric vehicles while simul- rent formula represents facts on the away (as painful as this may seem now). I taneously becoming more dependent on ground or best practices. can hear Larry Munson already com- the gasoline tax to fund infrastructure On health care, doctors and hospitals plaining that the clock is the enemy, and needs? Will regionalization or local con- are lining up for arguments on Certificate we’re only in the first quarter. trol win hearts and minds on mass tran- of Need. That’s the state law which limits sit? These are questions that will be raised providers’ ability to open ambulatory sur- Josh Belinfante practices litgation and and hopefully answered. gery centers, hospitals, new lines of service regulatory law at Robbins Ross Alloy Belinfante & Littlefield in Atlanta. 16 JAMES Making Connections One Relationship At A Time. With more than 20 years of delivering results for clients across the Southeast, HBS has the experience and relationships to help you bridge through any number of legal and business issues. Our full-service and diversified offering brings the depth of resources found at many larger firms, together with a high level of personal attention and competitive fees. With HBS as your partner, the gap ahead just became easier to cross.

georgia’s Appellate courts RANDY EVANS set for change [email protected]

residents change the direction of the law through their Nahmias, Blackwell, and Dillard served as clerks to conservative appointments to the Supreme Court, the judges on the U.S. Circuit Courts of Appeals with Nahmias clerking federalP courts of appeal and the district courts. Georgia governors for United States Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia. Blackwell do it through appointments to the highest courts in their state, the and Dillard both served as members of the Board of Advisors for the appellate courts, and the trial courts including the Superior and Atlanta Chapter of the Federalist Society for Law and Public Policy State Courts. There is probably no better example than the impact Studies. Indeed, all of Perdue’s appointees are recognized as by the first Republican governor in over a century. articulate, well-read scholars of the law, writing opinions that resolve Notably, by the end of his second term, Gov. Sonny Perdue’s cases today but establish broader principles for the law for tomorrow. disdain for attorneys (not really all attorneys, but most) and the On the Court of Appeals, Dillard has already established State Bar of Georgia was pretty well known. Indeed, when the himself as a coalescing force as the 12-judge court continues its Georgia Legislature passed a long-overdue judicial pay raise, transition. Republican governors have now selected six of the Perdue used his line item veto to kill it while leaving the rest of twelve members of the Court of Appeals. The next selection will the budget largely intact. make a majority— and Dillard is the most senior of all of them. As a result, there was some understandable trepidation in legal Certainly it is possible that Dillard might follow his colleague circles when he made appointments to Georgia’s appellate courts. Justice Blackwell to the Georgia Supreme Court. (Gov. Nathan Deal In his first term, he appointed to the Georgia elevated Blackwell to the Georgia Supreme Court on June 25, 2012.) Supreme Court the one attorney he did trust, his Due to mandatory retirement laws, it appears that Deal will in-house lawyer, then-Executive Counsel Harold select at least two justices on the Georgia Supreme Court during Melton. Then, very late in his second term, he his second term, replacing Chief Justice Hugh had another appointment to the Supreme Thompson and Presiding Justice Harris Hines. Court and two appointees to Georgia’s Dillard would certainly be a frontrunner second-highest court—the Court of Appeals. for either of those seats on the high court. On August 13, 2009 Perdue appointed Yet, by all accounts, Dillard is perfectly David E. Nahmias to the Supreme Court. content to become a reliable stalwart on the Then on November 1, 2010, one day Court of Appeals—shaping its make-up, before the election to elect his replacement transitioning it into the 21st Century, and providing (because he was term limited), Perdue direction for the future of Georgia. As one of his colleagues selected two more attorneys to serve on put it, ”Judge Dillard loves the Court of Appeals.” With each the Court of Appeals—Stephen Louis A. successive appointment on the Court of Appeals, his influence Dillard from Bibb County and Keith R. Blackwell from and stature grows and his imprint on it becomes indelible. Cherokee County. Eventually, he will progress through the chairs and become Appointments to Georgia’s higher courts often come from presiding judge of the Court of Appeals. By then, he will have had judges serving on trial courts. First, experienced trial judges often more impact on Georgia’s future than all but a few elected officials. have a more predictable track record permitting governors to know As for the Supreme Court, Melton is in line to become what they are getting when they appoint judges to the appellate Presiding Justice in the not-to-distant to be followed by Nahmias courts. Second, by appointing a trial judge, a governor gets a and then Blackwell. During Deal’s term, Republican appointees second appointment (and possibly third appointment depending will grow from three of seven to five of seven on the high court. how it is done). The governor then gets to appoint for the vacancy Needless to say, it will change the balance of power with 4-3 created by the elevation of the trial judge to the appellate court. decisions today often going the other way tomorrow. Notwithstanding the precedent, Perdue departed from this de While much will be written over the coming weeks about the facto tradition with both his two appointments to the Georgia leaders in the Georgia Legislature and the governor’s rearranged Supreme Court and the two appointments to the Court of Appeals. staff, there are few people in Georgia who will have more impact None had ever served as a judge before their appointment. on the state’s future than Perdue’s appointments bolstered by With Melton, the governor went with an attorney he knew Deal’s appointments. and trusted. With Nahmias, Blackwell, and Dillard, he selected Sonny Perdue left a definite legacy on the future of Georgia. In attorneys he did not know. But they were proven conservatives the next few years, as the balance of the appellate courts continue with outstanding intellectual prowess and solid pedigrees for to shift, its full impact will be realized. excellence in the profession. 19

Addressing Georgia’s Water Needs One Way or Another BRAD CARVER

eorgia’s “water wars” with other states con- ply). The only interbasin transfer that makes sense for tinue apace. The latest news is that the U.S. Atlanta is one from the enormous Tennessee River (the Supreme Court granted Florida’s motion to 7th largest river in the nation with 15 times the flow vol- allowG a water-sharing lawsuit against Georgia to move ume of the Chattahoochee) and it would significantly help forward and assigned a special master to hear the case. Florida and Alabama. Florida has publicly called for Florida alleges that Georgia uses too much water in Georgia to augment the Chattahoochee River and the the Chattahoochee and Flint River basins without return- very best way to do so is from the Tennessee. ing enough water for downstream use by Florida in the Environmentally, the actual effect on the river would Apalachicola Bay. However, we have strong arguments for be minimal. The Tennessee Valley Authority’s own web- why the U.S. Supreme Court should not move forward site states that “the Tennessee River is the nearest water with the litigation, particularly since almost 70 percent of body with enough volume” to meet the future needs of the water used by Metro Atlanta is returned to the river for North Georgia and it is Georgia water (1.6 billion gallons downstream use. Also persuasive is Georgia’s argument per day flow north from Georgia which is more than 7 per- that the court should wait to decide this case because of cent of the flow). In fact, TVA’s 2004 Environmental Impact the ongoing update to the master control manual for the Statement found that interbasin transfers of more than 1 Apalachicola, Chattahoochee, billion gallons a day would not sig- Flint River basins by the U.S. nificantly affect reservoir levels. Army Corps of Engineers. Just half of that daily excess would In fact, the U.S. Solicitor completely meet all of Metro General advised the high court Atlanta’s water needs (and our that Florida v. Georgia was a downstream neighbors) for the properly framed equitable appor- next 100 years. tionment case, and that the Court In 2013 the Georgia General should consider accepting it— Assembly overwhelmingly passed but it should defer further action House Resolution 4, a good faith until the Corps finishes its manu- effort designed to avoid litigation. al update. This proposal would grant Georgia Because of this lawsuit and riparian rights to the Tennessee because Georgia continues to River by moving the border only at face a long-term water supply crisis, however, our state the Nickajack reservoir and recognizing the remainder of must move forward to secure additional water resources the flawed survey as the official boundary. Georgia has no matter the eventual outcome. The case combined with been disputing its border with Tennessee since 1818 when the Corps update means that water supply for metro a flawed survey improperly sited the line one mile south of Atlanta will likely be capped with existing resources. the mutually agreed upon border at the 35th parallel. Just like with energy, there are demand side and sup- Georgia never accepted the survey, but Tennessee did. ply side solutions. On the demand side, Georgia has made Tennessee, by the way, has since rebuffed or ignored great strides. With the passage of the Georgia 10 different attempts by Georgia to solve the issue. Comprehensive Statewide Water Management Plan of Contrary to armchair legal scholars who dismiss our 2008 and the more recent Georgia Water Stewardship Act case, there is a litany of legal justification for Georgia’s of 2010, Georgia now has some of the most stringent water claim. Whether we negotiate a deal or litigate, asserting conservation efforts in the southeast. Our per capita water our historic riparian rights to the mighty Tennessee would has been significantly reduced and when the most strin- help prevent chronic flooding in the Tennessee River val- gent measures were in place our usage was almost half ley and provides extra water to Georgia, Alabama and per capita of what Alabama’s and Tennessee’s usage was. Florida downstream of Atlanta. However, demand side solutions alone will not be This is truly a regional solution to the Southeast’s enough for us to continue to attract economic develop- water troubles. Can’t we all solve this problem together ment and jobs. We must have additional supply. and leave the battles for the football field? Interbasin transfers of water are the way that most major cities have enough water supply (13 of the 16 largest Brad Carver is a partner with the law firm Hall Booth Smith in Atlanta. metro areas and six of the seven cities larger than Atlanta use significant interbasin water transfers of water for sup- 21 EDUCATED WORKFORCE EDUCATION Key to Global Innovation Leadership

by Shan Cooper

Vice President and General Manager of No pressure there! But, only a few months later, it was Lockheed Martin’s Marietta operations, the done. Months! Not years! quality of our future workforce is paramount The F-117 Nighthawk was the first true stealth aircraft. It toAs me. Every time I visit our aircraft production lines, I am proved its worth on the opening night of Operation Desert amazed at the skill and knowledge of the professionals on our Storm in 1991. At that time, it was the only aircraft in the world team. It also reminds me that we must be preparing the next that could slip into heavily-defended Baghdad undetected, suc- generation of skilled employees who will comprise the future cessfully attack its target, and return to base without a scratch. workforce so vital to our national security. Throughout our history at Lockheed Martin, capabilities I recently had the honor of speaking at the 23rd annual were improved and technology leaps were made. These innova- Achievement Rewards for College Scientists (ARCS Foundation tions came because a talented individual—or a team of talent- Atlanta Chapter) awards luncheon. Forty-five young people who ed, well-educated, thoroughly trained people—figured out how have excelled in the sciences were honored and rewarded for to solve the problem at hand. their achievements and the promise each holds for an exciting, It’s been a great business model: innovate, solve the prob- productive career—careers that will no doubt benefit all of us. lem, and build a new airplane, spacecraft, missile or whatever Whenever I have the opportunity to speak to young peo- the customer needs. Then, innovate again. ple, I encourage them to never stop learning, take calculated Physicist William Pollard once wrote, “The arrogance of suc- risks, get out of their comfort zones, and do something differ- cess is to think that what you did yesterday will be sufficient for ent. And, tackle academic challenges. Education is almost tomorrow.” At Lockheed Martin, we have long understood that always at the core of my messages because I know thinking like we did yesterday would be first-hand how important it is. insufficient for tomorrow—“old” The history of business—particularly thinking would not work. the aerospace business that I work in—is Let me emphasize this point: littered with the carcasses of companies Thinking like we did yesterday will be that didn’t innovate. Whether through insufficient for tomorrow. We all have an incremental improvements or by making obligation to not only produce for giant technological leaps, innovation is today, but to plan for what comes next what kept Lockheed Martin relevant for for our children and grandchildren. more than 100 years. For the past two years, I have Let me give you two examples from served as the board chair of the Georgia our company’s past that illustrate my point. Partnership for Excellence in Education. Fifty years ago, the need for a new, strate- This has afforded me an inside look at public gic reconnaissance aircraft suddenly became a high priori- education and the work going on every day to make our ty for our country. The SR-71 had to be revolutionary . . . and system world class. And it must be nothing less. To get there, we it was. Known as the Blackbird, it was easily 30 years ahead of must ensure we have the highest education standards and teach its time technologically. critical thinking skills that will guarantee innovation. The SR-71 flew at Mach 3—three times the speed of It is incumbent on us, Georgia’s business leaders, to work sound—for thousands of miles. And, it had cameras that could hand-in-hand with our education and government partners to take photos of license plates of cars on streets from altitudes develop a plan of action that allows us to set priorities, innovate way above 80,000 feet. The SR-71 Blackbird was a bold leap in and create solutions that better align education and training technology! It was only possible because of smart, educated, with workforce and labor market requirements for jobs, skills innovative minds that knew no boundaries. and people. Here’s my second example. I encourage you to look for those opportunities to become Just over 30 years ago, two of our key people had a short, more engaged to forge those action plans, focus our efforts and very-much-to-the-point phone “conversation.” Actually, it wasn’t help build our future workforce. much of a dialog. Our research director told a brilliant mathe- matician and engineer on his staff to invent an invisible airplane. Shan Cooper is the Vice President and General Manager of the Marietta-based Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Company

IT DOESN’T TAKE A GENIUS TO KNOW THAT WHEN YOU PLAY, GEORGIA’S KIDS WIN. galottery.com IT DOESN’T TAKE A ROCKET SCIENTIST TO HELP KIDS WITH THEIR EDUCATION.

Nope. All it takes is a scratch or two. Because every time you play the Lottery, Georgia kids are the real winners. That’s because for over 20 years the Georgia Lottery has contributed more than $15.5 billion to education. On top of that, more than 1.7 million HOPE scholars have gone to college and 1.3 million four-year-olds have attended a Lottery-funded Pre-K Program. That qualifi es as a rocket booster in our book. galottery.com

Choosing the Right MAC McGREW Health Care Plan [email protected]

aybe you’ll be among the many whose compa- reimbursement rates; they may even not be covered at M nies are phasing out their employer-sponsored all. Diagnostic tests may be limited to those that the insurance plans (29 million lost employer-sponsored cov- plan defines as medically necessary. erage between 2000 and 2012.1) or, you may be starting If you find yourself shopping on a state health care a business and striking out on your own. exchange, you’ll find that each plan fits one of five gen- You could join the 5.4 million shopping for health eral categories to describe the overall division of costs care coverage on one of the new health exchanges set between you and the plan. Bronze plans pay 60% on up under the .2 Or you could count average, and you pay about 40%. Silver plans pay 70%, yourself among the 7.8 million people buying new indi- Gold, 80% and Platinum, 90%. So-called Catastrophic vidual coverage directly plans pay less than 60% of from an insurance compa- the total average cost of ny.3 Whatever path you care on average and are take, being an educated available only to young consumer can make you a people and those who better customer. Here have a financial hardship some considerations when exemption.5 shopping for coverage: As you can see, shop- Insurance premiums ping for health care cover- are only your upfront costs. age has become complex. I They may not be the only can help you weigh your health care expenses you’ll options carefully. have. Deductibles, copay- ments, coinsurance and SOURCES out-of-pocket limits vary 1 Employer-Sponsored Health Insurance Coverage Continues to widely from plan to plan. Decline in a New Decade, EPI Review the entire costs Briefing Paper 353¸ The Economic outlined on the plans since low individual deductibles Policy Institute, Washington, D.C., retrieved 5/21/2014. http://s4.epi.org/files/2012/bp353-employer-sponsored-health-insurance-cov- and copayments may be aligned with high out-of-pocket erage.pdf limits, and vice versa. Different treatment scenarios in 2 New Survey Results Show Significant Decline in the Uninsurance Rate, the same plan can also have dramatically different costs. Press Release, The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, retrieved 5/21/2014. From a plan’s perspective, doctors, hospitals and clin- http://www.rwjf.org/en/about-rwjf/newsroom/newsroom- content/2014/04/new-survey-results-show-significant-decline-in-uninsur- ics are not all equal. Insurance plans generally have pre- ance-rate-.html ferred providers. You’ll get the best financial cost struc- 3 Private Insurance Market Booming, Kaiser Health News, The Kaiser Family tures only if you go to designated practitioners and insti- Foundation, retrieved 5/21/2014. tutions. If certain providers are important to you, confirm http://www.kaiserhealthnews.org/Stories/2014/April/15/private-insurance- that they participate in the plans you are considering. market-booming.aspx Review the specialist referral policies and primary 4 Implementation of Financial Incentive Programs under Federal Fraud and Abuse Laws, Governmental Accountability Office Report GAO-12-355, care responsibilities. Some plans require referrals from http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-12-355, retrieved 5/21/2014. your primary care physician (PCP) before you can see a 5 https://www.healthcare.gov/how-do-i-choose-marketplace- specialist, and they may have financial incentives for insurance/#part=2 PCPs to limit referrals.4 What’s more, each plan has its own limits for prescription medication, medical appli- Mac McGrew is a wealth advisor with the The Harrison ances and diagnostic tests. Medication and devices that McGrew Group of Morgan Stanley in Atlanta. are important to you may not be covered at favorable Contact Mac at 404-365-2618. 25 InsiderAdvantage & James magazine prepare for 2015!

InsiderAdvantage is looking forward to a new year with additional staff writers. During the 2015 Georgia General Assembly session, we will also operate an office in the press gallery inside the Coverdell Legislative Office Building. With veteran journalist Louis Mayeux as our lead reporter, we plan to bring you daily updates on what’s happening when the leg- islature is in session. Our internet news agency will also continue publishing articles on important business/political/cultural issues of interest to Georgians. Finally, check out the Forum opinion section on the InsiderAdvantage.com website. We will publish commen- taries from leading Republicans, Democrats and others on vital public policy issues. 2015 Subscription $17.50/month or $200/year Subscription gets you a full year of James magazine Free!

INSIDERADVANTAGE.COM