I'm joined by Eric Stirgus, who covers higher education for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Eric Stirgus: It was pretty newsy for us. But the threat is part of the latest controversy for the Board of Regents, which in October approved a new policy where universities can fire tenured professors with little to no faculty input. The office directed the USDA chief to reimburse the government for travel expenses and other costs of the event. Copyright 2023 Mother Jones and the Foundation for National Progress. 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. Eric Stirgus: For now, we have not heard any discussion about, you know, where Sonny Perdue will ultimately fall on the governor's race. He also has largely avoided the sort of major scandals that have dogged many others in Trumps Cabinet. 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. Entitled President Trumps Affection for American Farmers, the episode featured the host and former White House press secretary competing to see who could lavish the most praise on Trump. [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. Sonny Perdue, of course, was a two-term governor of Georgia, as well as secretary of agriculture under former President Donald Trump. He later served as U.S. Secretary of Agriculture and was named chancellor of the University System of Georgia in 2022.. Background and Education 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." It is simply unacceptable for people to sneak into this country illegally on Thursday, obtain a government-issued ID on Friday, head for the welfare office on Monday, and cast a vote on Tuesday, he declared, backing up his rancid lies with a crackdown on undocumented people. Sonny Perdue age, height, net worth 2023, wife, girlfriend, kids But then prior to him, you had Errol Davis, who was a utilities company executive and he had no administrative experience in higher education. Help Mother Jones' reporters dig deep with a tax-deductible donation. The Georgia Department of Natural Resources figures showed 21,101 people visited the Perry facility in fiscal 2015, which ended June 30. 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. Steve Fennessy: What form has that opposition taken on college campuses or in academic circles? [3], In 2004, Perdue sued the Environmental Protection Agency to block environmental regulations on reformulated gasoline. "[45], The project overall has been scrutinized as a waste of taxpayer money due to mismanagement of bond money and extremely low visitors. Although it returned to last place in 2005,[26] Georgia rose to 49th place in 2006 in the combined math and reading mean score, including the writing portion added to the test that year. What Is Sonny Perdue Doing Now? His nomination was transmitted to the U.S. Senate on March 9, 2017. Its another death, wound, stab in the heart for anybody that works in the university system to have someone like this, he said. 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. [46] Perdue failed to disclose his ownership of the property in required financial disclosure forms. Perdue announced the final relocation site in a letter that was distributed to employees Thursday morning. I'm going to read a paragraph towards the end of her letter. [31] The choices were a modified version of the First National Flag of the Confederate States of America, with the Georgia State Seal prominently displayed inside a circle of 13 stars, or the flag created in 2001 by the Roy Barnes administration. [14][15], Perdue is not related to the family who owns and operates Perdue Farms (commonly associated with the brand "Perdue Chicken").[16][17]. He spent his 2020 like he spent the other years of his Washington stint: flattering his boss at every opportunity, and lavishing largesse on political allies while undercutting poor people and food-system workers. Sonny Perdue was its sole finalist to become chancellor, a choice that has outraged some professors and led a regional agency to threaten the accreditation of the 26-school system. In his 2002 election campaign, Perdue promised that he would let the state's citizens vote to determine the state flag. Perdue is one of the original Trump Cabinet appointees who remained by the president throughout the administration. I'm Steve Fennessy. 11/08/2018 02:42 PM EST. [42] The floods resulted in Perdue declaring a state of emergency in 17 counties. This is Georgia Today. Dr. Sonny Perdue bio. 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 . Eric Stirgus: Yes, definitely. Kemp and Perdue are also close political allies, and Kemp recently replaced four members on the board before the vote. [News tape] FOX5: The Board of Regents has made its choice for the state's next chancellor. Eric Stirgus: There have been some faculty members who have, you know, written letters to the University System of Georgia, you know, stating their opposition. An investigationby the Food and Environment Reporting Networks Leah Douglas found that at least 40 percent of chicken plants operating at the higher speeds experienced COVID outbreaks, versus 14 percent for the overall meat sector. Republican Sen. David Perdue, a former Fortune 500 CEO, will face off against Democrat Jon Ossoff, a 33-year-old media executive, again in a runoff election Jan. 5. He was the first Republican chosen by Georgians to occupy the governor's mansion since the Reconstruction-era election of Rufus Bullock in 1868. (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. Find them all here. [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. So that's a little strange, isn't it? [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. Monsters of 2020: Sonny Perdue - Mother Jones Perdues spokesperson also rejected the watchdog groups request for an investigation as politically motivated. Listen on Apple Podcasts. Eric Stirgus: I think, you know, his critics have a couple of reasons that they're concerned. Sonny Perdue was its sole finalist to become chancellor, a choice that has outraged some professors and led a. A USDA spokesperson denied Perdue was involved and said holding such land doesnt conflict with his duties as secretary. Eric Stirgus: Publicly, I don't think he's said one way or another right now. But her critics have said thatwhat she calls a COVID Crime Wave and her handling of the firing of Atlanta police officer Garrett Rolfe, who shot Rayshard Brooks last summer, made her vulnerable if she had chosen to run. All Rights Reserved. Who is David Perdue? 8 things to know about the Georgia senator "[37], According to a March 5, 2008, proclamation by Perdue, "Among those who served the Confederacy were many African-Americans, both free and slave, who saw action in the Confederate armed forces in many combat roles. Steve Fennessy: Welcome back to Georgia Today. "You have got to have stuff where there is a lot of traffic. "To me it was a boondoggle because of the amount of money they were spending and the location," said Rep. Alan Powell, R-Hartwell, a member of the House Appropriations Committee. Very few Republican elected officials, operatives, donors and activists in Georgia have. [News tape] parent at recent school board meeting, 11Alive: "I don't know how or why this would be debated.". And then also, you know, maybe among some who might be interested in working for the university system. Sonny Perdue faces ethics questions over his business holdings 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. Eric Stirgus: You know, he's never spoken publicly about it. The department did not provide further documentation that potential conflicts in 2017 were limited to AGrowStar and Pro Ag Products. Yes. Mr. Perdues appointment as chancellor would also limit his contributions to the campaign of David Perdue, his cousin and a former senator who is running against Gov. Kudlow used the opportunity to fluff Trumps economic record. That decision and the selection of Mr. Perdue are both intrusions on academic freedom, Mr. Boedy, the University of North Georgia professor, said. [29] Perdue also created additional opportunities for charter schools and private schools. Earlier this week, Georgia's Board of Regents announced that Sonny Perdue was the sole finalist for the job. As governor, Perdue mastered the Trumpian strategy of using know-nothing bigotry as a beard for brazen self-dealing, sometimes involving his own family. Some would say the most important job is, you know, making sure that money that comes from the state is sent to the schools and is being spent properly. [43], Beginning in 2007, Governor Perdue began to pursue the goal of making Georgia the "bass-fishing tourism mecca". [6] His nomination was approved by the Senate Agriculture Committee by a 191 voice vote on March 30. [21] He became the first Republican governor of Georgia in 131 years since Benjamin F. [57] Current and former employees of the ERS were strongly critical of the relocation to Kansas City, saying the resulting exodus of scientific and economic talent caused disruption to federal research, especially on climate change and food security. 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. He had even served as the 81st Governor of Georgia, and his tenure was from 2003 to 2011. Atlanta Journal-Constitution Staff Writer Eric Stirgus: The chancellor is sort of the person who makes sure all the trains run on time, so to speak. Sonny Perdue and Brian Kemp have a longstanding relationship politically, and then you have Sonny Perdue's cousin who is running against the governor now in the GOP primary. 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. Eric Stirgus: Most of them are designated by congressional district. Then there were the full-on MAGA-bots like Sonny Perdue, the Georgia politician and agribusiness entrepreneur who became agriculture secretary. According to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, payments on the Go Fish bonds, approved by Perdue and the General Assembly in 2007, runs through December 2027 with most payments $1 million a year in bond money. Steve Fennessy: So how do you get a job to be chancellor? 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. 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. You know, we reported as soon as we got the copy of the letter. It pays pretty well. That relationship famously has gone has gone south. Steve Fennessy: The governor appoints the regents on the Board of Regents; there's 19 of them. The former Georgia governor has a background in agriculture. 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. He was there at the end. Can you pitch in a few bucks to help fund Mother Jones' investigative journalism? The policy, according to the American Association of University Professors, is the only one of its kind in the country. And then also, I think, you know, there's been some criticism that he's not the best qualified person for the position. She said that this is coming from a place of strength and not weakness. American Oversight and another watchdog group, Accountable.US, claim that violates Perdues 2017 agreement with ethics officials that he would restructure his original family trust and transfer all of its stock in Perdue Business Holdings to a new, irrevocable trust that wouldnt be overseen by or benefit the secretary. Steve Fennessy: Sonny Perdue is a Republican, so when he uses an expression like Cultural Revolution, what is he referring to? Brian Kemp is not. . Perdue and the department have argued that the move will lower living costs, save . Saeger, of Accountable.US, said the inspector general still needs to review that claim. David Perdue is running for governor in Georgia. Here's what to know Sonny Perdue may soon head up Georgias public university system. [61][62], In February 2020, Perdue endorsed putting a price on carbon dioxide, a climate change policy favored by many economists. Then the pandemic hit, ripping through migrant farm worker communities, who toiled on with little in the way of protective gear or opportunities for social distancing. I'm Steve Fennessy. Steve Fennessy: So he left in June. Subsequently, the trust sold off AGrowStar LLC and Pro Ag Products LLC (none of the other assets posed any conflict of interest with his duties as Secretary of Agriculture). 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. We're a nonprofit (so it's tax-deductible), and reader support makes up about two-thirds of our budget. Looking at the pandemic, they've also had to take on some additional responsibilities, such as, you know, managing coronavirus relief funds. Unquote. But ethics questions have piled up in recent months about the secretarys mixing of USDA duties and his political promotion of the president. You know, he's a strong conservative, you know, and he's David Perdue's cousin. The new law saved Perdue $100,000 in state taxes. He also talked about, you know, bringing stability to the system. Perdue is the first cousin of former U.S. [46] After the state dropped out of the bidding and the land was sold to developers, the value of Perdue's property more than doubled. Steve Fennessy: So what happened then? [68] They have four children (Leigh, Lara, Jim, and Dan),[68] 14 grandchildren (six boys and eight girls), and have also been foster parents for many children. Subscribe today and get a full year of Mother Jones for just $14.95. [50], In September 2017, Politico reported that, according to 42 reviewed resumes, the department hired 22 former Trump campaign workers, many of which had no significant agricultural knowledge or experience with federal policies. Perdue is a kind of an easy-going Southern version of the president he served so zealously. Steve Fennessy: Chancellor of the University System of Georgia it's one of the most coveted jobs in higher education. Eric Stirgus: He has some interest in the job because, you know, he realizes the importance of higher education to the state's economy. Critics argued that the deal should be investigated, and speculated that ADM, which spends millions of dollars on lobbying regardless, used the property sale as a bribe for favorable treatment. These emergency benefits represent a 40% increase in . His nomination was transmitted to the U.S. Senate on March 9, 2017. 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. 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. Why isn't he going back to his farm? 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. RELATED: Oversight group isnt reviewing Georgia regents choice of Sonny Perdue. Steve Fennessy: How big is the university system? [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. He shortly thereafter became a committee chairman, then climbed the leadership ladder to majority leader and to Senate president pro tempore. Brian Kemp: Obviously, this is huge for our campaign. 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. Eric Stirgus: Yes. Eric Stirgus: I think, you know, there's just some uncertainty among many faculty members about, you know, who will eventually serve in the position and you know what role they may take on, you know, on this, you know, systems operations. 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. 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. [7] His appointment was approved by an 8711 vote by the Senate on April 24. Eric Stirgus: Sonny Perdue, you know, encouraged then-President Trump to endorse Brian Kemp in the Republican primary back in 2018. The Board of Regents is expected to confirm Perdue's appointment in the next two weeks. Steve Fennessy: News that Sonny Perdue will, in all likelihood be the university system of Georgia's next chancellor comes at a time when state legislators are debating bills about how racial history should be taught in classrooms. The harangue, which ended with the ag secretary leading a chant of four more years, earned Perdue a knuckle-rap from the Office of Special Counsel for violating the Hatch Act, which forbids government employees from campaigning while on the job. Why Brian Kemp wants Sonny Perdue to lead Georgia's higher ed system [25] Perdue signed the legislation into law on April 12, 2005, three days before tax day. 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. (Washington, D.C., April 28, 2020) - U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue released the following statement after President Donald J. Trump signed an Executive Order to keep meat and poultry processing facilities open during the COVID-19 national emergency. Jess Mador is the lead podcast producer at GPB News. Georgia Today: How Sonny Perdue's ascent to chancellor went from He was confirmed by the Senate on April 24,[49] with Bernie Sanders and nine Democrats voting against him. [News tape] WSB: As governor, Perdue's record on education is also being called into question. Sonny Perdue's Ties to His Family Business - American Oversight Using the CCC to hand billions to big farmersmajor Trump supporters in 2016 is a signature move of Perdues USDA. Steve Fennessy: So there's a school of thought that Gov. But last year,. The secretarys office contends he has complied with the agreement. The latest scrutiny stems from the agriculture secretary's wealth of current and former interests in agriculture, trucking and land development. Sonny Perdue Is Sole Finalist to Lead Georgia's Public Universities Eric Stirgus: Correct. What Is Sonny Perdue Doing Now? - Vim Buzz Atlanta, GA 30318 [63], In August 2020, Perdue supported the president's re-election while promoting the Farmers to Families Food Box Program; Perdue was fined for violating the Hatch Act. [22], Perdue advocated reforms designed to cut waste in government, most notably the sale of surplus vehicles and real estate. From the year 2017 to 2021, George has served as the 31st United States Secretary Of Agriculture. David Perdue is running against Democrat Jon Ossoff in one of two runoff elections in the state that will determine control of the U.S. Senate in the next Congress. His name is Sonny Perdue. How Trump's Food Box Initiative Overpaid And Underdelivered Is that right? June 23, 2021. On April 1, 2022, Perdue took over as the system's 14th chancellor. The United States Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry overwhelmingly approved his nomination on March 30, with a 191 vote. Undeterred by the pandemic-led spike in hunger, Perdue also doubled- and tripled-down on a long-held goal: boosting work requirements for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program that would eliminate food aid forat least 1.2 million peopleabout a third of them households containing senior citizens, nearly a quarter with children, and 11 percent with a disabled person, according tononpartisan think tank Mathematica. Steve Fennessy: As you said, Sonny Perdue persuaded Donald Trump when he was president to endorse Brian Kemp. He enjoys flying and, in a 2003 incident, was accused of flying a state helicopter without a license. 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. What is that history? So those are some of the things that have concerned a lot of state leaders or particularly on the Republican side. 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.