"[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. You know, it's kind of a fascinating situation that, you know, your cousin is running for governor and at the same time his political opponent could be putting you in charge of one of the most important positions in state government. The complex arrangements were criticized as breaking the spirit of the rule, however, and that Perdue and his family's ties to his corporation were not distanced as much as the law intended. [3], In 2004, Perdue sued the Environmental Protection Agency to block environmental regulations on reformulated gasoline. after feeling punished under Trump", 'It feels like something out of a bad sci-fi movie', The Trump administration is suppressing climate science, "US agriculture secretary breaks ranks to endorse carbon pricing", "USDA chief violated Hatch Act by advocating for Trump re-election, gov't watchdog says", "USDA's Perdue fined for violating Hatch Act while promoting food boxes", "Perdue rebuked for violating ethics law by boosting Trump's reelection", "The land was worth millions. 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. You can keep up with Georgia today by subscribing to the show at GPB.org. David Perdue is saying, "I'm the big Trump guy here." The first two companies are managed by Perdues children, according to Georgia records. There were so many cabinet members who who left, and then he had to appoint new ones. "[35], In 2006, Perdue signed a law that gave Georgia "some of the nation's toughest measures against illegal immigrants. Steve Fennessy: So that's not something you can just push aside because you don't like what one of their family members is doing. Coronavirus-riddled slaughterhouses, in turn, emerged as primary vectors for spreading the pathogen to surrounding communities. [21] He became the first Republican governor of Georgia in 131 years since Benjamin F. Report: ADM sold plant to Sonny Perdue weeks after being named Trump ag Then there were the full-on MAGA-bots like Sonny Perdue, the Georgia politician and agribusiness entrepreneur who became agriculture secretary. "The most important activity in which any governing board will be involved in is the selection of the CEO. You know, we reported as soon as we got the copy of the letter. The board cited Perdue's, quote, "vast understanding of the issues facing the university system," unquote. [News tape] FOX5: Critics have questioned Perdue's experience, pointing out his lack of experience in the higher education setting. And so there are some ways to Sonny Perdue can help the university system of Georgia. "[45], The project overall has been scrutinized as a waste of taxpayer money due to mismanagement of bond money and extremely low visitors. Your support makes this possible. Raphael Warnock. Opponents of the choice say Perdue's appointment would jeopardize academic freedom across the systems 26 campuses. Eric Stirgus: I think, you know, his critics have a couple of reasons that they're concerned. Yes, there is a acting chancellor. AGrowStar (including the assets acquired as part of the Estill deal) was sold by Perdue's trusts in 2018 for 12 million dollars, but due to the secretive nature of the trusts, this was not widely disclosed. So, you know, it'll be interesting to see. But you know, we are hearing, you know, some of the newer members could be a lot more supportive of Sonny Perdue. Former Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue nominated as USDA Secretary You know, he provided the money for the budget for the university system, and he understands how the system, you know, to a certain degree, you know, how the system works. [News tape] FOX5: The Board of Regents has made its choice for the state's next chancellor. Conley. Kudlow used the opportunity to fluff Trumps economic record. A low-ball estimate of the value of storage in the grain silos was US$3 million. The Perdue USDA also insisted that federally funded grocery boxes distributed by food banks contain a letter signed by Trump, touting the administrations coronavirus response. He also talked about, you know, bringing stability to the system. 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. 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. 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. Sonny Perdue faces ethics questions over his business holdings 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. 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. George Ervin "Sonny" Perdue III[1] (born December 20, 1946) is an American veterinarian, businessman, politician, and university administrator who served as the 31st United States Secretary of Agriculture from 2017 to 2021. Mr. Kemp had received Mr. Trumps endorsement in 2018, but their relationship deteriorated following the Kemp administrations refusal to undermine Georgias presidential election results in 2020. [News tape] Alex Ames, student activist, FOX5: And as governor, he chose to defund billions of dollars and begin, you know, a decades-long spree of defunding from our teachers and, you know, students and parent schools that we attend every day. Sonny Perdue - New Georgia Encyclopedia His committee assignments included Ethics, Finance & Public Utilities, Health & Human Services, Reapportionment, and Economic Development, Tourism & Cultural Affairs. From the year 2017 to 2021, George has served as the 31st United States Secretary Of Agriculture. The terms of two of those members expired at the beginning of January, and Gov. Eric Stirgus: Yes, I think the governor could certainly use this on the campaign trail and, you know, to, you know, David Perdue supporters and say, "Hey, look, you know, I've made Sonny Perdue, chancellor of the university system. [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. 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. So you've had recently, you know, the Board of Regents members serve seven-year terms. Eric Stirgus: Good question. Sonny Perdue, of course, was a two-term governor of Georgia, as well as secretary of agriculture under former President Donald Trump. The other election pits Republican Sen. Kelly Loeffler against the Rev. [7] His appointment was approved by an 8711 vote by the Senate on April 24. Sonny Perdue: Latest News, Top Stories & Analysis - POLITICO (David Perdue is now locked in a tight runoff election that could decide which party controls the Senate in the next Congress.). [28] In 2008, Georgia moved up again, to 45th place. "The. As governor from 2003 until 2011, he celebrated the states legacy of chattel slaverysigning 2009 legislation making April Confederate History and Heritage Month, honoring the more than 90,000 brave men and women who served the Confederate States of America. He was an early adopter of race-motivated voter suppression, signing into law one of the nations first strict ID laws. Citing export losses from Trumps trade war with China, the USDA lavished mainly huge soybean, hog, and cotton farmers with $28 billion in 2018 and 2019more than double the price tag of President Barack Obamas 2009 auto bailout. The income stemmed partly from the sale of conservation credits under a federal wetlands protection program. He later served as U.S. Secretary of Agriculture and was named chancellor of the University System of Georgia in 2022.. Background and Education [12], In education, Perdue promoted the return of most decision-making to the local level. Personal: Perdue. Eric Stirgus: Well, there's been a few ways. But Perdue is struggling. 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. According to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, it was a plum post for the political novice, which he used as a springboard that helped propel him to a US Senate seat in 2014. Gov. Who is David Perdue? 8 things to know about the Georgia senator But should it go to a politician? Gov. Perdue will begin his duties as the 14th chancellor on April 1, according to a press release from USG. Eric Stirgus: Yes, Sonny Perdue backed Kemp's state Senate bid in 2002. Perdue is poised within . Perdue will not improve the state of education as chancellor - he will only ruin it.. The North American Vexillological Association had deemed it the ugliest U.S. state flag. And I understand that he wasn't the biggest supporter of the idea of Sonny Perdue as chancellor. [News tape] WSB: In a statement, Perdue said education funding was affected by twin recessions while he was governor. [18], Perdue was elected as a Democrat in 1991, 1994, and 1996. RELATED: Oversight group isnt reviewing Georgia regents choice of Sonny Perdue. 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. The Board of Regents is expected to confirm Perdue's appointment in the next two weeks. Subscribe today and get a full year of Mother Jones for just $14.95. Steve Fennessy: The last full-time permanent chancellor, why did they leave? [29] Perdue also created additional opportunities for charter schools and private schools. Steve Fennessy: Yeah. In December 2001, Perdue resigned as state senator and devoted himself entirely to running for the office of Governor of Georgia. But ethics questions have piled up in recent months about the secretarys mixing of USDA duties and his political promotion of the president. Steve Fennessy: So there's a school of thought that Gov. His anti-immigrant machinations worked all too well, creating a crippling labor shortage for Georgias immigrant-dependent farms and poultry slaughterhouses. Later, FALF Management Trust was created. 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. June 23, 2021. According to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, "As the vigil ended, the sun shone through what had been a cloudy morning. [56] The attrition rate was particularly high in the Resource and Rural Economics Division (90%) and in the Food Economics Division (up to 89%). [69] Perdue lives in Bonaire, Georgia. The latest scrutiny stems from Perdues wealth of current and former interests in agriculture, trucking and land development a complex web of trusts, land parcels, holding companies and subsidiaries. And Sonny Perdue was one of the only, if not the only cabinet member who went the distance in the Donald Trump administration. Brian Kemp in Mays Republican primary. I'm Steve Fennessy. So those are some of the things that have concerned a lot of state leaders or particularly on the Republican side. 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. So that's a little strange, isn't it? He served two terms,. Students and faculty members around the state are reacting to news that Republican former Gov. His name is Sonny Perdue. That decision and the selection of Mr. Perdue are both intrusions on academic freedom, Mr. Boedy, the University of North Georgia professor, said. Eric Stirgus: Now, you know, conversely, his supporters say he was a governor of Georgia for eight years. Georgia Public Radio GPTV, Oversight group isnt reviewing Georgia regents choice of Sonny Perdue. [22], Perdue advocated reforms designed to cut waste in government, most notably the sale of surplus vehicles and real estate. At least he is out of the gate. I give him my full and total endorsement.". Eric Stirgus: No, not officially, you know, because they are personnel decisions that the board makes. And I'm curious about why it's elicited such a ferocious response on the side of those who are for the idea, but also those who are against it. [46], In December 2004, Perdue bought $2 million worth of land near Disney World from a developer who he had previously appointed to the state's economic development board. 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. Sonny Perdue, of course, was a two-term governor of Georgia, as well as secretary of agriculture under former President Donald Trump. 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. The commitments entailed moving his holdings into a new trust and agreeing not to serve as a trustee or beneficiary of the fund. 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.