what is sonny perdue doing now

Therefore the new trust Perdue listed on his 2019 financial disclosure, identifying himself as a co-trustee, poses no conflict of interest or violation of his ethics commitments, the spokesperson said. The Perdue USDAs largesse to large-scale farmers and agribusinesses went beyond cutting wages and protective measures for their workers. I'm Steve Fennessy. Sonny Perdue is cousins with David Perdue, who is now engaged in a bitter primary battle against Brian Kemp Brian Kemp, who, of course, is backing Sonny Perdue. Sonny Perdue served two terms as the governor of Georgia, from 2003 to 2011. [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. He would not be the first governor to move into academia: Former Gov. Dr. Sonny Perdue bio. The business holdings were a source of concern during his confirmation process, as well as during his time as Georgia governor from 2003-11, when he faced more than a dozen ethics complaints and was found to have funneled illegal amounts of money from his businesses to his campaign in 2002. 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. Higher education is where I wanted to have a real impact as governor, only to be stymied by twin recessions, he said in the board-issued statement. Perdue is one of the original Trump Cabinet appointees who remained by the president throughout the administration. Using the CCC to hand billions to big farmersmajor Trump supporters in 2016 is a signature move of Perdues USDA. Steve Fennessy: It's interesting the the letter was addressed to Sachin Shailendra, who at the time was chair of the Board of Regents, but is one of those members who redistricting kind of pushed out so he's no longer on the Board of Regents. 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. "The. How did we find out about that? Come on board with me. [23], In January 2003, Perdue signed an executive order prohibiting himself and all other state employees from receiving any gift worth more than $25. Trump said Friday that he has directed Perdue to provide at least $16 billion in relief. Perdue is a kind of an easy-going Southern version of the president he served so zealously. His nomination was transmitted to the U.S. Senate on March 9, 2017. The North American Vexillological Association had deemed it the ugliest U.S. state flag. Perdue restructured his original family trust into a new fund that he did not oversee, and the fund then sold off two of his businesses directly involved in agriculture the only assets that posed potential conflicts, according to a USDA spokesperson. Kemp and Perdue are also close political allies, and Kemp recently replaced four members on the board before the vote. There's been a lot of different issues that colleges are facing regarding social issues and political issues. He was the first Republican chosen by Georgians to occupy the governor's mansion since the Reconstruction-era election of Rufus Bullock in 1868. You know, I guess at the time, they sort of came to an impasse and there was a search firm that was hired to help with the process, but pulled out of the process. [33] Georgia voters chose the flag resembling the Confederate flag. Two-thirds of the reassigned USDA employees chose to quit rather than accept relocation. DECATUR The Washington Post on Tuesday published a story that Archer Daniels Midland Co. sold a grain storage plant valued at millions of dollars to Sonny Perdue for $250,000 weeks after he . And so, you know, they point to things like that and they also point to issues, you know, point to things that, you know, hey, other states have hired elected officials and former politicians to lead colleges or universities. Who hires the chancellor? Since joining the Trump administration, Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue's complicated network of ties to Georgia-based entities including his family's company, Perdue Partners raised questions about potential conflicts of interest as well as his working relationship with his cousin, Georgia Sen. David Perdue. Or are they sometimes coming from outside it? 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. Jess Mador is the lead podcast producer at GPB News. They range from Georgia State University, which has the most students in the system, like about 53,000 students; Georgia Tech, Kennesaw State both of those schools have about 40,000 students each and then University of Georgia. United States, Copyright 2023, Georgia Public Broadcasting. I understand that the Board of Regents, at least in its previous iteration, was not necessarily too keen on the idea of Sonny Perdue as the next chancellor, is that correct? Watchdog organizations are now calling for the Agriculture Departments inspector general to investigate whether Perdue has run afoul of the ethics agreement he signed as a nominee for the job early in the Trump administration. [News tape] WSB: As governor, Perdue's record on education is also being called into question. Steve Fennessy: So I'm guessing that maybe he wants to stay out of this altogether, or do we know if he is going to make any kind of public statement endorsing one way or the other? Perdue, a former US senator, has so far raised a fraction of what Kemp has in his campaign war chest. Like Trump, hes a former Democrat who ascended to political power (in Perdues case, Georgia governor) in a stunning upset. It is no surprise that these made up accusations are coming out in the final weeks of October. Steve Fennessy: The last full-time permanent chancellor, why did they leave? The latest scrutiny stems from the agriculture secretary's wealth of current and former interests in agriculture, trucking and land development. Steve Fennessy: So the faction that was opposed or is opposed to the idea of Sonny Perdue as chancellor seems to be getting smaller. Kemp. Brian Kemp is not. David Perdue now a U.S. senator to . RELATED: Oversight group isnt reviewing Georgia regents choice of Sonny Perdue. What is it about this job that appeals to him? I'm joined by Eric Stirgus, who covers higher education for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Steve Fennessy: The governor appoints the regents on the Board of Regents; there's 19 of them. On April 1, 2022, Perdue took over as the system's 14th chancellor. Why is Sonny Perdue is such a polarizing figure? 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." 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: He has some interest in the job because, you know, he realizes the importance of higher education to the state's economy. In this 2017 post, I recount some of the port-related shenanigans the cousins Perdue got up to together, including launching a port-reliant export business. [46] The land was adjacent to the 20,000 acres (81km2) Oaky Woods preserve being sold by Weyerhaeuser. Sonny Perdue served two terms as governor of Georgia before being named Agriculture Secretary in the Trump administration. Feb. 15, 2022 Georgia's public university system said on Tuesday that former Gov. Steve Fennessy: So there's a school of thought that Gov. In research shared with POLITICO, Accountable.US alleges that farm policies backed by the secretary could potentially have benefited his own or his familys interests beyond the two agribusinesses that were sold. And you know, for a lot of critics, you know, it did raise their concerns about all of this. Opponents of the choice say Perdue's appointment would jeopardize academic freedom across the systems 26 campuses. Last month, the U.S. State Department said it will start processing more applicants seeking H-2A temporary. He was confirmed by the Senate on April 24,[49] with Bernie Sanders and nine Democrats voting against him. The crux of the watchdog complaint comes down to a handful of Perdues businesses the secretary reported as sources of income, at least a half-million dollars, on his 2019 filing. Quite honestly, I've been in the private sector for 30 years. So without that accreditation, it could severely impact, you know, enrollment. [25] Perdue signed the legislation into law on April 12, 2005, three days before tax day. Eric Stirgus: I think you would have many people who would say that it is a political decision or that the board members themselves have, you know, some say depending on their own personal politics. [40], In 2008, Perdue worked with the Georgia Emergency Management Agency to implement Ready Georgia, a campaign to increase disaster preparedness throughout the state. A longtime Atlanta-based journalist, he is a former editor-in-chief of Atlanta magazine. 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. 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. [News tape] FOX5: Critics have questioned Perdue's experience, pointing out his lack of experience in the higher education setting. [6] His nomination was approved by the Senate Agriculture Committee by a 191 voice vote on March 30. The administration began acquiring bond money for the Go Fish Education Center near his home in Perry, GA. He served as his party's leader in the Senate from 1994 to 1997 and as president pro tempore. [14][15], Perdue is not related to the family who owns and operates Perdue Farms (commonly associated with the brand "Perdue Chicken").[16][17]. Governor Pierre Howard asking for more responsibilities, and Howard obliged. Faster kill lines boost packer profits even as they put already pandemic-stressed workers under greater strain, while also making proper social distancing even more difficult. This is diversity and inclusion. 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. (David Perdue is now locked in a tight runoff election that could decide which party controls the Senate in the next Congress.). [News tape] WSB: In a statement, Perdue said education funding was affected by twin recessions while he was governor. Then there were the full-on MAGA-bots like Sonny Perdue, the Georgia politician and agribusiness entrepreneur who became agriculture secretary. The department did not provide further documentation that potential conflicts in 2017 were limited to AGrowStar and Pro Ag Products. [43], Beginning in 2007, Governor Perdue began to pursue the goal of making Georgia the "bass-fishing tourism mecca". The Board of Regents named Dr. Sonny Perdue the 14th chancellor of the University System of Georgia effective April 1, 2022. The office directed the USDA chief to reimburse the government for travel expenses and other costs of the event. He later served as U.S. Secretary of Agriculture and was named chancellor of the University System of Georgia in 2022.. Background and Education The first two companies are managed by Perdues children, according to Georgia records. Eric Stirgus: Sonny Perdue, you know, encouraged then-President Trump to endorse Brian Kemp in the Republican primary back in 2018. Thanks for listening. [25] Perdue then used the new law on his 2004 tax return to defer $100,000 in taxable gains from the sale of land. The watchdogs question whether the sale of AGrowStar and Pro Ag Products was enough to quash all potential conflicts. [52], During his tenure as Secretary of Agriculture, Perdue focused on helping new farmers get started in agriculture. [News tape] WSB: He called being named a finalist a quote wonderful capstone to a career in public service. 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. Sonny Perdue, of course, was a two-term governor of Georgia, as well as secretary of agriculture under former President Donald Trump. Eric Stirgus: Yeah, I mean, and that's the argument that many of Kemp's team has said. Steve Fennessy: When did we first hear that Sonny Perdue who was the outgoing Secretary of Agriculture in the Trump administration, of course a two-term former governor of Georgia was interested in the job of chancellor? [28] In 2008, Georgia moved up again, to 45th place. [54] In December 2018, he changed the nutrition standards for school lunches to allow more refined grains, allow milk with added sugar, and increased sodium. He also talked about, you know, bringing stability to the system. [News tape] parent at recent school board meeting, 11Alive: "This isn't critical race theory. Trump announced just days before his own inauguration, on Jan. 20, 2017, that. If a college loses accreditation, warned the agencys president, Belle S. Wheelan, it could cause enrollment declines, lead to bad publicity and revoke the schools access to federal money. He shortly thereafter became a committee chairman, then climbed the leadership ladder to majority leader and to Senate president pro tempore. Sanders: one of the the most fun, engaging, charming, and charismatic people Ive ever been around. Perdue: he has an amazing instinctive ability to make decisions.. 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. This week on Georgia Today, we look at some issues Bottoms faced during her tenure as mayor with CNN national correspondentRyan Young. Sonny Perdue's . So you have 14 members who serve each congressional district in Georgia, and then there are five at-large positions. Kudlow used the opportunity to fluff Trumps economic record. Mr. Perdue served two terms as governor from 2003 to 2011, and later became Secretary of Agriculture under President Donald J. Trump. This is the golden rule do unto others.". Eric Stirgus: Yes. [69] Perdue lives in Bonaire, Georgia. We're a nonprofit (so it's tax-deductible), and reader support makes up about two-thirds of our budget. According to the Georgia government's website on Confederate History Month, they also participated in the manufacture of products for the war effort, built naval ships, and provided military assistance and relief efforts"[38] The proclamation was criticized by historians for its historical inaccuracies,[39] although there were, in fact, African-Americans who served the Confederacy. A Big Ag corporation sold it to Sonny Perdue's company for $250,000", "Agriculture secretary pick Perdue led big political change in Georgia", "Official: Perdue flew copter without license", "Governor Perdue Makes Acting Debut in "We Are Marshall", Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, Director of the Office of Management and Budget, Director of the Central Intelligence Agency, Administrator of the Small Business Administration, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Sonny_Perdue&oldid=1142223043, Democratic Party Georgia (U.S. state) state senators, Republican Party Georgia (U.S. state) state senators, Presidents pro tempore of the Georgia State Senate, Republican Party governors of Georgia (U.S. state), Military personnel from Georgia (U.S. state), Short description is different from Wikidata, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 1 March 2023, at 05:05. You know, he's a strong conservative, you know, and he's David Perdue's cousin. He won his first term in 2014 by fewer than 8 percentage points. While Perdue puffed up the generosity of his boss, the USDA was busy botching the food-relief effort, awarding fat contracts to distributors ill-equipped to handle them, with the result that some parts of the country got a lot of food, while others got very little, NPR reported. Steve Fennessy: As you said, Sonny Perdue persuaded Donald Trump when he was president to endorse Brian Kemp. 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. So very excited to have the president standing with us and I'm a lot like him. Eric Stirgus: No, not officially, you know, because they are personnel decisions that the board makes. Perdue and a partner purchased the agricultural land in 2009 and later earned so-called mitigation bank credits for converting the tract for wetland conservation purposes, according to the watchdog organizations. 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. You know, he was brought on actually, you know, during Sonny Perdue's tenure to take on the job. A USDA spokesperson denied Perdue was involved and said holding such land doesnt conflict with his duties as secretary. He referenced the pandemic and the phrase "Cultural Revolution." That's next. [32] Perdue disappointed some Georgians by not making the 1956 flag one of the choices on the ballot, despite a campaign promise to do so. "[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. The secretarys office contends he has complied with the agreement. This is Georgia Today. When you go this long without having a permanent chancellor on board, what signal does that send or how does that affect the operations of our schools? [67], Perdue and his wife, Mary (ne Ruff), were married in 1972 after dating for four years. The Georgia Department of Natural Resources figures showed 21,101 people visited the Perry facility in fiscal 2015, which ended June 30. However, most served in the early years of the war and were either forced at gunpoint or feared reprisals for disloyalty. Chris Saeger, a spokesperson for Accountable.US, said the reorganization of Perdues assets from one trust to another appears to be nothing more than a shell game and a maze of technicalities and denials.. His selection has angered professors concerned about academic freedom. The staff of Mother Jones is highlighting the years heroes and monsters. [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. You know, looking at that and he can say that Gov. It generated $102,077 in revenue or about 11 cents for every dollar it cost to run the center in years past. You can keep up with Georgia today by subscribing to the show at GPB.org. [News tape] FOX5: The Board of Regents has made its choice for the state's next chancellor. [News tape] FOX5: The choice of Perdue has already drawn criticism from student groups and university professors who describe Perdue as a career politician with no experience in higher education. Now the nonprofit American Oversight is asking USDAs inspector general to review the new structure of Perdues assets and determine whether it violates the commitments he made as a nominee for the job in 2017. By signing up, you agree to our privacy policy and terms of use, and to receive messages from Mother Jones and our partners. These emergency benefits represent a 40% increase in . [46] The land was eventually sold to developers; however, the state was evaluating bidding on the property and keeping it as a reserve. Steve Fennessy: So how do you get a job to be chancellor? Why are we still talking about this, then? [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. What is that history? 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. Economists in the USDA's research branch were told to include disclaimers in their peer-reviewed publications stating that the findings were "preliminary" and "should not be construed to represent any agency determination or policy". You know, he also backed Brian Kemp to fill the position of Secretary of State. Perdue, Trump's first and only agriculture secretary, is a notable exception. 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. Chancellor of the University System of Georgia, University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine, First National Flag of the Confederate States of America, North American Vexillological Association, United States Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry, National Institute of Food and Agriculture, List of American politicians who switched parties in office, "Former Georgia governor tapped as Trump's agriculture secretary, sources say", "Company Overview of Perdue Partners, LLC", "BPC Congratulates Sec. But last year,. But is there a way of, like, by appointing by at least advancing the candidacy of Sonny Perdue for chancellor is this a way for Brian Kemp to gain some political points with some Trump voters out there? Perdues response? Eric Stirgus: Good question. 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. He continued his effort to cut their wages, ultimately teaming with the Department of Labor on a rule change that will result in an aggregate wage cut worth at least $170.68 million annually over the next ten yearsa transfer of money from low-wage workers to relatively wealthy farm owners. In his 2002 election campaign, Perdue promised that he would let the state's citizens vote to determine the state flag. Is Sonny Perdue staking out any does he have a dog in this fight, at least publicly? The U.S. Senate confirmed Secretary Perdue by a vote of 87-to-11 on Monday evening. Her name is Theresa McCartney, and she worked under Mr. Wrigley. In 2018, while Perdue was secretary, Soque River Conservation asked the Army Corps to modify the credits held by the company in a way that could boost its value by nearly $3 million, the groups estimate. Sonny Perdue, aka George Ervin "Sonny" Perdue III, is known to be a veterinarian, businessman, and politician of the United States of America. And besides the national prominence afforded any state governor, Perdue garnered widespread attention for his actions in 2007 during the worst drought in Georgia's history. Perdue served in the U.S. Air Force, rising to the rank of captain before his discharge. Steve Fennessy: Sonny Perdue is a Republican, so when he uses an expression like Cultural Revolution, what is he referring to? 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. [41] The next year, Georgia was affected by the September floods, which were the most severe in Georgia's recorded history. The United States Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry overwhelmingly approved his nomination on March 30, with a 191 vote. But you know, we are hearing, you know, some of the newer members could be a lot more supportive of Sonny Perdue. Perdue claimed a combined $511,800 in income from Perdue Inc., a trucking company; Houston Fertilizer & Grain Co., which manages commercial real estate in Bonaire, Ga.; and StarPort Logistics LLC. There were so many cabinet members who who left, and then he had to appoint new ones. I can't imagine Sonny Perdue doing that." Steve Fennessy: Welcome back to Georgia Today. [News tape] 11Alive: Critical race theory about whites, blacks and U.S. history, parents saying that CRT is now indoctrinating students disguised in the school system's initiatives on diversity, equity and inclusion. 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. Gov. Perdue made his acting debut in "We Are Marshall," a 2006 film about the 1970 plane crash that claimed the lives of 75 Marshall University football players, coaches, supporters and staff.. Am I being naive to think that that that would be the case? 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. 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. Save big on a full year of investigations, ideas, and insights. Sonny Perdue on Confirmation to Lead Dept. Sonny Perdue has long mixed personal and political business to benefit his friends and business associates and he's on track to do it again. [60] In August 2019, Lewis Ziska, a USDA plant physiology climate scientist, quit after department administrators attempted to impede the publication of one of his studies in the journal Science Advances. [71], In 2006, while still governor, Perdue made a cameo appearance as the coach of the East Carolina Pirates football team in the movie We Are Marshall, large portions of which were filmed in Georgia. Other issues addressed by Perdue include assisting rural communities, helping farmers operate with less regulation, increasing exports, passing the 2018 farm bill, and addressing crop damage caused by dicamba. Steve Fennessy: What did you think when you first heard about that? Georgia Today: Is Mayor Bottoms Paying The Political Cost For A COVID Crime Wave? Gov. [48], During meetings with Georgia state port officials, then-Governor Perdue discussed his family business's use of a terminal, then started a new export company in Savannah soon after leaving office. 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. Across the state, teachers have found themselves caught in a conservative battle to ban divisive topics from classrooms, which Republican lawmakers define as a various list of ideas regarding race.

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