Hitchins for PSC

by Debbie Dooley 5/1/18, Atlanta Tea Party

We all celebrated the fact we defeated the Washington D.C. Swamp in 2016 by electing Donald Trump President. Swamp creatures were only dealt a temporary defeat as they have worked hard to stop Pres. Trump's MAGA agenda. You see, swamp creatures are rich and have deep pockets. 

Georgia has swamp creatures as well that are trying to instill their puppets in office so they will benefit financially.  I am going to begin highlighting different races in emails every week. 

I will begin with pointing out Georgia Power and other powerful monopolies trying to instill their preferred candidate/puppet on the Georgia Public Service Commission. You see, they want to make sure the PSC Commissioners up for election this year are loyal to the share-holders of the giant monopolies and not average, everyday consumers. 

There are two Republican incumbent Public Service Commissioners up for re-election this year.  They represent districts but voters state wide elect them.  The incumbents are Tricia Pridemore and Chuck Eaton.  Both are very closely aligned with Georgia Power.  Eaton is running unopposed in the Republican Primary, while Pridemore picked up Republican opposition from consumer advocate John Hitchins. 

Pridemore is Gov. Nathan Deal's and Georgia Power hand- picked successor
(https://politics.myajc.com/news/state--regional-govt--politics/psc-wise-quit-after-vogtle-vote-governor-can-appoint-successor/Dv6bJbPTpNupmLUUe83f8J/) to Georgia Power aligned PSC Comissioner Stan Wise.  Wise had decided not to seek re-election this year, but a backroom deal was cut and Wise stepped down early, so Pridemore could be appointed by Gov. Deal and given an advantage. Pridemore has even been quoted as calling political contributions "investments". (https://www.georgiapol.com/2018/02/07/tricia-pridemore-raises-nearly-200k-for-psc-race/) 

Tricia Pridemore definitely was not a fan of Donald Trump. She joined others publicly trashing Trump after the "Access Hollywood" tapes came out in October of 2016. (https://politics.myajc.com/news/state--regional-govt--politics/clinton-leads-trump-among-georgia-women-but-distaste-for-both-remains/QgrEJd09XzUzoQOwn7oV7L/)
 I encourage you to read a very accurate article that was just released about how the regulatory swamp is spending tons of money to make sure the PSC is loyal to the utilities and not consumers. The writer of the article has a great reputation for conducting meticulous, factual research.  You will be shocked at his findings. No wonder Georgia Power and other utilities get their way on the PSC.
 Big-Dollar Contributors with Ties to Georgia Power and Southern Company Bet on Pridemore, Eaton for Georgia PSC   (http://www.energyandpolicy.org/big-dollar-contributors-with-ties-to-georgia-power-southern-company-bet-on-pridemore-eaton-for-georgia-psc/) Highlights -  However, contributors to Pridemore’s campaign may be looking out for their own financial interests, rather than expressing their political values or opinion about who will be the best regulator for Georgia’s economy. 70% of contributions to Pridemore came from people or companies associated with entities that are regulated by the PSC. 51% of Pridemore’s contributions came from people or companies associated with Southern Company, the parent company of Georgia Power. Georgia Power and Southern Company benefited from a favorable PSC decision in December that allows the monopoly to continue charging customers for the costs to build its over-budget, behind-schedule nuclear Plant Vogtle, and to continue profiting from the overruns. District 3 Commissioner Chuck Eaton has received $133,050 from contributors this election cycle. Interestingly, Eaton did not receive a single campaign contribution for the second reporting period (Feb. 1, 2018 – Mar. 31, 2018) after a sizeable haul the previous reporting period. Eaton will not face a GOP primary opponent. 74% percent of Eaton’s contributions came from people or companies associated with regulated entities.60% of Eaton’s contributions came from people or companies associated with Southern Company. Our MissionThe mission of the Georgia Public Service Commission is to exercise its authority and influence to ensure that consumers receive safe, reliable and reasonably priced telecommunications, electric and natural gas services from financially viable and technically competent companies. ATLANTA TEA PARTY ENDORSES A CONSUMER ADVOCATE FOR PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSIONJOHN HITCHINS (http:// https://conta.cc/2IZvwsL)Georgia State Senator Chuck Hufstetler endorsed (https://conta.cc/2Hxsekk) John Hitchins for Public Service Commission. Sen. Hufstetler has been very vocal expressing his concerns about Georgia Power's Plant Vogtle (https://www.bizjournals.com/atlanta/news/2018/01/12/state-sen-chuck-hufstelter-questions-financial.html) .

Source: Debbie Dooley email.

Norb Leahy, Dunwoody GA Tea Party Leader