Articles by Shannon McCaffrey

Ex-NBA Player Loses Discrimination Claim Against Georgia Bar

A federal jury on Friday found that an upscale Atlanta restaurant did not violate the civil rights of an ex-NBA All Star and a friend who claimed they were expelled from the bar because they were black. A panel of …

Georgia Law Allows Out-of-State Health Insurance Policies July 1

State-licensed insurance companies will soon be able to sell health policies offered in other states that provide less coverage than Georgia requires. The new law is one of dozens set to take effect in Georgia on July 1, the start …

Oxendine Still Georgia GOP Favorite Despite Insurance Donations Probe

A state probe into insurance industry contributions funneled to Republican John Oxendine is turning into a drawn-out saga, which opponents are trying to use to cast an ethical cloud over his campaign for governor. With less than a month left …

E-mails Suggest Georgia Insurance Chief Oxendine Had Interest in Probe

Georgia Insurance Department staffers raised questions about an investigation into an Iowa-based insurer and noted Commissioner John Oxendine’s “personal interest” in the complaint against the company filed by a doctor who later became a major campaign donor, according to e-mails …

Georgia Governor Backs Appointed, Not Elected, Insurance Chief

Georgia Gov. Sonny Perdue’s proposal to appoint — rather than elect — four statewide constitutional officers has run headlong into opposition. Critics from both parties said the plan was unlikely to win the needed two-thirds vote in the Legislature and …

Georgia Insurance Chief Taps Bank with Ties for Governor Race Funds

Two leading Republican candidates for governor in Georgia have already turned to hefty lines of bank credit to help pump up their campaign finances months before the primary in July. State Insurance Commissioner John Oxendine and U.S. Rep. Nathan Deal …

Georgia Insurance Chief Oxendine Top Fundraiser in Governor Race

Last Friday was a dollar deadline in the race for Georgia governor as the crowded field of candidates faced a key hurdle: demonstrating they can raise enough cash to go the distance. With several candidates still not reporting their fundraising …

Georgia Insurance Commissioner Running for Governor

Georgia’s insurance commissioner said Wednesday he’s running for governor in 2010, making him the first to enter what could be a crowded field of Republican heavyweights jockeying to replace Sonny Perdue. John Oxendine said gridlock in the recent legislative session …

Georgia Lawmakers Vote to Give Insurers a Tax Break

Georgia lawmakers couldn’t agree on cuts to property or incomes taxes this legislative session. But they did manage to usher through legislation to provide $146 million to insurance companies over five years. The insurance lobby pushed hard for the bill, …

Traffic Safety Measure Gets Red-Light in Atlanta

A bill making it harder for local governments to install red light cameras ran into a red light of its own on Wednesday in the Georgia Senate. Senators tabled the measure, but not before Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle scolded them …