A new episode of our podcast 🍑 THE GEORGIA DIAGNOSIS has dropped! A little known fact is that for years, Rep. Holcomb and I have been the only members of the GA General Assembly with a Masters in Public Health.* Here we discuss the failure that is GA’s Pathways to Coverage. Listen to or watch this episode on Youtube: bit.ly/aupodS2E4 Spotify: bit.ly/AuPodS2E4 Apple: bit.ly/AUpodS2E4 Amazon: bit.ly/aupods2e4 * (Though our colleague Rep. Imani Barnes now has a DPH!)

A new episode of our podcast 🍑 THE GEORGIA DIAGNOSIS has dropped! As a member of the minority party (for now), the math problem is that it is impossible to pass any minority bills without but-in from at least some of our Republican colleagues. My guest this week Rep. Scott Holcomb and I discuss tips on opening doors and building bipartisan bridges. Listen to or watch this episode on Youtube: bit.ly/aupodS2E4 Spotify: bit.ly/AuPodS2E4 Apple: bit.ly/AUpodS2E4 Amazon: bit.ly/aupods2e4

On this week’s episode of our podcast 🍑 THE GEORGIA DIAGNOSIS with Rep. Scott Holcomb, we discuss whether, when, and how it is still possible to work across the aisle in a hyperpartisan political environment. Listen to or watch this episode on Youtube: bit.ly/aupodS2E4 Spotify: bit.ly/AuPodS2E4 Apple: bit.ly/AUpodS2E4 Amazon: bit.ly/aupods2e4

On this week’s episode of our podcast 🍑 THE GEORGIA DIAGNOSIS I talk to Rep. Scott Holcomb about bipartisan work, effective governance, and the relationships that enable both. Here we talk about Scott’s deep relationship with former Speaker David Ralston. Listen to or watch this episode on Youtube: bit.ly/aupodS2E4 Spotify: bit.ly/AuPodS2E4 Apple: bit.ly/AUpodS2E4 Amazon: bit.ly/aupods2e4

Season 2, Elisode 4 of our podcast 🍑 THE GEORGIA DIAGNOSIS has dropped! My guest this week is Rep. Scott Holcomb, who last term passed a bill which standardized the process of compensating those who were wrongfully convicted of crimes they did not commit. The story of its passage is a master class in bipartisan work, imperfect circumstances, and the painful art of compromise. Listen to or watch this episode on Youtube: bit.ly/aupodS2E4 Spotify: bit.ly/AuPodS2E4 Apple: bit.ly/AUpodS2E4 Amazon: bit.ly/aupods2e4

Season 2, Elisode 4 of 🍑 THE GEORGIA DIAGNOSIS has dropped, and it’s one of my favorites yet. I talk with my friend Rep. Scott Holcomb about bipartisanship, relationship building, and how it translates to effective work, even in the minority party. Listen to or watch this episode on Youtube: bit.ly/aupodS2E4 Spotify: bit.ly/AuPodS2E4 Apple: bit.ly/AUpodS2E4 Amazon: bit.ly/aupods2e4

This piece gives important insight into how Rick Jackson views healthcare, and the decisions he'd make as governor. He sells himself as a healthcare expert. He is, in fact, an expert in PROFITING off of the healthcare patients so desperately need. Let's discuss: ajc.com/politics/2026/08/why… 1️⃣ A struggling non-profit hospital in our neighbor state faces compounding financial pressure due to the high burden of uncompensated care in a Medicaid non-expansion state. This is very similar to what we've seen in Georgia, which has itself seen many hospital closures under these same fiscal pressures. 2️⃣ Rick Jackson, who rejects full ACA Medicaid expansion and who is the executive of a for-profit healthcare system, decides to issue a high interest private loan to keep the hospital afloat for the time being. The interest on the loan increases even further--from 14 to 19%--if a payment is missed. Furthermore, the hospital's future is still tenuous because its environment, and its payor mix (a high uninsured population), has not changed. 3️⃣ Rick Jackson says non-profit hospitals should be run with a "for-profit mentality." What does this mean? Non-profit entities do, of course, need to be concerned with turning a profit. The difference between non-profit and for-profit is how those profits are treated. NON-PROFITS take the money they generate and invest it back into their mission (e.g. expanding services, improving patient care, updating facilities). But the priority of a FOR-PROFIT business is taking those profits and disbursing them to its private owners and shareholders. Jackson's approach in his business is to maximize profits, not maximize safe, affordable, high quality care. 4️⃣ Full Medicaid expansion under the ACA would allow billions on federal tax dollars that Georgians have already paid to flow back into the state. This is particularly significant given other cuts in federal funding, and a drop in state revenue that has led to hundreds of millions of dollars in line item vetos to the state budget we passed last session. It should be in the interest of a governor to prioritize care and access of its residents, to be good stewards of our state coffers (which would be less strained if federal ACA money were allowed to return to Georgia), and would create upwards of 50,000 new jobs in the state. That Rick Jackson prefers a "for-profit mentality" over these benefits shows where his priorities lie. 5️⃣ Can a Georgia governor expand Medicaid on their own? No. Full ACA Medicaid expansion requires passage through the legislature. But a governor has incredible power over the healthcare landscape, including setting and signing the budget, appointment of high level administrators to run our state health systems, and of course, the power of the veto. In an increasingly closely divided legislature, this power becomes all the more potent, particularly for an issue like Medicaid expansion which, by my count over the years, likely already has the votes to pass out of both chambers. So while the governor can't pass Medicaid expansion on their own, their prioritization of the issue is absolutely critical. What this tells me is this. We absolutely need to elect @KeishaForGA to be our next governor. I can say without hyperbole that the health and future of our state depends on it.

Well, here it is. Our Voting Rights Act town hall tonight could not be more timely. 𝗪𝗵𝗲𝗻: Wednesday, May 13th, 6PM 𝗪𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲: Johns Creek Books 6000 Medlock Bridge Pkwy, Suite B500 Johns Creek, GA 30022 𝗥𝗦𝗩𝗣: bit.ly/AuMay13 Show up. Be heard. Fight back.

Let’s just be clear about what happened here. To fund election year candy in the form of tax cuts on which to campaign, Republicans doomed funding for desperately needed services. One of many examples: the evisceration of added NOW-COMP waivers for adults with special needs.

“Our state government must follow its own Constitution. This is not optional or discretionary…Our actions set a precedent, and we should all take that very seriously.” Read @RepScottHolcomb’s full letter here: scribd.com/document/10374171…

“Georgia’s Constitution could not be more clear that all bills for raising revenue must originate in the House of Representatives,” said state @RepScottHolcomb , D-Atlanta. “I look forward to hearing Gov. Kemp’s explanation.” ajc.com/politics/2026/05/bri…

A remarkable story of perseverance, mercy, justice, and redemption. Like Mr. Askew I hope @RepScottHolcomb will be able to pass his “Second Look” bill next session, to help others meted disproportionately stringent sentences find their way home. nytimes.com/2026/04/28/magaz…

Annually I host a Post Sine Die Town Hall to do a deep dive on the legislative session. Here I discuss SB 33, the Republicans’ shambolic, rushed, unconstitutional property tax bill. (With insights from special guest @RepScottHolcomb). Full livestream: facebook.com/share/v/1CQZEPy…