What Health Vetoes Mean, Minority Rule,

Sunday Solutions — May 24, 2026

Good morning! Thanks for checking in during a long holiday weekend! We’ve got a little more clarity on what the governor vetoed, and some interesting reads that don’t have a lot to do with the election except that they have a whole lot to do with the work of those we elect. Here we go.

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NEWS: HEALTHCARE ACCESS

Kemp’s budget cuts target health measures

As the scrutiny of Governor Brian Kemp’s last-minute budget vetoes and cuts continues, it appears that nearly $80 million appropriated by lawmakers for healthcare access and agencies were punted from the budget. The mostly bipartisan measures that were dumped were part of a $300 million set of vetoes Kemp said he made to accommodate a lower income tax rate that lawmakers passed and he signed. State departments responsible for family and child welfare were also hit for an additional $15.2 million in cuts. Casualties include a variety of programs designed to consistently provide access for healthcare, mental health care and expansion of physician services in already strapped hospitals and rural areas. Medical education programs, Georgia Poison Center, Georgia Pathways to Coverage and PeachCare for Kids also lost funding. Sofi Gratas at GPB News explains the cuts and where they affect the most Georgians.

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Voter turnout: Minority rule

The millions of dollars of campaign ads shoved into Georgians’ social feeds, streaming videos, road shoulders and mailboxes failed to persuade many folks to take part in the May 19 primary.
Of the nearly 7.4 million Georgians on the voter roll, only about 28% — or 2.1 million — cast a ballot. That small minority elected judges outright; and on the partisan side, they chose who Georgians will see on their November ballots, or narrowed the field for another round of primary voting on June 16. Check out turnout numbers in your community via the Georgia Secretary of State’s Turnout Hub dashboard.

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NEWS: ELECTIONS

Signs point to June 16

Voters will be heading back to the polls June 16 to finish their work on statewide races for GOP candidates for U.S. Senate, Georgia governor, and lieutenant governor, secretary of state, state school superintendent and a Public Service Commissioner. Democrats will need to pick candidates for lieutenant governor, secretary of state, insurance and labor commissioners, plus a candidate for U.S. House for Coastal Georgia. So, get ready for more campaign mail, TV ads and texts. What are the runoff rules, you ask? We’ve got that.

Want to catch up on the elections news and candidates? Here’s your one-stop link updated with new info daily to make your own research a little bit easier. You can vote early starting June 8.

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RESEARCH: FUTURE GENERATIONS

☕ Your second cup: Caring & policy

New research shows that people care a whole lot more about future generations than most of us would believe. The findings show the worries and concern cross partisan and other fault lines, but natural cynicism can keep us from doing much about it — and that affects public policy. It also found that when people wrongly think their view is unusual in daily life or politics, they are less likely to speak or join with others to act. You can read the findings in this story from The Conversation.

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Enjoy your Memorial Day weekend, but do take a quiet minute to remember those who fought to protect us. Carry on.

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