Politically expedient

■ Talks underway to maintain pause on gas tax: Gov. Brian Kemp’s office said he is negotiating with lawmakers to extend the temporary suspension of the state’s sales tax on gasoline of 29.1 cents per gallon. It’s currently set to expire May 31.

■ Infant formula measure divides Georgia’s U.S. House members: Georgia’s delegation split along party lines in a U.S. House vote on $28 million in emergency funding to ease the nation’s shortage of infant formula. Georgia Democrats were in favor of the bill, which passed on a 231-192 vote. A separate proposal saw much more bipartisan support in giving more flexibility to purchase different formula brands to families in the federal Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children, or WIC. It passed on a 414-9 vote, with U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene the only Georgian to oppose the measure.

■ New, new job for Smyre: It probably won’t mean a change in wardrobe, but there has been a change in plans for Calvin Smyre. The Democrat from Columbus, who just completed his final legislative session in the state House, was to become the Biden administration ambassador to the Dominican Republic. Now, though, he’s been nominated to serve as ambassador to the Bahamas. His appointment still requires confirmation by the U.S. Senate. ■ Abrams group backs (drumroll,

please) Abrams: Winning the group’s endorsement was probably not the reason Stacey Abrams created Fair Fight Action after losing the 2018 race for governor, but it’s a nice fringe benefit. Besides backing the Democrat’s second bid for the Governor’s Mansion, the voting rights organization is endorsing U.S. Sen. Raphael Warnock’s run for reelection and state Rep. Bee Nguyen’s campaign for secretary of state.

■ Dad gives to PAC that’s helping son’s congressional run: Jake Evans’ bid in the 6th Congressional District GOP primary, got a big hand from his father, Randy Evans, the Georgia Republican insider who served as the U.S. ambassador to Luxembourg during the Trump administration. The elder Evans gave $475,000 to Trailblazer PAC, which has focused attacks on Rich McCormick, another candidate in the primary.

■ Jones campaign records don’t show use of plane: Republican state Sen. Burt Jones has been using his family’s private plane to attend campaign events across the state in his run for lieutenant governor. But Jones has not reported expenses for the plane in his campaign finance documents. When contacted by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, a Jones spokesman said the campaign’s intent is to pay one large lump sum after Tuesday’s primary for all the flights taken during the primary campaign season. State campaign finance law, however, says candidates “must disclose (expenses made) on the campaign contribution disclosure report due for the reporting period in which the flight occurred.” ■ Loeffler partners with

anti-abortion group: Former Republican U.S. Sen. Kelly Loeffler has formed a partnership with SBA List, a Washington-based group that supports female candidates who oppose abortion rights. As part of the deal, Loeffler will make a six-figure contribution to more than 20 Georgia organizations, including pregnancy centers, faith-based groups, and adoption and foster care programs.

Calvin Smyre