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AJC.com > Legislature > Georgia Beat > Archives > 2005 > January > 11
Tuesday, January 11, 2005
House Republicans shuffle committee assignments
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The new Republican majority in the House today continued the shuffle of committee assignments, floor seats and office space that are all part of the biggest upheaval in state government in 135 years.
The House met for less than two hours, and members spent most of that time in private conversations about committee assignments that were announced just before midnight on Monday, the opening day of the 2005 legislative session.
House Majority Leader Jerry Keen (R-St. Simons Island) told the House that a special committee appointed by new House Speaker Glenn Richardson (R-Dallas) is putting the finishing touches on committee assignments.
Members may have their seat assignments later today and in time for Wednesday night’s State of the State address by Gov. Sonny Perdue.
Perdue delivers the speech at 8 p.m. Wednesday in a joint session of the House and Senate held in the House chambers.
Three House members who switched to the GOP last spring were among the list of all-Republican committee chairs.
They include state Rep. Tom McCall of Elberton, who will head the Agriculture & Consumer Affairs Committee; Bob Lane of Statesboro, who will head Game, Fish & Parks; and Tommy Smith of Nichols, who will run State Planning & Community Affairs.
The defection of the three helped the GOP achieve its current 99-member majority in the 180-member House.
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Governor to address joint session Wednesday
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
With the fanfare of Day One of the 2005 Legislative session behind it, the Georgia Senate began Tuesday morning with a down-to-earth-message from Rev. Milton Wood of Forest Park Baptist Church.
State Sen. Terrell Starr (D-Jonesboro) introduced Wood, his pastor.
“I want to encourage you to seek divine guidance,” Wood said.
He then offered the Senators three suggestions to guide them through the session:
“I want to encourage you to remember that every single day and every single session of the Legislature is a new day. … Every day is a new day with God. Begin every morning with a clean slate.”
“No failure is ever absolute.”
“Find encouragement in the strength God can provide for you.”
Senate President Pro Tempore Eric Johnson (R-Savannah) introduced a resolution calling for a joint session of the House of Representatives and the Senate for Gov. Sonny Perdue’s State of the State Address Wednesday at 8 p.m. He encouraged all the senators to be on time, and in the spirit of friendly rivalry between the House and Senate, said: “We want to make sure the Lt. Gov. gets as loud as applause as the new Speaker of the House.”
The Senate also passed a resolution expressing sympathy for the victims of the tsunami in Asia and observed a moment of silence.
The Senate adjourned until 10 a.m. Wednesday.
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Perdue proposes adding 500 DFCS workers
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Gov. Sonny Perdue said Tuesday he plans to hire 500 more child welfare caseworkers to add muscle to an agency plagued by employee turnover, crushing caseloads and low morale.
The Republican governor said he will earmark $5.4 million in his proposed budget, which is expected to be made public Wednesday. The budget must receive approval from the Legislature. The state funding would draw a federal match of $6.8 million, he said.
“Protecting children is a top priority for my administration. We cannot stand by while another child suffers abuse or neglect while under the state’s supervision,” Perdue told about 2,400 people at Georgia Chamber of Commerce Eggs and Issues Breakfast at the Georgia World Congress Center.
The governor called it a “moral obligation” to reduce the caseloads for the social workers.
Adding 500 new caseworkers would mark a 25 percent increase to the existing 2,000 caseworkers. Perdue said he hopes to reduce many workers’ high caseloads, which officials say have overwhelmed staff and contributed to a state of crisis in the agency. He also hopes to stabilize a workforce that has seen an exodus of staff.
“Reducing the load on our caseworkers will allow them to better protect Georgia’s greatest resource - our children,” Perdue said.
Perdue also plans more money for state crime labs. He proposed $4.4 million to reduce backlog at labs for the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, including $1.4 million for 20 new lab analysts and $3 million to outsource work to private labs.
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