Gold Dome Live is moving!
Our new spot will allow us to get the news to you even faster and make commenting easier. Please bookmark the new site and sign up for our rss feed:
http://blogs.ajc.com/gold-dome-live/
AJC.com > Legislature > Georgia Beat > Archives > 2005 > January > 25
Tuesday, January 25, 2005
Perdue proposes land conservation program
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Palmetto — Gov. Sonny Perdue today announced a Republican-style conservation program that will rely heavily on local governments and private landowners to preserve the state’s disappearing landscapes.
Without raising or adding new taxes, Perdue wants to set up a $100 million fund for cities, counties and the state to use to protect land from development. Most of the money would come from state and federal government. The rest — $25 million — would be donated by the private sector.
Some of the conservation money would be given as grants; the rest would be put in a revolving loan program.
Cities, counties and the state would compete for the loans and grants, which would be doled out based on the conservation value of the land under consideration. An old-growth forest surrounding the headwaters of several streams, for example, would have a higher value than timberland without significant water resources.
Partnerships would matter too. The more entities involved in protecting a piece of land, from the federal government to the local neighborhood association, the more likely it would be to receive a loan.
Perdue is calling his packet of legislative proposals the Georgia Land Conservation Act, which the Georgia General Assembly would need to approve to move forward.
“It is a commitment to our children and grandchildren to preserve a statewide network of land and water resources, prime agricultural and forestry lands, and natural, historic and recreational areas for them to enjoy,� Perdue said in a statement. “This legislation is more far-reaching than any previous conservation efforts. It encourages creative partnerships that will allow us to stretch our conservation dollars further.�
Permalink | |
House bill would help fund judicial candidates
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
On Day 5 of the 2005 legislative session, dozens of bills were assigned to committee in the House.
Among them is a bill by state Rep. Mary Margaret Oliver (D-Decatur), calling for voluntary public financing of major judicial elections. The bill would allow citizens to donate their tax refunds to a fund for judicial candidates.
House members were still struggling today with their new card-key voting system. When some members couldn’t get their cards to work today, House Speaker Glenn Richardson (R-Hiram) quipped: “It helps if you don’t use your American Express card.”
Permalink | |
Senate bill targets telemarketers
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Several Senate bills and resolutions were read and assigned to committees during a short session this morning.
Gov. Sonny Perdue’s initiative to stop telemarketers from making unsolicited calls to wireless customers was assigned to the Science and Technology Committee. Sen. David Shafer (R-Duluth) introduced the bill.
A bill that would regulate the sale of products used to make methamphetamine, introduced by Sen. Bill Hamrick (R-Carrollton) is headed to the Senate Health and Human Services Committee.
Sen. Chip Rogers (R-Woodstock), the new chair of the Senate Reapportionment and Redistricting Committee, introduced a bill that would set forth new parameters for drawing legislative and congressional districts. Sens. Eric Johnson (R-Savannah) and Bill Stephens (R-Canton), the powerful leaders of the Senate, CO-sponsored the bill.
“The bill says the next time we do redistricting, whether it’s this year, next year or five years from now, these are are the guidelines we would follow,” Rogers said after the Senate adjourned. Rogers said the bill’s intent is to ensure that the courts would not have to get involved in drawing districts.
Rogers stressed he was unaware of any plans for new maps right now.
Sen. Doug Stoner (D-Smyrna) introduced the first of a series of bills aimed at helping members of the National Guard and U.S. Reservists in Georgia with economic, education, life insurance and tax relief. Senate Bill 47 would require the state to pay the monthly life insurance premium for National Guard members called to active duty. The premium is $16 per month for a $250,000 policy; it would cost the state approximately $800,000 per year.
Last week, Lt. Gov. Mark Taylor, surrounded by several House and Senate Democrats and National Guard members, announced the legislative package at a press conference.
Sen. Michael Meyer Von Bremen (D-Albany), plugged Taylor’s initiative during the announcements and asked for support across party lines.
“It’s not Republican, it’s not Democrat,” Meyer Von Bremen said. “It’s bipartisan.”
The Senate opened Tuesday morning with an inspirational message on wisdom from Pastor Andy Childs of Ebenezer Baptist Church in Toccoa. Freshman Sen. Nancy Schaefer (R-Clarksville), addressing the Senate for the first time, introduced Childs. She praised her pastor for his bravery, steadfastness of purpose, and “his complete reliance on the Lord Jesus Christ.”
“I encourage you to seek wisdom, for wisdom is greater than wealth,” Childs said. He said that God is liberal with two things: grace and wisdom.
The Senate adjourned at 10:40 a.m. and meets again 10 a.m. Wednesday.
Permalink | |
