Gold Dome Live

The House on Friday will consider two pieces of legislation with similar goals, but different methods. The first is a proposed constitutional amendment that would cap the possible increase in a home’s assessed value. The second is a bill that would fund — this year — the homeowners relief grant but leave the future of those grants very much up in the air.

Under the bill, lawmakers will not appropriate the money in advance for the upcoming year even if the economy miraculously recovers and state revenues start to grow. So the grants aren’t likely to be on next year’s tax bill.

Across the state, Keen said Thursday, homeowners are facing property tax bills that are based on assessments that overstate market value.

“That system does not reflect true market value,” Keen said. The constitutional amendment, he said, “would bring predictability and transparency” to property taxes.

Similar legislation passed the House last year and Keen said he expects the same outcome tomorrow.

Photo credit: Aaron Gould Sheinin/asheinin@ajc.com

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A plea and a prayer for peanut butter

By Mary Lou Pickel | Thursday, January 29, 2009, 11:18 AM

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Sen. John Bulloch (R-Ochlocknee) held up a jar of peanut butter and a packet of peanuts in the senate chambers Thursday morning, urging his colleagues to spread the word that these products are still safe to eat, despite the salmonella contamination at the plant in his district.

“Over 50,000 employees in the state of Georgia process peanut products. It’s unfortunate we’ve had a situation with one of these plants,” Bulloch said.

“I want to assure you — this high-protein product — peanut butter — is safe for you to eat.,” he said, holding up the jar. “It’s safe for your children and grandchildren,” Bulloch said. “My grandson almost lives on peanut butter and jelly sandwiches.”

Bulloch said he plans to introduce legislation tomorrow that would require new protocols for plants like Peanut Corp. of America in Blakely, Ga., which is the center of a salmonella outbreak.

Under his proposed law, if a test came back from either a plant’s laboratory or an outside laboratory showing contamination of a food product, the manufacturer would be required to inform the state Department of Agriculture.

Bulloch ended his comments with thoughts for the workers who have lost their jobs and those sickened by the salmonella.

“God bless all those workers and the families of those who have fallen ill, because they need a prayer,” Bulloch said.

While Bulloch was working the floor in support of the tougher regs, the state agriculture department is continuing its investigation of the Blakely plant after FDA inspectors finished their work there Monday.

“We’re still down there, gathering information in the area,” said Oscar S. Garrison, assistant commissioner Consumer Protection Division for the Georgia Department of Agriculture, declining to elaborate. Garrison said he did not know the name of the outside lab the FDA said retested products from the plant after they tested positive with salmonella.

After the batches of peanut butter and peanut paste were declared safe by the outside lab, the company put them on the market.

Garrison responded to criticism that the state inspectors should have detected problems at the plant, says when Georgia inspectors visited the plant they took a “snapshot in time” and conditions at the plant could have changed afterward.

“You have to remember that we have 16,000 firms that we inspect in the state, and 60 inspectors, who stay on average 3 hours at the site,” said Garrison. “The FDA was at the plant for 14 days.”

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Bill would give districts calendar flexibility

By Aaron Gould Sheinin | Thursday, January 29, 2009, 10:22 AM

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Rep. Mark Williams (R-Jesup) wants to give school districts the ability to alter their calendar as necessary without getting approval from the state.

House Bill 198, introduced Thursday, would remove the mandate that schools meet for 180 days per year and replace that with a requirement that school be in session for 810 hours a year.

That, Williams said, would provide flexibility.

“It’s a local control issue,” Williams said.

The bill would, for instance, allow a district to go to a 4-day school week which could benefit rural districts that have bigger fuel and transportation costs.

The bill was sent to the House Education Committee.

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Strip club fee in the works

By Mary Lou Pickel | Thursday, January 29, 2009, 09:54 AM

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Sen. Jack Murphy (R-Cumming) plans to introduce legislation next week that will charge strip club patrons $5 to go inside a club. The money would help pay for services for sexually exploited children.

Sen. Renee Unterman (R-Buford) and Murphy held a press conference this morning highlighting the problem of child sexual abuse in Atlanta.

Unterman said there’s an unfortunate slogan: “Come to Atlanta, but don’t bring your family.”

About 200 to 300 young girls, meaning girls 12 to 14 years old, are sexually exploited in Georgia every month, she said.

According to Unterman, young girls are prostituted on Georgia’s streets, on Craigslist, through escort services and in major hotels.

Unterman plans to introduce accompanying legislation today that will raise the age of strip club dancers, bartenders and waitresses to 21. Another bill would broaden the definition of child abuse to include any person (not just a parent or guardian) who allows a child to engage in prostitution or commercial sexual conduct.

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UPDATED: Action coming to the House … soon

By Aaron Gould Sheinin | Thursday, January 29, 2009, 09:34 AM

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

It’s Day 9 of the 2009 General Assembly and the Georgia House could see its first action on actual legislation today.

It’s a fairly innocuous bill, but HB 117 has been approved for consideration by the almighty House Rules Committee, the gatekeeper to a floor vote.

The bill, co-sponsored by Republican and Democratic leaders cleans up some language in the state code, making consistent the names of a couple of House and Senate committees. Still, it’s a sign that bigger and better things are on their way to the floor.

Speaking of which … HB 143, the bill dealing with the homeowner tax relief grants, is on the House’s general calendar, meaning it has made it out of committee. The Rules Committee is meeting as this is written and 143, as well as the constitutional amendment, HR 1, which deals with freezing property assessments, are being discussed. Both bills could come up on the floor on Friday.

When those do come up, we could see the first actual floor debate of the year.

UPDATE: The Rules Committee just voted to put HR 1 and HB 143 on the calendar for Friday, meaning both bills should come up for debate and vote. One amendment was approved for the resolution. There was opposition to both, but Ehrhart gave the vote to the supporters.

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Revision of trauma network commission in the works

By Mary Lou Pickel | Wednesday, January 28, 2009, 05:32 PM

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Gov. Sonny Perdue’s office is working on a bill to restructure the Georgia Trauma Care Network Commission.

The nine-member commission was created two years ago to create a framework for a statewide trauma network. It is the body that receives state money to bolster the current trauma network and expand it.

Sen. Cecil Staton (R-Macon), a supporter of a trauma care network, has seen versions of the bill and says it could give more direction on how to spend the money.

“The bill may give a few more specifics on what the commission can do,” Staton said. Also, the bill will try to avoid the creation of another bureaucracy, Staton said, making sure the commission works with an existing state division that provides emergency services.

Of the nine members on the trauma commission, five were appointed by the governor, two by the lieutenant governor, and two by the speaker of the House.

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More than 2,600 take scholarship tax credit

By Aaron Gould Sheinin | Wednesday, January 28, 2009, 04:19 PM

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

The state of Georgia approved more than $6.5 million in tax credits in 2008 to individuals and corporations who donated money to organizations that give scholarships for students to attend private schools, the Department of Revenue said Wednesday.

The tax credits were approved more 2,627 individuals and 19 corporations, the department said. The General Assembly created the Student Scholarship Tax Credit program in 2008 as a way to encourage private contributions to scholarship funds.

But taxpayers left a lot of money on the table. The state had set aside $50 million for the tax credits, meaning more than $43 million was left unused. A major reason for that is that the program was not created until late spring and it took several months for most of the scholarship organizations to organize and market the system.

Only 10 scholarship organizations received approved donations, the Revenue department said.

The maximum credit allowed is $1,000 for individual filers; $2,500 for married couples filing a joint return; $1,250 for a married person filing a separate return; and 75 percent of a corporation’s income tax liability.

Rep. Earl Ehrhart (R-Powder Springs) has introduced legislation this year that would make it easier for contributors to qualify and streamline the approval process.

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An anti-corruption proposal: make state contractors report campaign dollars

By Mary Lou Pickel | Wednesday, January 28, 2009, 10:55 AM

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Sen. George Hooks (D-Americus) looks at the political mess in Illinois and shivers. He told the Senate today he doesn’t want the same thing to happen in Georgia.

His solution? A bill that would require companies with state contracts, or potential contracts, to report campaign donations within two business days to the state’s ethics commission.

“I personally am appalled to see what is going on in the state of Illinois,” Hooks said. Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich faces impeachment by the state Senate and criminal corruption charges, including that he demanded campaign contributions to sign legislation.

“We need to take care of our own business and correct some loopholes we found in our own system,” Hooks said.

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Lawmakers seek tougher food safety rules

By Craig Schneider | Wednesday, January 28, 2009, 10:13 AM

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Georgia’s agriculture chief Wednesday asked the state Legislature to toughen salmonella reporting rules regarding peanut butter plants, following reports that a plant had found the bacteria and not told the state.

Commissioner Tommy Irvin requested that lawmakers pass a law to require mandatory reporting of internal testing at the peanut butter plants.

“This is where you can help us,” Irvin told a morning meeting of the House Agriculture and Consumer Affairs Committee.

Committee chairman Tom McCall (R-Elberton) responded, “I think that’s in order.” After the meeting, Irvin said he would also like the law to include mandatory internal testing by the peanut butter plants.

A Blakely plant owned by Peanut Corp. of America has become the focus of a national salmonella outbreak that has sickened some 500 people in 43 states and may be linked to eight deaths. About half of those sickened are children.

On Tuesday, federal health officials said that the plant had found salmonella contamination on 12 occasions in the past two years, but the company sold some of the product after subsequent testing by an outside lab. The peanut butter plants are not legally required to report their internal testing to the state.

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Lonely attempt to merge historically black colleges

By James Salzer | Wednesday, January 28, 2009, 09:57 AM

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Senate Higher Education Chairman Seth Harp filed a resolution this week urging the Board of Regents to consider merging system schools in Savannah and Albany.

Harp (R-Midland), first raised the idea in budget hearings last fall as a way to save money in a down economy. He wants the Regents to consider merging Armstrong Atlantic State University and Savannah State University, both located in Savannah, and Albany State University and Darton College, but located in Albany.

Besides the usual difficult political struggle that would go into any attempt to merge colleges, Harp’s proposal has the bonus of trying to merge two historically black colleges with predominately white schools. His idea has received strong opposition, particularly from supporters of historically black colleges, for months.

Unlike many bills and resolution, no other senator signed on to co-sponsor Harp’s proposal.

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Don’t ignore foreclosures when valuing property

By Mary Lou Pickel | Tuesday, January 27, 2009, 04:21 PM

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Sen. Chip Pearson (R-Dawsonville) introduced Senate Bill 55 this week that would require tax assessors to include foreclosures in a neighborhood when assessing the value of a home.

It’s not fair to ignore the low price that a foreclosure fetches when calculating the assessed value of other homes in the area, Pearson said.

That low sales price has an impact on the value of other properties and should be reflected in the assessed value and therefore in the property taxes homeowners pay, the senator said.

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Property tax grant could die next year

By James Salzer | Tuesday, January 27, 2009, 11:07 AM

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

House Republican leaders are pushing new legislation that would likely eliminate the homeowners’ property tax relief grant next year.

The legislation, which could be voted on as quickly as Friday, would essentially guarantee the grant is funded this fiscal year, which ends June 30.

The grant, which reduces property taxes on average by about $200 to $300 per homeowner, costs the state about $428 million a year.

Gov. Sonny Perdue cut the grant out of his spending plan for this year because of the economic slowdown, but lawmakers are looking for spending cuts to save it for this year.

Under the bill sponsored by House Ways and Means Chairman Larry O’Neal (R-Bonaire) and co-sponsored by most of the House leadership team, the grant’s long-term survival will depend on growth in state revenue. In addition, lawmakers won’t appropriate the money until the mid-year budget is drawn up during their legislative sessions.

That essentially means if the bill passes, lawmakers will not appropriate the money in advance for the upcoming year even if the economy miraculously recovers and state revenues start to grow. So the grants aren’t likely to be on next year’s tax bill.

County officials have already said without the grants, tax bills will go up.

House Appropriations Chairman Ben Harbin (R-Evans), a co-sponsor of the bill, said, “If passed, the bill will require us to fund the (grants) this year.”

After that, it will depend on whether the state takes in enough tax money to afford it.

“If revenue goes down or doesn’t go up by enough, you can’t do it,” Harbin said. “It ties it to some revenue numbers. When revenues aren’t good, this is something that should not tie your hands.

“With the revenues dropping like they have, our hands are tied (this year) because we made the commitment. In future years, you should have the revenue before you pass out grants.”

— James Salzer

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Democrat proposes statewide transportation tax

By Mary Lou Pickel | Tuesday, January 27, 2009, 10:51 AM

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Not to be outdone by senate Republicans on transportation and property tax relief, a long-time Democrat introduced an opposing plan today.

Sen. Steve Thompson (D-Marietta) introduced a bill calling for a constitutional amendment to create a statewide penny sales tax for transportation improvements.

Thompson said he worried about “connectivity” of projects, fearing a regional transportation plan might not mesh projects together effectively.

His speech in the senate comes a day after Senate Majority Leader Chip Rogers (R-Woodstock) and Sen. Jeff Mullis (R-Chickamauga), held a press conference announcing their regional penny sales tax plan for roads, rail, bridges and other transportation projects.

Rogers also promised that senate Republicans would support property tax relief amounting to an average of $200 to $300 per year for most homeowners.

Thompson upped the ante on that idea, saying his bill would provide a constitutional amendment protecting the homestead tax relief money permanently.

“It builds it into the constitution where no one can veto it,” Thompson said.

Because Democrats are in the minority, Thompson joked that his plan had little chance of passing. “I don’t expect this thing to fly through here,” he said.

The Homestead Tax Relief Grant is money the state gives to local governments, which in turn give it to homeowners to reduce their property taxes. It amounts to $200 to $300 per year on average. This is above and beyond the homestead exemption that each property owner can claim on their primary residence.

Meanwhile, a House Republican has introduced a bill that would fund that tax relief this year, but make it contingent upon healthy state revenues in the future.

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Action is elsewhere

By Aaron Sheinin | Tuesday, January 27, 2009, 10:02 AM

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

It’s Day 7 of the 2009 Georgia General Assembly and the House and Senate convened moments ago.

Neither will be in chambers long, as the action of the session continues to be in committee. Budget writers will get more than an ear-full again today as appropriations subcommittees hear from officials in higher education, public safety and more.

Coming up at 1 p.m. the Joint Economic Development Committee will gather and hear a presentation on sustainable energy, which could be interesting. We’ll see, right? What’s sustainable to some might not be to others.

In the meantime, it’s Tuesday morning, and here’s an appropriate song to get us started.

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A powerful message for trauma care

By Aaron Gould Sheinin | Monday, January 26, 2009, 01:58 PM

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Often the debates and speeches over public policy and taxpayer money at the Georgia Capitol are dry, anonymous affairs. That was not the case Monday morning in the House.

Rep. Ron Stephens (R-Savannah) took the House floor for another rarity — to show a video. The professional-grade work was about the immediate aftermath of the sugar refinery explosion that rocked Savannah almost a year ago and killed more than a dozen.

Stephens’ video touted the professionalism and service of various trauma-care specialists, from medivac pilots to paramedics to doctors and nurses. It was, Stevens said, a reminder of the importance of having access to such care in times of crisis.

But the emotional center of Stephens’ talk was the presence on the House floor of 20-year-old Lawrence Manker Jr. Manker worked at the Imperial Sugar refinery and in the blast suffered burns over 85 percent of his body.

Sitting in a wheelchair, much of his visible skin covered in burn compression bandages, Manker, who was also introduced in the Senate, was a student at Savannah State at the time of the explosion. Stevens said that Manker hopes to return to school this summer and continue his work toward a degree in computer engineering.

Manker lived, Stephens said, because of the trauma personnel in Savannah and his care at the burn unit at Doctors Hospital in Augusta.

Manker received a standing ovation from lawmakers and staff on the House floor and much of those in the House gallery.

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Senate Republicans support homestead grants

By Mary Lou Pickel | Monday, January 26, 2009, 11:58 AM

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Senate Majority Leader Chip Rogers (R-Woodstock), said he’ll look at “every possible alternative,” to continue to pay for homestead tax relief despite the state’s fiscal crisis.

Senate Republicans will make this a priority, Rogers said at a press conference this morning.

“Georgia taxpayers are having a very tough time right now. We have to make sure not to add to their misery,” Rogers said.

Gov. Sonny Perdue has cut $428 million from the state budget planned for local governments to pay for additional property tax relief. See story on Perdue cuts

The Homestead Tax Relief Grant is money the state gives to local governments, which in turn give it to homeowners to reduce their property taxes. It amounts to $200 to $300 per year on average. This is above and beyond the homestead exemption that each property owner can claim on their primary residence.

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Senator proposes sales tax for transportation

By Mary Lou Pickel | Monday, January 26, 2009, 11:16 AM

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Sen. Jeff Mullis (R-Chickamauga) has introduced a bill that would give voters the option to vote for a one percent sales tax to pay for transportation improvements. That could include roads, bridges, rail and perhaps even a high speed train from Atlanta to Chattanooga.

Under the proposals, S.B.39 and S.R. 44, the ten-county Atlanta area would be a combined region. Counties in the rest of the state could vote to tax themselves for transportation projects in their areas.

Mullis expects the tax would raise $850 million per year in metro Atlanta. The tax would last about 10 years, he said.

“We need to do a better job in Atlanta with light rail, heavy rail, and even Maglev,” Mullis said, meaning a magnetic levitation train running next to I-75.

“It would be cheaper to build a Maglev train from Atlanta to Chattanooga than build another airport north of the city,” Mullis said.

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Rainy days and Mondays

By Aaron Gould Sheinin | Monday, January 26, 2009, 09:55 AM

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Good morning and welcome to Day 6 of the 2009 Georgia legislative session.

The House is convening in mere moments and the Senate will gather at 1 p.m. Senators are meeting this morning for appropriations at 10:30, and House members have a busy afternoon of committees, too.

Expect some news to come out of this afternoon’s House appropriations meeting on higher education. Those colleges and universities are facing serious budget cuts in the months ahead — or they have serious work to do to convince lawmakers to hold them harmless.

We don’t expect much action on the floor in the House this morning, but that could begin to change soon, as committees get ramped up and begin shuttling legislation to the floor.

But, fitting the atmosphere outside, here’s a perfect Gold Dome Song of the Day.

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Plan to close welcome center in Carter’s hometown draws fire

By James Salzer | Thursday, January 22, 2009, 03:34 PM

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

State Economic Development officials took some heat from Sen. George Hooks (D-Americus) Thursday for plans to close a welcome center in Plains, home of former President Jimmy Carter.

The agency would save $186,000 by closing the welcome center, and Gov. Sonny Perdue included the cut in his budget proposal for fiscal 2010, which begins July 1.

Hooks has represented the Plains area in the Legislature for almost three decades, and he doesn’t like the idea. Not only doesn’t he like it, he says it’s illegal.

During budget hearings Thursday, Hooks, a legislative historian of sorts, brought up a 1977 state law that says the state must have a “tourist center” in the “vicinity” of the home of a president or former president.

“I don’t know how you’re going to staff it, but you’ve got to keep it open,” Hooks told Economic Development Commissioner Ken Stewart.

Stewart indicated he didn’t know about the law and would look into the issue.

— James Salzer

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Right to life march at the Capitol

By Mary Lou Pickel | Thursday, January 22, 2009, 02:11 PM

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

About 2,000 people gathered at the state Capitol Thursday to rally against abortion. Demonstrators mourned today’s anniversary of Roe v. Wade, the landmark Supreme Court decision that legalized abortion. The crowd walked for a mile in silence around downtown Atlanta and buglers played taps.

Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle addressed the crowd as did Archbishop of Atlanta Wilton Gregory.

State Rep. Martin Scott (R-Rossville) spoke to demonstrators who held signs like, “I regret my abortion,” and “Abortion #1 Cause of Black Deaths, not AIDS.”

“We need to open our mouths for the speechless,” Scott said. He has introduced H.R. 5, a proposed constitutional amendment to ban abortion in Georgia.

—Mary Lou Pickel photo credit: mpickel@ajc.com

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File electronically or expect to wait

By James Salzer | Wednesday, January 21, 2009, 03:10 PM

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

The economic downturn is giving Georgians another reason to file their income taxes electronically.

State Revenue Commissioner Bart Graham said his employees are taking unpaid leave days to save the state money through the end of fiscal 2009, which concludes June 30.

The result: Graham told House and Senate budget writers Wednesday that paper income tax returns could take three months longer to process. That means paper income tax refunds filed in April may not hit mailboxes until late summer or early fall. Graham said there won’t be a major impact on electronically filed returns, which typically are processed much faster than paper returns.

Graham also told lawmakers that tax delinquencies have increased $200 million in the past six months. In all, the state is owed about $1.6 billion from people who haven’t paid all their taxes. That’s almost enough to fill the current budget shortfall.

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Teilhet looks for ‘transparency’ via the Web

By Aaron Gould Sheinin | Wednesday, January 21, 2009, 12:25 PM

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Georgia Rep. Rob Teilhet (D-Smyrna) has been looking for a way to increase transparency in state government and the up-and-comer thinks he’s found it on the World Wide Web.

Teilhet already has his own Web site, where he offers press releases and general updates on his doings. But, now, he’s adding video to the site and promises a closer look at the business of lawmaking.

“Too much of the debate is driven in Atlanta by big corporations and influential lobbyists,” Teilhet said. “It’s a new session. It’s a big year. We face lots of fiscal and economic challenges.”

He said his Web videos will help bring “the average person’s perspective back to the forefront.”

The first video outlines three pieces of legislation he plans to introduce this year, including one reforming “instant tax refunds.” Teilhet compares these transactions as akin to predatory loans.

The site, and Teilhet’s videos, could also have another effect: raising Teilhet’s profile with voters. The Cobb County lawmaker is expected to be a candidate for statewide office at some point, possibly as soon as 2010.

— Aaron Gould Sheinin

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Johnson preparing voucher bill

By Laura Diamond | Friday, January 16, 2009, 01:45 PM

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Senator Eric Johnson (R-Savannah) said Friday he is working on a bill to provide private school vouchers for all children.

The legislation would allow every Georgia parent to pick a public or private school to send their child to and use state funding to pay for that schooling, Johnson said.

Johnson said the bill is being drafted and details are still being worked out. He said the bill will be filed when it’s ready.

Johnson pushed through legislation in 2007 to provide taxpayer-supported vouchers for special education students.

Georgia is in the second year of its special education voucher program and this year about 1,600 students are in 145 private schools.

Currently nine states and Washington D.C. offer vouchers, but those programs focus on low-income students or children with disabilities.

— Laura Diamond

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Bill to give new fees to Georgia Power introduced

By Mary Lou Pickel | Friday, January 16, 2009, 11:56 AM

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Sen. Don Balfour (R-Snellville) introduced a bill today that would let Georgia Power charge customers early for the interest costs of building two nuclear reactors near Augusta.

Senate Bill 31, called the “Georgia Nuclear Energy Financing Act,” would pave the way for customers to pay the interest costs of building this and any other nuclear reactor or plant in the state.

The bill would allow Georgia Power to re-calculate the amount it would charge customers on their monthly bills based on any changes to the cost of building the plant.

Balfour said the proposed fee would add about $1.30 to a typical homeowner’s monthly bill. The fee would ratchet up to $9.10 per month by 2017. If Georgia Power didn’t charge early, bills would jump by $11.70 by 2017, the company says.

“Your rate’s going to go through the roof when the plant comes on line, ” Balfour said.

Opponents say the early charge will actually cost customers more in real terms.

By the time the reactors are built, customers will have already paid $1.6 billion for them. Because of that, they won’t come out ahead until 2027, 16 years after they begin paying.

Normally, regulated utilities such as Georgia Power charge for new plants only after the plants are running.

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Collins, back from Iraq, returns to House

By Aaron Gould Sheinin | Friday, January 16, 2009, 10:33 AM

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Rep. Doug Collins (R-Gainesville) made an emotional return to the Georgia House on Friday, his first day back after serving four months in Iraq.

Collins is a chaplain in the Air Force Reserves and served a tour on active duty in the war zone. Upon his return to the Capitol, Collins said he felt his colleague’s support while he was overseas.

“Less than five days ago, I was sitting in the middle of a combat zone,” Collins said from the well of the House. “And after watching a lot of good and a lot of bad, it’s hard to believe you can go from seeing nothing but concrete barriers to being here.”

Collins, beginning his second term in the Legislature, said he would eagerly check his e-mail every night while he was away from home. The technology allowed him to feel connected to home, where his wife and four children could keep him involved in the family’s daily life.

But, he said, there were people in the House chamber who made him feel missed and cared for as well.

“It was always a pretty good day when I saw some e-mails,” Collins said.

Besides his wife, Lisa, he said three House members e-mailed him almost daily. Reps. Kevin Levitas (D-Atlanta), Mark Hamilton (R-Cumming) and Carl Rogers (R-Gainesville) reached out to him nearly without fail.

“I’ll never forget you,” Collins said, a hitch in his voice, to a silent chamber. “No matter if it was not even here. And to the rest of you, believe me, there’s something to be said about an e-mail.”

Collins encouraged his colleagues to “find somebody you haven’t talked to in a while and send them an e-mail. When you’re that far from home, just a ‘Hi, how ya doing’ meant a lot.”

— Aaron Gould Sheinin

Photo credit: Georgia House of Representatives

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Ehrhart proposes changes to to scholarship tax credits

By Aaron Gould Sheinin | Friday, January 16, 2009, 09:01 AM

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Rep. Earl Ehrhart (R-Powder Springs) introduced legislation Friday making significant changes to the state’s new tax credit program for individuals and businesses who help provide scholarships for students to attend private schools.

Ehrhart is the chairman of the powerful House Rules Committee, meaning the bill stands an excellent chance of reaching the House floor later in the session.

The bill would eliminate the requirement that groups that offer scholarships report the names of its donors — and the amount given — to the Department of Revenue. Ehrhart and the Department of Revenue have raised concerns that the data would become public information, violating the donors privacy rights for tax information.

It would also change the amount of tax credit donors could receive. Under current law, individual taxpayers who contribute to a scholarship organization could receive a tax credit of up to $1,000; married couples tap out at $2,500.

The revision would put individual and married taxpayers in the same category as corporations under the existing law, meaning all donors could receive tax credits equal to the amount given or 75 percent of their total tax liability, whichever is less.

The state has set aside $50 million this current fiscal year for the tax credits, but only a fraction of that has been used as organizations first became qualified to give the scholarships as of late summer and fall 2008.

As of late 2008, only about 50 to 60 students had received scholarships, although Ehrhart, who serves as an unpaid executive with one scholarship organization, said they have raised more money in the last weeks of 2008 and plan to offer more scholarships for the 2009-2010 school year.

— Aaron Gould Sheinin

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Williams to reintroduce slavery resolution

By Aaron Gould Sheinin | Thursday, January 15, 2009, 03:30 PM

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Rep. Al Williams (D-Midway) believes the timing could finally be right.

The chairman of the Georgia Legislative Black Caucus will reintroduce a resolution offering the state’s official apology for its role in slavery.

Williams last introduced the legislation in 2007, but it failed to gain consensus, and Williams pulled it. He didn’t try last year, but thinks 2009 could be the year.

“If we had done it when I first introduced it, we would be among the first,” he said. “Several states have now done it. The Governor of Alabama said he was proud to do it. I’d hate for Georgia to be so progressive on so many issues and dead last on so many social issues.

“It’s a great time to do it,” he said.

Between the 100th anniversary of the NAACP and Barack Obama’s inauguration as president of the United States, Williams sees a kind of synergy.

He plans to introduce the resolution when the General Assembly returns from next week’s break.

— Aaron Gould Sheinin

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Georgia hasn’t seen the bottom yet

By Mary Lou Pickel | Thursday, January 15, 2009, 02:15 PM

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Sen. Jack Hill (R-Reidsville), head of the Senate Appropriations Committee, showed a big chart in the Senate chambers today that didn’t look good. The lines showed a gap between Georgia’s revenues this year and last year.

“We just don”t know where the bottom is. We have to be very conservative,” Hill told senators. He joked and said he had come up with 10 reasons to be optimistic. “Now I know five reasons to disregard those 10 reasons,” Hill said.

While the state has some ideas on how to balance the budget now, Hill said things may get worse before the end of the fiscal year on June 30. “We could drop another few hundred million,” Hill said.

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Extra fees for Georgia power’s nuclear plant

By Mary Lou Pickel | Thursday, January 15, 2009, 01:35 PM

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Sen. Don Balfour (R-Snellville) expects to introduce a bill Friday that would let Georgia Power charge customers extra money each month to pay the interest costs of building two new reactors at its nuclear plant near Augusta.

The company doesn’t expect to start building until next year. It won’t finish the $14 billion construction project until 2016 and 2017. (Georgia Power’s portion of the cost is $6.4 billion. The state’s other power companies will pay the rest.)

“If we pay for the interest now, we’re saving money,” said Balfour. “The interest is going to be born by the customer either way.”

The Public Service Commission, which regulates utilities, is also considering whether to allow Georgia Power to collect the interest early. It is expected to decide the issue in March. Some see the pending legislation as an end-run around the PSC.

Balfour said the proposed fee would add about $1.30 to a homeowner’s bill each month. Georgia Power said the fee would ratchet up by a similar amount for each of the following six years. By 2017, the typical bill would have gone up $9.10 per month or $109.20 per year.

If Georgia Power didn’t collect early, the average homeowner’s bill would increase by about $11.70 per month once the reactors were finished.

“Your rate’s going to go through the roof when the plant comes on line,” Balfour said.

Opponents of the new fee say it puts the risk of building the reactors on the customers’ backs and does not save them money.

By the time the reactors come online, customers will have already paid nearly $2 billion of Georgia Power’s estimated $6.4 billion cost to build the reactors.

Georgia Power estimates customers will break even on the early pay plan in 2027 _ about 16 years after they started paying.

The actual reduction in the cost of the project from paying interest early is only about $300 million, or one-twentieth of the total cost.

Consultants hired by the PSC and by Georgia’s biggest industrial power customers testified this week at the PSC hearing that the early collection would end up costing customers $600 million over that same 16 year period. That’s because of inflation and the loss of opportunity to use the money.

“Rate payers have a cost of money as well,” consultant Lane Kollen told the PSC.

—Margaret Newkirk contributed

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Another bald (eagle) head at the Capitol

By Aaron Gould Sheinin | Thursday, January 15, 2009, 11:17 AM

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

It’s sportsmen and wildlife day at the Georgia Capitol, and they aren’t kidding around.

In the second floor lobby, in a quiet corner off the rotunda, Department of Natural Resources wildlife interpretive specialist Pete Griffin was hanging out with a friend: a fully grown male bald eagle.

The eagle has been Griffin’s occasional companion ever since the bird was shot through the right wing a few years ago. Griffin and the folks at DNR helped the eagle heal and the pair now travel to schools and other events.

The eagle does not have a name, Griffin said, with a genuine smile. “It’s not a pet.”

But it was a popular sight at the Capitol. School children, lobbyists and staffers all made their way to Griffin’s corner. The eagle stood on Griffin’s arm, which was protected, of course, from its talons. It was also tethered to a pole so it couldn’t fly away.

Occasionally, the eagle would show its wings, the right one smaller than the left, a reminder of the bullet. Just once did the bird make a go at flapping away, enough to cause a few on-lookers to scurry.

Photo credit: Aaron Gould Sheinin/AJC

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Senators held hands, listened to Bishop Eddie Long

By Mary Lou Pickel | Thursday, January 15, 2009, 10:59 AM

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

The Bishop Eddie Long of mega-church New Birth Missionary Baptist Church in Lithonia, asked Georgia senators to hold hands this morning and pray together, saying they can’t do their jobs alone.

Sen. Ronald Ramsey (D-Lithonia) introduced Long to the Senate, explaining they were old friends from more than 20 years ago. Ramsey had recommended Long to New Birth Missionary, where Long started as a minister. Long suggested pre-marital counseling to Ramsey and his wife before they got married, which Ramsey said made their union stronger.

Long got a laugh from the Senate when he said that Ramsey introduced him to his own wife. “Some days I’m real happy about him and some days I’m not,” Long joked.

During the prayer, Ramsey and Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle held hands, bowed heads and listened to Long pray that the Senate and Georgia would “restructure and come together like a mighty army.”

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Strip club patrons safe another day

By Aaron Gould Sheinin | Thursday, January 15, 2009, 10:14 AM

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Lawmakers were to hold a news conference today to announce new legislation that could charge people who go to strip clubs a surcharge fee, but an illness has forced its cancellation.

Members of the Joint Commission on Sexual Exploitation of Minors had outlined three potential bills. One was the surcharge on adult entertainment businesses. Another would change the minimum age of erotic dancers, aka strippers, from 18 to 21. The third would create requirements for reporting suspected child prostitution.

There was no immediate word on a rescheduled date.

— Aaron Gould Sheinin

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Bill would encourage doctors to take Medicaid

By Aaron Gould Sheinin | Thursday, January 15, 2009, 10:05 AM

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Rep. Alan Powell (D-Hartwell) sees too many doctors in Georgia dropping out of the state’s Medicaid program. But he sees plenty wanting to participate in the state employee health care program.

Powell on Thursday introduced legislation (HB 89) that would require those doctors who want a piece of the more lucrative state health plan to also treat Medicaid patients.

“We’re losing so many doctors in this state who are refusing to accept Medicaid,” Powell said.

Mandating doctors to participate in Medicaid, which has seen cuts in physicians’ reimbursements, is not what he would prefer to do, Powell said, but he’s seen a disturbing trend.

Powell’s bill faces an uncertain future. He has introduced similar legislation in recent years, but it has not gained much traction in a Republican-controlled General Assembly. But sooner or later, he said, someone might notice the problem and decide to fix it.

— Aaron Gould Sheinin

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On the Road to Reform at DOT

By Mary Lou Pickel | Wednesday, January 14, 2009, 01:20 PM

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

The Department of Transportation might need to get ready for some “reforming,” based on Gov. Sonny Perdue’s State of the State speech and enthusiastic support from Senate Republicans.

“He said what needed to be said,” said Sen. Chip Rogers (R-Woodstock) Senate Majority Leader. “We’re in historic times with respect to a revenue dip. We have to re-organize government and make it leaner.”

After leaving a Senate Republican caucus meeting following the governor’s speech, the two top Senate leaders had their hymnals on the same page about the need to reform the state’s Department of Transportation.

“We re-organized the Department of Driver Services, and it was a success,” Rogers said. Perdue is looking at a different way of delivering DOT services, Rogers said. “We’ve got to take a look at that.”

In his speech, Perdue said his administration “will continue reforming DOT.”
“Once I feel certain we can deliver transportation value to Georgia citizens, I will support responsible measures to raise additional revenues,” Perdue said.

Sen. Tommie Williams (R-Lyons) president pro tem of the Senate agreed with the idea of reforming DOT. “It’s been very lethargic through the years,” he said.

Talk of department reform did not impress Senate minority leader Robert Brown (D-Macon) who said Perdue was slim on details for fixing the state’s transportation woes.

“Apparently, he doesn’t have a transportation plan,” Brown said of the governor. “That was the big gap in his speech.”

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Skepticism on New Hospital Fees

By Mary Lou Pickel | Wednesday, January 14, 2009, 12:36 PM

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Gov. Sonny Perdue’s proposal to fund Medicaid and trauma care with a combination of fees on hospitals and health insurance plans, as well as fines on “super-speeder” motorists, met with skepticism from several legislators.

Rep. Earl Ehrhart (R-Powder Springs), chairman of the powerful House Rules Committee, took aim at Perdue’s plan. “I’m unequivocally opposed to that new tax,” Ehrhart said. “That’s not a tax on hospitals. It’s a tax on individual consumers.” Ehrhart, as chairman of Rules, has great power to decide what legislation reaches the House floor.

Perdue first broached the possibility of the hospital fee at a meeting in December with hospital industry executives, many of whom opposed the idea.

Rep. Mary Margaret Oliver (D-Decatur) said she’s a strong backer of a statewide trauma network and is still trying to figure out how much money will come from fining “super-speeders,” as the governor suggested. “What does that mean, really?” Oliver asked. “We’re going to have a real split in the health care community about who gets taxed extra,” Oliver said.

Perdue has proposed a 1.6 percent fee on hospital revenues and health insurance plans to fill the state’s $208 million hole in Medicaid this year, and to provide $60 million towards a statewide trauma network.

Senate minority leader Robert Brown (D-Macon) disagreed with most of what Perdue said. “I’m just disappointed overall with the governor and his lack of leadership,” Brown said. “I don’t think it’s a good idea to tax hospitals to fund trauma care,” Brown said.

Perdue told legislators he knew his plan would “not be universally acclaimed.”

— Mary Lou Pickel and Aaron Gould Sheinin

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‘This is not the tallest mountain’

By Aaron Sheinin | Wednesday, January 14, 2009, 10:32 AM

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Gov. Sonny Perdue ends his State of the State address with a spirit of optimism that better days are ahead, but thriving later takes sacrifice now.

“As I look back and think about our history, I am certain this is not the tallest mountain we’ve been asked to climb,” he said.

“This is the time to continue building our state, to prepare for the future, to plant the seeds that will enrich our children’s inheritance,” he said. “Together, we will do just that.”

And with that, the 2009 State of the State address comes to an end.

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Perdue doesn’t take sides on transportation

By Aaron Gould Sheinin | Wednesday, January 14, 2009, 10:26 AM

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

With Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle backing a regional approach to transportation and House Speaker Glenn Richardson (R-Hiram) calling for a statewide plan, Gov. Sonny Perdue championed neither in his State of the State address.

Perdue, speaking with Cagle and Richardson sitting behind him in the House chamber, said all three men “share a mutual commitment to address our transportation needs,” and that all will work to reform the Department of Transportation.

That reform, he said, according to a copy of his prepared remarks, is aimed at “standing up a system that can take that funding and provide the value Georgians deserve.”

Once that happens, but not before, Perdue said, “I will support responsible measures to raise additional revenues.”

More to come …

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Perdue: Add fees to fund Medicaid and trauma

By Aaron Gould Sheinin | Wednesday, January 14, 2009, 10:16 AM

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Gov. Sonny Perdue, faced with a $208 million deficit in the state’s Medicaid budget, will propose a 1.6 percent fee on hospitals and health insurance plans that could also lead to $60 million for the state’s trauma network.

Perdue, in his State of the State address, said he faced unpalatable options to fill the budget hole for the state’s neediest services. Rather that cut services or charge Medicaid patients more, he said he chose to add the fees on hospitals and plans.

It will also allow the state, he said, “to do what the health-care community has asked of us for so long: one, to significantly raise reimbursement rates for providers, particularly for hospitals; and two, in conjunction with SuperSpeeder legislatiion, provide $60 million to expand the state’s trauma network.”

Acknowledging that this will not be “universally acclaimed,” Perdue asked lawmakers not to “rush into a short-sighted cut that would have long-term consequences for Georgia’s most needy.”

More to come …

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Perdue: Reform Human Resources

By Aaron Gould Sheinin | Wednesday, January 14, 2009, 10:08 AM

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Gov. Sonny Perdue is proposing a major overhaul of the Department of Human Services, an agency that spends $3.8 billion a year and “hasn’t undergone major change since it was formed over three decades ago.”

In his State of the State address, Perdue will propose a new Department of Behavioral Health that will include all mental health and addictive disease programs.

“This will improve our responsiveness to mental health needs and will make funding more transparent,” he said, according to a copy of his prepared remarks.

Secondly, the proposal would create a Department of Health, which would combine the public health and oversight programs in Human Resources and other departments. The remaining social service agencies, including DFCS and Child Support, will be combined under a new Department of Human Resources to be led by Commissioner B.J. Walker.

More to come …

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Here comes the chief, er, governor

By Aaron Sheinin | Wednesday, January 14, 2009, 09:57 AM

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle sure looks odd presiding in the House instead of the Senate. But there he is, with Speaker Glenn Richardson (R-Hiram) standing next to him.

Perdue, or “His Excellency The Governor,” as the official invitation resolution says, will be here in five, four, three, two, one …

Cue music …

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Perdue: think long term

By Aaron Gould Sheinin | Wednesday, January 14, 2009, 09:57 AM

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Gov. Sonny Perdue, who is about to begin speaking in the House, will call on Georgians and its leaders to not make the mistake of focusing on the short-term in the current economic crisis.

“This is a pivotal moment in our nation’s history,” Perdue will say, according to a copy of his prepared remarks.

“Despite the stresses of a moment like this, we must not allow ourselves to be trapped in a short-term mindset where rash decisions result in dire long-term consequences,” the speech reads.

But, Perdue will propose using $50 million from the state’s reserve funds this year and $408 million next year, acknowledging that these are “one-time strategies to help balance this year’s budget that won’t be available next year,” the speech says.

More to come …

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What’s the state of the state?

By Aaron Gould Sheinin | Wednesday, January 14, 2009, 09:18 AM

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

The answer to the question in that headline will begin to emerge in about 30 minutes when Gov. Sonny Perdue gives his annual update to a joint assembly of the Legislature.

House members are beginning to file into their chamber and senators have already gathered across the hall. Teleprompters are set up on either side of the speaker’s podium in the House.

The anticipation for this speech has only grown in the past 24 hours after Perdue told an annual business breakfast on Tuesday that he wanted to increase merit pay for teachers and offer bonuses to principals of schools that show consistent improvement.

The expectation was that this speech, and the governor’s budget proposal that follows, would be full of cuts, cuts, cuts, and not much in the way of new programs. Perdue’s plan for new initiatives has raised the interest level considerably. Where is the money for the new program going to come from? What else new will he propose? Where is he going to get the estimated $2 billion in cuts the state budget must absorb?

Stay tuned.

— Aaron Gould Sheinin

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Trauma Care Plea

By Mary Lou Pickel | Tuesday, January 13, 2009, 11:24 AM

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Photos of a demolished car appeared on big screens in the Senate chamber, a reminder of the need for a state trauma network.

Sen. Cecil Staton (R-Macon) tried to get the Senate’s attention with pictures of his crushed Chevy Suburban, the one he was cut out of with the jaws of life six years ago on Jan. 9, 2003.

“Today, I ask you to think about my anniversary,” Staton told his colleagues. Staton suffered a crushed ankle and tibia in the wreck, leaving one ankle noticeably bigger than the other. “I can walk, thank God,” Staton said.

The senator from Macon wants $60 million for the state to continue building a network this year. “If we could reach the national average we could save 600 lives per year in Georgia,” Staton said.

Deaths decrease if a patient is taken to a trauma center within “a precious, golden hour” of the accident, Staton said.

He posted a map showing areas with no quick access to trauma care — mostly in south Georgia and northeast Georgia. Students in Athens at the University of Georgia are also more than an hour away from a trauma center, Staton said.

In both the 2007 and 2008 sessions of the General Assembly, the leadership did not allow passage of proposals that would have provided long-term support from the state for the financially strapped trauma network.

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Ralston’s fate still undecided

By Aaron Gould Sheinin | Tuesday, January 13, 2009, 10:45 AM

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

House members have yet to learn their committee assignments for the 2009 session and House Speaker Glenn Richardson (R-Hiram) just said he hopes that’s done by Wednesday morning.

The House has a committee, the Committee on Assignments, that met non-stop for seven hours on Monday, Richardson said, and has not yet completed its work.

Of course, the juiciest tidbit still out there when it comes to committee’s is whether Rep. David Ralston (R-Blue Ridge) will lose his chairmanship of the Judiciary Non-Civil Committee over his failed bid to unseat Richardson as speaker.

Richardson has promised that he’s turned over a new leaf this year and will be gentler and kinder. Whether that extends to Ralston is one of the great unanswered questions of the first week of session.

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Eggs and issues, Sonny side up

By Aaron Gould Sheinin | Tuesday, January 13, 2009, 10:12 AM

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Gov. Sonny Perdue joked at this morning’s annual Eggs and Issues breakfast that maybe it ought to be renamed just “Issue,” as in the singular.

Because, as is obvious now, the issue that will dominate the legislative session is the economy and its affect on the state budget.

But, Perdue said, he’s glad the name didn’t change as there are other issues facing the state. If you’re interested, we’ve posted a copy of Perdue’s prepared remarks after the jump.

Eggs & Issues Remarks of Gov. Sonny Perdue

You know George, given the attention that the budget will get this year; I thought you might change the name of this year’s event to Eggs & Issue. But I’m glad you kept it Issues; because even in challenging economic times, we are tackling the critical needs of our state.

The national recession has had a big impact on every state in the nation and as much as we would like to divorce ourselves from that, we simply cannot. If you recall, Georgia tried to secede from the national economy several years ago and that didn’t work out too well. We are now on track for back-to-back years of declining revenues for only the second time in fifty years.

Each time I hear negative economic news I am reminded of the doctor who told his patient, “I’ve got your test results back and there’s bad news and worse news.” When the patient asks for the bad news first, the doctor says, “You only have 24 hours to live.”

The patient says, “Well Doc, that’s terrible. How can there be worse news than that?” To which the doctor replies … “Well, I forgot to call you yesterday.”

These days, it might seem like all you hear is bad news followed by worse news, but unlike that old doctor, we haven’t waited to take action on a negative prognosis.

After the last downturn the state’s reserve account was down to about $50 million - about one day’s worth of operating expenses. Since then, the Legislature and I have worked hard to prepare for these kinds of economic times, while hoping they never come, by spending conservatively, saving the rest and rebuilding our Rainy Day Fund.

In March, as the national economy began to soften, in the middle of the session, I took an unprecedented step, reducing the revenue estimate by $245 million. This forced some tough decisions midway through budget negotiations. We instructed every agency head - the men and women who know their mission best - to develop strategic plans to surgically reduce their department budgets.

And they have done great work to identify reductions while maintaining the ability to fulfill the core mission of government … providing services for people which they can’t provide for themselves and doing those things in a way that is transparent, fair and efficient.

Unlike the downturn we faced six years ago, this time, agencies willingly responded to my call for restrained spending and returned over $200 million to our state’s Rainy Day Fund at the end of last year. $200 million … real money and that will help today. Ladies and gentlemen, I can not think of a better testament to the culture change that we’ve made in state government.

… As the business, community and civic leaders of this state; you understand the importance of education. Increasing student achievement remains our number one priority.

A look at this slide will remind you where we were when I took office six years ago - our graduation rate was an embarrassing 63 percent. Since then, we have focused on improving our graduation rate, an effort that includes our Graduation Coach Program, and, in the last six years, our graduation rate has risen from 63 to over 75 percent. Those are tough numbers to move.

This next slide shows that, over the last two years alone, 4,500 fewer students have dropped out of Georgia’s high schools. That makes a difference in 4,500 lives!

Yet there remains much work to be done and, this morning, I will share three ideas that will further our progress. First, leaders matter; and I’ll ask the General Assembly to establish a high school principal incentive pay program. Under this program, a principal who can consistently improve student achievement will receive a $10,000 bonus.

I will propose legislation to create a merit pay program that will identify and reward teachers who increase student achievement.

Third, we must address our shortage of math and science teachers … Our new high school graduation rule requires four years of science to earn a diploma and, last year, our state produced just three physics teachers. I will propose a bill that will pay new fully-certified math and science teachers as fifth year teachers and bring all of our current math and science teachers up to that pay level. This will give our schools the same kind of employee recruitment tool that you use in your businesses.

It has long been one of the chief fallacies of government to focus on inputs, usually on how much you’re spending, instead of outputs - on performance and achievement. I know this business crowd understands the importance of being accountable for results.

That’s the culture change we’ve tried to make in state government, focusing our investment on generating measurable outcomes.

Leadership makes a difference at the school level and it makes a difference at the system level. In the past year, we’ve seen the stark contrast between a responsible school board and a dysfunctional one.

This spring, our State Board of Education charged the Georgia Chamber, the Metro Chamber and other stakeholders to review best practices in local school board governance across the nation.

The commission produced strong recommendations that serve as the backbone of the legislation I will ask the General Assembly to consider. The legislation will standardize board ethics policies and board training. It will clarify law delineating the roles and responsibilities of superintendents and board members and create minimum qualifications for board candidates.

Lastly and most importantly, it will give the state the ability, not to take over schools, but to find responsible citizens to serve on school boards when the existing members fail to serve the interests of their students.

Let’s be clear, most school board members in this state are conscientious servants of the students they are charged to oversee. But, I have sat in that governor’s chair and watched the fallout from a dysfunctional school board undermine earnest teachers and their students … and it is heart-wrenching. Never again, do I intend for the state to be handcuffed by our current law and powerless to help students who are being failed by the adults in their community.

And just as we have to continue making progress in education; we also have to ensure that our graduates enter a fertile business environment.

This session, I will propose two pieces of legislation that will make Georgia more friendly to business. First, we will cement our position as a leader in the biotech industry by enacting laws that respect the role of the federal Food and Drug Administration as the regulator of the safety of drugs and medical devices.

As other states have decided, I believe that FDA approval should mean something … It certainly should imply protection from tort lawsuits. This legislation will say that companies with a significant presence in Georgia will not be subject to product liability claims within this state if the FDA approved the medical device, drug or the labeling along with it. The legislation will make Georgia an even more attractive environment for biotechnology companies.

Secondly, Georgia’s courts are crowded with nuisance lawsuits, but unfortunately, they are often cheaper to settle than to litigate. Current law provides almost no deterrent for frivolous lawsuits and that must change.

I’m asking the General Assembly to pass another tort reform bill that will provide relief to individuals and companies wrongly sued. In short, if a claim is dismissed at the earliest possible stage, the litigant bringing the claim will be responsible for the prevailing party’s attorneys’ fees.

If the attorney fails to notify the client of this provision, that attorney could pay the award. Lastly, the bill will make sure that the costly discovery process will not begin until the legal merits of a complaint have been tested.

This will free up our courts to pursue justice in cases with merit, protect our existing businesses that provide jobs for Georgians and attract new investment. With the help of the General Assembly, we’ll make plain that the threat of meritless litigation is not a viable business strategy in Georgia.

… A thriving business climate also includes a transportation network that supports commerce. Early in my first term, I was assured that the solution to our transportation needs was to spend more money. Like many government programs, the only diagnosis was lack of money and the only prescription was to spend more of it.

But, just as I discussed earlier in education, too often we measure government programs by how much we spend instead of measuring the results of spending. As many of you remember, I launched the Fast Forward program in 2004, an idea that would speed up construction of needed projects.

This chart shows federal and state transportation spending over the last five decades when calculated as a percentage of GDP. There have been several points in our history where we ramped up our investment - in the 60s when we built out the interstate system, in the 80s when we added lanes to those interstates and constructed MARTA, and in the last several years under Fast Forward.

This next chart looks at the last 12 years - the six years of my administration and the six years prior. When you look at the data, it is clear that we have made a significant investment, and that our failure to keep up with an increasing demand is a problem decades in the making - not one that is fixed overnight.

On Friday, I met with the Lieutenant Governor and Speaker for a very productive session on our mutual commitment to address our transportation needs. We all agree that the most important thing for our citizens is delivering value for their tax dollar.

With our increased recent investment, one might expect our transportation problems to be solved. But we didn’t get the value that I was looking for from that money. That is why I commissioned Investing in Tomorrow’s Transportation Today, or IT3, to provide a “needs assessment” of where we are today and understand whether there is a business case for new investment.

The results came back loud and clear. There is great promise that we can deliver value if we can execute on the findings of IT3, but there is no sense in investing if you cannot be assured of a dividend, of a return.

We have proven that more money by itself is not the answer. It is clear that we need a functional, efficient system for delivering value, and the results of IT3 illustrate that it is possible.

Once I feel certain that we can deliver transportation value to Georgia citizens, I will support prudent, responsible measures to raise additional revenues. I believe we will come to consensus on funding, and I believe we will stand up a system that can take that funding and provide the value Georgians deserve.

I want to close today with a quick update on our progress in dealing with this unprecedented drought. The recent rains have been a true blessing, but as you all know we are far from back to normal. Our conservation efforts have far exceeded our expectations and, because of our dogged pursuit of common sense management, the Corps of Engineers is releasing the minimum amount of water from Lake Lanier every day. Last year’s passage of the Statewide Water Plan is a significant step in the right direction, and the Speaker, Lieutenant Governor and I will soon be announcing appointments to the Regional Water Councils, who will put our plan to work.

As we focus on the immediate issue of the budget, let us not forget that the decisions we make today will determine the kind of Georgia we have tomorrow. It is my hope that we will take the opportunity of this crisis to begin building for an even greater Georgia.

As I begin my next two years in office, I’m reminded of an old saying, that “The most dangerous politician in the room is the one that doesn’t need anything from you.” While I may not be before you again, asking you for your vote; I’m asking for your counsel, prayers and support to ensure that we continue building for Georgia’s future … not on politics, but on sound principles.

Thank you and God bless!

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Day two: Twice as fun

By Aaron Gould Sheinin | Tuesday, January 13, 2009, 09:54 AM

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Good morning, and welcome to Day 2 of our 40-day odyssey, otherwise known as the 2009 legislative session.

It will likely be quick day for lawmakers, as there is little floor work to be done this soon.

But, rest assured that work is on its way. In the Senate, Georgia Power’s supporters are expected to drop a bill on Thursday that would allow the utility giant to charge customers now for future construction of new plants. It will likely be one of the more controversial measures of the year.

Tomorrow, Wednesday, will be significant as well, as Gov. Sonny Perdue speaks to a joint assembly to present his State of the State address and will release his executive budget proposal.

Enjoy the quiet of the day, folks, the fun starts in the morning.

— Aaron Gould Sheinin

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Happy Birthday, Dear Leaders

By Mary Lou Pickel | Monday, January 12, 2009, 05:35 PM

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

There was a lot of “Happy Birthday” singing in the General Assembly Monday.

Both House Speaker Glenn Richardson (R-Hiram) and Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle celebrated birthdays on the opening day of the legislative session. Members of each chamber sang to their leaders. Richardson turned 49 and youngster Cagle turned 43.

Cagle said he and Richardson have many things in common, their birthdays being just one.

Richardson was presented with a cake in the House chamber, with eight flaming candles. Cagle and his family ate lunch in his office, with banana pudding for dessert.

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Senate offers money for oil wells

By James Salzer | Monday, January 12, 2009, 04:03 PM

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Senate leaders are proposing the state pay a reward to help reduce Georgia’s dependence on foreign energy.

Senate Economic Development Chairman Chip Pearson (R-Dawsonville), filed a resolution Monday proposing a constitutional amendment allowing the General Assembly to reward the first person or corporation who successfully brings in a commercial oil and commercial natural gas wells in the state.

The measure is co-sponsored by Senate Majority Leader Chip Rogers (R-Woodstock), Senate President Pro-Tem Tommy Williams (R-Lyons), Senate Natural Resources Chairman Ross Tolleson (R-Perry) and Senate Transportation Chairman Jeff Mullis (R-Chickamauga).

The amendment, which would have to be approved by voters in November 2010, doesn’t specify the size of the reward. The General Assembly would decide that if the wells are drilled and produce oil/gas.

— James Salzer

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Williams takes Senate post

By Mary Lou Pickel | Monday, January 12, 2009, 11:31 AM

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Senator Tommie Williams (R-Lyons) was elected president pro tem of the Senate this morning. It’s the number two position in the Senate.

Williams was first elected to the Senate in 1998 and became Senate majority leader in 2005. In that position he served as the formal leader of the Republican caucus in the Senate.

Williams, 53, who owns a pine straw business, promised his colleagues this morning that, “I will not use this position for my own personal gain.”

He focused his comments on the need to improve education in Georgia. “Folks, we have to make some drastic and radical policy decisions to catch up,” Williams said. “We can’t wait until a non-election year,” he said.

The immediate past president pro tem of the Senate, Senator Eric Johnson (R-Savannah) is now running for lieutenant governor.

— Mary Lou Pickel

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‘Hawks’ delay rules adoption

By Aaron Gould Sheinin | Monday, January 12, 2009, 11:12 AM

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

What seemed like a smooth path for operating rules for the House has suddenly turned rocky.

Democrats are battling and calling on their colleagues to shoot down the rules over the system of “hawks.” Ultimately, however, the rules resolution was adopted.

Hawks are the speaker’s lieutenants who are allowed to swoop in to any committee and vote on particular legislation whether that lawmaker was a member of the committee or not.

Democrats see the hawks as mercenaries who are able to exert the speaker’s will regardless of what a committee’s members believe.

Rep. Calvin Smyre (D-Columbus) said Republicans already control the chamber and said the hawks system is unfair.

“It strikes directly at one-man, one-vote,” Smyre said.

But Majority Leader Jerry Keen (R-St. Simons Island) countered that the system is not unusual. And Speaker Glenn Richardson (R-Hiram) said it’s a system that organized groups often use to increase efficiency.

“Our committee process is open,” Richardson said.

The rules passed by a vote of 108-65.

— Aaron Gould Sheinin

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Representatives to hang it up

By Aaron Sheinin | Monday, January 12, 2009, 11:01 AM

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

House members will have to put away their cell phones while on the chamber floor under new rules proposed for the 2009 session.

Majority Leader Jerry Keen (R-St. Simons Island) said the ban would only apply to talking on the phone, not to sending or receiving text messages.

No word yet from the telecom lobby.

The rules are still being discussed and have not yet been adopted, but there seems to be little opposition thus far.

UPDATE: House Minority Leader DuBose Porter (D-Dublin) is now calling on the House to vote down the rules as proposed. His concerns, however, don’t have to do with the cell phone ban.

—Aaron Gould Sheinin

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Cagle lays down the law

By Mary Lou Pickel | Monday, January 12, 2009, 10:46 AM

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle told the Senate he prayed for himself and for the Senate.

He mentioned the $2 billion deficit the state faces — “the most since the Great Depression,” Cagle said.

If the Senate has to make a choice between raising more revenue or downsizing state government, “make no mistake,” Cagle said. “I’ll come down on the side of downsizing state government,” Cagle said.

“There are many things in that state budget that are ‘wants’ and not ‘have tos’,” he said.

— Mary Lou Pickel

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With little suspense, Richardson re-elected

By Aaron Gould Sheinin | Monday, January 12, 2009, 10:23 AM

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

The outcome was never in doubt, but Rep. Glenn Richardson (R-Hiram) was re-elected speaker of the Georgia House of Representatives just moments ago.

Richardson, the first Republican speaker since Reconstruction, was chosen to his third term bearing the gavel.

The only surprise, even if it was just a mild one, was that Democrats in the House did not challenge Richardson.

House Majority Leader Jerry Keen (R-St. Simons Island) nominated Richardson and House Minority Leader DuBose Porter (D-Dublin) said Democrats would not stand in the way.

“The Democratic caucus, however, sees the urgency and seriousness of this year’s session, that we at this important crossroads want to show that, just like our president-elect is putting the country’s welfare ahead of partisan politics, we, too, the Democratic caucus of Georgia put aside the partisan rancor and ask that we move forward with the work of this day.”

Richardson was elected by acclamation.

— Aaron Gould Sheinin

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Senate under way as well

By Mary Lou Pickel | Monday, January 12, 2009, 10:16 AM

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

The Georgia Senate convened minutes ago, saying the pledge of allegiance. Senators and their families are now listening to the Rev. Benny Tate of Rock Springs Church in Milner.

Tate is telling the Senate that it has get over the past and move on to the future. “We must settle the past,” Tate said, in order to have a “fine 2009.”

— Mary Lou Pickel

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Bells are ringing

By Aaron Gould Sheinin | Monday, January 12, 2009, 09:59 AM

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

It’s a crowded House floor as the bells signifying the beginning of session chime.

Friends and family are crowded around their lawmaker loved ones as House Speaker Glenn Richardson (R-Hiram) prepares to take the podium.

“Good morning,” Richardson said. “Good to see all of you again.”

Richardson, in dark suit, light blue tie and starched white shirt, introduced his personal pastor to give the opening prayer. The Rev. Brian Bloye of West Ridge Church in Hiram spoke of the need to persevere through difficult times — an appropriate message for lawmakers facing billions in spending cuts.

“You’ve been called to build a wall,” Bloye said.

— Aaron Gould Sheinin

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Tick, tick, tick …

By Aaron Gould Sheinin | Monday, January 12, 2009, 06:00 AM

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

The 2009 legislative session begins in four hours and this new blog begins now.

Gold Dome Live will be a central digital hub for legislative news from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution as long as lawmakers are in Atlanta.

And with gavels in the House and Senate due to bang down shortly, here’s a quick look at things to watch over the 40-day session:

• Does the bad economy drive lawmakers to drink? Or does it drive them to clear the way for Sunday alcohol sales?

• Will the new and more reserved House Speaker Glenn Richardson go the whole session without publicly speaking his mind if he gets upset with Gov. Sonny Perdue or Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle?

• How will the tenor of the session be effected by the fact that Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle and House Minority Leader DuBose Porter are likely running for governor in 2010, and the fact that Sens. David Shafer and Eric Johnson are running for lieutenant governor?

• Will be the year that anger over traffic congestion in metro Atlanta becomes such a powerful force that the General Assembly agrees to a statewide referendum on a sales tax for transportation projects.

• Will lawmakers try to help the home-building industry by expanding home construction regulations?

• Do voucher proponents finally break down the door and get a statewide system for offering public money for parents to send their kids to private schools?

• Do Democrats in the Capitol find added clout with Barack Obama in the White House and Democrats controlling Congress?

• How much money will the state end up borrowing to build schools and other capital projects?

— Aaron Gould Sheinin

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