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Senate passes smoking ban
Posted at: Thursday, March 4, 2004, 02:15 PM
A statewide ban on indoor smoking, including restaurants and bars, overwhelmingly passed in the Senate Thursday.
“It’s time to take action to allow every Georgian the right to breath smoke-free air,” said Sen. Don Thomas (R-Dalton), sponsor of the bill. Thomas, a doctor for more than 40 years, argued the bill would help all Georgians by reducing the state’s Medicaid costs for smoking-related illnesses and perhaps encourage current smokers to light up less frequently.
The ban passed 45-7, with relatively little debate.
Some amendments to the bill’s original language also passed, including a provision that excludes small businesses that are not restaurants or bars from the ban. As a result, private businesses with seven or fewer employees, such as small offices, could allow indoor smoking.
— Sonji Jacobs, Staff writer, Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Payday loan bill approved
Posted at: Thursday, March 4, 2004, 01:45 PM
Both the House and Senate today approved a compromise version of a bill designed to shut down already-illegal “payday loans.” The legislation, which would take effect May 1, goes to the governor for signature.
After weeks of intense lobbying, the bill that was passed would give law enforcement the tools to prosecute those who issue short-term loans of $500 or less at interest rates that sometimes top 1,000 percent.
Payday loans already are illegal in Georgia, because they violate the state’s usury cap of 60 percent a year. But prosecutors have had little incentive to bring cases to court, because the offense is a misdemeanor and any punishment would be light.
The proposed law allows for prosecutors to charge violators with racketeering, which could mean as much as 20 years in prison.
Also, victims of such predatory lending practices could file class-action lawsuits and potentially recover substantial sums of money.
Under the proposed law, all lenders must be licensed, and those permits will be granted based on the needs of the community. Such lenders may not charge more interest than the law now allows, which is 5 percent a month or 60 percent a year.
Payday lending has proliferated in Georgia, particularly around military bases. The practice is to offer loans of a few hundred dollars until the next payday. The fees, however, translates into the high interest rates when borrowers cannot satisfy the debt on the next payday and have to roll over the loan and pay more fees.
Critics have described the practice as a financial treadmill for recipients but a lucrative practice for lenders.
Supporters of the industry argue that the payday-loan business meets a demand of the working poor, who do not qualify for loans from banks.
— Rhonda Cook, Staff writer, Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Dem’s counter with own gay marriage ban bill
Posted at: Thursday, March 4, 2004, 01:12 PM
The House and Senate both convened at 10 a.m. today for Day 29 of the 40-day session of the 2004 General Assembly.
In the House this morning, Rep. Jeanette Jamieson (D-Toccoa) introduced another constitutional amendment against gay marriage, House Resolution 1470.
Jamieson is one of the House members who voted against the Republican version, Senate Resolution 595, last week, when it failed by three votes of passing on the House floor.
Jamieson and many House Democrats are worried that the language in the Republican resolution would deny some existing benefits offered by some companies to domestic partners.
The Senate resolution is pending in the House Rules Committee.
On the other side of the Capitol today, the Senate is debating a bill that would ban smoking in public buildings across the state.
Restaurant associations have said they support the measure, because it would standardize such restrictions and they would not have to deal with a number of different local ordinances.
— Atlanta Journal-Constitution staff
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General Assembly to reconvene Thursday
Posted at: Wednesday, March 3, 2004, 04:39 PM
The House and Senate are in recess today for committee meetings and constituent work. The 2004 General Assembly resumes Thursday with Day 29 of the 40-day legislative session.
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Bill would relax lawyer, bail bond rules
Posted at: Tuesday, March 2, 2004, 11:40 AM
The House voted 152-9 Tuesday for a bill that would allow attorneys to have a financial stake in a bail bonding business.
The bill would prohibit attorneys from managing the company and representing clients who obtain bond from a bail bond business in which the attorney has an ownership interest.
House Bill 1206 takes out a previous section of the current law that made it unlawful for any elected official, officer of the court, law enforcement officer, or attorney to engage either directly or indirectly in the bail bond business.
— Ernie Suggs, Staff writer, Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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How it went today...
Beth wrote:
Machines worked absolutely perfect, not one problem. Slightly disturbed that the people working the precinct appeared to be about 14 years old though.
March 2, 2004 06:17 PM
Clay Waterfill wrote:
"Nevertheless, I decided to drop by the precinct this afternoon and discuss the situation with the supervisor. To my surprise I received another ballot."
This is very disturbing! One person one vote is how it works.
March 2, 2004 06:13 PM
Ben wrote:
Kudos to all voters in prior posts who reported exemplary service on their computer ballots for the presidential primary. Unfortunately, my experience was much more akin to what happened to Artis, Julie and Jeff. I voted at the Virginia Avenue Baptist precinct at 7 a.m.. I did fill out the proper registration form and the ballot/card given to me offered only the choice of voting on the flag issue before it ejected. After many phone conversations and emails this morning, I was basically told by the Secretary of State's office and the Fulton Country Department of Elections that my ballot was cast and there was nothing to do about it. Nevertheless, I decided to drop by the precinct this afternoon and discuss the situation with the supervisor. To my surprise I received another ballot. In the explaination it was my understanding that only "nonpartisan ballots" were distributed to this precinct and these were passed along to the voters, regardless of registration. While I was delighted to get the chance to vote again this procedure only heightened a feeling that voting by computer iss unreliable and not "tamper-proof". Being provided with a "second-chance" also confirmed my knowledge that I did the right thing and the experience a precinct/ballot problem and NOT a voter issue. I suggest that if you have the time, drop back by the VA/HI precinct and see if you can correct the problem.
March 2, 2004 06:02 PM
Doug wrote:
All these people who are complaining they voted on a ballot that did have a presidential primary are just not smart. There is no such thing as the Non-Partisan Party. There was a Democratic and a Republican presidential primary today.
These are the kinds of voters Winston Churchill had in mind when he said, "The best argument against democracy is a five-minute conversation with the average voter."
March 2, 2004 05:50 PM
Greg wrote:
I'm a Republican but cast my vote for the Rev. Al Sharpton. One less vote for John Kerry. May the Roy Barnes "Rag" disappear forever from the Georgia landscape!
March 2, 2004 05:39 PM
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