Politics
Politics

Cagle, Georgia Senate leaders pleased with progress at the Legislature

Georgia Senate leaders today at the state Capitol. BOB ANDRES / BANDRES@AJC.COM
Georgia Senate leaders today at the state Capitol. BOB ANDRES / BANDRES@AJC.COM
By Kristina Torres
March 6, 2017

Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle and other GOP Senate leaders said Monday they were pleased with advancing their legislative priorities this year, although the tough part is about to come as that legislation faces review in the state House.

Top issues for the majority Republican caucus in the Senate have included charting a regional transportation plan for the state, education initiatives to bolster job training programs in high schools and a push to make the Georgia Lottery put more money into the state's popular HOPE scholarship and pre-k programs.

Among other efforts, the caucus has additionally backed a package of bills aimed at extending protections for law enforcement officers as well as a rewrite of the state's domestic terrorism law.

Also Monday, the caucus announced the first public meeting of a new “repeal Obamacare” task force to guide how Georgia responds to President Donald Trump’s upcoming changes to the federal Affordable Care Act.

The task force is expected to meet at 1 p.m. Friday in Room 450 of the Capitol.

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