The 153rd session of the Georgia General Assembly kicks off today. There'll be no shortage of pomp and circumstance and lawmakers get back to business and Gov. Nathan Deal is sworn in for a second term – inside, rather than at the new Liberty Plaza across Capitol Avenue.
The governor told us last night, as he arrived at the annual Wild Hog Supper, that a formal dedication of Liberty Plaza had been scheduled for Friday, at which time, he may outline his plans for a Martin Luther King Jr. statue on Capitol grounds.
Inaugural events begin with a 9 a.m. prayer service at Mount Paran Church, 2055 Mount Paran Road NW, Atlanta, GA 30327. The event is open to the public on first-come, first-served basis. The official swearing-in ceremony is in House chambers at 2 p.m. Given the constrained state Capitol venue, access will be limited, but on-air and streaming video will be available.
The House and Senate convene at 10 a.m. for the first day of the 2015 legislative session. The House will vote on its leadership. House Republicans backed David Ralston for another term as speaker at a caucus meeting in November and nominated Jan Jones to be speaker pro-tem.
he Senate will set their rules for the session.Some lawmakers are apparently eager to get started.
Sen. Josh McKoon will hold a 9:30 a.m. press conference in Room 341 of the Capitol to announce a measure that would lower the minimum age to be a Georgia state senator.
The Moral Monday coalition, which launched a series of protests in Georgia this time last year, will mark the day with a “teach –in” at 10 a.m. at Central Presbyterian Church, across the street from the Capitol, and a “ bold action” of some sort for 2 p.m.
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