State lawmakers return to the Capitol on Tuesday — several for the last session of their careers — to approve a $270 million package to help clean up and aid southwest Georgia areas hammered by Hurricane Michael.
Gov. Nathan Deal has not specified exactly how he would like the money to be spent. That will be detailed in legislation his floor leaders file Tuesday.
Legislators will also consider tax legislation, including a measure to suspend the collection of state taxes on jet fuel through June 30, the end of this fiscal year. Deal is hoping the General Assembly will consider continuing the tax break on a more permanent basis when the new Legislature takes office in January.
Lawmakers are being asked to give their blessing to an executive order Deal signed this summer that suspended collection of the jet-fuel tax. He had earlier stopped collection of the local portion of the tax.
The special session is expected to last five days. Legislation will be filed Tuesday and sent to the appropriations and tax committees, which will consider the measures. Deal and legislative leaders are hoping their task can be completed in five working days, which means the session would likely end Monday or next Tuesday.
For many lawmakers, it will be one last political hurrah at the statehouse. Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle, who ran unsuccessfully for the Republican gubernatorial nomination, will preside over the Senate for the last time after more than two decades either serving in or running the chamber.
Former Senate President Pro Tem David Shafer, R-Duluth, will also serve in his last session after 16 years in the chamber. Shafer lost the July GOP runoff for lieutenant governor. Among the others leaving the Senate at the end of the year are Sen. Josh McKoon, R-Columbus, who lost in the primary for secretary of state, and veteran DeKalb Republican Sen. Fran Millar, who lost his re-election bid.
In the House, several retiring members will return for a final session, including Judiciary Chairman Wendell Willard, R-Sandy Springs; Education Chairman Brooks Coleman, R-Duluth; Judiciary Non-Civil Chairman Rich Golick, R-Smyrna; Appropriations Higher Education Chairman Earl Ehrhart, R-Powder Springs; and Gwinnett County Reps. Buzz Brockway, R-Lawrenceville;David Casas, R-Lilburn; and Joyce Chandler, R-Grayson. Several other House members who lost re-election bids will also be back.
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