Politics
Politics

Georgia Legislature settles disagreement over short-term schedule

Senators vote down an amendment to a bill on March 28, 2017. BOB ANDRES /BANDRES@AJC.COM

Credit: Bob Andres

Credit: Bob Andres

Senators vote down an amendment to a bill on March 28, 2017. BOB ANDRES /BANDRES@AJC.COM
By Mark Niesse and
Jan 11, 2018

The state Senate resolved an impasse Thursday over when the Georgia General Assembly will hold legislative sessions, agreeing on a short-term schedule after meeting four days this week.

The General Assembly set a calendar for the first 11 business days of its 40-day legislative session, avoiding the possibility of a legislative session on Friday.

Some lawmakers in the Senate have been trying to burn legislative business days as quickly as possible, allowing them to leave the Georgia Capitol and return to election-year campaigning.

Senate Majority Leader Bill Cowsert, R-Athens, said he hopes the House and Senate reach an agreement for the rest of the 2018 legislative session by the end of January.

The Georgia General Assembly met Monday through Thursday this week. Its upcoming legislative meeting days are scheduled for Jan. 18-19, Jan. 22-25 and Jan. 25.

About the Authors

Mark Niesse is an enterprise reporter and covers elections and Georgia government for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution and is considered an expert on elections and voting. Before joining the AJC, he worked for The Associated Press in Atlanta, Honolulu and Montgomery, Alabama. He also reported for The Daily Report and The Santiago Times in Chile.

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Maya T. Prabhu covers the Georgia Senate and statewide issues as a government reporter for The AJC. Born in Queens, New York, and raised in northern Virginia, Maya attended Spelman College and then the University of Maryland for a master's degree. She writes about social issues, the criminal justice system and legislative politics.

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