Senate and House Democrats separately unveiled their agendas Thursday, hitting on similar economic and social issues being pushed by Sen. Jason Carter, a party candidate for governor.
In the Senate, where Democrats can help provide a spotlight for Carter as he gears up his campaign, the party will push for opportunities to talk about the middle class and Georgia’s slow economic recovery.
Other planned legislation would seek:
- An expansion of Medicaid in Georgia.
- Repeal of the state's voter identification law.
- An increase in the minimum wage to more than $10 an hour.
- Creation of a whistle-blower hot line to investigate reported waste, fraud or expense abuse by public officials and employees.
The party holds only one-third of the Senate’s 56 seats, but state Sen. Nan Orrock, D-Atlanta, said the caucus plans a spirited session.
“You know, you never win a battle by sitting down,” Orrock said. “You get out there and you engage the public, you give people an opportunity to see there’s a better way to run this state.”
Last week, Carter, D-Atlanta, filed a resolution to make permanent his proposal to prioritize education spending statewide. Senate Resolution 750 would ask Georgia voters to approve a constitutional change that would separate education funding from the rest of the state’s budget.
House Democrats, meanwhile, outlined an agenda aimed at increasing transparency in government, creating jobs and promoting state employers, and building educational opportunities.
“The Georgia House Democratic Caucus will continue to push for a common-sense legislative agenda that is straightforward and benefits Georgia’s families,” said Caucus Whip Carolyn Hugley of Columbus.
The caucus plans legislation that would pursue:
- A provision in every state contract allowing for its cancellation.
- A plan to allow small business owners to qualify for unemployment in some cases when first launching a business.
- An increase in tuition grants for technical college students under the HOPE scholarship program.
- Online voter registration.
“Our legislative agenda seeks common-sense solutions with bipartisan policies that are catered toward Georgians,” said Rep. Debbie Buckner, D-Junction City.
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