We are now officially at the 1/4 mark of the first year of the 2011-2012 Session of the General Assembly, with our 238 Legislators already responsible for introducing 504 bills and resolutions. Committee meetings are gearing up, and we’re already seeing the first few bills make it to the floor of the chambers they were introduced in. More on a couple of them in a minute.
ACTION ITEM
At the public hearing for HB 87 Friday, Representative Matt Ramsey spoke and answered questions about his bill for more than two hours – at one point admitting that what he submitted was his 16th version of the bill and that he was already working on Version 17, which would be presented this Tuesday at 9:30am. While he was doing this, the committee room was packed to a reported standing room only crowd, and more than three pages worth of speakers signed up to speak to the bill from the general public. Hopefully, some of you were among them. Therefore the action item this week is to return to this meeting and let your voice be heard Tuesday, Feb 8 9:30am in Room 132 of the State Capitol Building. I also understand that our Executive Director is scheduled to appear on Fox 5 News in Atlanta on Tuesday evening’s 10 PM newscast to discuss the bill.
THE GOOD
We start off the discussion of the good with a note that there are two floor votes happening this week that increase freedom for Georgians. HB 44, Rep Mike Jacobs’ bill to remove regulations on store owners for putting up signs about stealing and littering with shopping carts, will be voted on by the whole House this week and is expected to pass.
As you’ve likely heard, SB 10, allowing local referendums to determine whether you can buy alcohol at a store on Sunday, is expected to pass in the State Senate this week. Another bill that we encourage you to support is Senate Majority Leader Chip Rogers’ SR 20, placing a Constitutional cap on state spending at population growth plus the rate of inflation. Had the State stuck to this limit of its own accord over the last several years, the budget cuts now needed would not have been as severe. The bill is not perfect, but with input it can be made better.
THE BAD
It seems that immigration and stirring the flames of nativist passion has become the favored Weapon of Mass Distraction of the GOP early in this Session, with several “anti-immigration” bills – which are really “anti-Georgian” bills – already being introduced. Obviously there is HB 87, but there is also HB 72 from Rep James Mills (R-Gainesville), requiring drivers’ license exams be conducted only in English which is scheduled for a House vote this week, among several others.
In addition, a bill of interest to college students and anyone who drives near a college – including on the Downtown Connector in Atlanta – is SB 53, which would increase fines for all criminal and traffic offenses by 50% when committed on a college campus or any public right of way abutting a college campus – which is where the Downtown Connector comes in, due to Georgia Tech. In other words, this gives the Atlanta Police Department even more incentive to crack down on all moving violations in one of the most congested areas of the State – thereby making congestion even worse, while reaching deeper into our pockets!
FEEDBACK
I appreciate all of the feedback from last week’s update. It was overwhelming in favor of the shorter, more generic email filled with links, so we’ll stick with this format. This week, I’d like to know what issues interest you. Are there any issues that you think we aren’t giving enough attention to? Input about what I should focus on and what areas you would like me to watch closely is greatly appreciated. Please don’t hesitate to e-mail me.
