With the close of the first half of the 2011-2012 Session of the Georgia General Assembly, the time has come to look back on the Session.
Tax Reform
This became one of the most hotly contested issues of the Session, along with Local Control of Sunday Alcohol Sales and Immigration Reform. Ultimately, it was killed late in the Session when Speaker Ralston said more time was needed to study the issue, meaning this issue will continue to dominate the second half of the Session beginning in January 2012. Along the path to this point, Americans for Tax Reform’s Grover Norquist weighed in early, saying initially it was a violation of his organization’s Taxpayer Protection Pledge before changing his statement after the reform package was changed. Democrats and others also weighed in, pointing out that at one point the proposal was essentially a massive tax hike on the middle class, with upper and lower classes relatively unaffected. This was what ultimately led to Speaker Ralston’s decision to delay the issue for further study, and is why many in the press are claiming House Minority Leader Stacey Abrams as one of this Session’s “winners”.
Budget Process Reform
After the Senate overrode former Governor Sonny Perdue’s veto of previous Zero Based Budgeting legislation, the House did not follow suit. Instead, Rep Stephen Allison put forth another Zero Based Budgeting proposal, and Senator David Shafer re-introduced his own plan. Ultimately, in a relatively quiet battle, the House prevailed and Allison’s bill made its way to Governor Deal’s desk.
Election Reform
The major change to elections laws so far this Session was the passage of a bill to allow Secretary of State Brian Kemp to set the date of the Presidential Preference Primary outside of legislative control, so long as he announces the date prior to December 31. While an equal ballot access bill was introduced by the Assembly’s only Independent, Rep Rusty Kidd (I-Milledgeville), it stalled in Committee just prior to Crossover Day and will sit there until the Assembly reconvenes in January 2012.
Prescription Drug Monitoring
After trying for at least three years to implement a Prescription Drug Monitoring Program only Big Brother could be proud of, Republicans finally got their wish this year, with the passage of Senator Buddy Carter (R-Savannah)’s SB 36. The only thing standing in the way of this poor bill from becoming law is Governor Deal’s signature, and calls to his office (404-656-1776) in opposition may sway his decision.
Immigration Reform
The biggest issue that came up this Session in terms of stealing freedom and limiting trade was Rep Matt Ramsay (R-Peachtree City)’s HB 87. While somewhat improved from its original version which would have allowed victims of theft to be arrested and detained indefinitely, HB 87 as passed has been seen as even stronger than the Arizona bill it was intended to copycat – and which has already cost that State millions of dollars defending. Lawsuits are already planned to stop this bill, and thus the moment it becomes law, should Governor Deal sign it as he has already said he would, it will already begin costing the State of Georgia millions of dollars to defend before it can be implemented. This was one of the first issues to really get the Libertarian Party on the map this Session, with our Executive Director Brett Bittner going toe to toe with the Dustin Inman Society’s DA King on Atlanta talk radio as this issue first became heated in February. Again, calls to Governor Deal (404-656-1776) may affect his decision about signing the bill
Local Control of Alcohol Sales
After Speaker Ralston kept waiting for the Senate to pass its local control bill (SB 10), even while sitting on a similar House Bill from Rep Roger Williams (R-Dalton), HB 69, the issue was finally sent to Governor Deal late in the day on Day 39 of the Session. As he noted during his campaign, Governor Deal said Thursday that he intends to sign the bill. Over the past few days, some city and county officials have said they intend the issue to be up for referendum in their towns as early as this November. This was the single issue where the Libertarian Party of Georgia had its biggest impact, with the Atlanta Journal Constitution’s Political Insider Jim Galloway being heard on GPB today saying it was a “libertarian” issue. While many members of the Party were very outspoken on this issue, I would personally like to thank our New Media Director David Staples and our Executive Director Brett Bittner for their activism on this issue in particular.
Redistricting
Late in the day on the last day of the Session, Governor Deal made a rare Sine Die speech on the floor of both chambers of the Assembly and announced what had long been speculated – the Assembly will be called to Special Session on August 15 to deal with an agenda to be set between now and then by Governor Deal, but which will most certainly include redistricting.
