Last week, only one bill that survived Crossover Day was acted on – HB 80, Rep Mark Hamilton (R-Cumming)’s bill regarding local government services on unincorporated islands. Therefore, the House still has 107 bills and 2 resolutions to consider, while the Senate has 154 bills to consider in the next seven legislative days. Those seven days are currently scheduled to be the 5 work days this week, as well as Tuesday, April 12 and the final day, called Sine Die, is currently scheduled for Thursday, April 14. Holding to this would guarantee a special session this fall for the purposes of redistricting. A LOT is going to happen this week, and your best bet to stay informed is to check this site continuously, as it has access to all bills, calendars, meeting schedules, and the like. If you have any questions about how to find something on it, please do not hesitate to email me.
ACTION ITEM
We now are down to the wire in our effort to prevent the Republicans from introducing their own form of a baby incarnation of Big Brother – the Prescription Drug Monitoring Program. We successfully fought this off each of the last two years, and we have done it both times after it passed to the other chamber. That has happened this year already, and now we need to stop SB 36 in the House. Tomorrow morning, Monday, March 28, 2011 at 8:45am, the House Judicial Non-Civil Committee will meet to discuss this bill. Republicans control this committee 12 – 4, which is roughly their representation on the Floor. Please contact your Representative and voice your opposition to SB 36, particularly if you live in one of these districts: Rich Golick, Mark Hatfield, Charlice Byrd, Roberta Abdul-Salaam, Stacey Abrams, Alex Atwood, Stephanie Stuckey-Benfield, Doug Collins, Christian Coomer, Sharon Cooper, Bobby Franklin, Yasmin Neal, BJ Pak, Matt Ramsey, Nikki Randall, and Ed Setzler.
THE GOOD
One bill under consideration by the Senate is Rep Matt Ramsey (R-Peachtree City)’s HB 47, which would delay the implementation of any Federal cap and trade system until it could be evaluated for its impact on the State of Georgia. The Libertarian Party of Georgia feels that going green is a smart business move that should be made by private business owners free of government interference, and we welcome a full and open discussion on this issue in Georgia. Another good bill that limits government power is Senator William Ligon (R-Brunswick)’s SB 21, which would prohibit audits beyond three years after the date the tax return in question was filed.
THE BAD
Senator Steve Gooch (R-Dahlonega)’s SB 57 would mandate that no one with a criminal record of any kind could obtain a license to drive any form of passenger bus, including both Greyhound-type buses and school buses. SB 93 is Senator Buddy Carter (R-Pooler)’s attempt to add more than 30 new substances to the Schedule I, III, IV, and V controlled drugs list – including at least one substance that is a bath salt!
