Thursday, March 5, 2009

Day 27- March 5, 2009

Tonight on Lawmakers, the Senate approves the amended FY 2009 state budget, crediting federal stimulus funds with cushioning the blow of declining revenues; the Governor Perdue-backed plan to overhaul the State’s transportation agencies clears its first legislative hurdle; House Speaker Glenn Richardson amends marriage license legislation to allow Georgia’s Constitutional officers to conduct wedding ceremonies; controversy over allegations that 22 state legislators are delinquent on their State income taxes touches off debate on the Senate floor; and we’ll talk with Tom Crawford of CapitolImpact.com for his thoughts on this week of the session.

The Senate has passed its version of the midyear budget. House Bill 118, the Supplemental Appropriations legislation for fiscal year 2009, is an $18.9 billion spending plan that uses hundred of millions of dollars of federal stimulus money to soften the blow of deep spending cuts. Declining tax revenues have forced the Appropriations committees in both the House and Senate to cut almost $2 billion in state spending to avoid a deficit situation. Senate changes to the bill send it back to the House, a Conference Committee will likely work out the final version.

The Senate today also approved the Governor Perdue-backed plan to overhaul the State’s transportation agencies. Senate Bill 200, The Transforming Transportation Investment Act, would abolish the State Road and Tollway Authority, establish a new State Transportation Authority and restructure the funding and powers of the Department of Transportation. Lawmakers’ Valarie Edwards reports.

In a rare appearance in the well of the House, Speaker Glenn Richardson amended marriage license legislation to allow Georgia’s constitutional officers to conduct wedding ceremonies. House Bill 184 is legislation that would require information about the importance of being tested for sickle cell disease be made available in an electronic format to all persons applying for a marriage license. The legislation passed with Speaker Richardson’s amendment and now heads to the Senate.

The Senate today failed to pass legislation that could have removed a Senator from office for failure to pay income taxes today. Senate Resolution 452 was authored by Senate Ethics Chair Eric Johnson shortly after the Georgia Department of Revenue announced that 22 state legislators are delinquent on their income taxes. Lawmakers’ Brittany Evans reports.

Patrons of strip clubs in Georgia could soon find themselves paying a surcharge. Senate Bill 91, sponsored by Senator Jack Murphy, proposes to impose a “sin tax” on visitors to adult entertainment clubs in the form of a $5 fee to enter such a venue. The additional revenue would not go towards the State’s general budget; rather, it would go towards the rehabilitation of victims of sexual exploitation. The legislation received a do pass recommendation from the Senate Finance Committee. Lawmakers’ Minoo Hosseini reports.

It’s the end of the seventh legislative week under the gold dome, a perfect time to check in with Tom Crawford, National Editor of CapitolImpact.com. Nwandi talks with Tom about the FY 2010 state budget, legislation requiring proof of citizenship to register to vote, the fate of Sunday sales and pass the buck legislation, and the failure of the House yesterday to increase statewide homestead exemption from $2000 to $4000.

All that and more tonight on Lawmakers at 7 PM.

Lawmakers repeats on GPB Radio at 8 PM tonight and tomorrow morning on GPB television at 5:30 AM. You can also watch a repeat of Lawmakers tomorrow morning on GPB Knowledge at 7 AM. GPB Knowledge is available to those with digital television receivers at .3 of your local GPB transmitter, for example 20.3 in Augusta, or 8.3 in Atlanta.

Georgia General Assembly Adopts New Legislative Schedule

The House and Senate today adopted House Resolution 565 which sets the following upcoming schedule for the Georgia General Assembly:

Monday, March 9.................... LEGISLATIVE DAY 28
Tuesday, March 10................. LEGISLATIVE DAY 29
Thursday, March 12............... LEGISLATIVE DAY 30

Tuesday, March 17................. LEGISLATIVE DAY 31
Wednesday, March 18............ LEGISLATIVE DAY 32
Thursday, March 19............... LEGISLATIVE DAY 33
Friday, March 20.....................LEGISLATIVE DAY 34

Monday, March 23.................. LEGISLATIVE DAY 35
Wednesday, March 25............ LEGISLATIVE DAY 36
Thursday, March 26................LEGISLATIVE DAY 37

Monday, March 30.................. LEGISLATIVE DAY 38
Wednesday, April 1................. LEGISLATIVE DAY 39
Friday, April3...........................LEGISLATIVE DAY 40

Lawmakers will be broadcast at 7 PM on GPB television every day the Georgia General Assembly is in session.

Wednesday, March 4, 2009

Day 26- March 4, 2009

Tonight on Lawmakers, the House passes legislation that would increase pay for math and science teachers; the Senate passes an extension of a tax break on jet fuel for Atlanta-based airlines like Delta and AirTran; a measure that would require State Senators to be current on their state income taxes passes out of Rules Committee; the Senate Special Committee on Stimulus visits an economically disadvantaged community; and our leadership series of interviews continues with House Speaker Pro Tem Mark Burkhalter.

Legislation backed by Governor Sonny Perdue to increase compensation for Georgia’s math and science teachers passed the House today. House Bill 280 is sponsored by House Education Chair Brooks Coleman. The legislation would add about $4,500 per year to highly qualified entry-level math and science teachers in public high schools.

The passage of House Bill 212 could mean two more years of jet fuel tax exemptions for Atlanta based airlines like Delta and AirTran. The bill received bipartisan support in the Senate, passing 47-5. No changes were made in the Senate so that bill heads to Governor Sonny Perdue.

Legislation that could remove a Senator from office for failure to pay income taxes received a do-pass recommendation by substitute from the Senate Rules Committee today. Senate Resolution 452 was authored by Senate Ethics Chair Eric Johnson shortly after the Georgia Department of Revenue announced that 22 state legislators are delinquent on their income taxes. Lawmakers’ Brittany Evans reports.

The House today passed 14 bills on the floor. Among those successful pieces of legislation was House Bill 422, a measure that would allow children under the age of 12 to ride their bicycles on sidewalks and House Bill 220, legislation that would require all Superior Courts in Georgia to uniformly decide motions within 90 days. Although designed to remove a population restriction, the bill also strikes language in that same code section regarding judicial impeachment. Debate on the House floor centered on the role of the General Assembly in the impeachment of Superior Court judges.

The Senate passed 11 pieces of legislation on the floor this morning beginning with Senate Bill 15, a measure from Senator John Douglas which provides certified clean up for sites where methamphetamine has been manufactured. Senator J.B. Powell’s “Made in Georgia” legislation also passed. Senate Bill 117 directs the Department of Economic Development to create and maintain a website that informs the public of Georgia manufacturers and their goods or products. Senate Bill 136, which provides deportation measures of illegal aliens who have been convicted of crimes, passed. Senate Banking and Financial Institutions Chair Bill Hamrick presented Senate Bill 141, which deals with home foreclosure procedures and fees. That legislation also passed and all those bills now head to the House.

A bill that would double the current statewide homestead exemption failed to pass the House today. Senate Bill 83 would increase the current $2000 ad valorem tax exemption to $4000. The legislation requires that the exemption be approved by voters in a special election held on June 16, 2009. That provision had some legislators speaking up for their cash-strapped communities that would have to pay for the election. Lawmakers’ Minoo Hosseini has more.

As you may recall, yesterday the Senate passed a bill that would create new standards for registering to vote. This afternoon, the House passed an almost identical bill. House Bill 45 would require voters show proof of citizenship when they register to vote. Bill sponsor Representative James Mills defended the legislation against House Democratic Leader DuBose Porter who called the bill “un-American”. Lawmakers’ Emily Banks reports.

The Senate Special Committee on Stimulus took their message on the road last week. The committee is working with communities to find out how Georgians feel the federal stimulus monies should be spent. GPB Radio’s Rome Bureau Chief John Sepulvado was there when the committee visited Sparta in Hancock County.

Our leadership series of interviews continues with House Speaker Pro Tem, Representative Mark Burkhalter. Lawmakers’ Nwandi Lawson had a chance to speak with Representative Burkhalter this afternoon about his legislation to re-create Milton County out of north Fulton; the importance of balancing the State’s budget so that no tax increases are necessary and avoiding creating a deficit like the one being created at the federal government level.

A bill that would require that all drivers license exams be administered in Georgia be given in English received a do-pass recommendation from the Senate Public Safety Committee yesterday. The committee had heard testimony on Senate Bill 67 last week as well. We’ll have the highlights of yesterday afternoon’s committee action.

And it was PB and J Day under the gold dome. Lawmakers’ Alan Friedman takes us on a taste adventure of sandwiches, peanuts and other assorted Georgia-grown goodies.

All that and more tonight on Lawmakers at 7 PM.

Lawmakers repeats on GPB Radio at 8 PM tonight and tomorrow morning on GPB television at 5:30 AM. You can also watch a repeat of Lawmakers tomorrow morning on GPB Knowledge at 7 AM. GPB Knowledge is available to those with digital television receivers at .3 of your local GPB transmitter, for example 20.3 in Augusta, or 8.3 in Atlanta.

Tuesday, March 3, 2009

Day 25- March 3, 2009

Tonight on Lawmakers, Governor Sonny Perdue announces an additional $1.6 billion cut to the fiscal year 2010 budget; the House passes their version of a statewide transportation plan, the 2020 Transportation Act; the Senate Appropriations Committee passes the fiscal year 2009 amended budget with $1 billion in cuts to State agencies; Senate Ethics Chair Eric Johnson announces a measure to require state legislators to keep current on their state income taxes; and the Georgia Music and Sports Halls of Fame fight to remain open, Josephine Bennett of GPB Radio’s WMUM in Macon reports.

Governor Sonny Perdue held a press conference this afternoon to announce $1.6 billion in cuts to bring FY 2010 budget to a total of $18.5 billion– that's down from the FY 2009 budget total of $20.2 billion. He says that Georgia will accept $150 million in federal stimulus dollars to boost the unemployment trust fund as well as $1.1 billion in new federal dollars for education, Medicaid, public safety and social services. State employees will be expected to pay 5% more in health insurance costs. The Governor also said that any state employee furlough decisions will be made by agency heads.

The House has passed its version of a statewide transportation plan, The Georgia 2020 Transportation Act establishes a 1% statewide sales tax which will fund a transportation trust fund that will overseen by a committee of 11 members. The legislation, House Bill 277 and House Resolution 206, is sponsored by House Transportation Chair Vance Smith. House Democratic Leader, Representative DuBose Porter, had a few amendments that were addressed in an impromptu Rules Committee meeting: one that a member of the minority be appointed to the oversight committee; one that DOT remain the agency to receive federal funds until the agency is set up and another to insure one cent of the four cent motor fuel tax be designated for transportation projects. Lawmakers’ Valarie Edwards reports.

The Georgia Commissioner of Revenue says that when it comes to state income taxes, some legislators aren’t paying up. Although unnamed, a report generated by the Revenue Department says 19 state legislators are delinquent on their taxes. Senator Eric Johnson, Chair of the Senate Ethics Committee, is introducing a measure that would require all Senators to be current on their State income taxes. Representative Joe Wilkinson, Chair of the House Ethics Committee, says that the House is also looking to take action. Wilkinson is consulting with legislative counsel to explore options. Lawmakers' Brittany Evans has that story.

In the last few years the Georgia Sports and Music Halls of Fame have seen their budgets cut. During the last legislative session, several lawmakers called for them to be self–sufficient. Now museum officials are worried they might not have time to make that happen. Josephine Bennett of GPB Radio station WMUM in Macon has more on the fight to keep the two museums open.

Representative Ron Stephens’ proposed one dollar excise tax increase for a pack of cigarettes has yet to go before a full committee. Today at the Capitol members of Faith United Against Tobacco urged legislators to take action on House Bill 39, also known as the “Pass the Buck” legislation. The additional tax would fund tobacco prevention and health care.

A measure that would require testing for and treatment of HIV for incarcerated individuals received a do-pass recommendation from the Senate State Institutions and Property Committee today. Senator Kasim Reed is the sponsor of Senate Bill 64.

All that and more tonight on Lawmakers at 7 PM.

Lawmakers repeats on GPB Radio at 8 PM tonight and tomorrow morning on GPB television at 5:30 AM. You can also watch a repeat of Lawmakers tomorrow morning on GPB Knowledge at 7 AM. GPB Knowledge is available to those with digital television receivers at .3 of your local GPB transmitter, for example 20.3 in Augusta, or 8.3 in Atlanta.