Thursday, March 12, 2009

Day 30- March 12, 2009

Tonight on Lawmakers, it’s crossover day, legislative day 30, the last chance for bills to pass out of their originating chambers, Senate debate on embryo legislation focuses on donor compensation, legislation intended to stimulate Georgia’s economy passes the House, two ethics bills regulating lobbyists pass the Senate and the House votes to eliminate the ad valorem tax on vehicles.

Attracting new business to Georgia and giving the unemployed some breathing room was the focus of a handful of bills which passed the House earlier today. Representative Tom Graves sponsored House Bill 482, which would exempt business inventory from ad valorem taxes. House Bill 481, the Jobs, Opportunity and Business Act would give approximately a half billion dollars in tax breaks to small businesses. House Bill 581 brings $226 million in federal stimulus to help Georgia’s unemployed. House Bill 261 would provide a state income tax exemption for new home purchase and House Bill 439, backed by Governor Perdue, would provide corporate tax breaks for businesses in less developed parts of the State or who relocate to Georgia. Lawmakers’ Valarie Edwards has that story.

No more birthday tax- the House today approved a measure that would eliminate the ad valorem tax on vehicles. That tag is routinely collected at car tag renewal time on the birthday of vehicle owners. Representative Harry Geisiner sponsors House Bill 480. This idea was championed by Speaker Glenn Richardson last year.

The Senate today approved a measure that would allow voters in municipalities that employ in excess of 1500 police officers and firefighters combined to decide to create a special tax district. Senate Bill 77 is aimed at Atlanta’s current shortfalls that have forced furloughs in the public safety department. Senator Kasim Reed sponsors the legislation which aims to save these jobs and prevent possible furloughs and layoffs.

Senate Bill 169, the Ethical Treatment of Human Embryos Act, began as the “Octomom” bill, but was stripped of any provision limiting the number of in-vitro implanted embryos. The content of the bill substitute that passed out of Health and Human Services gives embryos the status of personhood rather than property. Today’s Senate debate on the bill centered on “valuable consideration”- or potential compensation- for egg donors. Lawmakers’ Brittany Evans has the latest.

The House voted today to allow pre-birth adoption. Opponents of House Bill 388 charge that a means for adopting embryos is not needed in Georgia, but bill sponsor Representative James Mills says the measure has the support of both pro-choice and pro-life groups.

The Senate passed two ethics reform bills today. Combined, Senate Bills 17 and 96 would make three main changes to the ethics law- changes legislators say will provide more integrity in the law making process. GPB Radio’s Rome Bureau Chief John Sepulvado reports for Lawmakers.

Committee chairmen could soon require legislators and anyone else testifying before their committee swear and oath that they are telling the truth. Senate Bill 7, the Truth in Testimony Act is sponsored by Senator Ed Tarver.

A bill that would prohibit teens from talking or texting while driving passed the House today. House Bill 23 would prohibit the use of cell phones or similar electronic devices while driving for those under the age of 18. Lawmakers’ Minoo Hosseini has more.

And we’ll have the results of our weekly legislative issue poll! 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.

Wednesday, March 11, 2009

Lawmakers Returns Tomorrow, Thursday, March 12

Lawmakers, Georgia Public Broadcasting's nightly coverage of the Georgia General Assembly each day that the legislature is in session, returns tomorrow, Thursday, March 12 at 7 PM. Join us for the crucial Crossover Day. It's legislative day 30, that means it's the final day that legislation can pass out of the chamber of origination.

And just as a reminder of upcoming Lawmakers broadcasts, House Resolution 565 determines the following schedule for the Georgia General Assembly:

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.

Tuesday, March 10, 2009

Day 29- March 10, 2009

Tonight on Lawmakers, the House and Senate agree to the Conference Committee Report on the FY 09 amended budget, the House takes aim at increasing the regulation of food processing plants on a local level, the House votes to eliminate the universal access fee to fund rural telephone service but fails to give passage to a measure that would prevent pharmacists from prescribing some generics, the Senate approves measures that would protect borrowers from subprime loans and require that every drivers’ license exam administered in Georgia be given in English only; and our leadership series of interviews continues with Senate Democratic Whip David Adelman.

House and Senate Conferees came to an agreement on the $18.9 billion amended 09 budget today. House Bill 118 includes state government spending reductions of almost $2 billion, but protects the $428 million Homeowners’ Tax Relief Grants. The plan also cuts State legislative office budgets by 8%. Federal stimulus funds have cushioned to blow of deeper budget cuts.

Senate Bill 57 passed the Senate today. The Georgia Fair Lending Act aims to protect borrowers from subprime home loans. The legislation defines what a subprime loan is and defines the role of a mortgage broker. According to the bill, creditors can’t offer loans without “reasonably and in good faith” believing that the borrower can afford it. Lawmakers’ Brittany Evans reports.

A bill that changes the way that food processing plants are regulated passed the House today. House Bill 381 was proposed as a preventative measure following the recent salmonella outbreak at a peanut processing plant in Blakely, Georgia. The legislation revises certain provisions of the Georgia Food Act to increase local regulation. Lawmakers’ Evan Seitz has more.

Legislation calling for the reinstatement of the 4% sales tax on groceries could come to the House floor for a vote on Thursday, but it is more likely dead for the session. House Bill 67, sponsored by Representative Chuck Sims, received a do pass by committee substitute from the House Ways and Means Committee last week.

A measure to prohibit the administration of drivers’ license exams in any language other than English also passed the Senate today. Senate Bill 67 also known as the “English Only” bill would not only limit the test to the English language but it would also limit the tie frame for which a temporary license exam can be taken in any other language. Lawmakers’ Minoo Hosseini has more.

Our leadership series of interviews continues with Senate Democratic Whip, Senator David Adelman. Lawmakers’ David Zelski had a chance to talk with Senator Adelman this afternoon to discuss the State’s budget and and pending legislation as the General Assembly approaches teh crossover day- Day 30.

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.

Day 28- March 9, 2009

Tonight on Lawmakers, the House passes a controversial measure to increase fines on super speeders, a Senate committee votes to ban embryonic stem cell research in Georgia, opponents and proponents speak out; the $18.9 billion 2009 amended budget heads to conference committee, the Senate approves Governor-Perdue backed legislation to waive liability for landowners willing to open their property for agri-tourism purposes and the House adopts legislation aimed at building Georgia’s workforce for high demand, high skill and high paying jobs.

Legislation backed by Governor Sonny Perdue that would tack an additional fine to speeding tickets passed by a wide margin in the House today. However, the so-called “Super Speeder” bill had its detractors. House Bill 160, sponsored by Representative Jim Cole would add $200 to the cost of a speeding ticket where the offender is caught driving 85 MPH or more on the State’s highways. On a two lane road, the excessive speed threshold is 75 MPH or more. Lawmakers’ Valarie Edwards has the details.

Conferees have been appointed to hammer out the differences in House Bill 118, the Supplemental Appropriations Act for fiscal year 2009. The midyear amended budget totals $18.9 billion. The House conferees are Appropriations Chair Ben Harbin, Majority Leader Jerry Keen and Speaker Pro Tem Mark Burkhalter. Senate conferees are Appropriations Chair Jack Hill, Majority Leader Chip Rogers and President Pro Tem Tommie Williams.

A bill that would prohibit creating new embryos for stem cell research received a do pass recommendation by substitute from the Senate Health and Human Services Committee today. Senate Bill 169, sponsored by Senator Ralph Hudgens, was originally touted as the “Octomom Bill” that would limit the number of embryos that could be implanted through in-vitro fertilization. Over the weekend, the entire intent of the bill changed. Lawmakers’ Brittany Evans reports.

Legislation aimed at improving graduation rates and the preparation of Georgia’s workforce passed the House today. House Bill 400, the Building Resourceful Individuals to Develop Georgia’s Economy, or BRIDGE, Act is sponsored by Representative Fran Millar. The bill would provide for focused studies in certain fields so that high school students can graduate prepared for the job force or post secondary careers. Lawmakers’ Minoo Hosseini has more.

Governor Perdue-backed legislation that would waive liability for landowners willing to open their property to agri-tourism passed the Senate today. Senate Bill 75, the Landowners Protection Act, is sponsored by Senator Bill Heath. The initiative was first introduced last year, but supporters hope that it successfully pass both chambers this year. Lawmakers’ Emily Banks reports.

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.