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When: Saturday, March 28, 2009 @ 9:00 AM
Where: Slope's BBQ, 1131 North Tennessee St., Cartersville, GA 30120
NEW LOCATION THIS YEAR
Speaker: State Senate Majority Leader Chip Rogers
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From Sen. Chip Roger's Legislative Update The Georgia State Senate voted Thursday in favor of Georgia property owners with the passage Senate Bill 240. The legislation enables property owners to go directly into arbitration over property assessments rather than going through the regular lengthy government process. Senate Majority Leader Chip Rogers led the efforts through the Senate and applauded the Senate's passage of the bill.
"Georgia's property owners deserve realistic property values, especially during uncertain economic times. Today the Senate acted to put the property owner and government on a level playing field when it comes to assessing property values," said Rogers. "SB 240 removes government bureaucratic layers, providing property owners more flexible options for resolving assessment disputes and achieving fair arbitration."
Current government processes force property owners to go through local assessment boards and could take two or three months to resolve. SB 240 gives property owners another option to resolve assessment disputes with their county by allowing them to go directly into arbitration. This would significantly speed up the resolution process. Whoever loses the assessment dispute pays for the arbitration.
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Our 2009 Sponsors
State Senator Bill and Susan Heath
Former Rep. Jeff and Kim Lewis
John and Terry Bangert
Rep. Paul and Marijon Battles
Susan Crockett
Ted and Gail Henry
Douglas and Joan Jones
Rep. Barry & Desiree Loudermilk
Become A 2009 Sponsor TODAY! |
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Become a Bartow GOP Member  If you have not joined the Bartow County Republican Party, please take the time to do so now. Click the button below to join at the $35 Family level, or you may print a PDF membership form and send it in by clicking here. All membership dues will help in electing Republicans in 2010 and informing voters of how their elected officials are representing them. Join today and be a part of the Bartow County Republican Party.
You may join at the $35 Family level now by clicking on the PayPal button or visit BartowGOP.com to become a sponsor or join for two years. |
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Greetings!
Much is happening in the world of politics and some of it isn't very pleasant. President Obama has been in office for only two months and has already spent and/or proposed to spend well more than $2 trillion. He has also embarrassed our country with many of our allies, including the British. The worst decision he has made is his executive order to reverse President Bush's ban on embryonic stem cell research and allowing federal dollars now to be spent on abortions.
Here in Georgia, the legislative session is quickly coming to an end. There was recently a bill to add a grocery tax that I was surprised to see gain any support with a Republican majority. Yes, the intent was to have illegals start paying a tax, but the unintended consequence would still have been that everyone in Georgia would pay more in taxes. Thankfully, the bill eventually died, but it might be back next year in another form.
To find out more about what is happening down at the Capitol and before the final week of the legislative session, come join us Saturday, March 28, 2009, at 9:00 AM at Slope's BBQ for our monthly meeting. Our guest speaker this month is State Senate Majority Leader Chip Rogers, who once served as the Bartow County Republican Party Treasurer. |
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Bartow County Convention  On March 14, 2009, the County Convention was held at the Adairsville Church of God and the delegates voted on new rules, resolutions, delegates and alternates to the District and State Conventions, and a new Executive Committee. To see pictures from the county convention you can visit our picture page. At the convention, we also heard from U.S. Senator Johnny Isakson who brought us up to date on many of the happenings in Washington, D.C.
2009-2011 Executive Committee
Chairman Michael Huneke
1st Vice Chairman Fred Kittle
Vice Chairman for Events Phyllis Nall
Vice Chairman 11th Cong. District Wayne Rice
Vice Chairman for Communications Louis DeBroux
Vice Chairman for Fundraising Ted Henry
Vice Chairman for Membership Christian Coomer
Recording Secretary Melinda Glidewell
Communications Secretary Susan Crockett
Treasurer David Palmer
Assistant Treasurer Bobby Wilson |
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Last days of the Georgia Legislature
 Last Thursday was crossover day in the State House and Senate. Crossover day is the last day for bills to pass in one chamber before being sent to the other chamber. Currently the 40th and final day of the session is scheduled for April 3rd. This is usually a very dangerous time along with the final days of the session as many bills get passed without being read fully. An excellent example of this was HB 16 where the bill had a line that would allow any person in the medical profession to implant a microchip in your body without consent until Rep. Barry Loudermilk offered an amendment to strike that line. The scary thing was as I watched this was that it failed the first time. After reconsideration and a parliamentary question by Rep. Tom Graves, the amendment did pass to take out this line and then with only about 100 votes. As the session comes to a close and most of the focus will be on the budget, we and our elected officials need to watch out for dangerous bills.
From Rep. Barry Loudermilk's Capitol Brief:
The JOBS Act passed out of the House Ways and Means committee earlier in the week, but during hearings in the Rules Committee, it was decided to strip out the corporate income tax repeal which had drawn a lot of fire from House democrats.
The JOBS Act attempts to stimulate Georgia's economy by reducing business taxes and allowing tax credits for businesses that hire new employees.
The bill must now be considered by the Senate where other changes could be made to the legislation. Of course, the Senate could add back the corporate income tax repeal or other provisions. If changed in the Senate, the bill would have to come back to the House for a vote on whether or not to agree to the Senate changes. |
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Americans for Prosperity Thursday, March 19, we have a great day planned at the Capitol. First, we'll hear from Secretary of State Karen Handel, take tours of the Capitol, and learn to lobby for the most underrepresented group in America - the taxpayers!
At 11, we'll gather on the front steps of the Capitol for a GA Taxpayer Rally. Bring your friends, bring your posters, and bring your message to state lawmakers - NO New Taxes!
In these difficult economic times, the last thing we need is any new tax, yet lawmakers are looking for ways to raise revenues. Let's tell them that we want smaller government instead and right now is the perfect time to downsize. This event is free and open to the public.
Poster contest! We'll sponsor a poster contest during the rally. Prizes will be awarded for "Best Looking poster," "Most Original poster," and "Best Kid poster" - made by someone under 16 years old. We may add other categories, so be artful! Be in front of the Washington Street Capitol entrance at 11:00am sharp to be eligible for the contest. Prizes will be gift cards from merchants.
Then at Noon, join us at the Top of the Slop (Empire Room, Sloppy Floyd Building) for a catered lunch featuring a super lineup of speakers on fiscal issues - House Speaker Glenn Richardson, Senators Chip Rogers and David Shafer, Representatives Mike Coan, Tom Graves, Jan Jones, and Austin Scott. Subjects include the JOBS Act (that so many of you supported this week through our Action Alert,) zero-based budgeting, property assessment caps, education funding, and other topics.
There is a $25 charge for lunch, which covers our costs. RSVP here. Or e-mail here if you need further information.
Important:
There is NO CHARGE for the Taxpayer Rally at 11 AM on the Capitol steps.
Bring posters, but not on stakes - the Capitol Police will confiscate them.
Do bring picture ID but do not carry weapons, including pocket knives, when entering the Capitol Building or the Sloppy Floyd Building.
Invite your friends to join us for the Taxpayer Rally.
Stay tuned - next week we'll update you on the tax revolt in SE GA, the upcoming Hot Air Tour, and a national video contest!
Jared Thomas
State Director
Amerians for Prosperity
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From Senator Bill Heath's Update  Notes from the Senate
By Sen. Bill Heath
ATLANTA (February 20, 2009) - This year comes as a landmark period of struggle and angst in our most important areas-education and the economy. I am proud to say that this past week I helped create and pass legislation that will aid Georgians in these issues through measures to help homeowners, construct better standards for our local school boards, and create helpful solutions for employment and the specific strength of Georgia's economy.
The citizens of Georgia will still receive tax relief thanks to the Homeowners Tax Relief Grant signed into law by Governor Sonny Purdue this week. This law guarantees $428 million in funding which provides tax relief to more than 3 million Georgia homeowners. In these dire economic times, Georgians need to see their government is working to help them, and I'm proud that my fellow legislators in the Senate did just that.
The School Board Governance Act (Senate Bill 84), which creates better standards for school board members, passed in the Education and Youth committee this week. The bill was created to hold school board members accountable for their actions and to ensure their focus in our children. Our state was thrown into the national spotlight with Clayton County schools losing their accreditation. Steps need to be taken to ensure another school district does not have the same predicament.
Under this legislation, the State Board of Education will create a code of ethics and a training program for all school board members. A new Standardized ethics policy by state school boards will be included in the ethics policy adopted by local boards as a minimum, laws relating to board and superintendent roles and responsibilities will be clarified, and qualifications for candidates will be put into force.
If a school board is in danger of losing accreditation, the state will be allowed to take action under this plan. No longer will parents have to wait for a new election cycle to replace appalling members. When this bill becomes law, the Governor or the remaining board members can suspend school board members and replace them.
The Senate also worked to find solutions to unemployment in Georgia. In the spirit of the Ronald Reagan tax cuts in the early 1980's, the Jobs, Opportunity and Business Success Act of 2009 has been created. This is not the same as the big government Federal stimulus package. This act gives hardworking Georgia families a break in today's economy. My colleagues and I in the Senate wanted to empower individuals and small businesses in the state, not create big government.
We recognize that these are challenging days for most families and businesses, so we offer initiatives in a single legislative package that recognizes the people of our state as the driving economic force. This act gives a $500 credit towards unemployment insurance taxes, a $2,400 Income Tax credit for eligible employees, "a new" business holiday, the elimination of State Inventory Tax on all Georgia Businesses, and the elimination of the Sales Tax Deposit.
These are the steps that will pull Georgia out of this economic downturn. This initiative creates an environment that encourages the creation of jobs through the removal of governmental imposed barriers and provides incentives for job creation by independent businesses. What we are proposing is harnessing the greatness of Georgia...the intellectual capital, the entrepreneurial spirit, and the true grit of everyday Georgians.
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Sen. Bill Heath serves as Chairman of the Retirement Committee and Governor Sonny Perdue's Floor Leader in the Senate. He represents the 31st Senate District which consists of Haralson and Polk counties and portions of Bartow and Paulding counties. He may be reached at 404.651.7738 or by email at bill.heath@billheath.net.
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May God Bless You,
Michael W. Huneke II, Chairman
Bartow County Republican Party |
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