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Under the Gold Dome
March 15 - 19, 2010
Week 10 |
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League of Women Voters of Georgia
100 Edgewood Avenue, NE
Atlanta, Georgia 30303
404-522-4598 |
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Nonpartisan News From The Georgia Capitol
Published weekly by the League of Women Voters of Georgia Education Fund
Editor: Tracey-Ann Nelson
Know the Issues. Join the Conversation. Make a Difference. |
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Governor's Proposal
This past week, Gov. Sonny Perdue's proposed constitutional amendment to appoint four constitutional officers has been approved by the Senate Government Oversight Committee by a vote of 4 - 3. Currently, those posts are elected by Georgia voters.
Sen. Bill Heath (Dist. 21) is sponsoring the legislation formulated in SR 1013, which would give future governors the power to appoint the state school superintendent, labor commissioner, agriculture commissioner and insurance commissioner.
Because the measure is a constitutional amendment, it would require a vote of two-thirds in both chambers. It would then need to be approved by voters in November's general elections. Should the amendment gain voter support, it would require additional authorization by the U.S. Department of Justice under the Voting Rights Act. If passed, the governor elected in 2014 would be the first to appoint people to the four positions. Appointments would require confirmation by the Senate.
This legislation faces hurdles before it reaches the November ballot. Although Republicans hold the majority of the seats in both chambers of the General Assembly, they don't have the two-thirds required to pass constitutional amendments without Democratic support.
Similar legislation in the past has not been popular with Georgia voters. In 1984 and 1988, Georgians voted against an amendment to appoint the state school superintendent. What's more, the amendment faces sharp resistance by the Department of Justice's Attorney General Thurbert Baker. Last month, Baker issued a statement calling the switch from election to appointment "simply wrong" because it undermines the competency of voters. "In a state where the right to vote was fought for and advanced, it is insulting to propose taking that right away from people, especially for critical policy-making positions that affect so many lives."
Another voting concern is how the potential amendment would be displayed on the ballot: would the four appointed posts be voted on separately or would they be clumped together in an all or nothing package?
Nonetheless, Perdue believes that the proposal will improve government accountability and will ensure that policymakers are working along-side the Governor without the distraction of campaigning for re-election.
Currently, Georgia is one of five states to have an elected labor commissioner; one of nine states with an elected agriculture commissioner, one of 13 states to elect an insurance commissioner, and one of 15 states where ballots are cast for the school superintendent. |
House and Senate Calendar
Legislators will convene on Tuesday, March 23rd for the 29th legislative day of the session.
"Crossover day," the deadline for bills to pass in the chamber where they were introduced and cross over to the other chamber, likely will fall on Thursday, March 25.
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Transparency in Government- Sunshine Week
This week is National Sunshine Week. Sunshine Week focuses on the bills centering on transparency in government and the Freedom of Information Act. Sunshine Week is from the 14th of March until the 20th. It began in 2005, but originally started as a day that Florida legislators decided to create new exemptions from the states public records law. This idea caught on in several other states and now has become a celebrated event. The week also includes National Freedom of Information Day and James Madison's birthday on the 16th of March. The League of Women Voters of the United States had an interactive discussion of federal openness policies and citizen opportunities to use government information in their own communities. In Georgia, there have been several legislators promoting government transparency this legislative session.
Recently, Rep. Mary Margaret Oliver (Dist. 83) sponsored HB 891 that would limit the amount a lobbyist can give as a gift to public employees or public officers and their families. Any gift given by a lobbyist or on their behalf that is over $25 will be returned to the giver or reimbursed to them. Currently, the bill is in the House getting a second evaluation. Rep. Wendell Willard (Dist. 49) brought forth HB 920 that would limit the amount in a candidate's campaign fund that could be transferred from his campaign account to other more personal accounts. HB 920 is in the House Judiciary Committee. Speaker of the House David Ralston has started crafting a new bill that he would like to replace HB 920.
Rep. Robert Teilhet (Dist. 43) has sponsored HB 1027 that would use the State Ethics Commission as the judge when claims have been made that violations have occurred between parties that may be of conflicting interest. This mainly focuses on the conduct of public officials and employees. If someone is found guilty they will be subject to disciplinary actions by the State Ethics Commission and any criminal or civil repercussions. The bill is currently in the house as a second reader.
Rep. Edward Lindsey (Dist. 54th) sponsored HB 122 which states that municipalities and counties that have a budget over $1 million should be required to develop and operate a website that shows their budget agenda and expenditures made. They will also be mandated to give their information to the Carl Vinson Institute. Currently, the bill has been Senate read and referred. | |
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You are invited to the presentation of
Governor's Proclamation and
Legislative Resolutions
Thursday, March 25th, 2010
10:00am
State Capitol Rotunda
Guests:
Governor Sonny Perdue
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HB 1405 Rep. O'Neil (Dist. 146) would amend Title 28 of the official tax code of Georgia. This bill also creates the 2010 Special Council on Tax Reform and Fairness for Georgians and the Special Joint Committee on Georgia Revenue Structure. HB 1405 would make provisions relative to legislative procedure for consideration and legislative recommendation; it also provides for automatic repeals and gives an effective date for such changes.
HB 1405 also calls for a panel or council and would consist of twelve members as follows: Dr. David Sjoquist, Professor and Director of the Georgia State University Fiscal Research Center; Dr. Jeffery Humphreys, Director of the Selig Center for Economic Growth Terry College of Business at the University of Georgia, Dr. Roger Tutterow, Chief Economic Adviser at the Henssler Financial Group, and Dr. Christine Rie, Professor at the Ivan Allen School of Economics at Georgia Technology Institute, Governors Sonny Perdue and Zell Miller, the chairperson of the Georgia Chamber of Commerce and two member appointed by the Speaker of the House and Secretary of State respectively. The members of this new panel would not be compensated for their services and would be purely voluntary.
The creation of another separate Special Joint Committee on Georgia Revenue Structure will also consist of twelve members. The members of this committee would be as follows: the President Pro Tempore of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Majority leader of the House of Representatives, the majority and minority leaders of the House and Senate, the chair person of the Senate Finance Committee and House Committee on Ways and Means, and two members from the House of Representatives. Additionally, chairpersons of the Senate Finance Committee and the House Committee Ways and Means will serve on this panel. | |
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Legislation
Children & Youth
SB 299- Sen. Jones (Dist. 10)
Intends an overhaul on Georgia's zero-tolerance policies, giving principals and school systems more discretion in how they handle disciplinary cases in their schools. The bill targets the widespread use of "zero tolerance" in schools throughout Georgia, which critics say criminalizes students for minor and sometimes insignificant offenses. The bill would prevent a standing court order that now mandates that a student be arrested or jailed immediately without a hearing. It also would ban the charging of a student as a designated felon unless he used a weapon in an assault or brought a gun to school, and it would give judges more discretion in how they handle cases. Status: Senate Passed/Adopted
HB 936- Rep. Battles (Dist.15)
Discontinues the current requirement that local school systems must use the state allocated school bus money to buy brand new school buses. Instead the money may be used for the remodeling and/or refurbishing of the buses. All the current safety requirements in place will still be upheld. Status: House Passed/ Adopted
Environment
SB 370- Sen. Tolleson (Dist. 20)
Proposes that even in non-drought periods water conservation is mandated and upheld. The bill also demands that any new building and/or residence must utilize water saving appliances. Furthermore, it develops programs and incentives for voluntary water conservation by the general public such as low flow toilets, low pressure shower heads, and water saving general appliances. Status: Passed House & Senate
Judiciary
HB 1164- Rep. Austin (Dist.10)
Expands the defined list of "public benefits" that trigger the need for the use of the Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlement (SAVE) Program. SAVE was originally designed for use by government agencies to determine an applicant's eligibility for certain federally-funded benefits, often needs-based, such as food stamps, Medicaid, unemployment benefits, and public housing. SAVE provides an electronic verification process through an online system and a paper-based verification process. Status: House Second Readers
Government Affairs
HB 1259- Rep. Reese (Dist. 98)
Requires businesses to agree under oath to use the E-Verify system in order to receive a business license. E-Verify was originally designed as a voluntary system for use by employers to confirm that their new employees are legally authorized to work in the United States, and for the purpose of reducing the number of unauthorized workers. E-Verify check's the status of these new employees through Social Security Administration (SSA) records. Federal law currently requires only employers that receive a federal contract over $100,000 to run all current and new employees through E-Verify. Status: House Second Readers
Transportation
SB 285- Sen. Thompson (Dist. 5)
Allows for MARTA to extend the existing rapid rail system. Currently, MARTA is confined to only two counties. However, this bill will repeal that law and allow for expansion wanted in Clayton, Cobb, DeKalb, Fulton, and Gwinnett. Status: Senate Passed/ Adopted
Health
SB 317 - Sen. Hill (Dist. 32)
Protects Georgia's citizens from being forced into any form of government-run health care. However, existing private and government health care programs would not be affected by this legislation. It also prohibits punishing citizens that that do not participate, as well as protect health care providers from any such mandate. Status: Senate Passed
* Also see similar healthcare bills: SR 794- Sen. Hill (Dist. 32) Status: Senate Reconsidered and SR 795- Sen. Harp (Dist. 29) Status: Senate Second Read
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KEY
HB- House Bill HR- House Resolution
SB- Senate Bill SR- Senate Resolution CA-Constitutional Amendment
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The League of Women Voters of Georgia, a nonpartisan political organization, encourages the informed and active participation of citizens in government, works to increase understanding of major policy issues and influences public policy.
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