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Sen. Charlie Bethel’s Health Care Compact to be Heard in Committee Tuesday

 

ATLANTA (March 7, 2011) – State Sen. Charlie Bethel (R-Dalton) will be presenting

Senate Bill 177, the interstate Health Care Compact to the Senate Insurance & Labor committee TUESDAY, MARCH 8 at 3:00 p.m. at the State Capitol in Atlanta.  Joining Bethel for testimony will be Susanna Dokupil, Senior Fellow at the Texas Public Policy Institute.  Dokupil is a renowned 10th Amendment scholar and a national leader in the Health Care Compact movement.

The Health Care Compact seeks to restore the power of states to regulate their individual health care systems.  The measure is aimed at protecting Georgia’s 10th Amendment rights granted by the U.S. Constitution. The 10th Amendment affirms any powers not granted to the federal government are reserved to the states such as health care regulation.

Details are below:

WHO:             Sen. Charlie Bethel (R-Dalton)

                        Susanna Dokupil; Senior Research Fellow, Texas Public Policy Foundation 

WHAT:           Senate Committee Hearing on Health Care Compact (SB 177)

WHEN:           Tuesday, March 8, 2011; 3:00 pm****                   

                       

WHERE:        Georgia State Capitol                          

Room 450

Atlanta, GA 30334

**** Time subject to change based on Senate chamber adjournment.  Please contact us for any updates to the committee schedule for Tuesday.

 

Sen. Charlie Bethel represents the 54th Senate District, which includes Murray and Whitfield counties and portions of Catoosa and Gordon counties.  He serves as Senate Deputy Whip.

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Sen. Fort to Speak at HOPE Town Hall “We must save HOPE”

ATLANTA (March 8, 2011) – Sen. Vincent Fort (D-Atlanta) will speak at the HOPE town hall meeting today, March 8 at Mt. Nebo Baptist Church to discuss current legislative efforts to save the scholarship program.

WHEN: Tuesday, March 8, 2011
7:00 p.m.

WHERE: Mt. Nebo Baptist Church and Life Center
1025 McDonough Blvd SE
Atlanta, GA 30315

Sen. Vincent Fort represents the 39th Senate District which includes a portion of Fulton County.  He may be reached at his office at the Capitol at 404.656.5091, or by cell phone at 404.287.7116.

ADVISORY
For Immediate Release:
March 8, 2011
For Information Contact:
Natalie Strong, Director
Kallarin Richards, Deputy Director
Kallarin.Richards@senate.ga.gov
404.656.0028

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South Georgia Legislators Express Concerns over Blakely RYDC Closing

ATLANTA (March 3, 2011) — Sen. John Bulloch (R-Ochlocknee) and Rep. Gerald Greene (R-Cuthbert) have expressed concerns over the closing of the Blakely Regional Youth Development Center. The Department of Juvenile Justice is closing this facility due to budget constraints.

“Closing the Blakely Regional Youth Development Center will be detrimental to the communities in Southwest Georgia. This facility provides jobs for the area; offers help for kids who have broken the law and help gets them back on track to become a contributing member of society,” said Sen. Bulloch. “After working with the department to ensure this facility stays open, I’m incredibly disappointed that reductions couldn’t be found elsewhere.”

“It’s a sad day for Blakely and Early County. The Blakely Regional Youth Development facility has done so well for juveniles in the area and I think it’s a terrible mistake for the Department of Juvenile Justice to close this facility,” said Rep. Greene. “I know sacrifices must be made, but we have to be careful where we cut. These youth shouldn’t be faced with bearing the brunt of the economic recession.”

The department’s budget will be reduced by $5.4 million. The closure of the 30-bed Blakely RYDC in Early County will be effective April 1, 2011. The youth affected by this move will be transferred to other facilities nearby where beds are currently available.

The Blakely RYDC provides temporary, secure care and supervision to youths who are charged with crimes or who have been found guilty of crimes and are awaiting disposition of their cases by a juvenile court. Youths committed to the custody of DJJ are frequently held in secure detention while awaiting placement in one of DJJ’s treatment programs or facilities. The program also provides education, individual guidance and counseling, medical services, recreation, and arts and crafts. Clothing, meals, and medical and emergency dental care are a part of each center’s basic care program.

Sen. John Bulloch serves as Chairman of the Agriculture and Consumer Affairs Committee. He represents the 11th Senate District which includes Colquitt, Decatur, Early, Grady, Miller and Seminole counties and portions of Mitchell and Thomas counties. He may be reached by phone at 404.656.0040 or by e-mail at john.bulloch@senate.ga.gov.

Rep. Gerald Greene represents the 149th House District, which includes Calhoun, Clay, Early, Miller, Randolph, and Seminole counties. He can be reached at gerald.greene@house.ga.gov

PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release:
March 3, 2011
For Information Contact:
Katie Wright, Communications Manager
Katie.Wright@senate.ga.gov
404.656.0028


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Bethel Introduces “Health Care Compact” in Senate to Protect Georgia’s 10th Amendment Rights

ATLANTA (March 3, 2011) – A bill seeking to restore the power of states to regulate their individual health care systems was formally introduced in the Georgia State Senate this week.  State Sen. Charlie Bethel (R-Dalton) has sponsored Senate Bill 177, or the interstate “Health Care Compact.”  The measure is aimed at protecting Georgia’s 10th Amendment rights granted by the U.S. Constitution. The 10th Amendment affirms any powers not granted to the federal government are reserved to the states such as health care regulation, according to Bethel. Continue reading “Bethel Introduces “Health Care Compact” in Senate to Protect Georgia’s 10th Amendment Rights”