Tag: From The Capitol…

By: Sen. Cecil Staton

ATLANTA (February 20, 2009) – This week was truly a great week for Georgia homeowners. The Georgia State Senate is being forced to make some difficult choices during the course of the 2009 General Assembly. Tough budget cuts will have to be made as we work towards balancing the revenue shortfall. But in doing so I urged my fellow Senators to be mindful of making these decisions without placing an additional burden on our taxpayers. Every person across the state is feeling the effects of our economic recession and the last thing anyone needs is the government taking away more money from families already burdened by this crisis. Continue reading “From the Capitol . . .”

By: Sen. Cecil Staton

ATLANTA (February 13, 2009) – The 2009 General Assembly is quickly approaching the half-way point in our constitutionally-allowed forty legislative day session. We plan to wrap up the 2009 Legislative Session in 35 days, reserving five days in June for possible budget adjustments. Each day the legislature is in session, it costs approximately $70,000 per day. By shortening the session to 35 days, we save significant taxpayer dollars. I have been dedicated, along with my Senate colleagues, to ensuring that everyday we are in the Senate Chamber or in committee meetings time is being well spent and we are working on quality, fiscally responsible legislation that will benefit the entire state. Continue reading “From the Capitol . . .”

By: Sen. Cecil Staton

ATLANTA (February 6, 2009) – The state Senate had another very productive week under the Gold Dome with 5 legislative days and a busy committee meeting schedule. I can assure you that there is an overwhelming sense of urgency as we sort through the state budget crisis and make these unfortunate but necessary cuts to balance the $2.2 billion shortfall in revenues. This year is not a time for partisan politics and I’m confident we will come together as one legislature to make our decisions financially responsible and beneficial for the state’s long-term growth and prosperity. Continue reading “From the Capitol . . .”

By: Sen. Cecil Staton

ATLANTA (January 30, 2009) – Georgia lawmakers hit the ground running after last week’s budget hearing recess. Senate members met for chamber sessions and standing committee meetings every day this week. As chairman of the Senate Science & Technology Committee I held our second meeting Tuesday to discuss the future goals of technology in Georgia. We met with the Technology Association of Georgia (TAG), who spoke to us about their research on Georgia’s standing with respect to technology jobs and related industries. Georgia ranks 10th in the nation with high tech employment rates and TAG studies have shown software and IT services make up the majority of high- tech jobs in our state. Continue reading “From the Capitol . . .”

By: Sen. Cecil Staton

ATLANTA (January 23, 2009) – The joint House and Senate Appropriations Committee met this week to oversee the annual budget hearings that started Wednesday at the State Capitol. As a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee I spent these last three days meeting with fellow legislators and state agency directors from across the state as we begin the challenging process of cutting $2.2 billion dollars from our 2009 budget. Over the course of this legislative session, I and my fellow committee members will be charged with making certainly difficult choices that will affect our community and state as a whole. Continue reading “From The Capitol…”