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South Georgia at the State Capitol

 

By State Sen. Greg Goggans

JANUARY REVENUES CONTINUE TO ENCOURAGE

January is one of the top revenue months of the year, usually second behind April, which is often the height of the income tax season. Sales tax collections from the Christmas holidays are reflected in the January revenue report as well. At an 8.1 percent increase, total January revenues followed another strong month in December. In fact, at $1.55 billion, the collections in January were about $400,000 over the December total. Continue reading “South Georgia at the State Capitol”

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Senator Tolleson Reports from the Capitol

By Sen. Ross Tolleson

PERRY (February 11, 2011) – Every year, I enjoy visiting with all the bright and talented students from the 20th Senate District who visit the State Capitol.  This week I met with the Youth Leadership of Warner Robbins, a program designed by the local Chamber of Commerce to expose young leaders to the dynamic community and encourage their input and creativity.  Also from Warner Robbins were several members of the Family, Career, and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA) who visited the Capitol during National FCCLA Week to celebrate this student organization that helps young men and women become leaders.

During 4-H Day, the Senate passed a resolution honoring the program for all it does to teach students about citizenship and service.  4-H member Rachel Allen of Wrightsville served as my Senate Page for the day, and she did a wonderful job.  Each senator is assigned a page for a day in Chamber to give students a unique opportunity to see the legislative process firsthand while they help deliver messages to senators.  I was also pleased to meet Perry High School art students Robyn Smith and Donna and Christian Culpepper, as well as members of Young Farmers of America, an educational program that provides young farmers with hands-on instruction on how to increase farming efficiency and productivity.

Not only is farming crucial to Georgia’s economy, but our forests represent a leading industry in the state.  They create more than 180,000 jobs and contribute $28 billion in annual economic impact.  During our annual Forestry Day this week, an exciting research project was unveiled that for the first time places a monetary value on ecological functions and ecosystem services to the state.  Our forests provide $37 billion in ecological benefits.  With a better understanding of the true value of our forests, we can make better land use decisions.

In that light, prescribed fire use is an excellent way to ensure the health of our ecosystem.  I was honored to join the governor as he signed a proclamation designating the first week in February as the annual Prescribed Fire Awareness Week to promote the benefits of using prescribed burning as an environmentally-friendly tool for managing the state’s forests.  The Georgia Prescribed Fire Council works with the Georgia Forestry Commission to encourage the exchange of information, techniques and experience among practitioners of prescribed burning in Georgia.

Lawmakers are continuing to work on balancing the state budget to provide a conservative and effective spending plan for the state.  As a member of the Appropriations Committee, I am working diligently with my colleagues to ensure that during these difficult economic times, we cut spending where we can while maintaining core state services.  The House of Representatives has just passed an $18 billion budget for the remainder of the 2011 Fiscal Year, which ends July 1.  That budget will now move over to the Senate, where we’ll work on making any necessary adjustments.  Just like families who sit around their kitchen table to decide where to cut spending, we believe government must also live within its means.

Sen. Ross Tolleson serves as Chairman of the Natural Resources and the Environment Committee.  He represents the 20th Senate District, which includes Bleckley, Dodge, Johnson, Laurens, Pulaski, and Telfair counties and parts of Houston and Wilcox counties.  He may be reached at 404.656.0081 or by e-mail at ross.tolleson@senate.ga.gov.

COLUMN
For Immediate Release:
February 11, 2011
For Information Contact:
Natalie Strong, Director
Kallarin Richards, Deputy Director
kallarin.richards@senate.ga.gov
404.656.0028

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Goggans Reintroduces Trauma Care Funding

Updated measure has no additional fees; funds go directly to trauma network

DOUGLAS, GA (May 4, 2010) – The critically-needed funding for Georgia’s trauma care network has new light in a Senate resolution authored by State Sen. Greg Goggans (R-Douglas).  Senate Resolution 140, the Georgia Trauma Trust Fund of 2012, would create a dedicated revenue stream to aid Georgia’s vastly underfunded statewide trauma care network. 

“I made a commitment to the people who elected me that I would work to improve the quality of life for my district and the state of Georgia,” said Goggans.  “Well, it’s time to take action and save lives.  Many experts believe this funding mechanism could save over one-thousand lives a year.  I personally believe it can save more than that.  We must find a plan that will effectively upgrade our trauma infrastructure and enhance the statewide response readiness capabilities.  If we do not enact a dedicated funding system to make that happen, that plan is destined to fail.”

SR 140 proposes a statewide referendum for voters to adopt a Constitutional amendment which would subtract $10 from every vehicle registration fee in Georgia and appropriate it to a dedicated trust fund to improve and expand Georgia’s trauma care network.  The amendment raises no fees or taxes, and the Georgia General Assembly has no ability to use those funds for anything besides trauma care as it will not be included in the general revenue collections.

South Georgia in particular is often cited as being in the most urgent of need to establish more trauma care centers.  Goggans mentioned for example that many people refer to the Interstate 75 corridor between Macon and the Florida border as the “Corridor of Death” due to the lack of sufficient trauma care.

Goggans cited some very troubling statistics from the Georgia Governor’s Office of Highway Safety that have made the trauma care issue one he has championed during this time in the state Senate:

  • Georgia has 150 acute care hospitals but only 15 designated trauma care centers
  • Over 1 million Georgians live 50 miles away from a Level 1 trauma center; that puts them and many Georgia commuters driving through much of the state way past the “golden hour” when emergency responders have the greatest chance to save a life
  • In metro Atlanta, one fatality occurs in every 339 accidents.  In rural Georgia that number is one fatality in every 74 accidents

 

Senate Resolution 277, the original trauma funding measure, asked voters to add $10 to each vehicle registration and be placed in the trust fund.  The measure overwhelmingly passed in the General Assembly and was placed on the 2010 ballot as a proposed Constitutional amendment.  The resolution ultimately fell short of being adopted 53 percent to 47 percent, a difference of approximately 130,000 votes.

“Based on the outcome it was evident many voters saw this as more of a tax increase and did not trust the government with more of their money which I can understand,” stated Goggans.  “But at the same time, many of those same voters recognize the urgent need of strengthening our trauma network and want an effective solution to address it.  I’ve often said trauma care is expensive, but not having trauma care is more expensive because it costs lives.  The $10 that will go solely to trauma funding equates to less than 3 cents a day for every person in the state.  You cannot put a price on the value of a life, but 3 cents a day is a great deal for potentially life-saving trauma care.”

If adopted by the General Assembly, Goggans expects SR 140 will be placed on the 2012 election ballot for consideration by Georgia voters.

 

Sen. Greg Goggans represents the 7th Senate District, which includes Atkinson, Bacon, Berrien, Clinch, Coffee, Echols, Lanier, Pierce and Ware counties and a portion of Cook County.

 

PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release:
February 10, 2011
For Information Contact:
Matt Colvin, Broadcast Director
matthew.colvin@senate.ga.gov
404.656.0028

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Sens. Albers and Ligon Introduce Bill to Stop Medicaid Fraud

ATLANTA (February 9, 2011) – Sens. John Albers (R-Roswell) and William Ligon (R-Brunswick) have co-sponsored a bill aimed at protecting taxpayer dollars from Medicaid fraud.  Using enhanced technology, Senate Bill 63 requires that Medicaid cards integrate a computer chip that includes a digital photograph and fingerprint of the card holder.  The use of smart card technology prevents such abuse as card sharing and phantom billing that cost U.S. taxpayers $60 billion a year. 

Continue reading “Sens. Albers and Ligon Introduce Bill to Stop Medicaid Fraud”

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Distinguished Guests Visit the Capitol

PERRY (February 7, 2011) – Amid the daily business under the Gold Dome, I’ve spent time with some of Georgia’s most important industries and constituencies.  Throughout session, we welcome industry organizations, advocacy groups and distinguished Georgians to the Capitol, and I’ve been honored to meet with some of these important groups. 

The Senate continued its annual tradition of recognizing Georgia’s more than 30,000 firefighters during the 39th Firefighters’ Recognition Day at the Capitol.  These brave men and women serve over 900 fire stations across the state.  They dedicate themselves to the protection of life and property by preventing and suppressing fires while saving lives, and I was honored to shake hands with a few of these exceptional Georgians. 

The Georgia Agribusiness Council held their annual breakfast, and it was great to visit with many of the local farmers from our area.  The Council covers all agribusiness issues during the legislative session and has been an excellent partner in ensuring that we meet the industry’s needs.  Georgia’s food and fiber production and processing is a $65 billion industry, which according to the Council, accounts for more than 8 percent of the state’s economy and 351,000 jobs in 2008.  It’s crucial that we work together to continue moving our agricultural industry forward and maintain a competitive edge.   

I’ve also had the opportunity to meet with a few other important groups from the 20th Senate District, including representatives of the Home Builders Association of Georgia (HBAG) from Warner Robbins.  HBAG is part of a three-tiered federation of organizations who serve the housing industry and provide expanding opportunities for all consumers to have safe, decent and affordable housing.  I was also pleased to meet with a group from Houston County who were visiting the Capitol with The Association of County Commissioners of Georgia (ACCG).  Cooperation between the state and local government is a critical component to keeping our state running smoothly, and I always enjoy working with the ACCG to help our local communities. 

We’re continuing our focus on Georgia’s natural resources by reinstating the Joint Committee on Water Supply.  This committee was formed last year to study Georgia’s reservoir system and includes five members of the Senate and five members from the House of Representatives.  We’ll continue our work this year to conduct a comprehensive analysis of the state’s strategic needs for additional water supply, including the identification of creative financing options for water reservoirs and other opportunities for water supply enhancement.  The committee will make a report of its findings and recommendations by December 31 of this year. 

Expect the pace to quicken under the Gold Dome as we begin moving more legislation through the legislative process.  I encourage all constituents of the 20th District to visit us at the State Capitol and see their Georgia legislature in action. 

Sen. Ross Tolleson serves as Chairman of the Natural Resources and the Environment Committee.  He represents the 20th Senate District, which includes Bleckley, Dodge, Johnson, Laurens, Pulaski, and Telfair counties and parts of Houston and Wilcox counties.  He may be reached at 404.656.0081 or by e-mail at ross.tolleson@senate.ga.gov.

PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release:
February 7, 2011
For Information Contact:
Natalie Strong, Director
Kallarin Richards, Deputy Director
kallarin.richards@senate.ga.gov
404.656.0028