Official Press Releases
ATLANTA (Feb. 19, 2010) – Sen. Ed Harbison’s (D-Columbus) Fallen Veterans Bill (SB 355) overwhelmingly passed Senate on Thursday. The bill designates that a deceased veteran’s remains go to the individual listed on their U.S. Department of Defense Record of Emergency Data or DD Form 93. This bill will alleviate any discrepancies among family members regarding the final resting place of the deceased veteran.
Continue reading “Senator Harbison’s Fallen Veterans Bill Passes Senate”
By Sen. Lee Hawkins
ATLANTA (Feb. 19, 2010) – The Senate and House have passed the Fiscal Year 2010 Amended budget, which outlines our spending plan until July 1. We have only $15.5 billion to spend over the next six months, which is $4.6 billion less than we had in 2009. These sobering numbers reveal the dire budget crisis our state is in as revenues continue to fall. The numbers for FY11 look even worse, and we want to ensure that every taxpayer dollar is spent as efficiently as possible. In order to produce a fiscally responsible budget, the legislature has decided to recess for two weeks to give lawmakers and budget writers time to analyze where efficiencies can be found while protecting core areas of government like education and public safety.
By Sen. Chip Pearson
ATLANTA (Feb. 19, 2010) – Halfway through session, the Senate and House have passed a Fiscal Year 2010 Amended budget that takes us to July 1 and has been reduced to $15.5 billion. We’re operating on 23 % less than we were in 2009, and still trying to provide the same level of government service to an ever-growing population. If this isn’t bad enough, the FY11 numbers look even worse. The legislature has decided to recess for 10 days until March 8 to allow lawmakers and budget writers time to grapple with how to balance next year’s budget that could have a more than $1 billion gap. Producing a balanced budget is our constitutional obligation, and with collapsing revenues, it’s going to be a tough job. This is the people’s money we’re spending, and we need to do it right. Our goal is to develop a spending plan that uses every dollar wisely and efficiently.
Continue reading “A Balanced Budget is crucial to our Economic Growth”
ATLANTA (Feb. 19, 2010) – Continuing his quest toward consumer-driven reform of Georgia’s health care system, Sen. Preston Smith (R-Rome) is working to establish legislative oversight of Medicaid and Care Management Organizations (CMO), which manage the delivery of Medicaid and PeachCare for Kids services to patients.
ATLANTA (Feb. 18, 2010) – The Senate today voted in favor of saving millions in taxpayer dollars and allowed Georgians to have a greater voice in how their money is spent. Senate Majority Leader Chip Rogers (R-Woodstock) championed Senate Resolution 510 proposes an amendment to the State Constitution allowing the General Assembly in general law to authorize the State Properties Commission (SPC), the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia, or both to enter into multi-year rental agreements.
Continue reading “Senate Votes to Save Millions in Taxpayer Dollars”