Official Press Releases
ATLANTA (Feb. 13, 2009) – Yesterday the Senate Ethics Committee passed Senate Bill 86 which amends Georgia’s voter registration codes to require proof of United States citizenship when registering to vote in Georgia. Under this bill, voter registration applications must be accompanied by satisfactory evidence of U.S. citizen ship.
Continue reading “Sen. Johnson Comments on the Voter Registration Bill”
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 . . .”
ATLANTA (February 13, 2009) — A champion for economic development in Georgia, Sen. Chip Pearson (R-Dawsonville) gathered several of Georgia’s sustainable and environmentally friendly businesses in the Senate Chamber this week to commend them for their contributions to the health of the state and the economy.
Continue reading “Sen. Pearson Honors Sustainable Business Contributions to Georgia”
By President Pro Tempore Tommie Williams
February 13, 2009
This week in the Georgia Senate we began an aggressive new legislative schedule, continued to work to balance the budget, and also took up the controversial Georgia Power Nuclear Financing Act.
By: Sen. Ross Tolleson
Atlanta (February 13, 2009) – This week the State Senate has been adjusting to a few changes in the schedule. According to Georgia’s Constitution the General Assembly can only convene for a maximum of 40 days a year. This forces the General Assembly to do the people’s work in a timely matter. As I told you last week these are extremely tough budget times for our state, and as a result we are making a few changes to our schedule. In keeping with the laws set forth in the state Constitution, we will still only meet for 40 days. What we are doing though, is only having session on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday and leaving Monday and Friday for budget hearings. This allows the Senators the ability to go through the budget and make the tough calls that need to be made. On day 35 the General Assembly will adjourn until June 22. This will allow us five days to make any changes, good or bad, to the budget at the end of June. The economy is so uncertain right now, no one is able to predict what is going to happen between now and June. The main reason for this is if the General Assembly were called into a Special Session it would be a lot more expensive and just plain irresponsible during these tough budget times. Just like your family, Georgia can not spend more money then it takes in.