Senator Tolleson Reports from the Capitol – Georgia Senate Press Office

By Sen. Ross Tolleson

PERRY (February 18, 2011) – This week, I introduced legislation to help our state maintain adequate water resources. While we continue to negotiate with our neighbors in Florida and Alabama, everything must be done at the state level to establish a framework for future water planning.

Known as the Georgia Public/Private Water Supply Act of 2011, Senate Bill 122 creates new options for financing water projects by allowing state and local governments to voluntarily partner with private investors on the construction of reservoirs and other water infrastructure projects. This gives local governments control over their water resources and allows them to tailor future water planning to meet their individual community’s needs. I look forward to working with my colleagues as this bill begins to move through the legislative process.

We welcomed a special visitor from Perry this week in the Senate Chamber, former Representative Larry Walker, one of the most highly respected members of the General Assembly who served in the legislature from 1972 to 2004. He was elected House Majority Leader in 1986 and later was elected to serve on the Department of Transportation Board from 2007 to 2009, representing Georgia’s Eighth Congressional District. A lifelong Perry resident, Rep. Walker has been a regular columnist in the Houston Home Journal for over 10 years and has recently published a book called Life on the Gnat Line, a composition of his widely read columns. I was honored to welcome my friend and colleague back to the Capitol to recognize him for his many achievements and celebrate his most recent literary success.

Through our partnership with the Medical Association of Georgia, a physician volunteers every day at the Capitol to take care of legislators’ medical needs while they’re away from home. The Doctor of the Day is also introduced in both the House and Senate at the beginning of the legislative day. This week, I was proud to host Dr. Rebecca Tarlton of Laurens County as Doctor of the Day. Dr. Tarlton earned her medical degree from the University of Western Ontario and completed her residency at Duke University. She was the first female radiation oncologist in Georgia and has played an integral role in the development of a unique and successful technique used in the treatment of prostate cancer.

We celebrated Rural Health Day to raise awareness of the need for quality health care in the state’s rural areas. Georgia has 109 rural counties encompassing over 2 million residents, and is experiencing a continuing decline in the availability and quality of health care services. These geographic areas have the highest cancer and cardiovascular mortality rates and infant mortality, child abuse, and teen pregnancy rates. The growing uninsured population and elderly population with multiple diseases far exceed the area’s health care resources. The Georgia Rural Health Association plays an important role in working with state officials to address the health care needs of our state’s rural communities.

Also this week was the legislative appreciation luncheon for Georgia’s Career and Technical Student Organizations (CTSO) and the Georgia Association for Career and Technical Education (GACTE). The technical student organizations provide opportunities for student leadership, competitive events and community service and work alongside GACTE to provide educational leadership in developing a competitive workforce. One of our local students, Laurie Beth Nix who is a senior at Houston County High School, participated in the event. A number of other local students were honored for their equestrian achievements during Equine Youth Day, including Colby Upshaw (Cadwell), Beth Langston (Elko), Colleen Wright (Adrian) and Megan Jones (Milan).

I was proud to join Governor Nathan Deal for a photo with the St. Patrick’s Festival Committee, which is working hard on Dublin’s 46^th Annual St. Patrick’s Festival. I was also honored to speak to the Leadership Dodge Program of the Eastman-Dodge County Area Chamber of Commerce. I’d like to thank all of these distinguished Georgians for visiting us at the State Capitol this week.

As always, it is an honor to serve you in the 20^th Senate District. Please feel free to contact me with your ideas and concerns as we work together for a better State of Georgia.

Sen. Ross Tolleson serves as Chairman of the Natural Resources and the Environment Committee. He represents the 20^th 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 18, 2011
For Information Contact:
Natalie Strong, Director
Kallarin Richards, Deputy Director
kallarin.richards@senate.ga.gov
404.656.0028

By Sen. Ross Tolleson

PERRY (February 11, 2011) – Every year, I enjoy visiting with all the bright and talented students from the 20^th 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.

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