Greetings 2010!  After being feted on "wild hog" last evening, Lawmakers hastened back to the Capitol this morning for the commencement of the 2010 Session.  Some new faces were in the Chambers as well as in the halls of the Capitol. 

The State's fiscal crisis looms large with the Governor's announcement last week of December revenues.  Georgia has experienced a decline in revenues of more than $1.1 billion (over 2008) in 2009.  In the meantime, Georgia's population has expanded by more than 600,000 individuals during that same time. 

In an answer to Georgia's "budget woes," several entities are now pushing pari-mutuel betting.  Time will tell if Georgia Lawmakers will decide if passing a law permitting this activity will actually solve our current crisis.

Other issues to be dealt with this Session include a solution to Georgia's transportation issues (whether a statewide or a regional tax is necessary) and a solution to the ongoing problems with use of Lake Lanier and providing water to all of Georgia.

The Joint Session will be held on January 13, 2010 at 11:00 a.m. where Governor Perdue will provide his State-of-the-State address. 

Tonight, Lawmakers will be the guests of the Georgia Chamber of Commerce at its annual dinner meeting.  Guest Speaker at this year's dinner is former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee.

Georgia's Department of Education is finalizing its plans for its application for "Race to the Top" money.  This potential pot of money is part of the federal stimulus money of $4.35 billion which states can access through a competitive grant process, supporting education reform and innovation in the classroom.  Phase I grant applications are due on January 19, 2010.

House

This morning, the House elected its second Republican as Speaker of the House by a vote of 116 to 58, David Ralston (R-Blue Ridge and a lawyer), in modern times.  Ralston defeated Rep. Calvin Smyre (D-Columbus) and the House Democratic Caucus Chair.  Ralston's election comes in the wake of the resignation of Speaker Glenn Richardson (R-Hiram) after more allegations were raised about his indiscretions with a female lobbyist and his attempted suicide.  Governor Perdue issued a writ of special election to fill the vacancy of the House seat of District 19, which will be vacated by Rep. Richardson effective January 11, 2010. The special election will be held on February 23, 2010. 

Since January 1, 2010, Rep. Mark Burkhalter, and Speaker Pro Tem, served as Speaker until this morning's election when he handed over the Speaker's Gavel to Speaker Ralston.  In his opening remarks, Speaker Ralston indicated that the House would not serve "special interests" but rather serve the interests of the citizens of this State – both Republicans and Democrats.  Business will continue but not in the same manner as before.  Eleven House Democrats voted to make Rep. David Ralston the new House Speaker and those were:  Ellis Black (D-Valdosta); Bob Bryant (D-Garden City); Amy Carter (D-Valdosta); Mike Cheokas (D-Americus); Bubber Epps (D-Dry Branch); Carol Fullerton (D-Albany); Gerald Greene (D-Cuthbert); Bob Hanner (D-Parrott);  Kevin Levitas (D-Atlanta); Alan Powell (D-Hartwell); and Jay Shaw (D-Lakeland).

Rep. Jan Jones (R-Alpharetta) won handily her position as the first female Speaker Pro Tem in Georgia and was recognized by Speaker Ralston for this accomplishment as the highest ranking female in the Georgia House of Representatives.

Senate

Sen. Mitch Seabaugh announced today that a press conference tomorrow will be held outlining his initiative to be known as the "Common Sense Lawful Carry Bill" which is an effort to clarify Georgia's current laws on where handguns may be carried.

Sen. Vincent Fort (D-Atlanta) announced a press conference of the "Grady Coalition of Concerned Citizens" at 3:00 p.m. Monday discussing the transitioning of patients previously being served by the Grady Dialysis Clinic which has closed.

New Legislation

SB 294 – Sen. Mitch Seabaugh (R-Sharpsburg) offered a change to O.C.G.A. § 40-2-60 so that all prestige license plates no longer require the "additional annual registration fee."

Currently, such tags (such as the wild life, breast cancer, universities, etc.) require a fee of $25, to be paid upon renewal, on an annual basis.

SB 295 – Sen. Mitch Seabaugh (R-Sharpsburg) also offered this Bill amending O.C.G.A. § 40-14-10 so that cities will be prohibited from using traffic cameras on public roads which are a part of the "federal aid systems" (roads composed of The Dwight D. Eisenhower National System of Interstate and Defense Highways and the National Highway System as defined in Section 103 of Title 23 of the United States Code).

SR 793 – Sen. Mitch Seabaugh (R-Marietta) offered this Resolution to create an amendment to the Constitution at Article I, Section II, at Paragraph I so as to provide that "all powers not delegated to the State or local governments by this Constitution, nor prohibited by it to State or local governments, are reserved to the people of this State."

SR 794 – Sen. Judson Hill (R-Marietta) has proposed a Constitutional Amendment for the voters to decide whether to provide that a federal law or rule or regulation compel "any person, employer, or health care provider to participate in any health care system and to authorize persons and employers to pay directly for lawful health care services without penalties or fines."  Sen. Hill's proposal is in the wake of the national healthcare reform legislation being contemplated now in Washington. 

Other

Rep. Mark Burkhalter (R-Johns Creek) has announced that he will be leaving the General Assembly to form a London-based development entity.  Rep. Burkhalter

Next week on Thursday, many of the healthcare budget hearings will transpire.  Below is a schedule:

Thursday,  January 21st
       
9:00 a.m.    
Department of Human Services (60 min)
B.J. Walker, Commissioner      
       
10:00 a.m.     
Department of Community Health (60 min)      
Dr. Rhonda Medows, Commissioner
 
11:00 a.m.     
Department of Behavioral Health (60 min)     
Frank E. Shelp, Commissioner