The 2008 Session: Patients and Students are the Winners

Sen. Eric Johnson (R-Savannah)

April 7, 2008

 

 

As families struggle with a weak economy due to the high cost of gas, low real estate prices, plus a regional drought, the legislature wanted to do all that we could to help weather the storm. The U. S. economy is primarily out of the hands of the General Assembly, but efforts were made to assure that, as the economy eventually recovers, our businesses will be positioned to benefit as quickly as possible. Our primary challenge was to conserve water and protect homeowners. We designed Georgia’s first comprehensive statewide water management plan, including funding for new reservoirs that will increase our storage capacity so that Georgia will have the water it needs to grow. With broad bi-partisan support, we passed targeted tax breaks for industry that will expand and attract jobs. To help homeowners facing foreclosure, we extended the notice period and stipulated that the notice contain contact information of the party empowered to negotiate the mortgage with the homeowner.

 

The legislature also spent a good deal of time on ways to reform our schools so that every student could learn in an educational environment uniquely suited to each child. A “one size fits all” system only works if all the children are the same. Gratefully, they are not. So, we worked to give more flexibility to local public schools, expand the number of charter schools, and offer more access to private schools. We gave local school systems the flexibility they have been asking for to relax regulations in exchange for a contract with the state that includes specific academic performance measures. Failure to meet those defined goals will result in a loss of governance after 5 years. We created new non-profit School Scholarship Organizations (SSO) funded with tax deductable donations from corporations and individuals. Up to $50,000,000 a year will be available for tuition grants to children in public school who want to go to private school. And, to encourage more parent-run, independent charter schools, we established a new state commission with the power to approve them even if denied at the local level. Sadly, we were not able to reach agreement on providing scholarships for children stuck in chronically failing schools.

 

For the first time ever, we provided the new State Trauma Commission with $60 million to shore up the existing programs and expand the system statewide. These funds will be used for EMS transportation, communications and training along with the expenses associated with hospital trauma centers. Many people are struggling with the cost of health care. After decades of debate, we reformed the state’s outdated Certificate of Need (CON) program to increase free market competition in the delivery of health care. This will expand access, improve quality, and reduce costs. We also provided tax breaks for high deductable health plans sold or maintained in connection with a health savings account. Finally, we encouraged more wellness and disease management programs with certain policies. These patient-centered measures will save Georgians money by reducing the number of uninsured being paid for by the taxpayers by offering an affordable, low-cost health insurance option.

 

Protection of our citizens is always our highest priority. Georgia will begin tracking sexual predators in cyberspace. Sex offenders who are required to register with the state will have to turn over their e-mail addresses to authorities. We also will give parents access to a product to keep certain websites off limits for their kids and require schools to provide children with one hour of teaching each year on how to avoid sexual predators on-line. After the Georgia Supreme Court threw out the state’s restrictions on where sex offenders could live, we passed a new law that bans them from living or working within 1000 feet of where children congregate. We also banned photography of minors by sex offenders.

 

While we were unable to agree on tax cuts or an assessment freeze, we did provide almost $500 million in the budget for local property tax relief. We also passed the Transparency in Government Act that will permit every citizen to see exactly how their state government spends their money. And we required that each department in state government be subjected to “zero-based budgeting” every 4 years to weed out ineffective programs and force every dollar of tax money to be justified. Both of these will help pave the way for tax relief in the future by controlling state spending. While some may focus on the failures of the session – particularly in an election year – we produced real change that benefited patients and students.

 

 

Posted by Senator Eric Johnson in Senator Eric Johnson on 4/7/2008

Day 40: Sine Die

* Sine Die is Latin for "without a day". It means that we adjourn for good. I had a boat named that for awhile.

* Yesterday was a long day working on the budget, touring a children's trauma center, and trying to get a tax and T-SPLOST deal. I left the Capitol at 2 AM.

* Today started with our last Caucus meeting reviewing bills and planning procedural strategy. Mostly this involves discussing how to dodge hand grenades and pass bills with Senators running back and forth to the House and buried in Conference Committees.

* We started at 10:15. Deals began immediately. We had to "unengross" a tax bill to put in play for negotiating purposes.

* At 11:30, we took up the controversial new low cost health insurance plan. We removed the premium tax to reduce costs for health savings accounts (HSAs). It passed after parliamentary maneuvering, but not much debate.

* At noon, I passed SB 1 which prevents sex offenders from living and working near where children congregate. It also prevents them from photographing minors without their parent's permission.

* We passed a bill that allows law enforcement to confiscate cars of people driving without a license (who have never had one). It is aimed at illegal immigrants.

* We broke for an hour and a half to work on deals and eat lunch.

* We signed the FY'09 budget report at 1:30.

* The next couple of hours were spent passing non-controversial bills

* We broke briefly at 6 for dinner and trauma funding negotiations.

* We did the gun bill at 8:45.

* We reformed our CON laws at 9:15. This was a huge deal and a long time coming.

* I signed the agreement on trauma funding at 9:30. $95 million of existing funds - no new fees or taxes. I was full of hope.

* We did the charter school bill at 10:30. Good.

* At 11, the Speaker called for a new Lt. Governor. Oh oh.

* The Speaker refused to let his conferees sign the trauma deal. The Lt. Governor wouldn't agree to eliminate the car tax. The Governor is in China. It all fell apart. This is absolutely inexcusable. But we banned marijuana lollipops. Rest easy, Georgia.

* Major bills that passed: a statewide water plan, the two budgets, CON reform, restrictions on where sexual predators can live and work, charter school expansion, tuition tax credits, and transparency in government.

* Major bills that failed or were killed: Tax reform, trauma funding, and traffic relief. Kids are still stuck in failing schools.

* Our little hero, the robo-call ban, did not survive his journey. The bill actually morphed into a statewide telephone related bill. Please remember him the week before the election when you receive them. I tried.

* The final 30 minutes are a blur. Bills and motions and votes are done at light speed. Rules are waived. These are generally that last of minor bills that were worked out at last minute.

* Spouses and staff gather in Chamber and noise and chatter and excitement builds.

* Normally, about 15 minutes before the end, the doorkeepers open the big main doors in both Houses. The Capitol is designed so that the Lt. Governor and Speaker can see each other all the way through the rotunda and at each podium. They also pick up a telephone in one hand and their big gavels in the other so that, at the exact same time they can say "the 2008 session is adjourned SINE DIE!" Everybody cheers and throws all the bills and paper up in the air like confetti. This year, that didn't happen. The House adjourned at 11:45 without notifying the Senate. I left the chamber before we adjourned at midnight in disgust.

* Legislators are just as ready to go home as the citizens are to have us leave.

* At least I can pack heat.

* I hope you enjoyed this blog because I will never do another one. Man, it was hard. I don't know how reporters and columnists do this day after day. I wanted to educate and entertain. I hope I did a little of both. So, I am outta here "sine die".

Posted by Senator Eric Johnson in Senator Eric Johnson on 4/7/2008

Session Blog- Day 39

Day 39: T-Minus One

* OMG. Here it is - the crescendo!

* The Senate has 52 bills on the calendar. It is our last one. We hold Day 40 - Sine Die - for Conference Committee reports and last minute deals. The House has no rules so bills can be added almost spontaneously.

* This is when members and lobbyists work diligently to sneak stuff into bills without anybody noticing. It is the most dangerous time of the session.

* 4 out of 5 bills sail through with little discussion and only 1 or 2 "no" votes. 1 out of 5 get debate and the votes are closer.

* The Charter School bill was weakened and is hanging on by a thread. Vouchers went back to House Rules and is scheduled for Friday.

* The CON reform bill is being held for Friday. So is the Speaker's BRIDGE bill and reservoirs. Do you sense a pattern?

* There have been no discussions on tax reform for 2 days and none are scheduled - yet.

* Budget negotiations are being held between the two Appropriations Chairs and seem to be progressing nicely. The only bill we are constitutionally required to pass is the budget. But it won't be done until Friday either. Sense a pattern?

* Our Robo-call bill has been stripped out and is now something completely different. We will wait and see if our hero makes it back over here.

* We will be working late tonight so I will be putting this to bed early.

Posted by Senator Eric Johnson in Senator Eric Johnson on 4/2/2008

Session Blog- Day 38

Day 38: Whips and What-ifs

* Every controversial idealogical bill is a close vote. The Democrats lock down and the Republicans are never solid because all Republicans are not conservative. And politicians are experts at covering their tracks, parsing words, and sometimes, disappearing when needed and even lying. So counting votes before the vote is hard.

* The Party Whip is an individual designated by fellow party members to assist the party leaders by keeping members advised of floor and committee votes. The Whip helps deliver the necessary amount of votes needed on particular pieces of legislation favored by the Party. He or she also manages the legislative agenda of the party.

* The term "whip" comes from a fox hunting expression - "whipper-in" - referring to the member of the hunting team responsible for keeping the dogs from straying from the team during a chase. Established early in the 20th century, the development of party whips coincided with the evolution of party leaders in the U. S. Senate.

* The Senate Majority Whip (Mitch Seabaugh) is an extremely good counter and monitor. He keeps his eye on 34 GOP Senators. Nothing close passes or fails without Mitch's fine touch. The House Majority Whip is Barry Fleming. He is running for Congress. That is easier than whipping 107 Republicans!

* Periodically, you "whip" your Caucus to see where they are on an issue. Some are "YES", some are "NO", and some are undecided or caught between principles and politics.

* After the whip count, you know where you stand and who to talk to that might be switched. Negotiations, trades, encouragements and threats are all used.

* Today, two controversial bills were debated. Tuition Tax Credits (in the Senate) and Vouchers for failing schools (in the House).

* Tuition Tax Credits passed 32-20. The whip count on Vouchers was too close to call so it went back to House Rules for a little tweaking and should be back out tomorrow. The trading will continue.

* A bill on the Senate floor banned marijuana flavored candy was handled by Sen. Stoner. Really. You can't make this stuff up.

Posted by Senator Eric Johnson in Senator Eric Johnson on 4/2/2008

Session Blog- Day 37

Day 37: It's about People, not Politicians

* In my home state of Louisiana, they have a saying: "Reform means moving the fat hogs away from the trough so the skinny hogs can eat."

* Reform is hard because inertia is with the status quo. Even when there is discomfort with the existing system, there is always a debate about what form change should take and how far should it go.

* These last few days will challenge the status quo (the Big Hogs) on a variety of fronts.

* I have discussed education reform on this blog a lot. Today, the Senate passed IE2 which will grant local schools more flexability with funds and regulations in exchange for performance goals and a loss of governance for failure.

* This is real change, not Obama "change".

* Tomorrow, the Senate will take up Tuition Tax Credits which opponents call a "backdoor voucher". The House will take up my voucher bill. Both allow options for children stuck in failing public schools.

* This is real change, not Obama "change".

* I expect the Senate to take up a bill that will greatly increase the number of Charter Schools in Georgia later this week.

* This is real change, not Obama "change".

* On health care reform, the Senate Majority Leader has been working quietly with the House leadership to reform our antiquated CON law that restricts free market competition in healthcare. It moved out of Committee today.

* The House is also considering the Lt. Governor's health marketplace bill that creates a new low cost health insurance plan without expensive mandates.

* This is real change, not Obama "change".

* Today the Senate adopted a proposal - subject to voter approval - to charge a $10 annual fee to your car tag to put $74 million into saving and expanding our statewide trauma network.

* On taxes, the spending and assessment freezes have passed both bodies and are in negotiations. The elimination of the State's 1/4 mil property tax has passed both sides and is in conference. And both the House and Senate have proposed significant tax cuts and these are in play.

* Even while we had 37 bills on the floor of the Senate, the action is behind the scenes where deals are being made and common ground is sought on the really big issues.

* "Change" is happening and the skinny hogs - the real people - are going to get their turn.

Posted by Senator Eric Johnson in Senator Eric Johnson on 4/1/2008



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