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

Session Blog- Day 36

Day 36: This is Your Money

* With just 4 days to go, the pace is accelerating, the tempers are flaring, the stakes are growing, and the end couldn't come soon enough. Yet another session crescendo is building.

* The Senate had 21 bills on the calendar and the House had 10.

* I will focus on three.

* The Senate passed our version of the State's $21.1 Billion FY'09 budget. By our Constitution, it must be balanced. In other words, projected expenditures must not exceed anticipated revenue. Like our personal budgets, not Washington's.

* Fiscal year 2009 starts on July 1, 2008 and ends on June 30, 2009. $21.1 Billion is $58 million a day to run Georgia. That is roughly 55% for education, 20% for health care, 10% for law enforcement and prisons, 10% for parks, economic development, roads (not counting gas taxes) and other stuff, and 4.78% for debt (bonds).

* Our budget draft restored $53 million in austerity cuts to education. It included $480 million in property tax relief. State employees and teachers would get a 2.5% pay raise.

* We also passed our tax reform package. This was contained in two bills.

* First, we passed a constitutional amendment which would "freeze" property assessments for residential and commercial property and allow them to climb only at the rate of inflation. No more backdoor tax increases. This like Stephens-Day on steroids. The House's version limits residential to 2% increase and non-residential to 3%. So we are very close.

* The proposed amendment also would eliminate the state's 1/4 mil of property taxes as proposed by the Governor. So did the House's. We ought to be able to agree on this, too. We are getting closer.

* Second, we passed the Senate's plan to cut state income taxes by 10% in 5 years. This will drop our rate from 6% to 5.4%. This will total a $1.2 billion in the fifth year and create jobs while encouraging work and savings. Americans for Tax Reform and the National Taxpayers Union have endorsed the Senate's proposal.

* Now we have one week to negotiate a compromise with the House before we go home. We agree on property tax assessment caps. We agree on future spending limits for the state. And we agree on cutting taxes (on cars or income). The last issue is the more delicate task, but we are talking.

* The session will end next Friday. The Governor heads to China on Sunday so he won't even be here. It's nice that he trusts us so much.

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

Session Blog- Day 35

Day 35: Education Takes a Bow

* First, let's talk about something important. Not Chikezie! What were American Idol voters thinking?!

* Now back to policy. Before the session, I predicted that education reforms would be the main accomplishment. Traffic, trauma and taxes were the pre-session headline grabbers.

* There has been an explosion of education reform activity. My bill that would provide vouchers for children in failing schools passed out of House committee yesterday.

* The Tuition Tax Credit bill that allows tax free donations to scholarship funds for poor children in public school that want to attend private schools passed out of the Senate Finance Committee yesterday. I am handling it in the Senate.

* The IE2 (Investing in Excellence in Education) bill passed out of Senate committee today. I am handling this bill, too. It allows local school boards to negotiate flexibilty in using state funds in exchange for a contract that establishes academic performance measures and consequences for failure to meet the negotiated improvement measures. Those consequences will include loss of governance or vouchers.

* The Charter Schools bill was on the Senate calendar today, but we adjourned before we got to it.

* The BRIDGE Act is Speaker Richardson's initiative. This beefs up our vocational educational system for students who are not college bound and will improve our graduation rates.

* I will review the Senate's FY'09 budget tomorrow.

* Today was the first legislative day in Spring. Everyone is wearing light colored suits to celebrate the warmer weather. We have 50 Don Johnson lookalikes today. Everyone wants to go home and I think they wear linen and seersucker as a subtle hint. Maybe if I wear a swimsuit and flip flops to the Capitol, we can Sine Die soon. I miss Tybee.

Signed: Otis (that's for you Chuck)

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

Trauma Funding Bill Passes Senate Committee

ATLANTA- House Bill 1158, which will fund Georgia’s trauma care network, passed out of the Senate Finance committee today. The bill’s author is Rep. Ron Stephens (R-Savannah).



HB 1158 will allow a $10.00 fee to be added to annual vehicle registration costs. The fee will go to the Georgia Trauma Trust Fund Commission. Monies in this Fund will be designated for maintaining and expanding the current trauma network. If passed, it will raise nearly $74 million a year.



“The recent disasters across our state have further highlighted the weaknesses-- and also the strengths-- of our existing trauma system. We all recognize it’s time shore up and expand the existing system. This bill sets us on the right path to have the best trauma network in the country.”



The Senate version of the bill adds a referendum on the new fee. If HB 1158 is agreed to by both the House and Senate and signed into law by the Governor, the voters will have the opportunity to vote on the matter in November.



“We’re giving the final decision to our citizens on whether to tax themselves for a specific purpose,” added Johnson. “When you go to the polls in November, you can vote for President and a way to make sure that you and your loved ones will have access to trauma care if ever needed. Ultimately, as the users of the system, they should decide whether an extra $10 a year fee is reasonable.”

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

Recess Blog, part II

Recess Blog: Recess Ramblings

* I don't tell jokes well. But I try to watch the political world around me and tell people the truth. That seems to make them laugh.

* Last week it was disclosed that a House member has been wearing a wire for the feds. He was a Democrat caught laundering drug money. Rumors are there are more names to come. Good. Charles Walker, Linda Schrenko, and Robin Williams need company.

* Blog readers have confirmed - Zell has only 3 fingers on one hand. As we learned last week, Jimmy Carter has 6. Jimmy should give Zell his extra finger. It seems fair.

* Senator Obama is supposed to want to bring this country together. Yet his friend and preacher - who sounds like a black David Duke - undermines that message. Rev. Wright is coming to Macon in October right before the election. Perfect. Any bets on whether Congressman Marshall shows up? Maybe Macon should give Rev. Wright the extra finger.

* As we begin to deal with the FY'09 budget, it is good to remember that if you think government is too big, just be glad it isn't as big as we are paying for. That's a joke. But not a good one.

* The House cut $20 million from Corrections. That is likely to put criminals back on the street or force closure of Probation Centers which will put them back into local jails (and paid for with local property taxes). This doesn't make sense - especially when our primary mission is to protect the public. Even Barney Fife knows better.

* The Public Defenders want $1,000,000 to hire lawyers to prove that their the taxpayer-funded criminal defense lawyers are incompetent. Think about that. We pay the prosecutors. We pay for the criminal defense attorneys. Now they want us to pay for third set of lawyers to argue that the criminals got inadequate defense. I didn't make this up. I think we will say "no".

* Thursday is Day 35. The Senate will do our version of the FY'09 budget and tax reform on Friday (Day 36). That leaves just 4 legislative days to work it all out. That means Conference Committees will be meeting over the weekend. I'm excited. Not.

Posted by Senator Eric Johnson in Senator Eric Johnson on 3/26/2008

Session Blog- Day 34

Day 34: $21 Billion And 6 Days To Spend It (Right)

* Let's look at the budget that the House passed today.

* They restored $90 million of the so-called austerity cuts to education. They had promised all $140 million, but the Governor cut revenue by $245 million and I'm sure that hurt.

* They restored state employees and teachers pay raises to 2.5%. The Governor had cut them to 2%. They cut land conservation funds, Medicaid, and prisons.

* I think we will want to work on it some in the Senate.

* The Senate took up a bill to restrict cameras at redlights (again). It had 12 amendments. People feel very, very strongly about this subject. We eventually passed the bill which prevents the installation of these devices as means of generating revenue. They must be approved by the DOT and used solely to enforce traffic laws.

* We are off for a week for Easter and to let the Senate Appropriations Committee work on our version of the FY'09 budget. Easter is about Grace. We need it.

* CORRECTION: Yesterday's blog stated that Zell Miller's portrait has him with 6 fingers on one hand. Actually, it is Jimmy Carter's portrait. I am told that Zell has only 3 fingers on one hand (which I never noticed), but his fingers are hidden in his portrait. Anybody know if that is true?

Posted by Senator Eric Johnson in Senator Eric Johnson on 3/24/2008

Session Blog- Day 33

Day 33: Circus Maximus

* Not much happening in the hostage negotiations. There are only 3 Senate bills on the House floor and just 4 House bills on the Senate floor. Somebody wrote the rulebook a long time ago and it is so silly.

* The Senate Finance Committee met and passed out a Constitutional amendment to limit future state spending growth and cap increases in property assessments. We also passed out our 10% cut in income taxes over the next 5 years totaling $3.5 billion.

* We reached an agreement on the FY 08 amended budget. The thing about a budget deal is that nobody is completely happy with the "deal", but everybody is happy that it is over. It includes $58.5 million for trauma systems and $40 million to construct new water reservoirs. It helps economic development and adds funding for schools. Both bodies will pass it tomorrow and then the Governor will have his say.

* The House Appropriations Committee finally passed out its version of the FY 09 budget. I'll probably have more to say about it after I've studied. I know the Senate will want to fix it. I also know the Governor won't like either of our versions.

* We are not the only entertainment in the Capitol. Many visitors come to see the building and the paintings, statues, and historical displays.

* There are 38 statues/monuments on the grounds of the Capitol. The statue of John Brown Gordon on the Capitol grounds was the first equestrian statue displayed in Atlanta.

* One of the most beautiful aspects of the State Capitol is easily the rotunda in the middle of the building. The tours given to school children and adults alike start in this beautiful area with the portraits of America's founding fathers. What they don't realize is the area they are standing in used to be where the Representatives' horses were kept while they were in session. (Make your own joke here.)

* There are 92 portraits inside the Capitol. We have 5 paintings in the building that date from 1825 and were originally hung in the Milledgeville Capitol. They are the portraits of Washington, Jefferson, Franklin, Lafayette, and Oglethorpe located in the rotunda. They were all painted by C.R. Parker. Our most recent portrait is of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. located on the second floor. It was  given to the state in the Spring of 2006. This is the second portrait of Dr. King to be placed in the Capitol. The first portrait was placed in the Capitol at the urging of Gov Carter. He is the only subject on the 2nd Floor (excluding the rotunda) who did not serve as a Governor of the state of Georgia.

* Former Governor Zell Miller's portrait has 6 fingers on one hand.

* Lester Maddox, the Governor of Georgia between 1966 and 1970 and the Lieutenant Governor from 1970-1974, wasn't a huge fan of the major Atlanta newspapers of his time, the Atlanta Journal and the Atlanta Constitution. So in the background of his portrait painted for placement in the State Capitol, there is an Atlanta Constitution Newspaper rolled around a dead fish. He used to say the only thing that paper was good for was for wrapping dead fish. Nothing has changed.

* George Washington led us through the American Revolution and became the first President. But, for his time, George Washington was a bit of a freak. He stood six feet two inches tall, a giant by the standards of his day. Because he was a little self-conscious about this, he typically refused to be painted with his hands, which he thought would give away his massive height. However, the portrait of George Washington in our Georgia State Capitol Museum is one of the few portraits where his hand is included. At least it wasn't in the taxpayers' pocket.

* There are 20 statues/busts inside the Capitol and 14 commemorative plaques are also on the walls of the Capitol.

* The fourth floor of the State Capitol has various exhibits illustrating Georgia's history. One of these exhibits has a couple curious artifacts. There is a two-headed cow, and a two-headed snake. Don't ask me how they got here, but someone thought these animals were interesting so they were stuffed and put in the State Capitol. I'm glad we never had a two-headed Governor or they would be stuffed instead of painted!

* So, if we are crowded into the proverbial backrooms or aren't entertaining enough, you can always look for the two-headed snake. (If it is not in the House Chamber, it's probably on the fourth floor. :)
 

Posted by Senator Eric Johnson in Senator Eric Johnson on 3/24/2008

Session Blog- Day 32

Day 32: What Would Reagan Do?

* We're back after a four day break which included several FY'08 budget negotiations and allowed the House to work on their version of the FY'09 budget. I was also able to enjoy St. Patrick's Day in Savannah and attend the Chatham County GOP convention. Atlanta was hit by a tornado. UGA won the SEC in basketball. Wow!

* It also allowed us to go home and discuss tax reform with our constituents.

* The House, after first proposing to eliminate all property taxes while increasing taxes on groceries and adding a new sales tax on 174 services, ended up with a proposal to eliminate the ad valorem tax on cars. I actually like that idea. It's simple. It connects a tax savings to the increased cost of gas. It helps almost every Georgian. But is it the right tax cut? Is it the right policy? What would Ronald Reagan do?

* Let me be perfectly clear. I want to cut taxes. I want to cut any tax for any reason. I want to cut them as much as possible. Why? Because it reduces the ability of government to spend our money - particularly state and local governments which must operate on a balanced budget.

* If Patrick Henry thought 'taxation without representation' was bad, he should see taxation with representation! Government has a spending problem, not a taxing problem. Government needs taxes to spend like a vampire needs blood to live. So, any tax reform must address spending reforms or taxes will just climb again in the future.

* The State Senate passed SR 20 last year. It is a Constitutional Amendment which would limit future state spending increases to population growth and inflation. Any revenue above that would have to be used to reduce debt, cut taxes, or build up our reserve funds (savings for a rainy day). It could not be spent on new programs unless a bi-partisan supermajority approved it.

* So first, the House should act on SR 20 if they are serious about tax reform.

* Sales taxes are based on what you buy. Income taxes are based on what you earn. Politicians must vote to increase the rates. Otherwise, you are in charge of what you pay. But property taxes are based on "fair market value" and taxes can be increased without a vote by elected officials. Backdoor tax increases allow local government officials to take a 'Pontius Pilate' approach and wash their hands of any responsibility.

* So, second, we must act to protect taxpayers from "backdoor" property tax increases at the local level. We should force local politicians to vote to increase property taxes above the rate of inflation.

* The Senate sent SR 686 to the House on February 12. This would freeze residential property taxes until the home is sold. We also sent SR 796 to the House on the same day. It would cap all property assessments. The House turned around and sent HR 1246 to us that caps all property assessments. We ought to be able to agree to one of these.

* After dealing with spending controls at the state and local levels, we will turn to cutting taxes.

* Conservatives believe that the government closest to the governed is the best. We fiercely defend local control. Property taxes are collected and spent at the local level. If you don’t like property tax rates, throw the bums out. But the bill passed by the House cuts LOCAL taxes and then reimburses them from the State's treasury. It does nothing to discourage government spending at the local level. It's like telling somebody to quit buying illegal drugs on the street and then giving them the drugs for free. That bothers me at a fundamental level. I am a STATE Senator, not a Mayor or a School Board member.

* As a conservative State Senator, I want a tax cut that stimulates the economy, increases savings, rewards work, and encourages productivity. And I want to cut STATE taxes. Therefore, I want to focus on the income tax. That's what Kennedy and Reagan cut to grow our economy and help families and wage earners. It worked. Cutting the car tax doesn’t change behavior or stimulate the economy. Reagan didn’t cut the car tax. He cut income taxes.

* I want to financially strengthen mainstream Georgians who are struggling with the high costs of gas, education and health care by reducing the state income tax rate by 10 percent, allowing the deductibility of health insurance premiums, and passing the tuition tax credit. This will reduce taxes by $3.5 BILLION over 5 years. And I want to eliminate the state’s property tax which saves almost $100 million a year. Finally, I want to allow tax credits for high deductable health insurance plans and donations to scholarship funds.

* The state will lead by example. Control spending. Cut Taxes. Create Jobs.

* I want tax cuts that help real people and not special interests. This plan will help families by putting money back in their pockets this year, not next year. It would provide a permanent tax cut that will also generate jobs and benefit every person who earns a pay check. It will help them pay for school, buy gas and purchase health insurance.

* This will cut taxes by more than $4 BILLION over 5 years. Eliminate the car tax or cut the tax on work?

* Ronald Reagan is smiling. He knows the answer. 

                                                      # # #

Posted by Senator Eric Johnson in Senator Eric Johnson on 3/19/2008

Session Blog- Day 31

Day 31: Hello, My Name is Governor Perdue

* The Governor has a lot of power in Georgia vested in the Constitution. He or she can veto bills and line-item specific portions of the budget

* The Governor prepares the budget and submits it to the legislature. We can then change it, but we start with his version.

* Another significant power held by the Governor is his or her sole responsibility to set the revenue estimate that forms the budget limit. In other words, we have a balanced budget and the Governor determines what we have to balance to.

* Earlier this week, after receiving the February revenue numbers, Governor Perdue lowered the estimates for FY 08 by $65 million and FY 09 by $245 million. We are in the middle of Conference Committee for FY 08 and the House was on the verge of finalizing their version of the FY 09 budget. Now it's back to the drawing board for both. Thank you very much.

* The FY 08 budget assumed a 3% growth in state revenues over FY 07. That was a very modest growth. But February's year-to-date revenues was up only 1.9% with 4 months to go. The budget was based on an anticipated 3.4% growth. His $65 million cut does not cover the anticipated shortfall, but that is why we have a reserve fund (like a savings account).

* His $245 million reduction for FY 09 represents 1% of the $21.4 billion budget.

* The revenue shortfall is coming from less than anticipated individual income taxes - a clear indication that people are beginning to hurt.

* It is no surprise that the economy has slowed and may even become a recession. These reductions take away the "fun money" for new initiatives and/or tax cuts, but it should not affect our ability to deliver basic government services to Georgians.

* The immediate affect was to slow the pace down and delay the end of the session.

* It also complicates the debate on tax cuts. There are 9 days left to figure it all out. Where is Moses when you need him?

Posted by Senator Eric Johnson in Senator Eric Johnson on 3/17/2008

Session Blog- Day 30

Day 30: Kill Bill Day

* Who runs the government matters. Who writes the laws matters. Who votes on bills matters. How they vote matters. Elections matter. Really.

* Watch closely. There were 34 bills on the Senate floor today and at least 59 bills on the House floor. This was 'Crossover Day' and the last day a Senate bill can pass the Senate and a House bill can pass the House.

* Last week, Democrats successfully killed a $650 million tax cut and a cap on higher property assessments. Today, a modified version was rammed through the House.

* Elections matter.

* Democrats tried to kill vouchers for children in failing schools and a new low-cost health insurance plan. But they failed.

* Elections matter.

* Democrats killed a Constitutional amendment to make english the official language of Georgia.

* The Senate wanted to vote on the Faith and Family Amendment that would allow tax dollars to be spent with faith-based institutions like the YMCA who deliver services to needy Georgians. Democrats said "no".

* Elections matter.

* Let's see what happened today.

* Democrats in the Senate successfully blocked an effort to prevent judges from ordering the legislature to raise taxes.

* Democrats also tried to block an effort to provide a tuition tax credit for individuals and corporations to donate to scholarship funds. They failed.

* Elections matter. And the voters will have their say in November.

###

Posted by Senator Eric Johnson in Senator Eric Johnson on 3/12/2008

Session Blog- Day 29

Day 29: Hey, Buddy, can you spare a bill?

* There are 15 bills on the floor of the Senate today and 15 on the floor of the House. This is the next to last day to pass bills started in their original chamber. No Committees are meeting and we start at 9 AM.

* We are off for a 4-day weekend and return next Tuesday for Crossover Day. The Rules Committee will determine the life or death sentence of bills that make it to the floor for a vote. Senate Rules will meet on Monday.

* But, be aware, even bills that "die" in Committee can be resurrected as an amendment to another bill. Like a vampire, no bill is dead until the gavel comes down on Sine Die (Day 40).

* Why do we have a Rules Committee? Remember, it's a filter to let the most crucial bills through. There is no way to vote on every bill. Some are simply bad ideas. Some are stopped at request of leaders due to cost. Some conflict with the majority party's ideals. Some are hostages. But mostly, it's a matter of time and priorities.

* In the two year session, 1,956 bills have been introduced (or an average of 8.3 per legislator). There have been 2,632 resolutions introduced (or 11 per member). Most resolutions are just commending people and don't take any time. Some are constitutional amendments.

* Not counting today or Day 30, we have passed 437 bills leaving 1,500 still alive (at least for the next 2 days). We have passed 1,534 resolutions leaving 1,078 floating around.

###

Posted by Senator Eric Johnson in Senator Eric Johnson on 3/10/2008

Bill Creating Scholarships for Students in Failing Schools Passes Senate

ATLANTA- Senate Bill 458, authored by Senator Eric Johnson (R-Savannah), passed out of the Senate today with a vote of 32 to 21 .

SB 458 requires public schools and school systems that lose their accreditation to provide state-funded scholarships to students who can then choose to attend another accredited public school or a private school that has been approved by the State Board of Education. The bill stems from concerns that graduates of non-accredited schools and school systems will not qualify for the HOPE scholarship and their ability to attend college will be jeopardized. In addition, students in these schools will have difficulty transferring grades and credit hours to other schools

“This proposal doesn't mandate that local school systems do anything,” said Johnson. “It does not attempt to blame teachers, administrators, or the parents. It simply says that if a school fails to meet minimal standards, then the parents of the kids in that school ought to have the ability to move their children from that school to another one. As the presidential campaigns reflect, people want change. This is real change”

Based on the principles of the successful Special Needs Scholarship program for Georgia’s disabled students, SB 458 will provide students in these failing schools with scholarships (or “vouchers”) to be used at any other school of their choice- public or private. Currently, there are 19 schools across Georgia that have been on the “Needs Improvement” list for seven years or more. If signed into law this year, the bill would give options to students in schools which continually fail to make academic progress.

“We do not want the State taking over failing schools. We simply want the users of that school - the students and their parents - to decide whether their needs are being met in spite of the school's failing grade,” said Johnson. “If they believe their needs are being fulfilled, they are free to stay. But, if they feel that their child's needs are not being met, this bill will give them the freedom to choose another school.”

                                                                     ####

Posted by Senator Eric Johnson in Senator Eric Johnson on 3/6/2008

Session Blog- Day 28

Day 28: From Good to GREAT

* It's a GREAT day when you hear Stairway to Heaven while driving to work.

* It's a GREAT day for Republicans. Hillary won Texas and Ohio. "She's back!", blares Drudge. Less than 100 delegates separate Clinton from Obama. This is just priceless.

* It's a GREAT day for America. Senator John McCain clinched the GOP nomination. Huckabee drops out. McCain has an event in Atlanta tomorrow. Our party is quickly uniting.

* It's a GREAT day for Committee Chairs because it's the last day to deal with Senate bills.

* It's a GREAT day for professional wrestling. My boxing bill came out of Committee at 8 AM this morning with the fight with westlers worked out. Professional wrestling, you may be surprised to learn, is not real. Here is the definition of Professional Wrestling in the bill: "...Participating wrestlers may not be required to use their best efforts in order to win; the winner may have been selected before the performance commences..."

* The compromise bill had not been finished so I had to explain what it would say and then the Committee decided to pass the bill "as described by Senator Johnson and being prepared by legislative counsel". We'll read it later. Sausage and laws.

* I wore a Randy Orton tee-shirt to the Committee to celebrate. He is the WWE Champion. Wrestlers are "faces" and "heels". Faces are the good guys and Heels are the bad guys. Orton is a Heel. This was a smackdown!

* It's a GREAT day for Justice Clarence Thomas. My bill to name the intersection on I-95 and I-16 the "Justice Clarence Thomas Interchange" passed out of Committee today. Thomas is the fifth Georgian to serve on our nation's highest court.

* It's a GREAT day for Petaurus Breviceps (aka Sugar Gliders). The Senate decided that these marsupials are not wild animals and can be owned by people. Those of you who read this blog saved them. Congratulations.

* It's a GREAT day for Savannah. The St. Patrick's Day Parade Committee came to town to invite the legislature to the parade. It's a fun tradition. The legislature gets it. We have our own parade.

* It's a GREAT day for children in chronically failing schools. My voucher (oops - scholarships) bill passed the Senate. Hang on Clayton County, help is on the way. Sen. Fort said last year (SB 10) was the camel's nose under the tent. This year, the head and shoulders got in. Next year, the hump will follow. I promised no obesity vouchers.

* It wasn't a GREAT day for taxpayers in the House. The Speaker lost his plan to cut taxes and freeze assessments. The Democrats just couldn't do it. All but one Republican voted "yes". Now there's a difference.

* Who really represents "change"?

* "Yes, there are two paths you can go by, but in the long run, there's still time to change the road you're on.". (Led Zepplin)

Posted by Senator Eric Johnson in Senator Eric Johnson on 3/5/2008

Session Blog- Day 27

Day 27: Boogity. Boogity. Boogity.

* The Atlanta race is coming this weekend which means NASCAR Day is Thursday with drivers and cars at the Capitol. Maybe Carl Edwards will do a back flip off the podium.

* Unless we can see some movement from the House Conferees on the FY08 budget, we will just work on the FY 09 budget in anticipation of getting something from the House. They were scheduled to have the FY09 budget on the House floor this week. Now it's next week - maybe. The law says they have to have it by Day 35. That means the House has 35 legislative days to work on the budget and and the Senate will have 2-3 days and then just 2 or 3 days for a Conference Committee. That is no way to run a railroad!

* The calendar becomes an issue now. Everybody wants to go home. The people want us to go home. But the House needs time off due to the number of members and bills they have manage. The Senate would just as soon run the clock on weekends. So it's a real negotiation that doesn't just affect the legislative process - it affects legislators' lives and marriages and careers. These negotiations can be as crucial as the budget.

* As of this posting, it looks like the two Majority Leaders have reached agreement. Crossover Day will be next Tuesday. Sine Die will be the first week in April.

* Let's check in on the Stop Robo-calls Bill (SB 379). He is resting nicely in the House Energy, Utilities & Telecommunications Committee waiting to introduce himself. We'll get back to him after Crossover Day.

* Today is Super Tuesday II. Maybe the Democrats will pick their nominee. Maybe they won't. It's like going to KFC and having to pick between two left wings. I mean - what's the difference between them? Frankly, I'd be happy if they drag this out until the convention.

* My bill to provide scholarships for children in chronically failing schools came out of Rules Committee today and will be on the floor tomorrow. This also includes vouchers for students in a system that loses accreditation. Clayton County may lose theirs.

* Last night, 2,500 people showed up at the Clayton County School Board meeting. If 100 people come to a government meeting, it's remarkable. 500 people usually means they are mad about something. 2,500 is a revolution.

* The Speaker amended his GREAT plan (again). Now it eliminates the car tax ($650 million). It is on the House floor tomorrow. We like tax cuts better than tax shifts.

* Tomorrow will be a GREAT Day!

Posted by Senator Eric Johnson in Senator Eric Johnson on 3/5/2008

Session Blog- Day 26

Day 26: Staff is in Charge

* This probably doesn't surprise you, but staff is in charge. Eager young twenty-somethings managed by thirty somethings run government. And watching it all with amusement are the 'Queens of the Senate' - the professional administrative assistants who have seen it all and outlived most.

* And we let them. Thank God.

* We are part time citizen legislators. We have families and jobs. We have various levels of life experience and intellects. We have a limited attention span and energy. Some prefer a steak dinner to staking out a position. Some members are brilliant and spellbinding. Some are boring and wise. Some legislate. Some pontificate.

* But the staff - temporary and permanent - do the legwork and research. They guide the bills. They take care of constituents. They gently manage their legislator and keep them from bumping into walls. Let me introduce mine.

* I have three full time staff and two temporary staff during the session. Most have one admin and one temporary person. I am lucky.

* My administrative assistant is Rita. She is a grandmother and rides a Harley. She has been with me since I was elected PPT six years ago. She is a godsend and she is as deaf as I am. She drives an hour each way every day to serve this state. You couldn't make her mad if you slapped her. By the time many citizens reach their legislator, they are fed up with red tape and bureaucracy. Rita can talk them off the edge, help them with their problem, and make them proud that a real person with a live voice cares about them. It makes me look good. More importantly, it reflects well on our government. I love Rita.

* My Special Assistant is Shannon. She is twenty-something and single. She is multi-lingual and has all the energy and laissez-faire attitude that keeps us all laughing. She breaks the tension. She has the hardest job of all. She handles my schedule and the media. In this business, time is the most valuable asset. People need to talk to me. I need to talk to them. Decisions need to be made and I have to attend some of the highest level meetings in the Capitol. I also have my Committees, folks from home, the lobbyists, and receptions. I get scheduled in 15 minute blocks. My constituency is the Senate. I put their needs and requests on top. And I need my own time to read e-mails and check on business back home. Access to leadership is crucial and complicated. She controls it. That makes her powerful. She is the spice in our office. I like spice.

* The Chief of Staff (and General Counsel to the Senate) is Melanie. She is an attorney from the mountains of western Virginia and is a rock solid conservative with plain sense values. Married with two young children, she juggles that role with a hectic session schedule. She has written more good law than just about anybody here. Every Senator, the Lt. Governor, and the Governor seek her counsel. Along with my Senate roommate, she is a close as I get up here to an accountability partner. I can talk about the deepest faith issues with her and when the intense frustrations of leadership bear down, she is there with wisdom and sympathy and the light of Jesus. When I am ready to quit, she gives me hope and focus on the important values. Melanie keeps me grounded. She is wise. She is good. And she cares. It would not be an exaggeration to say that this state is better and this Senate runs better because of her sacrifices and passion for solid, honest government. I rely on Melanie. And you can, too.

* Robert is my aide. He is from Gwinnett County and graduated from Georgia College and State University. He was an intern with the House Appropriations Committee last year. He handles my e-mails. We get about 250 a day. I read almost every one that comes in and approve every response. This young man rocks.

* Lauren is my intern. She goes to Auburn and is from Savannah. She mostly helps Rita with the phones and the traffic in the front office. She is sweet and polite and patient. Good people skills. Like Rita, she is the "face" of our office and juggles the phones and the drop-ins with professionalism and courtesy. Sometimes the interns come back as aides. I hope we see her again.

* I have a great staff. And there are men and women like them all over the legislative branch. We are not a bureaucracy. We are very lean on staff. Some are just out of college and building a resume for another career. Some are looking to move up in state government. All of them care deeply about this state, good government, and serving the people.

* In addition to legislators' staff, we have the Legislative Counsel that writes bills, Research staff that helps us gather data, the Press Office that helps us communicate with people via the media, and others.

* Get to know our legislative staff members. And while the elected officials must ultimately decide what to introduce and how to vote, staff is a critical part of the process.

* They make me proud.

Posted by Senator Eric Johnson in Senator Eric Johnson on 3/5/2008

Session Blog- Day 25

Day 25: A Front Row Seat At The Circus

* This is an incredibly entertaining job. The personalities are so varied. The diversity of opinions and backgrounds are fascinating. Let me just spend a day on the frivolous stuff.

* A Sugar Glider came to see me. It is the cutest little thing. Like a chipmonk the size of a hamster. They are banned in Georgia and want to find a home here. I want one.

* In a hearing on the wrestling bill, a man with no arms or legs testified that he is a wrestler and a mixed martial arts contestant and promoter. He didn't like the bill.

* Between the Tennesse border squabble and the Florida and Auburn tags, we are at war with every surrounding state except North Carolina. How did this happen? A sense of humor and a bill can start a war at anytime.

* "Sometimes you want another option before you go to hospice." (Sen. Steve Thompson during the CON debate)

* The FY08 budget Conference Committee started with a calypso cell phone ring. We made them ring it again. It doesn't take much to entertain us.

* I presided for a while today. That's one of the jobs of the President Pro Tempore. "Pro tempore" is latin for "for the moment". So, for a moment, I was the President of the Senate. There was no coup.

* Bills get nicknames. Nobody can remember the 1,000 bills by number. So you can't ask a legislator "what do you think about SB 458?" You have to say, "where do you stand on the 'voucher bill'?" Then you get an answer. We have a "gun bill", a "charter school bill", the "IE squared bill", the "wrestling bill", and the "Grady bill", for example. Tomorrow, we will take up a bill dealing with obesity in schools and measuring the Body Mass Index (BMI) of every child. I don't have a clue what its number is. But ask me about the "fat kids bill" and I will know what you are asking about.

* Sometimes parlimentary and procedural rules can get pretty complicated. And you have to be very, very careful that somebody doesn't blow something past you. Today, we took a controversial bill 'off the table', removed two amendments, voted down the floor substitute, and voted for the committee substitute. It took about 60 seconds. I'm not sure anybody knew what the final bill said, but nobody objected so - hopefully - it's OK.

* Some Senators go to the "well" (or the front of the Senate) and present their bill. Some are completely trusted and tell you exactly what the bill does. Others make you listen carefully because they are usually up to something. They tell you some, but not all. They won't lie, but will omit important stuff. They are the ones that usually start with, "this bill is just a housekeeping bill." Still others can present a bill and after they are through you know they don't have a clue, but are carrying a technical bill for an agency. Those are the fun ones. They get grilled.

* Bill Buckley was one of my heros. He died yesterday. He could twist liberals into pretzels. He had a tongue as sharp as his mind.

* I am tired of these daily blogs. Are they a waste of time? Is anybody out there? Knock-knock. Hello? If so, e-mail me at eric.johnson@senate.ga.gov. If nobody says hello, I'll kill the Sugar Glider.

Posted by Senator Eric Johnson in Senator Eric Johnson on 3/5/2008

Session Blog- Day 24

Day 24: Tough Choices

* Today the Senate took up one of the toughest issues I have ever dealt with in my 16 years - CON.

* CON is the Certificate of Need that health care facilities must get from the state government to build a facility or buy expensive equipment. It is based on the theory that allowing everybody to build/buy the latest and greatest "thing" will simply drive up health care costs. Once you have it, you have to pay for it. That means you have to generate income and charge patients or insurance as much as possible.

* That is theory #1.

* Free market proponents say that we should allow the market place and the consumer to determine pricing and treatment. Competition will provide the best care at the lowest price

* That's theory #2.

* The problem is that funding for health care isn't paid for by the consumer anymore. It's paid for by an insurance company (employee/employer) or the taxpayer (PeachCare, Medicaid and Medicare). And indigents with no insurance and money-losers like trauma, neonatal and pysch units are covered by shifting costs from moneymaking services to losers. There is little free market in health care because the consumer isn't paying.

* So the debate pits most hospitals who like the status quo against doctors and businesses who wants to move to the lowest cost provider and not pay extra to cover other folks.

* In essence, it pits paying consumers against taxpayers (who are the same people) who are paying for the poor. It's very complicated!

* SB 433 is not complicated. It would allow an exemption from CON for a national or regional cancer center to open in Georgia. The proponents state that 65% of the patients would come from outside of Georgia (like those who travel to M. D. Anderson) and it creates jobs and offers choices for patients.

* Opponents claim that this would bring in unfair competition to existing Georgia Cancer Centers and, by spreading out the patient load, would increase costs.

* It pits the emotion of cancer against the business of cancer.

* Sometimes you don't know who is right.

* I agreed to co-sponsor this bill 3 years ago and still believe that it is a legitimate effort to help cancer patients and create jobs. But I can see the other view.

* Citizen-legislators often must make tough calls. Most issues are easy and can be based on what your voters want or what your political ideology or personal experience dictates. But some require a gut vote and a hope that the future will show you were on the right side. Or at least a wrong vote won't get you beat. Sometimes you really don't know which side is right and you really want to do the right thing.

* But we can't hide. There are only two buttons to push. A green one for "Yes" and a red one for "No". There is not a button for "I don't know".

* By the time every issue reaches the floor, we generally know how we are going to vote. Every once in awhile, you walk on the floor and actually listen to the debate. Senators' speeches can sway you back and forth. And good questions can generate new points. This was one of those days.

* The bill passed 31-23 largely on the passion displayed by the bill's author, Sen. Tommie Williams. Even though he has the power of the Majority Leader's title behind him, he never used it. Nobody was threatened or promised favors. He appealed to the intellectual argument for free market solutions and providing choice for cancer patients. He is one of the most trusted Senators in our chamber and I think, ultimately, people gave him the benefit of doubt.

* I voted "YES" and appreciate the reminder that, at the end of the day, we can put politics aside and be a truly deliberative body every once in a while.

* I don't know whether this bill makes it through the House or not. But we have waited long enough for outsiders to resolve it. Our action today may finally get CON reform moving.

###

Posted by Senator Eric Johnson in Senator Eric Johnson on 2/27/2008

Day 23: Dancing With The Stars

* We are back after a 3 day weekend. This was so that the Conference Committee on the FY 08 budget could begin work.

* When the Senate and House disagree on a major bill, a Conference Committee of 3 Senators (appointed by the Lt. Governor) and 3 House members (appointed by the Speaker) negotiate the final bill.

* The budget conferees are always the same - the 2 Appropriations Chairmen, the 2 Majority Leaders, and the 2 Pro Tems.

* The 2 Appropriations Chairs began casual communications on Saturday and Sunday. On Monday, the dance began.

* All of the real negotiating goes on out of sight. And a majority of the conferees (4) can never be together unless it is in public and notice is given. So it is usually one-on-one trying to slowly narrow the differences.

* And the agencies or communities affected by the differences make their case to the conferees.

* Then the group comes together in front of the media and all of the lobbyists representing agencies and anybody who cares about money in the budget - which is pretty much everybody.

* We strut and crow and defend our body's budget work. Then we agree to let staff and the two Chairs continue to work toward an agreement.

* In this budget (the amended FY 08), there are only a handful of serious issues that are holding us up - indigent defense funding, more money for private hospitals or trauma care, economic development, and how to address funding of public education. The rest can be worked out quickly. Compromise can be found on the major issues, but education funding is the elephant in the room and complicates the debate by involving the FY 09 budget.

* The trick is dealing what you want against what they want of approximately equal value while keeping a wary eye on the Governor who has the veto pen and can call a special session.

* The truth is you could work this out in 24 hours and each of us can probably describe the final product. But then nobody would get to see the dance.


For previous blog posts, please visit the "news" section of votejohnson.com

###

Posted by Senator Eric Johnson in Senator Eric Johnson on 2/26/2008

It’s Time For Scholarships For Children In Failing Schools

Sen. Eric Johnson (R-Savannah)

February 22, 2008

 

 

Hold on children. Help is on the way!

 

Almost 53,000 children in a single County in Georgia are on the verge of having their future threatened by the inappropriate actions of their Board of Education. If the Clayton County Schools lose their accreditation, there will be no Pre-K funds or HOPE Scholarships available for the children. Transcripts will be invalid. College applications will be thrown in the trash. This is a disaster.

 

The State Constitution mandates that schools are under the jurisdiction of locally elected school boards. That prevents the Governor or the State Department of Education from moving in – even temporarily – with new management. So, unless the Board members resign and new elections take place and they dramatically change their ways, the children are penalized. It’s unfair.

 

The State Senate is considering a lifeline for the parents of these children. SB 458 would require that the state funding for each child be offered to the parents as a scholarship that can be used to transfer the child to any public or private school that will accept the student. We estimate that the scholarship will be worth about $4,125 in ClaytonCounty. That will cover a significant portion of private school tuition.

 

Clayton’s children aren’t the only ones being placed at risk by poorly run school administrators. There are 19 schools in Georgia that have been on the “Needs Improvement” list for 7 or 8 years in a row. It is time to admit that the children in the schools need help and the time for excuses has run out. SB 458 would also require scholarships be offered to these children as well.

 

Some say this violates the principle of local control. But, if the local elected officials have clearly failed in their duties, real local control should shift to the parents. This is their money. These are their children. And they should have the right to choose the best educational environment for your child – particularly when the system has clearly failed.

 

If the Titanic was sinking and there weren’t enough lifeboats, we would put the children in them first. Save the children and then worry about who hit the iceberg!

 

# # #

 

 

 

Posted by Senator Eric Johnson in Senator Eric Johnson on 2/25/2008

Session Blog- Day 22

Day 22: The Lunar Eclipse

* Last night, there was a lunar eclipse. That explains a lot.

* Hold on to your wallet and stay tuned. The pace will accelerate even more next week as we approach Day 30. This is referred to as "Crossover Day" and is the last day the Senate can pass a Senate bill and the House can pass a House bill.

* We are off on Monday. Tuesday is Day 23. Crossover Day is coming soon. Committee work is reaching their peak.

* The Speaker's GREAT plan that shifts taxes from property to sales will be on the House floor. It will eliminate the car tax and the school taxes on homes, put the sales tax back on groceries and add a sales tax to 174 services. Nobody except the Speaker thinks he has the votes.

* Never underestimate the Speaker.

* The Senate will take up several liquor bills on Tuesday. This may offer an opportunity for Sunday sales to be offered as an amendment. It's beer or the Bible.
* On Wednesday, we will take up Certificate of Need (CON). That is a huge health care issue. This is a free market versus regulation of health care services debate.

* My bill to require vouchers to be offered to students in failing schools should come out of committee.

* Health insurance reform. Tax Allocation Districts. Charter Schools. Two different budgets. Two different T-SPLOST bills. Trauma funding. Indigent defense spending. Robo-calls. WWE. The Human Life Amendment. All are moving on different paths in different rooms at the same time.

* The Speaker can't track them all. Neither can the Lt. Governor or the Pro Tem. The members have their own agendas. The special interests are trying to quietly stick their language into bills. They all are trying to sneak stuff into law or the budget. It makes your head spin.

* Saddle up. This is about to get very interesting.

###

Posted by Senator Eric Johnson in Senator Eric Johnson on 2/25/2008

Sesson Blog- Day 21

Day 21: Lobbying and Lobbyists

* To lobby is not to hang out in the front room of a hotel.

* "Winding in and out through the long, devious basement passage, crawling through the corridors, trailing its slimy length from gallery to committee room, at last it lies stretched at full length on the floor of Congress-this dazzling reptile, this huge, scaly serpent of the lobby."

* While this horrifying description of monster lobbyists from a newspaper correspondent in 1869 might reinforce the vast stereotype portrayed in the media about the practice of lobbying, lobbyists actually play a vital role in the Georgia's legislative process.

* The word "lobbying," according to the BBC, comes from the lobbies outside of the Parliamentary chambers where the Members of Parliament and their peers would meet and discuss issues prior to debate.

* Lobbyists have been present in America since the first Congress when, in an attempt to delay the passage of a tariff bill, merchants from New York offered Representatives and Senators free meals and treats.

* Things haven't changed.

* Despite all of the press coverage of this profession, it is still largely unknown to the American public. The definition of lobbying according to the United States Senate is "the practice of trying to persuade legislators to propose, pass, or defeat legislation or to change existing laws."

* A lobbyist may work for a group, organization, or industry, and presents information on legislative proposals to support his or her clients' interests.

* Here in Georgia during the current Legislative Session, there are more than 1,500 registered lobbyists representing 5,242 active groups, according to the State Ethics Commission.

* But just because a person is not a registered lobbyist, employed by a certain company or special interest does not mean they cannot lobby the Representatives and Senators of our great state. Any citizen of Georgia can e-mail the Governor, call their Senator, or set up a meeting with their Representative to talk about an issue important to them.

* Lobbying is a valuable part of democracy. What matters is that there is transparency for the voter. Who is lobbying and how much are they spending?

* So Bobby the lobbyist lobbies in the lobby for the hobbyists.

###

Posted by Senator Eric Johnson in Senator Eric Johnson on 2/25/2008

Session Blog- Day 20

Day 20: Halfway Home and Half Crazy

* Today is Day 20 of our 40 day session. The pace continues to build.

* Let's follow my schedule to see what it's like.

* I arrive at the Capitol at 6:30 AM after a cup of coffee at Krispy Kreme. No donuts. I begin reviewing my calendar and preparing my presentation to a Committee.

* At 8 AM, the Senate Education Committee has a hearing on SB 458 - my voucher bill for failing schools. It lasts an hour and a half. I argue that a system that loses their accreditation must offer their children an escape route to college. No accreditation = no HOPE. And a school that has been on the "Needs Improvement" list for SEVEN years is beyond help. Those children deserve a lifeline. Vouchers will offer their parents more then $4,000 to use toward private school tuition. Vouchers is a bad word for educrats. It's like kryptonite to Superman.

* The Committee decided not to vote and adjourned at 9:30.

* The Republican Senate Caucus meets at 9 AM. They reviewed the 10 bills on the floor today. I missed that meeting.

* At 9:30, I met with Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle to go over bill assignments and other critical issues of the day.

* At 10, the Senate convenes. After introducing and assigning bills, hearing the Pastor of the Day, and debating whether we should reconsider the vote on a bill yesterday, the Senate finally took up its first bill at about 11.

* I step off the floor several times to meet with the Mayor of Tybee, the President of Kennesaw State University, and constituents.

* We passed a resolution trying to get one and half miles of Tennessee back into Georgia. It is supposed to be at the 35th parallel, but some drunk surveyors misplaced the line. We really don't want the people. It's the water in the Tennessee River that interests us.

* At 11:45, I leave the Senate and head to north Atlanta for a major speech to the Fulton County Taxpayers Association. I review tax and education issues that we face.

* I missed the vote on allowing a new penny sales tax for roads and traffic relief.

* I return to the Capital at 1:30 in time to vote on the last 5 bills. We adjourn around 2:15.

* I get to my office for 45 minutes to review e-mails and return calls.

* At 3 PM, I attend the Regulated Industries Committee and pass 2 bills out.

* After the meeting, I swing by the Governor's office to talk about how my voucher bill could be used to help the Clayton County schools.

* At 4 PM, I went to the Natural Resources Committee. It had been cancelled. Welcome to my world.

* Whew. Another few minutes to catch a breath. I meet a contingency of Savannah citizens up here lobbying for the American Cancer Society.

* At 5 PM, I attend the Rules Committee and we put the amended FY 08 budget on the floor and three bills dealing with Grady Hospital.

* I then dash to a quail supper by a law firm for judges, lawyers and legislators.

* Finally, I meet a House member for dinner to discuss how we can build better bridges between the House and Senate. No lobbyists. Dutch treat.

* Home at 10:30. Sixteen hours. Pretty typical.

* And we have 20 more days to go.

Posted by Senator Eric Johnson in Senator Eric Johnson on 2/21/2008

Session Blog- Day 19

Day 19: The "Little" Budget

* A million here. A million there. And soon we are talking REAL money.

* We actually have to deal with TWO budgets during our 40 days. We must approve a full year budget for the next fiscal year (FY 09) and amend or adjust the budget we are in (FY 08) based on economic conditions.

* The full year state budget (the "big budget") runs from July 1 to June 30. So the Fiscal Year 2009 budget begins on July 1, 2008.

* As stewards of the purse, we try to estimate annual tax revenue conservatively and so the amended budget (also called the "little budget") usually adds spending unless the economy tanks. We don't want to cut programs in the middle of the fiscal year. Most of the amended budget is used to accurately reflect the number of children in public school. When we draft a future year's budget, this is a guess. The amended budget deals with true student enrollment. This is called the mid-year adjustment.

* The FY 2009 budget is $21 Billion. The amended FY 2008 budget adds $330 million to what was anticipated a year ago.
* $111 million is needed for the mid-year adjustment of an extra 20,000 students who showed up in our K-12 schools. The rest of the $330 million goes to roads and trauma care and other education expenses.

* The amended budget used to be full of pork projects. We have stopped that and focus on critical needs. There is not a single project in this one.

* The Governor, House and Senate start with their various proposals for these supplemental funds. In the "Little Budget", disagreements are minimal but can still be significant.

* The Senate passed our version out of the Appropriations Committee this morning. It will be on the floor on Thursday. Then we will negotiate with the House and Governor on the distribution of about $100 million (out of almost $20 Billion). So less than 5% is debated.

* But $100 million is REAL money and reflects serious policy matters. That's why we are here.

* Six members will negotiate the final deal. 3 House members and 3 Senators. I am one of the six.

* Of the $100 million, $75 million will be the most contencious. The Governor proposed using most of it for new fuel efficient school buses and new technology for schools. The House proposed using it for "equalization" funding (or money for richer and faster growing school systems). The Senate believes it should go to reduce previous "austerity cuts" to education. So we all think education is where it should go, but disagree on how it should be spent on education.

* Don't you love democracy?!

* Update: Our Stop Robo-calls bill passed the Senate by 40-9 today. It is now headed into the dark jungle of the House.

* I'm Eric Johnson and I approve of this message.

Posted by Senator Eric Johnson in Senator Eric Johnson on 2/21/2008

Session Blog- Day 18

Day 18: The Pace Picks Up

* The Senate Transportation Committee passed a proposed constitutional amendment that would allow another one penny sales tax for transportation (T-SPLOST).

* The education reform bill was dropped in the House. This allows increased flexibility from regulations in exchange for a contract with the state that sets specific educational goals. Failure to meet those goals will result in designated reforms like charter schools. I will handle the bill in the Senate.

* The Speaker finally presented his GREAT tax shift plan to the Ways + Means Committee. It cuts school and car taxes and increases the sales tax on groceries and adds taxes to a lot of services.

* The Senate passed a major ethics reform package that I co-authored. It requires local governments to establish ethics panels to deal with citizen accusations of conflicts of interest.

* The Senate also passed the Governor's proposed constitutional amendment to eliminate the state's 1/4 mil of property taxes. If approved by the House and the voters, this is a $94 million property tax cut.

* The Senate Education Committee began hearings on the House's charter school bill.

* Tomorrow, I will lead a delegation to visit the Augusta Burn Center and offer prayer and support for the Dixie Crystal explosion victims and families.

* Guess what? Our Stop Robo-Calls hero escaped from his Section 2 jail in Rules and is ready to make a bow on the floor of the Senate next Tuesday.

* We are off Friday and Monday for budget work. See you Tuesday.

Posted by Senator Eric Johnson in Senator Eric Johnson on 2/18/2008

Session Blog- Day 17

Day 17: Rules and the WWE

* Somehow, discussing how the Rules Committee works and professional wrestling in the same blog makes sense. Both are just for show. Stick with me.

* First wrestling. Secretary of State Karen Handel asked me to carry a bill the clarifies the powers of the Georgia Athletic and Entertainment Commission (commonly referred to as the Boxing Commission). Existing law was so weak that Georgia couldn't host a championship boxing match even though we are home to Evander Holyfield. The UFC won't fight here.

* The major fight promotors want assurances that the participants (fighters and fans) will be safe and the purse is protected and the events aren't rigged. So does the public.

* The problem is that professional wrestling isn't a real fight (I was SHOCKED to learn) and they come under the Boxing Commission under this bill.

* The wrestlers and promotors don't like the idea of being regulated so they were out in force at the Committee hearing today. Great people and making good points.

* Now we have to back and rewrite the bill and try to address their concerns and the Boxing Commission's.

* So, Eric, what does this have to do with the Rules Committee?
* Remember our little robo-call bill that we have been following along his dangerous journey? He got mugged!

* Every bill that passes out of it's assigned committee then goes to the Rules Committee and this committee determines which bill deserves debate on the floor and when it gets there. The Rules Committee cannot amend a bill, but it can determine it's fate. It is a very powerful committee and is controlled by the Lt. Governor in the Senate and the Speaker in the House.

* Basically, think of it as a funnel and filter. So many bills. So little time.

* So why is this Rules Committee like WWE? Because the Committee meets and decides what bills go to the Senate or House floor the next day. For members and the public in the room, it sounds like an open process. But, like WWE, the winners and losers were predetermined backstage. Experienced observers know this.

* To slow bills down (or to kill them dead or to hold them hostage for negotiating purposes), the Rules Committee has a "Section 2" list of bills that are not available to be considered by the Senate. Guess who showed up in Section 2 yesterday?

* Why would this bill go there? Apparently, some powerful special interests that want to send recorded messages into your peaceful evening and call you at night don't want this bill to pass.

* But the Stop Robo-calls Bill is still alive and we must have faith. Section 2 is a jail, not a grave. Stay tuned.

Posted by Senator Eric Johnson in Senator Eric Johnson on 2/14/2008

Session Blog- Day 16

Day 16: Tax Reform Hits The Senate

* The Senate took up two constitutional amendments today that are part of the efforts to reform and reduce taxes.

* The Governor has proposed to eliminate the state income tax on unearned income for Georgians 65 and older. He has also proposed to eliminate the state's small share of property taxes. I support both.

* The Speaker has proposed to eliminate some or all property taxes and shift the burden to a sales tax on services and increasing the tax on groceries. I have expressed concerns about a new tax on services, but have encouraged him to send something to the Senate. Any change will require voters to approve.

* The Senate has focused on controlling the rate of spending and has passed SR 20 that would limit future budget increases to inflation and population growth. Any excess revenue would have to be returned to the taxpayers, used to pay down the debt, or put into a savings account for the state.

* We are also concerned about the unpredictability of property taxes and tackled that today with two options.

* SR 686 is my bill. It basically freezes residential property taxes until the home sells. It is a statewide version of Chatham County's Stephens-Day Bill.

* SR 796 by Sen. Chip Rogers would cap increases of residential property at 2% and non-residential property at 3%.

* Both passed with overwhelming bi-partisan support.

* The Senate is now waiting on the House to do their thing.

Posted by Senator Eric Johnson in Senator Eric Johnson on 2/14/2008

Session Blog- Day 15

Day 15: Random Thoughts

* The Georgia Democrat Party ruled that a local party did not discriminate against one of their transgender candidates. Republicans don't know what a transgender candidate is.

* After endorsing Fred Thompson and Mitt Romney, both Gov. Huckabee and Sen. McCain have called me and asked me NOT to endorse them.

* I worked - unsuccessfully - to block the issuance of a University of Florida tag in Georgia last year. I failed. While we have had some fun, it is outrageous that Georgia now has an Auburn tag and a Florida tag, but our state universities' alumni can't get one in their states. So, I announced a bill today to require reciprocity. Rep. Barry Fleming will carry it in the House.

* Somehow, the term "prestige tag" and Gator fans seems like an oxymoron. Maybe that's just me.

* Hasta la vista, baby!

Posted by Senator Eric Johnson in Senator Eric Johnson on 2/12/2008

Session Blog- Day 14

Day 14: Tragedy and Trauma

* Last night, at 7:20 PM, there was an explosion at the Dixie Crystal plant in Port Wentworth, Georgia. This is on the edge of my district.

* As of this writing, 62 people went to the hospital. More than a dozen were transferred to Augusta's burn center. Several are still in the hospital in Savannah. Most are in critical condition. Four bodies have been recovered and four are still missing. The fire is still burning, but is under control.

* This plant produced 10% of the sugar in the US. It may never reopen.

* This is a major tragedy.

* Heroes emerge from tragedy.

* The emergency response teams prepare and plan constantly and the training paid off. Communications worked well. EMS units responded from surrounding counties. Doctors flocked to the trauma unit, some in tuxedoes. Hospital employees didn't wait for a phone call. They just came. Triage tents were set up. Local fire and police were joined by the Air National Guard, the Georgia State Patrol, the GBI, the Marine Rescue Squad, GEMA, the Coast Guard and many others to rescue employees and fight the fire.

* I was able to visit the site of the explosion this afternoon. I wanted to see the disaster response team in person and thank them. Seeing it in person makes you realize that it was a miracle that anybody survived.

* As we debate expanding and funding a statewide trauma system, this event is a timely reminder of the need.

* My prayers are with the families who lost loved ones and with the health care professionals giving loving care to the wounded. May God's gentle blessings and the promise of eternal life offer comfort to those who suffer.

Posted by Senator Eric Johnson in Senator Eric Johnson on 2/12/2008

Session Blog- Day 13

Day 13: Committees

* Our legislative journey together continues.

* I am a little nervous today. As the proud father of SB 379 (banning robo-calls), I will present him to the Senate Agriculture Committee today.

* Committees are made up of 5-15 Senators from both parties. They generally have some expertise in the jurisdiction of the Committee. Bill authors explain their bills and Committee members ask questions and hear testimony from interested parties (lobbyists and citizens and outside experts).

* This is where people like you can engage if you want. House Committee meetings are broadcast on the web. The Senate does not have that capability.

* Then the members vote on the bill. They can defeat it in Committee or pass the bill onto the full Senate (via the Rules Committee which we will discuss later). Bills are usually amended to improve them or to "perfect" the language or to compromise between competing interests or ideaologies.

* This Committee is chaired by Senator John Bulloch, a pecan farmer from Ochlocknee, Georgia.

* Why is a robo-call bill in Agriculture? Good question. This is actually the Agriculture and Consumer Affairs Committee and we felt like this fell within the Consumer Affairs role of the Committee.

* On the Senate floor today, we passed 5 bills. One dealt with ratites. Ratites are ostriches and emus. Big Bird is a ratite. When the Agriculture Department started regulating emu farms, they didn't know how to classify these large, flightless birds so they classified them as cattle. This bill reclassifies them as poultry. I assume this makes sense, but I wonder who called them cows. Maybe Chick-Fil-A is behind this bill.

* You just can't make this stuff up!

Posted by Senator Eric Johnson in Senator Eric Johnson on 2/8/2008

Session Blog- Day 12

Day 12: Aftermath

* Super Tuesday has come and gone. Obama won Georgia big. No surprise. Huckabee topped the GOP field with an army of grassroots conservatives.

* Warning, Will Robinson. Warning!

* McCain is clearly having trouble with the GOP base, but continues winning with help from independents. He was under 50% in his home state of Arizona.

* Romney and Huckabee aren't giving up and, consequently, conservatives will remain divided - almost assuring McCain wins the nomination.

* If he is our nominee, Senator McCain will face a lethargic GOP base and will compete with Obama or Clinton for independents. This is dangerous, but we will have 8 months to unite and consider America's future under Clinton II or Obama. We must put America first.

* As a Republican, it has also been interesting to watch the Democrats pick their nominee. Even while many Republicans seem disappointed with our choices, I would hate to have to pick between theirs! What a battle between liberals. But it shows that Hillary has the same effect on her own party as she does with the GOP. That is the only way to explain why a young, inexperienced Obama could be on the verge of winning the Democratic nomination.

* This has already been a fascinating election that may be the most competitive in our lifetime. By election day, we will suffer from electoral fatigue and may want to return to a monarchy so we don't have to ever go through this again.

* Nobody has figured out a better way. At least our country was designed by geniuses to be run by idiots! God bless America.

Posted by Senator Eric Johnson in Senator Eric Johnson on 2/8/2008

Day 11: Super Tuesday and Fat Tuesday

* Today is the largest group of states to ever hold their primaries on the same day. It is almost like a national primary.

* It is also Mardi Gras. Weird coincidence, huh?

* The two parties may not determine their nominees tonight, but frontrunners should be more clear and momentum established.

* Georgia joined the group and we will see the results later tonight. McCain, Huckabee and Romney all visited us in the last three days indicating that Georgia was still in play. I predict an Obama win here tonight. I can't predict the GOP although there seems to be a conservative shift to Romney, but Huckabee and Romney and Paul split the anti-McCain vote.

* We'll learn the results together tonight.

* The Senate convened at 1 PM to give folks a chance to vote and get to Atlanta.

* The House is reeling from punishment for Representatives voting the "wrong" way last Friday on a DOT Board race. 4 members were stripped of Committee officerships and office locations were moved.

* The Top 20 best looking people around the Capitol was released over the weekend. I didn't make it. Maybe if they did the Top 500. I guess the Mardi Gras beads I wore on the floor today won't help.

* My bill to freeze residential property taxes until the property is sold passed the Senate Finance Committee this afternoon.

* The pace is picking up.

Posted by Senator Eric Johnson in Senator Eric Johnson on 2/6/2008

Session Blog- Day 10

Day 10: Trains, Planes and Automobiles

* I presided for the first time this session while Lt. Governor Cagle met with the Governor about Grady.

* The first order of business was to disagree to the House's amendment to the "guns in parking lots" bill. They allowed guns to be concealed and carried in churches. The Senate wanted to run that one by God first. It looks like this delightful little bill will be around for a while.

* After 2 non-controversial bills, the Senate adjourned and prepared for two hotly contested DOT Board races.

* The members of the DOT Board (who control all funds for roads and bridges) are elected by the legislators in each congressional district. When they are contested, it is a high stakes battle and is done by secret ballot.

* These two races really pit the Governor versus the Speaker - particularly the 9th District where former GOP legislators faced off. The incumbent is the existing DOT Chairman and cast the deciding vote in the selection of the Governor's choice over the Speaker's choice for the new Commissioner. The Speaker vowed revenge.

* These votes are secret for just this situation. A secret ballot allows members to vote for their choice and be protected from retaliation by the Governor, Speaker, Lt. Governor or winning Board member. The fact that it allows members to promise their votes to each candidate is also a secondary (and often used) benefit.

* Both incumbents won today. And while the press will determine winners and losers, the process was affirmed and the Caucuses did the right thing.

* Let's hope there is no punishment of wayward House members. It's time to move on and try to reform the DOT and start building roads faster and cheaper. Energy spent on guessing who lied won't help traffic.

Posted by Senator Eric Johnson in Senator Eric Johnson on 2/6/2008

Day 9: Shakin' and Shuckin'

* This will be a short one because today is Savannah Day.

* During the session there are literally hundreds of groups who come to the Capitol. Students and pages and bands and football champions visit. Nurses, teachers, ambulance drivers, firefighters, mayors, doctors, lawyers and motorcycle riders bring their associations through to lobby and have receptions. There are often 3-4 a night and usually somebody from home is there so you try to go by. You shake a few hands and graze and move on.

* Communities also do events to show off their assets and to lobby for funding for this and that. Cordele has a fish fry. Statesboro brings quail for a wild game supper. The southeast corner of our state has fried alligator.

* The biggest event of all is Savannah Day. 120 people come up organized by the Chamber and bring oysters and shrimp. The Depot is packed and the tickets are hard to come by. The Savannah delegation - who control the tickets - are very popular. It's an expensive and well-done event and it helps Savannah.

* The day of this event and the others like it bring the citizen-lobbyists to the Capitol to meet their legislators, learn what we do, and repeat the talking points of their group. It is democracy at work and we love to have folks from back home visit and they love an excuse to come to Atlanta.

* But Savannah Day is overwhelming for our 8 member delegation. Helping host the 120 members and its subgroups (elected officials, healthcare, teachers, etc.) keeps us from Committee meetings and our regular official duties. I am hosting a visit with the new DOT Commissioner. The Governor, Lt. Governor and Speaker will all meet with the group. Department heads drop by. The business of government proceeds all around the visitors. It adds a certain choreographed chaos to the play that you just can't describe.

* So, for a day, I will be playing tour guide, professor of government, host, proud parent, and holder of the tickets.

* But the reward is good government and good food. You can't beat that!

Posted by Senator Eric Johnson in Senator Eric Johnson on 2/6/2008

Day 8: One Fish. Two Fish. Red Fish. Blue Fish.

* Today, SB 379 (banning robo-calls) started on its journey. It began by being "read" and assigned to a Committee. It actually isn't read like you think. A speed reader reads the first two or three sentences and then is interrupted by the Lt. Governor who assigns it to Agriculture and Consumer Affairs.

* According to Section 5 paragraph 7 of the Georgia State Constitution, the title of every bill and resolution affecting general law or the state constitution must be read three times on three separate session days in each chamber prior to coming to a vote. The first such reading occurs the day the legislation is introduced and is then assigned to a standing committee. In the Senate, the second reading occurs the day after the bill is reported out of its standing committee. The third and final reading occurs prior to taking a vote on the legislation.
           
* Why do we read the title of the bills and resolutions out loud three separate times on three separate days prior to its passage?  Each legislator already has his or her own copy of the bill or resolution at their desk and the vast majority of the legislators seem to be ignoring the readings anyway.

* That's an excellent question.

* Requiring these three readings was adopted from British Parliamentary Procedure that can be traced to before the founding of Georgia. The practice was continued in Georgia's infancy because of low literacy rates in the state throughout the 1800s and into the 1900s. By reading the bills, legislators and citizens would be able to hear the general topic of the legislation summaries even if they could not read them. In addition, while it might seem easy now to get mass copies of bills and resolutions, prior to large-scale copiers it was nearly impossible to get the large number of copies needed for each Senator and Representative. 
 
* Today, this practice carries on because of the immense tradition it carries and its ability to protect against votes on legislation being called hastily.  Perhaps the most important reason this continues, however, is that it continues to be a requirement in the Georgia State Constitution. 

* Plus I don't think most House members can read. (Just kidding.)

* So SB 379 took its first bow in the Senate today. Please hold your applause.

Posted by Senator Eric Johnson in Senator Eric Johnson on 1/30/2008

Day 7: Don't Call Me! I'll Call You!

In the old days, candidates went door-to-door. Now they go
door-to-door digitally and call you over and over and over again.

I've used them. I've even recorded them. I've received them, too.

As technology improves and the costs ov TV, radio, and direct mail
skyrocket, candidates have turned to the cheapest way to reach voters -"robo calls" - recorded phone messages.

Today I want to fight back and to be sensitive to "free speech"
issues. I dropped a bill that doesn't ban political calls, but requires
a "live" operator to ask if you want to hear a message from whoever. This will add expense and will greatly reduce the number of calls. Plus, they cannot leave a message if you don't answer and, if you do, you can say "yes" or "no" and hang up.

Schools calling parents, government emergencies, and existing business relationships are excluded.

Let's follow this process together.

After a bill is dropped it is assigned a number. They are given out in numerical order. This bill is now referred to as Senate Bill 379  (orsimply SB 379). That indicates how many bills have been introduced in the Senate since the beginning of the two year cycle last year.

Tomorrow, we will begin following SB 379 on its path through the
jungle. It will be a fun journey and full of danger. Our congressmen and political consultants are already lying in wait for our hero. Special interest groups want to call you at home. Will the people care? Does SB 379 survive and become law or is it ambushed and killed on its way to the Governor's desk?

Posted by Senator Eric Johnson in Senator Eric Johnson on 1/30/2008

Day 5: H2O to Go

Whiskey's for drinking and water's for fightin'.

Georgia has never been able to come up with a comprehensive strategy to manage our limited water resources. The mountains love their trout streams. The farmers want unlimited usage of aquifers.