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Legislative News Round-Up for Jan. 11

Filed under: General Assembly, Legislative News Round-Up, News — January 11, 2007 @ 7:22 pm

Here’s a wrap of the day that was – Day 4 of the 1st Regular Session of the 149th Georgia General Assembly – Thursday, Jan. 11, 2007:

LEGISLATIVE DIARIES

    The Associated Press
    Georgia Legislative Diary

    With a high-profile ethics complaint hanging over the head of Georgia’s House speaker, the legislature’s top senator said the panel that could investigate the case would have power to subpoena witnesses. Senate President pro-tem Eric Johnson announced the eight members of the Joint Legislative Ethics Committee. On Monday, the state Democratic Party filed an ethics complaint claiming Speaker Glenn Richardson had an inappropriate relationship with a female utility lobbyist.

    _ The House unanimously adopted a resolution urging the U.S. Congress to fund a $131 million shortfall in federal funds that covers the children of some 260,000 low-income families. The resolution asks Congress to fill the funding gap for Georgia’s popular PeachCare health insurance program, which could end in less than 90 days unless federal lawmakers take action, said state Rep. Mickey Channell, the bill’s sponsor.

    _ Local communities would be able to decide for themselves whether beer and wine sales should be allowed on Sunday. The legislation introduced on by state Sen. Seth Harp, R-Midland, sets up what is likely to be one of the hot battles under the gold dome this session. Georgia, Connecticut and Indiana are the only three states that ban the Sunday sale of all alcohol for off-premises consumption.

    _ Republicans in the Senate rolled out a new website devoted to letting Georgians make suggestions for new laws. GeorgiaSpeaks.com allows people to post messages with their ideas, which lawmakers will consider, said Senate Majority Leader Tommie Williams.

    _ A bill by Sen. Cecil Staton, R-Macon, that would ask voters to approve a constitutional amendment to require photo identification at the polls, was officially read and sent to a Senate committee. Staton had pre-filed the bill before the session began.

    _ House lawmakers were adjusting to new committee assignments. The biggest change involved state Rep. Mack Crawford, who was demoted from his post as one of the vice-chairman for the powerful Appropriations committee. He lost his vaunted office, too. The Concord Republican, known as a moderate, wouldn’t comment on the demotion. But he said he won’t be switching parties. “They’re not going to run me off,” he said.

    QUOTE OF THE DAY

    “I’m a strong believer in the separation of church and state. The vestiges of the Sunday blue laws are a holdover from a different time” – state Sen. Seth Harp, the Midland Republican who sponsored legislation allowing communities to decide whether beer and wine sales should be allowed on Sunday.

    The Duluth Weekly
    House of Representatives Daily Report

    TOMORROW’S FORECAST * The House will reconvene for its 5th Legislative Day on Monday, January 22, at 01:00 PM. * No bills are expected to be debated on the floor.

    DEBATE CALENDAR HR 13 – State Children’s Health Insurance Plan; urge Congress to provide funding – House Committee: Rules – Rule: Modified-Structured – Amendments(s): N/A – Yeas: 166; Nays: 0 *

    Sen. David Shafer (R-48)
    Day Four

    Today is the fourth day of the Legislative Session. It is still too early for legislation to have made its way through committee and on to the floor, so the session will be brief.

    Our most important work of the day will be done this afternoon when we elect several members of the State Board of Transportation. Each Congressional District is entitled to one member of the Board, elected by the legislators whose districts are within or overlap with the Congressional District.

TOP STORIES

[View Thursday's Georgia Legislative Network floor coverage]

3 Responses to “Legislative News Round-Up for Jan. 11”

  1. Legislative News Round-Up | Peach Pundit Says:
    January 11th, 2007 at 7:30 pm

    [...] A complete “round-up” of each day’s goings-on under the Gold Dome will be posted every evening on legislative days at Georgia Legislative Watch. Don’t forget that it is BY FAR the best place to get all of your Georgia General Assembly information, so put those comment threads to good use. [...]

  2. Save The GOP Says:
    January 16th, 2007 at 11:51 am

    [...] From Georgia’s Legislative Watch: Local communities would be able to decide for themselves whether beer and wine sales should be allowed on Sunday. The legislation introduced on by state Sen. Seth Harp, R-Midland, sets up what is likely to be one of the hot battles under the gold dome this session. Georgia, Connecticut and Indiana are the only three states that ban the Sunday sale of all alcohol for off-premises consumption.  Bookmark to: By Langley, 1/16/2007, 11:51 am o’clock [...]

  3. DawgsOnline » Rasslin’ at Georgia? Says:
    March 16th, 2007 at 11:41 am

    [...] Sen. Harp can’t be all bad; he’s a driving force behind reforming the remaining Blue Laws, and I support him completely on that issue. He just needs to think this wrestling thing through a bit. "Coach Goldberg" doesn’t sound too bad though. [...]

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