Georgia Legislative Watch

The House finally passed an adornment resolution this morning setting the final days of the session:

The House set a calendar Wednesday morning for the final four days, which puts lawmakers last day on April 29 and in the middle of election qualifying.

Lawmakers plan to meet Tuesday and Wednesday of next week and then Tuesday and Thursday of the following week, according to a resolution that just passed the House.

This will put the last week of the session during the week of qualifying for the 2010 election.

Here is the update calendar.

The House Appropriations Committee passed the FY 2011 budget by a vote of 61-8.

Money for the College Football Hall of Fame stayed in, but other halls of fame and pet projects are gone.

The budget will hit the floor of the House tomorrow.

On Day 34, Lawmakers covers Sen. Preston Smith’s lashing out at leadership for stripping him of his committee chairmanship and much, much more.

Here is video, provided by the Georgia Senate, of Majority Leader Chip Rogers’ weekly press conference.

Part 2:

As noted earlier, the both chambers of the legislature will be in session tomorrow and Wednesday. The Senate passed an adjournment resolution today. The House will likely follow suit tomorrow. If they don’t, they technically have to be in session every day.

There was a rumor that they would meet the three days this week and again on Monday, April 19th and would adjourn for two weeks, which would be the week of qualify. A couple legislators tell me this scenario isn’t likely.

The House Appropriations Committee will take up the FY 2011 budget tomorrow. It’ll sit for 24 hours and be taken up on Wednesday.

The legislature reconvened today for Day 34 of the session after a week recess. They’ll be back tomorrow for Day 35, and likely Wednesday as well. More on this later.

- State lawmakers return with plenty left to do
Jim Tharpe and Nancy Badertscher, Atlanta Journal-Constitution

- State legislators return after weeklong recess
Walter Jones, Athens Banner-Herald

- Preston Smith out as judiciary chair
Ernie Suggs, Atlanta Journal-Constitution

- ARC pushing transportation bill
Nancy Badertscher, Atlanta Journal-Constitution

- Schools should learn budget fate this week
Blake Aued, Athens Banner-Herald

- Lawmakers considering privatizing state functions
Ashley Speagle, Chattanooga Times Free Press

- Legislature makes gains on key issues
Ashley Speagle, Chattanooga Times Free Press

- Vacation policy takes toll on state budgets
Jeremy Redmon, Atlanta Journal-Constitution

- Ethics debate doesn’t slow down lobbying
Travis Fain, Macon Telegraph

Research 2000, the polling arm of the Daily Kos, put a poll out yesterday with potential general election match-ups between former Gov. Roy Barnes (D) and three potential Republican contenders.

You can view other general election polling here.

Roy Barnes vs. Nathan Deal

Roy Barnes vs. Karen Handel

Roy Barnes vs. John Oxendine

Research 2000 also polled the three Republicans against Thurbert Baker. The attorney general trailed all potential opponents by double-digits.

This post will be updated throughout the day.

Below are campaign disclosures filed with the State Ethics Commission for the reporting period ending on March 31st for Republican candidates for state-wide office. Candidates have until April 7th to file their disclosure. Candidates that file between April 8-14 are subject to a $25 fine. They are subject to an additional $50 fine after April 15th (a total fine of $75).

Please note that the “Contributions” include in-kind donations and loans. “Cash On Hand” amounts may in some instances include money from previous reporting cycles.

These disclosures will be trickling in throughout the day, so please check back for more information.
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