REP. STEPHANIE STUCKEY BENFIELD'S
LEGISLATIVE REPORT
Week of January 8 - 12, 2007
Lawmakers hear Governor's state budget proposal
By Rep. Stephanie Stuckey Benfield
Upcoming District Events
Child Support Forum : I will be hosting an informational forum on Georgia's new child support laws this Thursday, January 18 from 5:30 - 7:00 p.m. at Brannen Towers , located at 1200 Glenwood Avenue, S.E.; Atlanta, GA 30316. Parking will be available across the street at the First Iconium Baptist Church. A panel of experts will provide information and answer questions on how the new law will impact child support payments. Confirmed panelists include DeKalb County Superior Court judge Gregory Adams, Georgia Child Support Commission Attorney Jill Radwine, and DeKalb County Assistant District Attorney Gmerice Lamb. The meeting is co-sponsored by Reps. Stacey Abrams, Michele Henson and Robbin Shipp.
Memorial Drive Public Information Meeting : DeKalb County Commissioner Larry Johnson is hosting a meeting to provide citizens with an update on The Memorial Drive Development Project (former Avondale Mall site) this Tuesday, January 16 at 7:00 p.m. at St. Philip AME Church Family Life Center , located at 240 Candler Road, SE; Atlanta, GA 30317.
News from the Capitol
The first week of the 2007 session of the Georgia General Assembly was highlighted by ceremonial and organizational activities as newly elected or re-elected members took their oaths of office, leadership positions were filled, committees were assigned and the Governor delivered his annual State of the State address.
Rep. Glenn Richardson (R-Hiram) was re-elected as Speaker of the House of Representatives by a majority of the members. The majority also adopted new rules that will strictly limit debate on legislation under consideration on the House floor. The "hawk" system was also reinstituted, giving the Speaker the power to hand-pick a House member to vote in any or all committees to help move or stop legislation according to the wishes of the Speaker. Also, local legislation will now be handled similarly to general legislation and must pass through the Rules Committee.
In his address to a joint session of the House and Senate on Wednesday, Governor Perdue proposed a fiscal year 2008 annual budget that would reach an all-time high of $20.2 billion in state government spending. The governor has proposed new education initiatives including $21.3 million for expanding graduation coaches and $750,000 for providing a statewide online tutoring program. He also is recommending a 3 percent salary increase for educators this year but is continuing his policy of recommending reductions in the QBE funding formula for local schools, cutting $139 million in his proposal for the next fiscal year. These cuts shift the tax burden from the state level to the local level and caused more than 100 Georgia school systems to raise local property taxes over the past four years to make up the difference. The Governor also proposes to cut more than $274 million in funding to the University System of Georgia.
Other funding items in the Governor's budget plan include $417 million in bonds for capital outlay construction, $176 million to fund health insurance costs for state employees, $50 million toward purchasing and protecting undeveloped land, $15 million for more than 1,200 new prison beds, $1.4 million to add 15 new GBI methamphetamine force agents, $4.8 million to develop a real-time information system to improve cancer screenings and $5 million to restore and revitalize historic sites.
The most significant piece of legislation handled by the House this week was House Resolution 13, which passed unanimously and is aimed at rescuing the PeachCare for Kids program. The measure urges Congress to fully fund the $131 million federal shortfall now faced by PeachCare, which provides health insurance for 270,000 children of Georgia's working families. Parents and their children depend on this valuable program, and it touches families in every corner of our state, which is why it must be saved from its current economic peril.
Among the bills I co-sponsored this week is House Bill 5 , which would increase the penalty for the offense of driving while distracted by the use of a mobile telephone or other wireless communications device while driving. The bill was assigned to the House Motor Vehicles Committee for consideration.
I am pleased to have been reappointed to serve on the House Banks & Banking Committee, Judiciary (non-civil) Committee and Natural Resources & Environment Committee. In the coming week, the Legislature will officially be in recess, but starting Tuesday, state agency department heads will present their annual budget requests to a joint session of the Senate and House Appropriations Committees. Following the Appropriations hearings, the full legislature will reconvene on Monday, Jan. 22. Please contact me whenever I can be of service.
I am trying a new feature on my web site, stuckey.org. There are now several polls on issues facing the legislature. I wish of know your views on these issues and encourage you to vote in these polls. I encourage you to email me at stuckey@mindspring.com with your views on these issues as well as other issues.
• Rep. Stephanie Stuckey Benfield (D-Atlanta) represents the 85 th District (DeKalb County) in the Georgia House of Representatives. Contact her at 512 Coverdell Office Building, Atlanta, GA 30334; by phone at 404-656-7859 or by e-mail at stuckey@mindspring.com.
Please feel free to contact Rep. Benfield with any questions or comments at stuckey@mindspring.com or (404) 656 0245 (Capitol Office) or (404) 377 7014 (Home).
Rep. Stephanie Stuckey Benfield (D-Atlanta) represents the 85 th District (DeKalb County) in the Georgia House of Representatives. Contact her at 512 Coverdell Office Building, Atlanta, GA 30334; by phone at 404-656-7859 or by e-mail at stuckey@mindspring.com.
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