Editorial: It’s that time again — Georgia General Assembly convenes today

Published 5:00 pm Sunday, January 7, 2018

For better or worse, today is the day the Georgia General Assembly convenes at the state Capitol in Atlanta.

And this being an election year, you can be sure that the elections will dictate the direction the legislature takes. Legislators could play it safe, hoping not to ruffle any feathers that may damage their chances of getting re-elected, or they may tackle some hot-button issues that they hope will fire up their home base.

According to members of our local delegation who spoke at the Greater Dalton Chamber of Commerce’s Good Morning Dalton breakfast state legislative update last week, nothing of strictly local significance is on their agendas. Instead they stressed issues with more statewide significance, specifically streamlining the adoption process and cracking down on distracted driving, meaning tougher penalties if you are caught texting while driving.

Another issue bound to come up during the 40-day session includes assistance to rural areas. During the fall of 2017 the Georgia House of Representatives Rural Development Council met a few times throughout the state to determine what could be done to help under-developed regions.

The group approved sweeping proposals aimed at encouraging people and businesses to move to rural Georgia. The recommendations include income tax breaks, high-speed internet lines in unconnected areas and better health care access.

High-speed internet is a critical step toward growth in rural areas because without it, businesses and residents might stay away or pack up and move elsewhere. Upgrading the the state’s sparsely populated regions will lessen the economic need for local residents to move to cities.

Lawmakers should take a serious look at voting for the group’s recommendations.

Issues that died during last year’s session that are bound to resurrect this year include a reduction in the state income tax, school choice, adoption reform and the so-called religious freedom bill.

Unfortunately, that last item got tied up with the adoption reform bill last year and the measure failed. Hopefully this year the adoption bill will sail through unencumbered by controversial or unnecessary amendments.

There is one thing we can be sure the Assembly will do — pass a budget. That is the one thing that the legislature is constitutionally required to do.

The state budget for fiscal year 2018 is $25 billion and next year’s budget will probably exceed that figure. That is a lot of money to keep the state functioning.

It doesn’t seem that long ago that it was big news when the state budget first hit $1 billion.

Contact your state legislators:

House of Representatives

Kasey Carpenter

District 4

18 Capitol Square, Atlanta, GA 30334

Phone: (404) 656-0254

Email: kasey.carpenter@house.ga.gov

John Meadows

District 5

State Capitol

Atlanta, GA 30334

Phone: (404) 656-5141

Email: john.meadows@house.ga.gov

Jason Ridley

District 6

18 Capitol Square, Atlanta, GA 30334

Phone: (404) 656-0325

Email: jason.ridley@house.ga.gov

Steve Tarvin

District 2

18 Capitol Square, Atlanta, GA 30334

Phone: (404) 656-0254

Email: steve.tarvin@house.ga.gov

Senate

Chuck Payne

District 54

305-A Coverdell Legislative Office Building, Atlanta, GA 30334

Phone: (404) 463-5402

Fax: (404) 657-7266

Email: chuck.payne@senate.ga.gov