Wednesday, January 23, 2013
A Georgia legislator has proposed a resolution aimed at expressing remorse for the state’s "past practice of condoning involuntary servitude.” What do you think of the proposal?
A practice that ended before the birth of anyone alive today is the focus of legislation in the Georgia General Assembly. Last week, State Sen. Barry Loudermilk, R-Cassville, held a press conference to announce his filing of Senate Resolution 28, a resolution that aims to “[express] remorse for the state's past practice of condoning involuntary servitude,” or slavery. A copy of the resolution is attached to this article in PDF form. According to Loudermilk, passage of the resolution would mark the first official acknowledgement of the injustices of slavery and serve as “an official expression of regret and remorse for the condoning of the institution of slavery in Georgia. “The injustices brought on by the institution of slavery in our …
Tuesday, January 1, 2013
The 40 days of the next General Assembly session will not be boring.
As we turn the calendar to 2013, we leave behind a year of successes and failures. It is easy to begin listing the failures, but I refuse to invest my time in being negative. Rather than dealing in the past, let us look forward into the future in our state of Georgia. On the second Monday of January, the Georgia General Assembly will open for the 40-day legislative session. There are some new people in places of leadership under the Gold Dome. It is felt by some people this will be positive in terms of moving legislation that is needed to help make our state stronger in ethics reform and care for those who need a voice. Without making sweeping statements about former or even current leaders, I choose to deal with issues. When this session …
Tuesday, July 24, 2012
When we recognize personhood, we support the basic value of life.
This is the third column in a continuing series discussing the five non-binding questions on the Republican ballot for the Primary Election on July 31. In the two other columns, I urged each person to be aware of the questions and how the results will be used to influence the General Assembly members to support the positions on each of the questions for or against the issue. The fifth question is: “Shall the Constitution of Georgia be amended so as to provide that the paramount right to life is vested in each innocent human being from his or her earliest biological beginning without regard to age, race, sex, health, function, or condition of dependency?” In summary, this question speaks to what is called “The Human Life Amendment.” There …
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
Proposal would require educators found guilty of cheating to return bonuses and incentive pay.
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Tuesday, July 19, 2011
A Gwinnett legislator plans to introduce legislation he hopes will remove one incentive for cheating on the high stakes Criterion Referenced Competency Tests or CRCTs. State Representative Billy Mitchell, whose district includes portions of DeKalb and Gwinnett counties, plans to introduce legislation that would force teachers found guilty of cheating on the CRCT to return any bonuses or incentive pay. “It is not uncommon for administrators or teachers to receive bonuses or other pay incentives based on their student’s achievement levels on the CRCT,” said Rep. Mitchell (D-Stone Mountain) in a released statement. “This legislation simply calls for the return of any funds to the school system that were paid to any administrator or teacher …
Friday, April 15, 2011
Bill clears General Assembly on last day of legislative session.
Legislation to address the issue of illegal immigration in Georgia has passed both houses of the General Assembly. State Rep. Matt Ramsey (R-Peachtree City), one of the bill’s sponsors, said the General Assembly has complied with Georgia resident’s demands for action. “Today members of the General Assembly came together and firmly resolved to uphold the laws of our society,” Ramsey said in a released statement. “This legislation closes gaping loopholes that have allowed illegal aliens to flood into our country and state, where they unlawfully take advantage of taxpayer funded services.” Ramsey said current economic conditions have made it obvious the state of Georgia had to address the issue. “Our classrooms are more crowded, our …
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
SB 10 clears the General Assembly as legislative session winds down.
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Wednesday, April 13, 2011
A bill to allow Sunday sales of alcohol in stores cleared the Georgia General Assembly on Tuesday. SB 10, passed by the Georgia Senate in March and the House on April 12, now moves to Governor Nathan Deal’s desk. Deal has publicly indicated his support for the measure. If signed into law, S.B. 10, will allow local governments to hold referendums on whether or not to permit Sunday sales of beer, wine and alcohol in grocery and liquor stores.
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
Are some officials afraid of zero-based budgeting?
Following the last elections across the nation, there was great enthusiasm for the possibility that state and federal governments could be brought in line regarding spending and the cost of doing government. In the last few months, we have witnessed an almost futile attempt to cut spending on the federal level. We have seen the upheaval caused by the efforts of Wisconsin conservatives to bring moral clarity and fiscal responsibility to their state budgeting process. In Georgia, a tax reform policy vote has been expected for the majority of the 40-day session of the General Assembly in Atlanta. Upon the release of certain parts of the legislation, however, there began a push back on the part of the taxpayers regarding what seemed to be tax …
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
House minority leader says full-throated advocacy stalled the “tax and pretend” measure.
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Wednesday, March 30, 2011
Georgia House Democrats are claiming victory after a Republican tax proposal stalled today. The House was expected to vote on HB 387 today, but lawmakers have instead spent the day attempting to adjust the measure. Democrats describe HB 387 as a “dangerous proposal that would raise taxes on middle class Georgians.” "Our full-throated advocacy stalled the dangerous march of this middle class tax increase,” said House Minority Leader Stacey Abrams in a released statement. “Republicans have been working in huddled groups to tweak a proposal that has serious flaws. We are happy to see a broad coalition of voices joining Democrats, including the Georgia Tea Party and Americans for Prosperity. This is truly grassroots powered.” According to a …
Proposed constitutional amendment would tie tuition increases at University System of Georgia schools to inflation.
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Wednesday, March 30, 2011
The Higher Education Subcommittee of the House Appropriation Committee will hold a hearing this afternoon on House Resolution 383, a proposed amendment to the Georgia Constitution designed to give elected officials oversight over tuition increases within the University System of Georgia (USG). “As we have seen in recent years with tuition increases that have wildly outstripped the rate of inflation, the actions of the Board of Regents have a huge impact on Georgia's families,” said Rep. Earl Ehrhart (R-Powder Springs), chairman of the House Appropriations Higher Education Subcommittee, in a released statement. “In the current environment, it is important to reassess the relationship between the Board of Regents, elected officials, and the …
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
Caucus describes HB 387 as “Tax and Pretend” proposal.
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Tuesday, March 29, 2011
Tuesday morning Georgia House Democrats voted to oppose a Republican tax proposal Democrats say will raise income and sales taxes on the middle class. "The tax council proposal of HB 387 is a shell game. Republicans have proposed raising taxes on the middle class. They're quick to say that they're lowering the income tax rate for most Georgians. What they don't say is that they're also eliminating many exemptions that help Georgia families. They are taxing the middle class, but pretending not to," said Rep. Brian Thomas, chairman of the House Democratic Caucus in a released statement. Though House Democrats agree the state’s tax code is in need of an update, Thomas said real reform is needed. House minority leader Stacey Abrams, a tax …
Racer X
9:39 am on Tuesday, April 30, 2013
Greg- Those really are great ideas. To answer the original question though:"is it time for Georgia to acknowledge slavery" I say sure, if it would help. The bigger issue is that slavery was an American problem. It's time for the Federal Government to acknowledge it. Of course, having Obama apologize for slavery may seem a bit ironic, but none of his immediate relatives were ever affected by … more ›