Water legislation urges conservation

ATLANTA --- Identical water conservation bills cleared both chambers of the state Legislature on Wednesday, an overture designed to help the state in negotiating a deal with Florida and Alabama over water rights.

The bills provide incentives to encourage water conservation. Among the provisions are a requirement that low-flow faucets and toilets be installed in new construction and a watering ban during some daylight hours in the warmer months.

A federal judge ruled last July that the sprawling metro Atlanta area had little legal right to the drinking water from Lake Lanier. The ruling gave Georgia, Alabama and Florida -- the states that have long feuded over the massive federal reservoir -- until 2012 to reach an agreement. If they don't, the city's access to its main water source could be reduced to the level it was at in the 1970s, when the city's population was just a fraction of what it is now.

Senator wants to cut superior court judges

ATLANTA --- Sen. Mitch Seabaugh is proposing cutting 19 superior court judges - a move he says could save the state up to $14 million.

Seabaugh says S.B. 485 would reduce the number of superior court judges from 205 to 186.

Lawmakers have been hard-pressed to find further ways to cut costs to address Georgia's $1.1 billion budget shortfall. Seabaugh says the superior court system has not been carrying its weight during the state's budget crisis and has made far fewer cuts than many other departments.

The Sharpsburg Republican also pointed out that the state has added a few judges to the system each year since 2006 and that under the state constitution, the General Assembly can eliminate judgeships.