ATLANTA --- The coming legislative session will be known for pain.
Past sessions became known for the dominant legislation debated, such as school reform in 2000, the statewide water plan in 2008 and redistricting in countless years. The 2010 session, which convenes Jan. 11, will be characterized not by a single issue but by the prevailing atmosphere.
Consider the factors: budget deficits demanding either historic cuts or gigantic tax increases, a lame-duck governor, a lieutenant governor who bowed out of the governor's race, a speaker who is clinically depressed and fielding calls for his resignation, multiple legislators out of work and more facing personal financial crisis, and unemployment topping 10 percent when the trust fund that pays benefits is broke.
If that isn't enough, remember the massive issues that remain unsolved from past sessions. There has been no solution to pay for transportation or a statewide trauma-care network, and a federal judge has imposed a nearly impossible deadline for finding alternative water supplies for about a fourth of the state population.
Add to that mix the fact that it's an election year with seemingly half the state's officials running for higher office and the other half determined to foil any legislative successes they might otherwise campaign on.
Plus, 2010 is the year of the census, meaning reapportionment the next year will redraw the map of legislative districts, destroying some lawmakers' safe seats and completely eliminating others, especially in south Georgia. With that prospect hanging over everyone's heads, there is likely to be plenty of jockeying for leverage in reapportionment while others fight their fleeting chance to pass their own signature legislation or accept approaching retirement.
"I've been there a while, and to be honest with you, it's not fun anymore," said Rep. Roger Williams, R-Dalton.
Some of the fun had already worn off last session when then-Sen. Eric Johnson, R-Savannah, pushed to punish lawmakers who were chronically behind in their taxes.
Although the tax-exposure measure passed, few legislators reveled in it. Many said privately that the recession would undoubtedly add to the list of nonpayers.
Last session, legislators spent weeks looking at every spending item but still essentially passed Gov. Sonny Perdue's blueprint with little change. In it, he mostly imposed across-the-board cuts for every department, letting each agency decide how to implement them.
This time, lawmakers say they want to eliminate whole programs rather than spreading the cuts across the agencies.
The market-oriented Georgia Public Policy Foundation is already thinking up a list of programs for the ax.
The Augusta Chronicle ©2010 Morris Communications, LLC. All Rights Reserved.
That "lame duck" thing is problematic because the coming decisions may reflect personal interests or ideology rather than what's best for the government. Because there is no responsibility to the people, some may question the hard choices, because the term is almost over. And the programs for the "ax", guess who will be the group that falls even further behind, and guess who will continue to benefit from government programs, while constantly screaming, "government is too big" Ha!
Since the next Legislative Session will be very painful, I encourage Augusta to elect Hardie Davis for State Senator District 22. He has the knowledge, experience and established relationships as a former State Representative to assist Augusta and the state of Georgia during this time of budget cuts and transition. Ed Tarver represented us well so lets continue to move Augusta forward by electing Hardie Davis as our next State Senator District 22.
Whether experience helps or hurts is an age old argument. As a matter of fact when Mr. Davis ran against Mr. Warren he cited Mr Warren's experience as a problematic. To many unhealthy relationships, too many contributions fro
0ops! Whether experience helps or hurts is an age old argument. As a matter of fact when Mr. Davis ran against Mr. Warren he cited Mr Warren's experience as a problematic. To many unhealthy relationships, too many contributions from the wrong lobbyist, too many favors to pay back. I agree Mr. Mr. Davis' assessment, experience can be a problem. The record proves whether the person can get things done, build a consensus or bring the bacon back home so Harold Jones is my choice.
Mr. Davis is not just experienced but he has proven to be effective as a State Representative. He has character, integrity and dignity that adds to his experience. He is able to continue the outstanding job that Ed Tarver has done while representing the 22nd district. Not to mention Ed Tarver has mentored him and supports him 100%. Let's go Augusta - Hardie Davis for State Senator.
Did Jones bring the bacon home as a Solicitor or did he do favors and waive the bacon for votes? Interesting
Morningall....I'm 53 will there be any Medicade & Medicare? I have a retirement plan BUT I want some of my TAX DOLLARS BACK???
According to a new's O will cut out from SENIORS...that's a horrible thing to do to older American's.....:( .
How many millions of dollars could be saved in the budget if Sonny "the liar" Perdue would abandon the ridiculous "Fish Georgia" project and axe the plans for the largest High School in Georgia in his home county scheduled for construction in 2010?
How many millions could be saved if we eleminated the peach card and set up warehouses with flour, baking powder, powdered milk, canned vegetables, etc. etc. etc. I know the Lottery would take the biggest hit, followed by deadbeat dads and fingernail salons and owners of major grocery chains, but that is what welfare was in the 1950 and early 1960s. Today we don't have a system in place to report fraud. Why not have a 1-800 number and provide a small reward for violators? Sure would save money.
The 1-800 idea is a good one, disssman. Unfortunately, state law enforcement has 25% fewer investigators than 10 years ago, and those all have to take furlough days (which severely restrict the number of hours your police can work). The point is, how can they take on anything new when they don't have time to work their current case loads.
As for the monstrous cut in health care for seniors by the DIMs lead by BimbObama, I do hope we seniors show up at the polls in 2010 and 2012 to put a little sanity back in D.C. States will lsuffer even more when the millions of new Medicaid patients flood the doctor's offces and hospitals especially with cuts in payments to hospitals..
Hello All - You can review Georgia's budget at the site below. Education gets the lion's share and some have suggested cuts in Georgia's Medicaid and PeachCare but they're only 8.9 % of the state's budget.
http://sunshinereview.org/index.php/Georgia_state_budget