State Rep. Joe Wilkinson of Sandy Springs announced he will withdraw from his race to be re-elected in House District 52, and will retire from the House at the end of his term. The Ethics Committee Chairman took office in 2001, and was instrumental in the formation of the city of Sandy Springs. Two years,
Senator Greg Kirk of Americus held a press conference on Tuesday calling on Governor Deal to sign House Bill 757, the Free Exercise Protection Act. The senator, who is the author of the Georgia version of the First Amendment Defense Act and is the sponsor of the Free Excersise bill in the Senate, cited printed
By now you have probably heard about the terrorist attacks in Brussels Belgium that have killed dozens of people. At the Gold Dome, Speaker David Ralston opened the morning session with a moment of silence in memory of those who lost their lives. Georgia’s DC lawmakers reacted as well, beginning with Senator David Perdue, who
In a Capitol press conference this morning, four members of the House Minority Caucus expressed their concerns with House Bill 757, now known as the “Free Exercise Protection Act.” Reps. Keisha Waites, Park Cannon, Karla Drenner, Dee Dawkins Haigler and Taylor Bennett said that while they were fine with the original Pastor Protection Act as
Political capital is an odd commodity. In some cases, you can spend it, and end up with more than what you started with. Governor Deal’s promotion of criminal justice reform earned him votes in 2014 that he would not otherwise have had. In other cases, spending it the wrong way can quickly deplete your account.
8:14: Bill passes the Senate 37-18. The bill moves to the Governor, and assuming his signature, ends the debate over Religious Liberty in Georgia. Lt. Governor Cagle: The First Amendment and the free exercize of religious beliefs is an essential part of our democracy It deserves the utmost respect and protection. This legislation does just
House Bill 838, sponsored by Shaw Blackmon, got a do pass recommendation this morning in the Senate Insurance and Labor committee. The vote was 4-2, with Senators Josh McKoon and Burt Jones voting no. The bill provides for a minimum commission percentage for health insurance policies, and was co-sponsored by House Rules Committee Chairman John
After an hour and a half debate the State Senate passed House Bill 951,by a margin of 38-14. Despite several attempts to amend the bill from the Senate floor, no changes were made, and the measure heads to Governor Deal for his signature. The bill provides for the annual back to school tax exemption weekend
The U.S. House Budget Committee revealed its proposed FY 2017 budget today. The resolution proposes a budget that balances within ten years without a tax increase, saving approximately $7 trillion via spending reductions and economic growth. It proposes defense funding levels above President Obama’s funding proposal, and provides for the preservation of Medicare. Georgia’s 6th
A apparent change of mind by President Obama means that plans to allow offshore drilling off the southeast Atlantic coast will likely not go forward. In January 1015, the federal Bureau of Ocean Energy Management released a draft five year plan that for the first time included the possibility of awarding a drilling lease off
