Georgia General Assembly Getting Back to Business

After weeklong break, legislators return - Assembly getting back to business

Morris News Service
The Athens Banner-Herald
January 25, 2010

ATLANTA - Fresh from a weeklong break, members of the Georgia General Assembly come back today for their first real chance to tackle legislation in the 2010 session.

House and Senate leaders probably will get together sometime this week to unveil their collective agenda and to highlight their cooperation.

Today begins with speeches by House Speaker David Ralston and Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle to the state's mayors and city commissioners at the Georgia Municipal Association convention.

Also this morning, Democratic attorney general candidate Rob Teilhet, a state representative from Smyrna, holds a news conference to highlight legislation he's introducing to require anyone
arrested on a felony charge to give a DNA sample.

This afternoon, the House and Senate Ethics Committees meet together to hear testimony from former and current members and staff of the State Ethics Commission.

"You will see some additional ethics legislation proposals," said state Rep. Melvin Everson, R-Snellville.

Other committees also are cranking up this week.

The House Appropriations Committee, for example, considers zero-based budgeting today.

Tuesday, the Joint Economic Development Committee hears from economists about job creation.

Also Tuesday, the Senate Education & Youth Committee is scheduled to consider legislation by state Sen. Lester Jackson, D-Savannah, to allow local school districts to raise the age of mandatory attendance.

Lawmakers won't have much to vote on in the House and Senate this week because leftover bills from last year have to go back through committees, as do newly introduced bills, so daily sessions will be short.

Originally published in the Athens Banner-Herald on Monday, January 25, 2010

http://www.onlineathens.com/stories/012510/gen_554083185.shtml

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