By James Salzer
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Georgia Politics
April 4, 2010
A much-touted plan that Georgia legislative leaders said would spur job growth will probably have no immediate impact on the recession-wracked economy.
The “JOBS Act,” which won final passage in the General Assembly last week, would provide small unemployment tax breaks to businesses for hiring. But that would happen only if the federal government gives its approval and the state labor commissioner determines the unemployment trust fund has enough money to handle it. And the U.S. Department of Labor has already expressed doubts about the provision.
The bill would provide up to $9 million in tax credits over three years to investors who provide funding for certain small businesses. However, the investments that qualify wouldn’t begin until 2011 at the earliest.
For further reading please tap on link: http://www.ajc.com/news/georgia-politics-elections/jobs-act-falls-short-433923.html
© 2010 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
All About Developmental Disabilities (AADD) is Atlanta's preeminent resource on developmental disabilities, providing support services to families for more than 55 years. We are often the one place where people with developmental disabilities can go to achieve personal empowerment, family stability and community participation. AADD provides family support; public policy and advocacy; and community engagement.
Tuesday, April 06, 2010
Bullying On Radar
By Merritt Melancon
Athens Banner-Herald
April 06, 2010
The Barrow County Board of Education is considering changing the student code of conduct to increase the penalties for bullying at all grade levels and to require school officials to report all bullying behavior to law enforcement.
Board members are expected to accept a draft of the revised student handbook at their regularly scheduled meeting at 7 tonight.
The school board plans to take public comments on the proposed code of conduct changes for a month before adopting them in May or later, said Ken Greene, director of student services for the school district.
"The board members brought bullying up as a concern primarily because of what they have seen on the news and those kinds of things, so we really just wanted to take a good, close look at what we're doing in our code of conduct and make sure that it was conveying the message that we wanted to convey to folks about the inappropriateness of bullying," said Greene, who oversees updating the code of conduct every year.
To read further please tap on link: http://onlineathens.com/stories/040610/new_602462587.shtml
© 2010 OnlineAthens • Athens Banner-Herald
Athens Banner-Herald
April 06, 2010
The Barrow County Board of Education is considering changing the student code of conduct to increase the penalties for bullying at all grade levels and to require school officials to report all bullying behavior to law enforcement.
Board members are expected to accept a draft of the revised student handbook at their regularly scheduled meeting at 7 tonight.
The school board plans to take public comments on the proposed code of conduct changes for a month before adopting them in May or later, said Ken Greene, director of student services for the school district.
"The board members brought bullying up as a concern primarily because of what they have seen on the news and those kinds of things, so we really just wanted to take a good, close look at what we're doing in our code of conduct and make sure that it was conveying the message that we wanted to convey to folks about the inappropriateness of bullying," said Greene, who oversees updating the code of conduct every year.
To read further please tap on link: http://onlineathens.com/stories/040610/new_602462587.shtml
© 2010 OnlineAthens • Athens Banner-Herald
State Rep. Cheokas Reports On Week At Capitol
Mike Cheokas
The Americus Times-Recorder
April 3, 2010
AMERICUS — March 30 was Legislative Day 31. With Crossover Day behind us, most of the legislation we are considering on the floor of the House and in Committee are Senate bills. In turn, the Senate is reviewing House legislation. Each Bill must pass both chambers identically, before it can go to the Governor to be signed or vetoed. This is where the negotiations between the House and Senate really pick up pace. If there is a measure of importance to a senator, then the House may hold it until a House measure in the Senate is released for consideration. Which Committee the respective legislation is assigned, who will sponsor it, and how rapidly it is passed out of Committee determines each Chambers Debate Calendar. As you can imagine, this adds another dimension to the process. Up until the Crossover Day deadline, we were considering mostly House measures and the Senate was considering mostly Senate measures. Now, in the House Committees, senators are scheduled to present their bills and in the Senate, House members are doing the same. Each Senate bill must have a House member to carry it on the floor for debate. This is when the House and Senate collaboration is all-important.
Before we started the Debate Calendar, we had a visit from the very talented performer Jennifer Nettles from the country duo Sugarland. She spoke of the importance of the 4-H program and how it was a major influence in her life. She said that 4-H helped her develop the self-confidence she needed for her successful singing career and that through 4-H as a teen, she performed for audiences as large as 500.
SB 296 presented by Rep. Bob Lane (District 158) would simply re-name the Office of Treasury and Fiscal Services to the Office of the State Treasurer and re-name its director as the State Treasurer. This measure passed by a vote of 164-0.
SR 274 was presented by Rep. Roger Williams (District 4). This resolution will designate a tulip poplar tree in Dalton as the liberty tree of Georgia. This sapling was taken from the last living liberty tree planted at the time of the American Revolution. It passed 158-1.
Receiving the most debate was SB 250. This measure seeks to add the clear intent requirement to the current law that makes it a misdemeanor to disrupt or interfere with the operation of public school, public school bus, or bus stop. Rep. Mike Jacobs (District 80) offered an amendment to this measure that would expand the definition of “bullying.” It would require the Department of Education to develop a model bullying policy for all grade levels. It further would require school employees to report bullying, prohibit retaliation from reporting bullying and notify parents of incidents of bullying. The amendment passed by a vote of 99-55 and SB 250 passed 119-45.
To read the whole article please tap on link: http://americustimesrecorder.com/columns/x993486716/State-Rep-Cheokas-reports-on-week-at-Capitol
Americus Times-Recorder, Americus, Georgia P.O. BOX 1247 Americus GA 31709
© 2010 Community Newspaper Holdings, Inc. · CNHI Classified Advertising Network · CNHI News Service Associated Press content © 2010. All rights reserved.
The Americus Times-Recorder
April 3, 2010
AMERICUS — March 30 was Legislative Day 31. With Crossover Day behind us, most of the legislation we are considering on the floor of the House and in Committee are Senate bills. In turn, the Senate is reviewing House legislation. Each Bill must pass both chambers identically, before it can go to the Governor to be signed or vetoed. This is where the negotiations between the House and Senate really pick up pace. If there is a measure of importance to a senator, then the House may hold it until a House measure in the Senate is released for consideration. Which Committee the respective legislation is assigned, who will sponsor it, and how rapidly it is passed out of Committee determines each Chambers Debate Calendar. As you can imagine, this adds another dimension to the process. Up until the Crossover Day deadline, we were considering mostly House measures and the Senate was considering mostly Senate measures. Now, in the House Committees, senators are scheduled to present their bills and in the Senate, House members are doing the same. Each Senate bill must have a House member to carry it on the floor for debate. This is when the House and Senate collaboration is all-important.
Before we started the Debate Calendar, we had a visit from the very talented performer Jennifer Nettles from the country duo Sugarland. She spoke of the importance of the 4-H program and how it was a major influence in her life. She said that 4-H helped her develop the self-confidence she needed for her successful singing career and that through 4-H as a teen, she performed for audiences as large as 500.
SB 296 presented by Rep. Bob Lane (District 158) would simply re-name the Office of Treasury and Fiscal Services to the Office of the State Treasurer and re-name its director as the State Treasurer. This measure passed by a vote of 164-0.
SR 274 was presented by Rep. Roger Williams (District 4). This resolution will designate a tulip poplar tree in Dalton as the liberty tree of Georgia. This sapling was taken from the last living liberty tree planted at the time of the American Revolution. It passed 158-1.
Receiving the most debate was SB 250. This measure seeks to add the clear intent requirement to the current law that makes it a misdemeanor to disrupt or interfere with the operation of public school, public school bus, or bus stop. Rep. Mike Jacobs (District 80) offered an amendment to this measure that would expand the definition of “bullying.” It would require the Department of Education to develop a model bullying policy for all grade levels. It further would require school employees to report bullying, prohibit retaliation from reporting bullying and notify parents of incidents of bullying. The amendment passed by a vote of 99-55 and SB 250 passed 119-45.
To read the whole article please tap on link: http://americustimesrecorder.com/columns/x993486716/State-Rep-Cheokas-reports-on-week-at-Capitol
Americus Times-Recorder, Americus, Georgia P.O. BOX 1247 Americus GA 31709
© 2010 Community Newspaper Holdings, Inc. · CNHI Classified Advertising Network · CNHI News Service Associated Press content © 2010. All rights reserved.
Monday, April 05, 2010
Emory Hosts Discussion On Health Care Reform
By Laura Diamond
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
April 5, 2010
Health care experts and others will discuss the future implications of health care reform during Emory University's annual Classroom on the Green.
The event will begin at 2:30 p.m. Tuesday at Emory School of Medicine, 1648 Pierce Drive, Atlanta.
Rear Admiral Steven Solomon, director of the Center for Disease Control's Coordinating Center for Health Information and Service, will deliver the keynote address.
Other scheduled speakers include: Ken Brigham, director of the Emory/Georgia Tech Predictive Health Institute; Lydia Ogden, chief of staff and administrator of Emory’s Institute for Advanced Policy Solutions and Center for Entitlement Reform; and Bill Eley, executive associate dean for medical education and student affairs at Emory.
Emory's Student Government Association organizes the annual event to allow members of the university and surrounding community to discuss critical issues.
http://www.ajc.com/news/atlanta/emory-hosts-discussion-on-436555.html
© 2010 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
April 5, 2010
Health care experts and others will discuss the future implications of health care reform during Emory University's annual Classroom on the Green.
The event will begin at 2:30 p.m. Tuesday at Emory School of Medicine, 1648 Pierce Drive, Atlanta.
Rear Admiral Steven Solomon, director of the Center for Disease Control's Coordinating Center for Health Information and Service, will deliver the keynote address.
Other scheduled speakers include: Ken Brigham, director of the Emory/Georgia Tech Predictive Health Institute; Lydia Ogden, chief of staff and administrator of Emory’s Institute for Advanced Policy Solutions and Center for Entitlement Reform; and Bill Eley, executive associate dean for medical education and student affairs at Emory.
Emory's Student Government Association organizes the annual event to allow members of the university and surrounding community to discuss critical issues.
http://www.ajc.com/news/atlanta/emory-hosts-discussion-on-436555.html
© 2010 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Autism Center To Break Ground
Reporter: Ricki Barker
The Albnay Herald
April 5, 2010
ALBANY — Albany Autism Center will be breaking ground on the new Bridgewood Academy Tuesday at 4 p.m.
The Center’s successful Bid for Bachelor’s event secured the funds needed to purchase the property located at 1509 Third Ave.
Kelli Halstead, Bid for Bachelors organizer, said during the groundbreaking ceremony for Bridgewood academy, Albany Autism Center officials will be signing papers for the property and a few of the bachelors that participated during the Bid for Bachelors event will also attend.
“We are going to have some of the bachelors there and we are going to present them with an award thanking them for their contribution to this cause,” said the event organizer.
The Bid for Bachelors event raised $20,000 to purchase land and the building that will soon become Bridgewood Academy — which is to be designed especially for children with autism and other disabilities.
According to Albany Autism Center officials, the new property will give the center a chance to expand and provide more services to families in the surrounding community at lower cost. Presently, the center shares a space on the 2100 block of Dawson Road with the Dawson Road Church of Christ.
http://www.albanyherald.com/home/headlines/89889142.html
Southern Community Newspapers Inc. - Copyright © 2002-2010 -
The Albnay Herald
April 5, 2010
ALBANY — Albany Autism Center will be breaking ground on the new Bridgewood Academy Tuesday at 4 p.m.
The Center’s successful Bid for Bachelor’s event secured the funds needed to purchase the property located at 1509 Third Ave.
Kelli Halstead, Bid for Bachelors organizer, said during the groundbreaking ceremony for Bridgewood academy, Albany Autism Center officials will be signing papers for the property and a few of the bachelors that participated during the Bid for Bachelors event will also attend.
“We are going to have some of the bachelors there and we are going to present them with an award thanking them for their contribution to this cause,” said the event organizer.
The Bid for Bachelors event raised $20,000 to purchase land and the building that will soon become Bridgewood Academy — which is to be designed especially for children with autism and other disabilities.
According to Albany Autism Center officials, the new property will give the center a chance to expand and provide more services to families in the surrounding community at lower cost. Presently, the center shares a space on the 2100 block of Dawson Road with the Dawson Road Church of Christ.
http://www.albanyherald.com/home/headlines/89889142.html
Southern Community Newspapers Inc. - Copyright © 2002-2010 -
Walmart Charitable Giving Hits $14 Million In Georgia
Atlanta Business Chronicle
April 1, 2010
Walmart and the Walmart Foundation’s charitable giving in Georgia totaled more than $14 million in 2009, the retail giant reported Thursday.
That figure represents a $6 million increase over 2008.
Bentonville, Ark.-based Walmart (NYSE: WMT) said its charitable giving in the U.S. totaled more than $467 million -- an $89 million increase over the previous year’s giving.
“We’ve challenged ourselves to look at ways to make long-lasting impacts in communities around the globe by funding programs that address critical needs, like hunger, education and job training,” said Margaret McKenna, president of the Walmart Foundation, in a statement. “Our business is growing and as a result we’re fortunate that our charitable giving is increasing as well.”
Walmart and the Walmart Foundation fund initiatives focused on creating opportunities in education, workforce development, economic opportunity, environmental sustainability and health and wellness.
http://atlanta.bizjournals.com/atlanta/stories/2010/03/29/daily58.html?surround=lfn
© 2010 American City Business Journals, Inc. and its licensors. All rights reserved.
April 1, 2010
Walmart and the Walmart Foundation’s charitable giving in Georgia totaled more than $14 million in 2009, the retail giant reported Thursday.
That figure represents a $6 million increase over 2008.
Bentonville, Ark.-based Walmart (NYSE: WMT) said its charitable giving in the U.S. totaled more than $467 million -- an $89 million increase over the previous year’s giving.
“We’ve challenged ourselves to look at ways to make long-lasting impacts in communities around the globe by funding programs that address critical needs, like hunger, education and job training,” said Margaret McKenna, president of the Walmart Foundation, in a statement. “Our business is growing and as a result we’re fortunate that our charitable giving is increasing as well.”
Walmart and the Walmart Foundation fund initiatives focused on creating opportunities in education, workforce development, economic opportunity, environmental sustainability and health and wellness.
http://atlanta.bizjournals.com/atlanta/stories/2010/03/29/daily58.html?surround=lfn
© 2010 American City Business Journals, Inc. and its licensors. All rights reserved.
General Assembly Takes A Break
Morris News Service
Athens Banner-Herald
April 05, 2010
ATLANTA - Georgia lawmakers will be enjoying spring break with their children or strolling the fairways of Augusta National Golf Club to watch the Masters Tournament this week during a recess originally billed as a chance for the Senate Appropriations Committee to work on the budget.
When legislative leaders announced the scheduled 10-day recess, they said it was needed to give the Appropriations Committee time to work without distractions like attending other committees' meetings or heading to the floor with the full Senate to vote on bills.
Two other recesses for budget consideration each lasted a week earlier in the session.
To read the whole article please tap on link: http://onlineathens.com/stories/040510/gen_602037749.shtml
© 2010 OnlineAthens • Athens Banner-Herald
Athens Banner-Herald
April 05, 2010
ATLANTA - Georgia lawmakers will be enjoying spring break with their children or strolling the fairways of Augusta National Golf Club to watch the Masters Tournament this week during a recess originally billed as a chance for the Senate Appropriations Committee to work on the budget.
When legislative leaders announced the scheduled 10-day recess, they said it was needed to give the Appropriations Committee time to work without distractions like attending other committees' meetings or heading to the floor with the full Senate to vote on bills.
Two other recesses for budget consideration each lasted a week earlier in the session.
To read the whole article please tap on link: http://onlineathens.com/stories/040510/gen_602037749.shtml
© 2010 OnlineAthens • Athens Banner-Herald
Thursday, April 01, 2010
Transportation Funding: From Fast Track To Iffy
By Ariel Hart
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Georgia Politics
March 31, 2010
On Feb. 11, Gov. Sonny Perdue, House Speaker David Ralston and Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle stood side by side in the governor's office, united behind referendums for a regional transportation tax. After three years of battle over the idea, it looked as if a deal on new transportation funding in Georgia was all but inevitable.
Well, things change.
Seven weeks later, the bill they introduced (HB 1218) is technically dead. The ideas in it are still alive and apparently will be transferred, Frankenstein-like, to dormant bills (HB 277 and HR 206) that stalled last year and can act as a vehicle. But House leaders declined to risk a floor vote on transportation funding by the March 26 deadline for a bill to pass at least one chamber. And as the land lays now, the one thing Perdue says must not be in the bill -- a local ability to opt out of a region and its tax -- is the one thing some influential stakeholders still say must be in the bill.
To read more please tap link: http://www.ajc.com/news/georgia-politics-elections/transportation-funding-from-fast-420303.html
© 2010 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Georgia Politics
March 31, 2010
On Feb. 11, Gov. Sonny Perdue, House Speaker David Ralston and Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle stood side by side in the governor's office, united behind referendums for a regional transportation tax. After three years of battle over the idea, it looked as if a deal on new transportation funding in Georgia was all but inevitable.
Well, things change.
Seven weeks later, the bill they introduced (HB 1218) is technically dead. The ideas in it are still alive and apparently will be transferred, Frankenstein-like, to dormant bills (HB 277 and HR 206) that stalled last year and can act as a vehicle. But House leaders declined to risk a floor vote on transportation funding by the March 26 deadline for a bill to pass at least one chamber. And as the land lays now, the one thing Perdue says must not be in the bill -- a local ability to opt out of a region and its tax -- is the one thing some influential stakeholders still say must be in the bill.
To read more please tap link: http://www.ajc.com/news/georgia-politics-elections/transportation-funding-from-fast-420303.html
© 2010 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Cops Say Man Bullied Into Paying $3,500
Reporter: Josh Green
Gwinnett Daily Post
March 30, 2010
LILBURN — A Douglasville man is behind bars for bullying an elderly man out of thousands of dollars for tree-cutting services he didn’t ask for, police said Tuesday.
Gerald Jerome Davis, 29, led a trio of men who cut trees at the 87-year-old victim’s Lilburn house on March 4 and demanded payment of $3,500, police said.
The men had reportedly knocked on the victim’s door at random to offer work.
“The victim told the (suspects) to stop and that he didn’t want the work done, but they continued,” said Gwinnett police spokesman Cpl. David Schiralli.
When finished, the “leader” of the workers demanded payment and the victim, who lives on Geneva Drive, felt threatened and paid the men in full, Schiralli said.
The victim was forced to sign a receipt stating he was satisfied with the service. The receipt lists Davis’ tree service as the business that performed the work, according to a police report.
Gwinnett police robbery investigators received video surveillance of Davis cashing the victim’s check and arrested him after an interview, Schiralli said.
“The victim was able to identify the male in the video as the person he’d given the check to,” he said.
Davis is charged with felony counts of robbery by intimidation and exploitation of a disabled adult. He remains at the Gwinnett County Jail without bond.
http://www.gwinnettdailypost.com/home/headlines/89572647.html
Southern Community Newspapers Inc. - Copyright © 2002-2010
Gwinnett Daily Post
March 30, 2010
LILBURN — A Douglasville man is behind bars for bullying an elderly man out of thousands of dollars for tree-cutting services he didn’t ask for, police said Tuesday.
Gerald Jerome Davis, 29, led a trio of men who cut trees at the 87-year-old victim’s Lilburn house on March 4 and demanded payment of $3,500, police said.
The men had reportedly knocked on the victim’s door at random to offer work.
“The victim told the (suspects) to stop and that he didn’t want the work done, but they continued,” said Gwinnett police spokesman Cpl. David Schiralli.
When finished, the “leader” of the workers demanded payment and the victim, who lives on Geneva Drive, felt threatened and paid the men in full, Schiralli said.
The victim was forced to sign a receipt stating he was satisfied with the service. The receipt lists Davis’ tree service as the business that performed the work, according to a police report.
Gwinnett police robbery investigators received video surveillance of Davis cashing the victim’s check and arrested him after an interview, Schiralli said.
“The victim was able to identify the male in the video as the person he’d given the check to,” he said.
Davis is charged with felony counts of robbery by intimidation and exploitation of a disabled adult. He remains at the Gwinnett County Jail without bond.
http://www.gwinnettdailypost.com/home/headlines/89572647.html
Southern Community Newspapers Inc. - Copyright © 2002-2010
Baker Could Benefit From Health Care Stance
Shannon McCaffery
The Associated Press
The ValdostaDaily Times
March31, 2010
Atlanta — By defying Gov. Sonny Perdue and refusing to file a lawsuit over a new federal health care law, Georgia’s Democratic attorney general has made himself the target of a Republican impeachment effort and, in the process, energized his bid for governor.
The onslaught of GOP ire directed at Thurbert Baker is winning the state’s top lawyer credibility within the Democratic party base and a flurry of free media attention.
It’s good news for Baker, who’s been struggling to gain ground against former Gov. Roy Barnes, widely seen as the front-runner in a crowded five-way, Democratic primary.
To read the whole article please tap link: http://valdostadailytimes.com/statenews/x1687695390/Baker-could-benefit-from-health-care-stance
© 2010 Community Newspaper Holdings, Inc. ·
The Associated Press
The ValdostaDaily Times
March31, 2010
Atlanta — By defying Gov. Sonny Perdue and refusing to file a lawsuit over a new federal health care law, Georgia’s Democratic attorney general has made himself the target of a Republican impeachment effort and, in the process, energized his bid for governor.
The onslaught of GOP ire directed at Thurbert Baker is winning the state’s top lawyer credibility within the Democratic party base and a flurry of free media attention.
It’s good news for Baker, who’s been struggling to gain ground against former Gov. Roy Barnes, widely seen as the front-runner in a crowded five-way, Democratic primary.
To read the whole article please tap link: http://valdostadailytimes.com/statenews/x1687695390/Baker-could-benefit-from-health-care-stance
© 2010 Community Newspaper Holdings, Inc. ·
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