WEEKLY LEGISLATIVE REPORT—January 18, 2008

‘Made in Georgia’ boosts products; $4 million for VSU in budget

By Sen. Tim Golden

During the first week of the 2008 session of the Georgia General Assembly, I introduced legislation that would create a “Made in Georgia” campaign, designed to promote the sale of products manufactured in Georgia.

SB 359 would increase awareness of the significant role of manufacturing in our state. It is also intended to raise the profile of Georgia’s manufacturing impact on people, plants and products.

Under the legislation, a “Made in Georgia” campaign logo would be created for use as a stamp of certification on products that are actually manufactured in Georgia and by Georgians.  Retailers would also be encouraged to use the logo in their marketing of “Made in Georgia” products.

Our state’s economic future is tied directly to the success of our manufacturing industry. We must do all we can to help boost the companies that are providing jobs and putting food on the tables of so many Georgia families. The “Made in Georgia” campaign will serve as a reminder that we all benefit from the success of these local businesses.

Sen. Chip Pearson (R-Dawsonville) is the lead co-sponsor of the measure, and we plan to build broad bipartisan support for this initiative.

I am very pleased to report that a $4,075,000 appropriation for the renovation of Nevins Hall at Valdosta State University is included in the annual state budget proposed by Gov. Sonny Perdue. As secretary of the Senate Appropriations Committee and as a member of the Higher Education Committee, I have been working with the governor’s staff on securing this funding and will continue to work with my fellow legislators to keep it in the new budget.

The governor addressed a joint session of the Senate and House of Representatives on Wednesday to outline his $21.4 billion spending plan, which is about $1 billion more than the current budget and includes the following line items:

• $1.2 billion in state bonds to pay for construction of new highways and other state facilities.
• A $142 million tax cut for senior citizens.
• $50 million for a revolving loan fund to assist local governments with completing road projects.
• $17 million to help small businesses provide health insurance coverage to their employees.
• $53 million to upgrade the state’s trauma care system.
• $120 million for water infrastructure and reservoirs.
• $166 million to provide a 2.5 percent pay raise for educators and other school personnel.
• $14 million to launch a program aimed at reducing truancy in public schools.

The Appropriations Committee is holding joint budget hearings Jan. 22-25, while the full legislature is in recess until Jan. 28.

On Friday, the Senate approved (by a vote of 39-12) legislation intended to improve the state’s management of our water supply for years to come. The drought of 2007 raised awareness of the seriousness of this issue. SR 701 would implement a new statewide water management plan, creating 11 water planning districts that will decide such policy issues as whether and where to impound reservoirs to ensure a sufficient supply of water for Georgia residents.

While the plan, drafted by the Georgia Water Council, is not a perfect document, I believe it covers many of the concerns of rural Georgia and offers the framework for the building of much-needed reservoirs in north Georgia.  It is supported by the Georgia Chamber of Commerce and the Farm Bureau, among others.  The plan also does nothing to threaten south Georgia’s water supply as it still prohibits inter-basin transfers.

On Thursday, the Senate voted 41 to 15 to approve legislation that would give law-abiding citizens the right to keep guns in cars parked in publicly accessible lots. The law is restricted to individuals who already have a state permit to carry a concealed weapon.

A provision of HB 89 that was opposed by the Georgia business community, requiring employers to allow their workers to have guns in cars parked on company property, was removed by the Senate Rules Committee, avoiding an argument of 2nd Amendment rights vs. private property rights.  The bill as amended now goes back to the House of Representatives for consideration.

• Sen. Tim Golden represents the 8th District (Brooks, Cook, Lowndes, and Thomas counties) in the Georgia State Senate.  Contact him at 121-A State Capitol, Atlanta, GA 30334; by phone at 404-656-7580; or by e-mail at tim.golden@senate.ga.gov.