WEEKLY LEGISLATIVE REPORT – January 30, 2009

VSU well represented at Capitol Tech Day

By Sen. Tim Golden

It was a pleasure to greet representatives of the Educational Technology Center (ETC) at Valdosta State University during 2009 Capitol Tech Day in Atlanta on Jan. 28. Capitol Tech is a collaborative effort between Georgia’s schools and the state’s ETCs, featuring local students who demonstrate the application of 21st century technology skills to the educational process.

This outstanding program spotlights Georgia’s students who are using the fundamental technology tools necessary to succeed in the 21st century. The Capitol Tech School representatives are selected from the Spotlight on Technology Innovative School Award recipients by each local ETC around the state.

Students and teachers use the day as an opportunity for local legislator to see how these tools are helping to increase student achievement and build community partnerships. (Pictured, L-R: Randy Saturday, a middle school teacher in Colquitt County; student Justin Sullins, Sen. Tim Golden and student Josh Smith). The ETC at Valdosta State is one of 13 centers statewide.

I was pleased to see these students demonstrating their creative talents through the use of technology in the schools. It is an important asset to the educational process, and these students are excellent examples of how essential technology is to the learning process.

On Wednesday, the Senate began the process of dealing with Georgia’s transportation funding crisis when the Transportation Committee passed a proposed constitutional amendment that would allow counties to band together and pass a regional, local option sales tax dedicated to transportation projects.

Introduced with bipartisan support, SR 44 would authorize multicounty regions to levy an additional 1-cent sales tax if a referendum is approved by the voters in those regions. Specific transportation projects would be identified before moving forward with the referendum. The rationale behind the regional approach is for local dollars to be spent on local roads, where the needs are most critical.

As a constitutional amendment, SR 44 still needs approval by two-thirds of both the full Senate and the House of Representatives and must be approved by a majority of Georgia voters in the 2010 general election. Similar legislation was proposed last year but fell short of final passage just before the legislative session adjourned. Sponsors of the measure are hoping that dealing with the issue early in this term will give lawmakers more time to resolve any disagreements.

One of Gov. Perdue’s budget proposals that is generating considerable opposition is his plan to eliminate Georgia’s school nurse program. The $30 million cut in state funding for the remainder of fiscal year 2009 is seen as a very dangerous proposal because of the number of health issues that arise during the school day that require the management of a trained professional.

Nurses in Georgia’s schools handle approximately 15 million annual visits to the office or school health room for illness, including students with special medical conditions such as asthma and diabetes. They dispense more than 5 million doses of medication per year.

Keeping a child healthy is essential to his or her learning experience and that of other students. We need to restore this funding to the budget and keep our school nurses on the job for our children and their education.

Legislation is being introduced in the House that would provide a state sales tax exemption on energy costs used in the manufacturing process, phased in over a five-year period. I am the leading Senate advocate for this legislation, which will bring much-needed tax relief to Georgia manufacturers during these challenging economic times.

This proposal would reduce the state sales tax on natural or artificial gas, electricity or any other energy used directly or indirectly in the manufacture of goods by 20 percent per year from 2011 through 2015 until the exemption is complete. Georgia has continued to experience manufacturing job losses. This tax relief proposal is an attempt to stem that tide. I will keep you posted on the progress of this legislation.

Sen. Tim Golden represents District 8 (Brooks, Cook, Lowndes and Thomas counties) in the Georgia State Senate. During the legislative session, 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.