|
|
|
||
|
|
State
Representative |
||
|
February 16, 2008 |
2008 Session, Legislative Week 5-6 |
||
|
In This Issue: · Red Light Camera Legislation on the Move · Lead Paint Gestapo Knocking at your Door.· English Only - No Comprendo· Pro Life Legislation Dead in the House· Read My Lips No New Taxes Web Sites to Visit: Visit Barry’s Official Web Site for more information and news Official Site of the Georgia General Assembly Official Site of the Conservative Policy Group of the Georgia House. Site of the Bartow County Republican Party Site of the Floyd County Republican Party National Conservative Policy Group
Contact Us Web site www.barryloudermilk.com Capitol Ph: 404-656-0152 District
Ph: 678-721-5612 |
CAPITOL BRIEF – 2008 Weekly NewsletterI hope you find this newsletter informative and enlightening, and I encourage you to share it with your friends and neighbors. I also welcome any comments you may have about legislation or issues. Feel free to express you thoughts via email to barry@barryloudermilk.com. Red Light Camera Legislation on the Move
that
red light cameras are only used in interesctions documented to
be dangerous, and can only be used to improve safety. Local
governments who wish to install and operate red light cameras would need
to apply for a permit from the Georgia DOT.
With their application, they
would have to document a compelling need to install and operate a red
light camera to improve the safety of the intersection.
Lead Paint Gestapo May Be
Knocking at Your Door
This scenario is what is proposed by a bill that, unfortunately, passed the Georgia House on Friday, February 25. House Bill 1043, by Rep. Sharon Cooper (Marietta), gives the DNR police powers to inspect homes for lead paint. According to the legislation, if a child who is taken to the doctor, hospital, or clinic shows a certain level of lead in their blood (it is mandated that all children are tested for lead) the DNR is directed to visit the parents home and inspect for lead paint. If the parents do not allow them into their home, the law directs the courts to issue a search warrant to DNR to do the inspection. This bill came before the House Children and Youth Committee and was nearly defeated by the number of conservatives on this committee, as it was tabled. An impromptu hearing of the committee was called from the floor of the House and the bill was brought off the table and amazingly appeared on the House Floor the next day. Even through I and other conservatives spoke against and actively opposed it on the House Floor, this blatant expansion of big brother government passed 123 to 30.
English Only - No Comprendo
While this issue is very popular and recent polls show that nearly 75% of Georgians want to designate English as our official language, the House could only garnish 103 of the 120 votes needed to pass this measure. There have been very few issues this session that have been decided by party line voting, but this bill saw most all Democrats pulling together and voting against this bill.
Pro Life Legislation Dead in House
Two prominent bills, House Bill 1 and House Bill 536, were introduced last year and received significant support from the pro life community. Both were unable to make it out of committee this year, and will ultimately die in committee unless revived in the next two days. Both bills were heavily campaigned over the summer, with Rep. Martin Scott R-Rossville) conducting a self funded statewide RV campaign of HR 536. Rep. Bobby Franklin (R-Marietta) also campaigned hard for HB1 throughout 2007. I, as well as other co-sponsors of the bills were very disappointed when House Speaker Glenn Richardson announced publicly that he would not allow either pro-life bill to come to the floor for a vote.
Last week, I and three others took a stand against a bill that would have raised the statewide sales tax by one percent. Fortunately, it appears that we have been victorious, at least for now. The most memorable quote by former president George H. W. Bush (the dad) has nothing to do with the phenomenal success of operation Desert Storm. Although this may be his greatest achievement and one of the most successful military operations in modern warfare, it is not what most people remember him for. During Desert Storm his quote about Iraqi's engaging in the "mother of all retreats," made headlines across the globe, but most have forgotten that line. Unfortunately, President George H. W. Bush will be immortalized for his campaign speech, where he stated, "read my lips, no new taxes." Why? Because he made a campaign promise, which I believe he meant, but then caved in to political pressures and went along with congress to raise taxes. And he didn't win re-election. While many of our conservative colleagues in the Georgia House made bold statements on the campaign trail about lower taxes and less government, some are proposing to raise taxes in Georgia. As Secretary of the House Transportation Committee, I took on the unenviable task of openly opposing and seeking to stop a bill that would raise the statewide sales tax from 4 to 5 percent. This would have resulted in the largest tax increase in Georgia's history. I and four of my colleagues led a valiant effort to defeat the bill in committee; however, it passed the Transportation Committee on a roll call vote, 20 to 5. I stand by the philosophy of Ronald Reagan. "The problem is not that people are taxed too little, the problem is that government spends too much." While we are facing transportation challenges in Georgia, we must make transportation a priority, not just a talking point to justify taking more of the people's money. Prior to this legislative session, the top three leaders of Georgia, the Governor, Lt. Governor and Speaker did a fly around the state and announced that our priorities were Transportation, Education, Water and Taxes. I don't believe that making transportation a priority means it's the first thing that we raise taxes for. I believe we need to first prioritize our spending in the State Budget. There are two bills in the legislature that would redirect existing revenues toward transportation and keep it out of the hands of the politicians. One would direct an existing 1% sales tax on fuel to be used on roads and bridges, and the other would direct sales tax on aviation fuel to be used for airports. Currently these funds go directly into the State's General Fund, to be divvied out by politicians on pet projects. The Transportation Board recently appointed a new Commissioner of the department, who is working diligently to reorganize and streamline the DOT. She has only been on the job a few months and we are beginning to see results of a department that has some fat to cut at the top. I feel we need to allow time for the Department to reorganize so we will know how much shortfall we really have. If we are serious about transportation funding, let's prioritize existing revenues to fund transportation needs and be responsible with the people's money. It
felt strange and unsettling to be taking such a strong stand against my
Republican colleagues and friends, by opposing this legislation; but
I hold my integrity as one of the most important things in my life, and I
still stand by those principles that I campaigned on which included less
government and lower taxes. Although the bill passed the House Transportation Committee, it appears that there is not enough support in the full House and it may not come to the floor for a vote.
|
