Lawmakers Ethics Bill Signed By Perdue

A lawmakers’ ethics bill is now law. The legislation clears the way for state revenue officials to release names of lawmakers who fail to pay their taxes to chairmen of the state House and Senate ethics committees. It also gives offenders 30 days to fix the problem. Earlier this year, revenue officials reported 22 lawmakers were delinquent in getting their taxes in. Only three names were made public.

Super-Speeder Fines On The Way

Governor Sonny Perdue today will sign the so-called 'super speeder' legislation. The bill will slap Georgia drivers who speed much higher than the speed limit with stiff new fines. Lawmakers who back the legislation say 23-million dollars would be generated, and would be directed toward Georgia’s cash-starved network of trauma hospitals. An extra $200 fine would be levied against drivers busted driving 85 miles-an-hour on four-lane roads or interstates, or 75 mph on two-lane roads. This has been legislation Perdue has been pushing for three years.

Public Defenders Meet Over Stresses to System

Officials with the state’s stressed public defender system are set to meet today for the first time since the end of the General Assembly legislative session. They’ll meet to discuss how to factor-in even deeper cuts to the criminal justice system. Already, Georgia’s public defenders are facing lagging support from state lawmakers and mounting funding problems. Last month, the system was hit with a lawsuit that aims to end prosecutions in hundreds of northeast Georgia cases-until lawyers are made available for defendants.

State Lawmakers Race Against Clock

It’s now a race against the clock--or legislative calendar--for state lawmakers. Six days remain in the General Assembly session, with the big topics of the state budget and transportation hovering over the proceedings.

Concerning the budget, with the full House passing its version late last week, the 2010 fiscal blueprint has now landed in the lap of the Senate Appropriations Committee. Meanwhile, a transportation funding plan for Georgia continues on two tracks. The House is expected to vote on a regional sales-tax plan for transportation projects, perhaps as early as today. The full Senate is likely to vote soon on its transportation funding proposal.

As the clock winds-down on lawmakers, stay with GPB on radio and the internet. Check out our Georgia News blog anytime for the latest by going to gpb.org.

Lawmakers Gather for Eggs and Issues

The state’s top political leaders will gather Tuesday morning for the annual Eggs and Issues breakfast in Atlanta. Governor Sonny Perdue, Lieutenant Governor Casey Cagle, and House Speaker Glenn Richardson are among those to address the gathering. They'll outline their key agenda points for the 2009 Legislature.

Ahead tomorrow for Perdue, he will deliver his State of the State address to all lawmakers in the House chambers. GPB will provide live coverage of Perdue's speech Wednesday at 10am--it can be heard on all GPB radio stations, and online at gpb.org.

No cost of living raises for lawmakers

Georgia legislative leaders have voted to put off a 2.5 percent cost of living increase for state lawmakers. The vote came at a meeting Monday of the Legislative Services Committee. The committee met at a legislative training session at the University of Georgia in Athens. Cost of living adjustments have already been frozen for state employees as Georgia grapples with a budget deficit. Lawmakers are set to return to the state Capitol on Jan. 12 for the coming legislative session.

(Associated Press)

DOT wants feedback from Georgians

State transportation officials want your feedback.

A statewide "listening tour" beginning in September is aimed at drawing opinion from Georgians on the state Department of Transportation's future plans. The agency wants to fine-tune its blueprint before state lawmakers reconvene in January.

Officials on-hand for the series of public forums will include DOT commissioner Gena Abraham, department board members, and local officials to the particular area.

Ericka Davis says the forums will be one-stop shopping for residents to give their opinions:

"That’s an opportunity for them to be in one spot and the key decision-makers on the transportation plan for Georgia will be right there listening to what they have to say".

The forums begin September 22nd in Macon, with other stops including Dalton, Savannah , Columbus, Atlanta, Valdosta, and Augusta

A new website is also online for the DOT’s initiative--‘Investing in Tomorrow’s Transportation Today’.

Public feedback can be made at www.IT3.ga.gov