Hopes to Persuade Lawmakers to Bolster Georgia's Trauma Care

A coastal state legislator is hoping the sugar refinery explosion that rocked Savannah last year prompts legislators to bolster Georgia's struggling trauma network.
State Rep. Ron Stephens, R-Savannah, took the House floor Monday to show legislators a video of the medical response to the explosion that killed 14 people and injured dozens more.
He also welcomed 20-year-old Lawrence Manker Jr., who was working in the refinery when it burst into flames.
Manker was in a wheelchair and wrapped in bandages.
Stephens hopes Manker's story will help persuade lawmakers to devote more funding to trauma care.

(AP)

Lawmaker proposes tobacco tax hike

A Republican lawmaker is calling for a tobacco tax increase… one dollar per pack of cigarettes. State Republican Ron Stephens of Savannah will hold a news conference later this morning along with other advocates of the tax hike. The plan comes as the state wrestles with a two billion dollar budget shortfall for 2009.

Georgia is not the only state to consider raising the tobacco tax. Governors of Virginia and Kentucky have also proposed similar legislation. 2003 was the last time Georgia boosted its cigarette tax… 25 cents a pack. The state faced a budget crunch then too.

State representative feeling better, leaves hospital

A Georgia state representative is scheduled to leave a Savannah hospital today. Ron Stephens checked in after feeling dizzy during a meeting.

He said the complications were due to exhaustion and jet lag.

Wine internet sales OK'd by state House

A bill approved in the House would allow Georgians to buy cases of wine over the Internet. This legislation has been held-up in past years by the state’s liquor industry because of competition concerns. For this measure however, industry lobbyists worked with the bill’s sponsor, Republican Representative Ron Stephens of Savannah, to limit the scope of the bill. The measure also includes letting Georgia wineries sell beer and liquor along with their wine in tasting rooms. The bill now goes to the Senate for consideration.

Tobacco tax hike considered

State lawmakers are considering a measure that would raise the tax on a pack of cigarettes by one dollar. Republican Representative Ron Stephens of Savannah introduced the legislation that would use the added revenue to fund state health care programs. Lawmakers last raised the tobacco tax in 2003 and have been reluctant to subsequent increases. Georgia’s tax on tobacco is among the lowest in the nation at 37 cents per pack.