Legislative Day 39 … from the Senate

GUNS ON MARTA, AT YOUR LOCAL EATERY

In a late night flurry Wednesday, lawmakers in the senate approved a gun control bill after a lengthy and sometimes heated debate over gun control. HB 257 had been tabled earlier in the day after Democrats failed to attach an amendment that would have required local university to establish emergency procedures, in order to avoid another Virginia Tech-like situation, where a lone gunman killed several students and faculty. The measure passed in the Senate expands where licensed gun owners with a conceal weapons permit, may carry their guns. In the end, any gun owner licensed to carry a concealed weapon may take their gun into any publicly owned and operated facility like, metro-Atlanta’s MARTA system. The measure also allows those with conceal carry permits to take their guns into restaurants which serve alcohol, as long as gun owner don’t drink. However, some lawmakers questioned whether restaurants can exert such control. The National Rifle Association along with Georgia’s gun enthusiasts have long been trying to loosen the state’s gun laws. Those efforts were rewarded when the House passed a similar measure earlier in the session. However, one group opposed to the bill expressed disappointment, saying lawmakers have ignored the concerns of everyday Georgians. Alice Johnson is with Georgians for Gun Safety. “And so instead, they will make policy … at least in this chamber … they’ll make policy on firearms and community by listening to the folks who are the most adamant and scary.” The bill passed in the Senate 37 to 17. It now goes back to the House for consideration on the Senate floor amendments.

IS THERE TIME FOR TAX REFORM?

House lawmakers expressed frustration with the Senate today after the Lieutenant Governor shot down the House's efforts to compromise on tax reform. The State House was willing to give the Senate income tax reform, if the Senate would give them a cut on car taxes. But Lt. Gov Casey Cagle (R.) blocked the measure before the Senate could even vote on it. That angered House Majority Leader Jerry Keene (R.) Keene said in the end, both chambers will have to own up to Georgia Voters.

"When we finish, they don't know if it was this person's bill or that person's bill, its just what we got done. It doesn't make anyone look good - it makes all of us, as Republicans, look like we can't get our job done," said Keen.

Keen says the time for tax reform in Georgia is running out as Friday is the only day left in the session.

PARTIAL LIST OF SENATE STUDY COMMITTEES/COMMISSIONS CREATED DURING THIS 2008 LEGISLATIVE SESSION:

• Sexual Exploitation of Minors
  
• Georgia MethCheck Data Base
  
• Daylight Saving(s) Time
  
• Fleeing and Law Enforcement Pursuits
• Biodiesel Fuel Study Committee
• Victim’s Rights Study Committee
• Children’s Mental Health in Georgia
  
• Prior Approval and Prescription Drugs
  
• Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities and Addictive Disease Services

DEMOCRATIC PROCESS THWARTED?
In the past few days, the state Senate has voted to “engross” nearly two dozen bills, all related in some way to sales and use tax. Usually, a lawmaker will vote to engross a block of bills, rather than one by one. Engrossing a bill prevents debate from the floor on the measure. Democrat David Adelman from Decauter took the podium to say, preventing debate lessens the democratic process. “Whether we vote one time today, or whether we vote the half dozen or more times as we did yesterday. There are 56 Senators in this Chamber and each should be given an opportunity to improve the legislation, especially during these very critical last few days." Eighteen other Senators joined Adelman opposing engrossing the sale tax bills, nearly all Democrats.

SENATE URGES WITHDRAWAL FROM INT'L PARTNERSHIP
The state Senate today voted to urge President George W. Bush to retreat from a multilateral economic pact with Mexico and Canada. Already a handful of states have written the President urging immediate withdrawal from the 2005 Security and Prosperity Partnership of North America, designed to promote free trade between the three nations. It’s modeled on the European Union, formed in 1993, encompassing 27 nations. State Senator Nancy Schaefer says such an alignment with our national neighbors to the north and south will likely result in a loss of American identity. The Republican is running for the U-S Congressional seat once held by the late Charlie Norwood. “It’s not about prosperity, it’s about the loss of the United States’ sovereignty, the loss of our independence and our way of life. To end 332 years of sovereignty, including our God given principles handed down to us by our founding fathers would be tragic.” The resolution passed in the Senate by a vote 29 to 19.

WILLIE OTIS “PETE” WILLIAMS
The Senate today voted to pay Willie ‘Pete’ Williams 1.2 million dollars, after DNA evidence proved Williams not guilty of a 1985 rape. A similar measure has already passed in the House of Representatives. Williams was 23 years old in 1985 when he was sentenced to 45 years in prison. Mistaken eyewitness identification sealed Williams' fate. And, although offered early parole, Williams refused to plead guilty to the crimes. In January 2007, the Georgia Innocence Project used DNA evidence to exonerate Williams. Another man, already in jail for rape, was tried and convicted for the same crime that sent Williams to jail. Since 2005, five men have been exonerated and released from Georgia's prison as a result of DNA evidence. The bill now goes to Governor Sonny Perdue for his signature.

SO-CALLED "ANTI-IMMIGRANT" MEASURE TABLED
Senator John Wiles (R-Marietta) was forced to table a bill some have called anti-Latino because it would have given police the power to seize cars from illegal immigrants, stopped by any law enforcement official. The bill would have also allow police to impound the cars of anyone caught driving without a license, illegal or not. Wiles withdrew his bill after fellow Republicans questioned whether or not the law would catch legal Georgians, innocent of intentionally breaking the law. For example, a farmer driving his tractor who may not have his license with him when stopped, or a child forced to drive her parent to the hospital in an emergency. Opponents of the bill say it unfairly targets Spanish speaking individuals.

SENATE APPROVES CHARTER SCHOOL COMMISSION
Today, the state Senate approved the creation of a seven-member charter school commission. The commission’s job … reconsider applications from charter schools, that have already been rejected by local school boards. Republicans say charter schools are a necessary alternative to students in low performing school districts. However, Democrats say the measure reduces the power of both local school boards, and that of the state board of education. Democrat Vincent Fort represents parts of Atlanta. He calls the multi-layered review process unnecessary and opposes the bill. “It is an issue of yes, local control. Aren’t your local boards of education maintained and retained, the responsibility, the duty, the constitutional charge for their school systems? That is the question here that we face. What in effect is happening is, the local system’s decision is advisory. The local boards of education that are elected by the people are reduced to making advisory recommendations to a state commission.” Local officials have continually opposed the measure because it takes state money away from their schools, although the schools will retain any federal and local monies. The measure passed in the Senate by a vote of 29 to 18. It now heads back to the House for consideration because of differences with a similar version passed there.

Rome dog-fighting home demolished after drugs found

Today, the city of Rome demolished an abandoned house that was a site for dog-fighting

The police broke up a live dog fight in the house a few months ago.

And a few months after that, they found drugs hidden in the walls along with two loaded guns. That’s what gave the city the ability to tear down the house.

Neighbor Dwight Chapman says he expected the drugs but not the dog fighting.

“From my understanding they tore it down because of drugs. There are drugs everywhere. You can’t stop it.”

In Rome alone, there are two other dog-fighting cases in court this week, and a third in September.

In two previous cases tried in July, both defendants were found guilty and given a $270 fine.

Some state lawmakers have said Georgia's dog fighting penalties are not strong enough, and have vowed to push tougher punishments during the next legislative session.

Dope bust may lead to trafficking ring

Federal and state authorities say they have uncovered a drug smuggling route into western Georgia.

Officials seized 140 pounds of marijuana, 70 thousand dollars in cash, guns and several vehicles at an empty house in Harris County Tuesday. The drugs were packed and ready for shipment.

The Columbus Metro Narcotics Task Force and the Harris County Sheriff's Department say the raid is part of a long-term operation.

Harris County Sheriff Mike Jolley says the find indicates a cross-border drug route:

“We believe the drugs were brought in through a traffic route from the Mexico – Texas area. So DEA is in the process of doing follow-up investigative activity.”

Authorities have put out a warrant for a convicted felon in connection to the case. They believe he is part of a larger drug trafficking ring throughout the southeast.

Click here for more GPB News about drug arrests in Georgia.

Free and low cost drug bus rolls into Savannah

Hundreds of Savannah residents showed up today for help receiving free or low cost drugs from a pharmeceutical company bus.

Venetia Franklin is unemployed, uninsured, sick and now tearfully grateful for the help she received from the big orange bus armed with drug industry reps signing people up for free and low-cost drugs.

"I have one-prescription that's about 2-hundred-dollars a month just for 30-pills," Franklin says. "I'm trying to see if I can get some help."

Drug makers started the Partnership for Prescription Assistance two years ago amid criticism that they weren't doing enough to make medicines available to the poor. At today's event, its spokesman, talk show host and M.S. patient Montell Williams, said lawsuits, not drug companies, are responsible for the high cost of drugs.

"I'm not saying that's the only reason, but if we want the government to do something, why don't we step up to the plate and do something?" Williams said.

The P.P.A. bus also stopped this week in Bainbridge, Alma, Jesup and Moultrie. The program has served almost 200,000 Georgia residents.

Richmond schools to use aerosol spray to detect drugs

A school system in the eastern Georgia city of Augusta plans to use a unique method for identifying students who use illegal drugs. Here's how it works: Coat a desk or a locker with aerosol spray. If the object turns a different color, the student may be using illegal drugs.

Richmond County school officials say using the spray would be less intrusive than bringing in police dogs or conducting urine tests. It can detect marijuana, cocaine, heroin and amphetamines.

"We could actually, rather than testing the student, we may opt to go to their locker," said Dr. Dana Bedden, Richmond County's school superintendent. "It could be a parent who comes to the school and say I may be concerned that my child might be involved, and we can offer a resource to them to say do you have any of their clothing or anything that you may want to have us test."

The spray is part of a research study funded by the federal government.

Duluth pharmacy ordered closed for fraudulent operation

State officials have closed a pharmacy in Duluth based on evidence it had filled a "significant number of fraudulent prescriptions". The Georgia Drugs and Narcotics Agency has closed the Sante Fe Pharmacy, following an order of Summary of Suspension by the Georgia State Board of Pharmacy. The Board found evidence the Duluth pharmacy had fired its pharmacist in February, did not employ another pharmacist, and had no pharmacist in charge--all in violation of Georgia law.

Georgia Gets Local Clinical Cancer Trials

Only 1 out of 7 cancer patients participate clinical trials becuase until now, the newest treatments were mostly available in major metropolitan areas. Cancer patients across rural Georgia now have access to the newest cancer treatments, once available only in large cities.

The National Cancer institute is funding clinical trials in Columbus, Savannah and Rome as part of a three year study.

Dr. Ken Davis, with Harbin Clinic in Rome said travel expenses can often put cutting edge treatments out of reach.

“It’s just totally inconvenient and totally so expensive that there’s no way that someone in Rome, Georgia can afford it. Plus, the volumes you can have, in six institutions, you can’t have all these patients in those locations,” said
Davis.

The clinical trials will offer the newest chemotherapy programs and cancer research drugs. If the study goes well, the National Cancer Institute may offer clinical trials in more areas.

Prison employee charged with drug smuggling

A Georgia prison employee has been arrested on charges she tried to smuggle drugs to inmates at Valdosta State Prison. Authorities said a tip led to Wednesday's arrest of 26-year-old Deborah Watson. She faces several charges, including intent to distribute a variety of illegal drugs. Lowndes County sheriff's officials said marijuana, cocaine and ecstasy was found in tube socks that Watson hid on her body.
(Associated Press)

Two Georgians caught with $1M worth of drugs

A Georgia man and woman have been caught carrying 180 pounds of marijuana in their rented pick-up truck. Marsenna Louise Jenkins of Stone Mountain, and Shelvin White of Atlanta were pulled over for speeding this morning outside of Baltimore, Maryland. Police found the drugs in the bed of the pick-up. They say the marijuana – which was worth nearly a million dollars -- was purchased in Atlanta and destined for New York City.

Drug testing company to bring 400 new jobs

Georgia officials' attempts to create a biotechnology building spree may be paying off.

Now, a company that tests new drugs on humans says it will expand its headquarters in suburban Atlanta.

Quintiles will invest $19 million in the project, which will double its size to 850 employees and consolidate its two Atlanta area offices under one roof in Marietta.

Company CEO Dennis Gillings says the local resources ensure his drug-testing business will grow.

"With the CDC here, with a lot of fabulous universities here, and a lot of medical schools and a lot of biotechnology companies, a lot of research entitles, clearly there’s a huge spread of capabilities here in the Atlanta area," he said.

Georgia ranks seventh in the nation in recruiting life-sciences companies. Officials say the industry brings the state prestige and well-paid jobs.

Middle Georgia Drug Bust

Law enforcement officials from Bibb, Monroe, and Twiggs County say teamwork was key in a recent drug bust.

For the past four months investigators from the three counties worked together to follow a large cocaine, ecstasy, and marijuana trafficking organization.

Eight suspects were arrested. Police seized over 600-thousand dollars worth of drugs, cash and property.

Officials say all of the suspects are familiar to local law enforcement, and that more arrests could come as a result of this investigation.

Bibb County Sheriff Jerry Modena says, "This investigation takes a large chunk of drugs out of Bibb County and puts a major hurt on some of our drug dealers."

An anonymous tip led to the investigation.

Arson suspected in SW Georgia city hall building

A fire that has caused about 10-thousand dollars in damage to a city hall in southwest Georgia has been called an "attack" by the state's top fire and insurance official. Commissioner John Oxendine says a large amount of illegal drugs was taken from the police evidence room in the Georgetown City Hall. A fire was then set sometime overnight. State officials are assisting authorities in Quitman County, and offering a 10-thousand dollar reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible. Georgetown is located along the Chattahooche River, about 40 miles south of Columbus.

More on this story is here.

$9 M Worth of Drugs Still Missing

$9 million worth of pharmaceutical drugs are still missing from a Georgia truck stop. The FBI is now involved in finding a tractor trailer stolen Friday night in Haralson County off Interstate 20. Police say the truck was hauling meds like blood thinners and cold and nasal medicine. The driver had gone inside the truck stop to take a shower.

(Associated Press)

Georgetown dope theft possibly an 'inside job'

Quitman County Sheriff Lon Ming inspects
marijuana plants seized in Georgetown.
(Andy Brown/Media General News Service)

Quitman Co. Sheriff Lon Ming says the theft of close to 400 marijuana plants from City Hall Tuesday night may have been an "inside job."

"I'm sure it's a possibility," Ming told the Eufala Tribune newspaper.

However, speaking with GPB News, Georgia Bureau of Investigation Special Agent Mike Lewis would neither confirm or deny Ming's statement, or that there were suspects in the case.

The plants, seized in a bust on a wooded field last Thursday, were valued at $380,000.

The thieves also set fire to the Old City Hall building where the drugs were stored, adjacent to the Quitman County Sheriff's office, causing an estimated $10,000 damage.

"There was a great deal of smoke damage, but structurally, the building is intact,"

Lewis said, but added that there was significant damage to the evidence room, where the marijuana was being kept.

"After seizing the marijuana plants, they set fire to the building, I suppose in hopes of covering up the fact they stole the marijuana. However, the fire did not destroy the building as they thought. The state fire marshal's office has ruled it an arson, and we are jointly conducting an investigation."

The GBI is offering up to a $10,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the arsonists, and Ming said any information in the case was welcome:

• Georgia Arson Control Hotline: 1-800-282-5804
• Quitman Co. Sheriff's Department: 229-334-3726

To hear this report, click here.

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More GPB coverage of this story is here.

Georgians charged in Net drug scheme

An Atlanta-area company and four Georgia men have pleaded guilty to conspiring to import unauthorized prescription drugs from Central America and selling them on the Internet, taking in millions of dollars. The pleas entered Friday in federal court are the latest stemming from the indictment of 11 people and Norcross-based Hi-Tech Phamarceuticals Inc. in September 2006. Two North Carolina men admitted their roles in February 2007. All defendants pleaded guilty to conspiring to commit mail and wire fraud and importation and distribution of adulterated, unapproved, and mislabeled drugs. Other defendants were from South Dakota and Belize, where
prosecutors said generic versions of pharmaceuticals such as Xanax, Valium, Ambien, Vioxx, Zoloft, Viagra, and Cialis were manufactured in what essentially was a four-room house.

(Associated Press)

New state laws debut today

More than 400 new laws take effect in Georgia today.

One is the controversial new gun measure. This allows Georgians with carry permits to bring firearms into restaurants serving alcohol, onto public transportation, and into state parks.

Other laws now on the books include:

- Wine can now be bought from wineries directly over the Internet and by phone. Partially finished bottles of wine can now be taken home from restaurants.

- Sex offenders are now prohibited from volunteering at churches

- Tougher measures on those driving under the influence of drugs and alcohol. Now, a fourth DUI offense in 10 years brings a felony charge. Georgia was one of five states that did not have a law making four DUI offenses a felony.

Georgia sports for Friday, December 14th

The Georgia high school football championship games are set for this weekend. There are two games this evening,with three slated for Saturday. Tonight at 7:30, Ware County hosts Northside-Warner Robins in 4A. That contest can be seen live on GPB-TV. The other game Friday night is in class 1A matches Emanuel County Institute and Wilcox County. For Saturday, the three games include the battle in 5A with North Gwinnett at Lowndes. This contest can also be seen on GPB-TV, 7:30 Saturday. Also for Saturday: The 3A title game features Carver-Columbus at Cairo. 2A has Buford home to Lovett.

11 former Atlanta Braves were among the dozens of major leaguers named in the Mitchell Report, detailing the widespread use of performance-enhancing drugs in baseball. The ex-Braves' names include David Justice, Gary Sheffield and John Rocker.

Lawmaker proposes giving cops foreclosed homes

The typical mortgage is 30 years. But walk a beat in Atlanta, and that house could be yours in half that time — and for just a little money down.

As a solution to metro Atlanta’s foreclosure crisis, a lawmaker plans to propose giving foreclosed, abandoned homes to county police officers, who usually can’t afford to live in the neighborhoods they’re sworn to protect.

Of course, the deal would come with a catch: officers must agree to serve 15 years on the force before they get the property deed. And the board of commissioners would have to persuade lenders holding the liens to give several shuttered homes to the county in exchange for tax breaks.

“I thought somebody should be in these homes,” said Fulton County Commissioner Robb Pitts, who plans to introduce the idea to the board. “Here’s a way to help a group of people who put their lives on the line for us on a daily basis at a relatively minor cost.”

Cities across the country are trying to find solutions to filling up houses abandoned by people who couldn’t afford their mortgages. Several are using federal money to buy foreclosed properties and sell them at cut-rate prices or interest rates. Georgia has consistently been in the top 10 in foreclosed properties, with the nation’s sixth highest foreclosure rate in November, according to RealtyTrac, a Web site that tracks foreclosures.

Pitts said he thought of the plan after looking at all the empty homes in his southwest Atlanta neighborhood. The national foreclosure epidemic presents a bittersweet opportunity, he said.

“I think we have a short window because this probably won’t be the situation four or five years from now. If we can take advantage of it now, I think we’ll have a receptive audience,” he said.

For their part, officers would have to come up with $2,500 down payment and be responsible for all taxes, insurance, utilities and maintenance. Pitts said he plans to meet as soon as next week with several “major lenders,” whom he declined to name, to discuss his plan.

“Here’s an opportunity for them to have some goodwill coming from the community in which they do business by helping with public safety,” Pitts said. “If we could get 200 (homes), that would be a good start.”

Some say the idea is a creative and original solution to a crisis.

“I’d think lenders would be very interested in stabilizing neighborhoods in which they have mortgages on other properties,” said Bruce Seaman, an economics professor at the Andrew Young School of Policy Studies at Georgia State University.

Programs that subsidize housing for public servants are being tried in other places. Grand Prairie, Texas, is offering foreclosed properties the city acquired with federal bailout money to government or district school employees, with the city helping with the down payment and closing costs.

The “Ohio Heroes” program offers a 30-year fixed mortgage at a reduced interest rate to first-time homebuyers in that state to military, firefighters, paramedics, police and teachers.

But free homes in exchange for years of public service seems to be a new idea.

And while it sounds like it would require financial institutions to be philanthropic, that is hardly the case, Seaman said.

“How many properties can it be?” Seaman said. “The departments aren’t huge. Lending agencies being asked to participate will find this, upon reflection, a very wise move on their part.”

The Fulton County Police Department has 130 officers, 18 fewer than its target number of 148. The starting salary is $32,646 for high school graduates, and $38,000 for officers with a bachelor’s degree, so finding houses they can afford in the city is tough.

Department spokesman Lt. Darryl Halbert said the agency is excited about the proposal.

“The officers are able to obtain a home for very little down, the community gets a police officer and the department can use this as a recruiting tool,” he said.

If it’s successful, firefighters or others could later be added.

“We can’t be everything to everybody in the beginning,” Pitts said.

Moving police into the neighborhood could help reduce crime and attract buyers to other abandoned homes, Seaman said.

Pitts also still must get the idea past the commission. Chairman John Eaves declined to comment on the issue through his spokesman, Darryl Hicks, who said there is not yet a proposal to consider.

Samuel F. Daniel said he would feel much safer in his northwest Atlanta home with an officer in the neighborhood, where many homes sit dark and are havens for drugs, prostitution, burglary and other crimes.

“I would like for one to move next door to me,” said the 85-year-old veteran. “That way, he’d see a lot of things I see and can’t do nothing about. The crime would probably go further down the street somewhere.”

(AP)

ATL Demolishes Last of Large Public Housing

During the Great Depression, Atlanta was the first city to build public housing. Today, it took a step towards becoming the first major city to completely eliminate it. A demolition crew began tearing down the city’s last large public housing project called Bowen Homes.

When Bowen was created 45 years ago, it started as a model development, but later become an enclave of poverty, drugs and crime.

Renee Glover, the president of the Atlanta Housing Authority, says, "On reflection, there's no question that this is the right direction, and Atlanta, the families will be the better for it."

Bowen's 900 former residents have found new housing. Most use a voucher system where they pay the same as they did when they lived here.

Today’s demolition is symbolic of what’s happening with public housing in major cities across the state. It’s a national effort to get rid of large stacks of rows upon rows of the 1960’s buildings and to create mixed income developments in their place. Georgia is one of the pioneers in this effort. Atlanta wants to be the first to do away with all of them by 2010.

Commission to examine state mental health services

Gov. Sonny Perdue has signed an executive order creating a state commission on mental health.

In the order, Perdue acknowledges long-standing fears about the quality of services Georgia provides for the mentally ill.

The panel will examine state services for people who are mentally ill or addicted to drugs.

It is supposed to issue recommendations to lawmakers by June.

Members will include citizens who have received state-provided treatment, state and local officials, and representatives of advocacy groups.