We have now completed our third week of the 2008 legislative session, and we have finished ten days of the required 40 legislative days of business.  The pace is increasing daily as Senators and Representatives introduce new bills, meet in committees and debate and vote on legislation in Chamber.  It is truly an exciting time for me to be part of the General Assembly, as we look to plan for Georgia’s future needs, whether it is better transportation, a plentiful water supply or accessible healthcare. 

This week, I introduced the Water Conservation and Drought Relief Act (Senate Bill 342) in an effort to enhance water storage throughout the state.  Readers may remember the initiative was unveiled this fall during a press conference with Lt. Governor Casey Cagle and House Speaker Glenn Richardson.  I was quite pleased to see the legislation take the first step in the process this week, as it was unanimously approved by the Senate Natural Resources and the Environment Committee.  If passed, the Drought Relief Act will make the state of Georgia a partner with local governments and water authorities in the effort to increase water capacity.  Under this legislation, communities can apply for funding to enlarge existing reservoirs and obtain permits to construct new ones.  Additionally, the bill will make the state a true partner with local communities to secure necessary federal reservoir permits, which we hope will streamline the permitting process to build reservoirs.  Many times the permitting process for a new reservoir takes years, and we hope to change that with SB 342.  Along with the recent passage of the Statewide Water Management Plan by both the Senate and House, I hope it is clear that we are moving swiftly to address the current drought conditions we’re experiencing across our state. 

Another bill that I authored is making its way through the legislative process.  SB 340, otherwise known as the “Sanctuary Cities” bill, is another step in the effort to curb the influx of illegal immigrants in Georgia.  SB 340 prohibits local governments from implementing or enforcing sanctuary policies.  A sanctuary policy is defined as any regulation, policy or practice that prevents local officials, such as law enforcement, from reporting a person’s immigration status to the federal government.  Local governments who fail to cooperate with the federal government in reporting a person’s immigration status will be subject to the withholding of important state and/or federal funding.  This bill has also moved forward in the process, as it unanimously passed through a key Senate committee this week. 

In other important news, we announced the first pieces of legislation that will make up Georgia’s new transportation funding plan during a Wednesday press conference.  Senate Resolution 781 will require the development of a Statewide Transportation Plan that must be approved by the General Assembly and updated every five years thereafter.  The goal is to create a 50-year safe, mobile, reliable, predictable and dependable transportation system for the state using projected growth and demographic trends.  I was pleased to co-sponsor SR 781 along with other lawmakers who served on the Joint Committee on Transportation Funding in 2007.   

I have also sponsored SR 786, which would created a Constitutional Amendment to grant the General Assembly the power to approve, reject or modify proposed expenditures of the state portion of the motor fuel tax.  By sending the gas-tax revenues through the typical appropriations process, instead of sending them straight to the Department of Transportation, we can ensure that our transportation dollars are being spent wisely and efficiently.  Within the next few weeks, legislation will also be introduced to fund Georgia’s transportation program, including measures on public-private initiatives, transit systems, magnetically levitated transit lines, High Occupancy Toll (HOT) lanes and more.  Another resolution, SR 750, urges the U.S. Department of Transportation to devolve the federal highway and transit program to the states, allowing them to take over collection of the federal fuel tax in order to spend those revenues on transportation priorities of their own choosing. 

Finally, we celebrated Tourism Day at the Capitol 2008 on Tuesday, January 29.  This is always a wonderful event, and as chairman of the Senate Economic Development Committee, it is a privilege to participate in the Tourism Day events.  The travel and tourism industry plays a vital role in Georgia’s economic prosperity and the quality of life for all Georgians.  Tourism annually generates more than $29.9 billion in expenditures, which support 219,300 jobs and contributes $1.3 billion to state and local tax revenues.  The 2006 tourism numbers are up, and it appears that the tourism industry will continue to grow and thrive in our state, which is some great economic news. 

As always, please contact me in my office on the issues that are affecting you and your area.

Please feel free to contact Sen. Chip Pearson at his office in Atlanta at 404.656.9221 or by email at chip@team51.org