If you know someone who you think might like to receive this via email forward them this link.
Thus far, I've held three Online Town Hall Meetings. You can watch video from the 2/28 Town Hall here. We'll have another one near the end of March. You can watch the video from the 1/29/13 meeting here. You can also watch video from the 1/08/13 Town Hall here..
There will be two open house informational meetings about the proposed extension of HOT Lanes from Old Peachtree Rd. to Hamilton Mill Rd. It's important to understand this proposed project will add a new lane of traffic, not convert an existing lane. You can read more about the proposed project here. Details about the open house informational meetings are:
Public Information Open Houses:
| 3/21/13 | 4PM – 7PM |
Gwinnett Center Atrium Gallery 6400 Sugarloaf Pkwy, Duluth, GA |
| 3/28/13 | 4PM – 7PM |
Braselton Police and Municipal Court Building 5040 Highway 53, Braselton, GA |
In addition, the House Small Business Development Committee will hold a "Red Tape Watch" hearing to learn from Small Businesses what regulations are harming them.
WHEN: Thursday, March 21, 2013 2:00 PM
WHERE: Coverdell Legislative Office Building Room 406 18 Capitol Square Atlanta, GA
If you would like to tell the Committee in person about something that is harming your small business, please contact Jenee' Burke, at jenee.burke-at-house.ga.gov or you can fill out this form and the Committee will take a look at your issue.
This was a relatively quite week on the House floor as committees are working on bills passed by the Senate. You can watch House Committee meetings live as they are broadcast on the internet. Previous meetings are available online as well.
The major piece of Legislation we passed this week was the Fiscal Year 2014 Budget which has been sent to the Senate for their input. Here are some highlights:
- The total budget for FY2014 is $19,864,261,481 in State funds. When adjusted for inflation to 2012 dollar values, our state is spending 17 percent less per capita than it was a decade ago. And there are 9,000 fewer state employees than there were five years ago.
- The education portion of the budget will net $268.8 million. That includes an increase of $236 million for K-12 education and another $13.5 million for Pre-Kindergarten, part of which will allow Georgia Pre-K to add ten more days to its school year. The FY2014 state budget also fully funds Quality Basic Education (QBE) enrollment growth of 1.4% for 23,922 new students, as well as training and experience pay raises for teachers. The House version of the budget also reflects the State Education Finance Study Commission’s recommendations for increased state support of school nurses and professional development for school administration.
- Georgia Gwinnett College had it's proposed cuts restored for the most part and now has a plan to fully fund enrollment through the Board of Regents funding formula rather than a special appropriation that is in peril every budget cycle. This will allow GGC to plan for the future rather than have to fight for every penny each year.
- The House also designated 20 percent of the bond package for economic development purposes. These state bonds will help fund reservoirs, local water and sewer construction, and deepening the Savannah Harbor – a project that is vital to both Georgia’s and the nation’s economy.
You can see the list of all votes taken in the House here. Click on each vote number to see more details about what was being voted on and how I voted on that particular measure.
The House will be back in Session at 10 AM on Wednesday and will meet Wednesday – Friday. You can watch each day's session live or review the archives. I will send out another of these weekly emails next weekend.
You can connect with me via Twitter and Facebook (personal or campaign page or ) and see photos from events at the Capitol on my Tumblr page. Also, you can watch each day's session live on the internet.
Please feel free to contact me anytime if I can be of assistance. I'm honored to serve you at the Capitol and covet your prayers and support.
Sincerely,
Buzz Brockway
Representative, Georgia State House District 102
504-B Coverdell Legislative Office Building
Atlanta, Georgia 30334
404-656-0188
buzz.brockway@house.ga.gov
www.vote4buzz.com
