Politics

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Georgia

State lawmakers return next week for special session

August 12, 2011 Express Telegraph
ATLANTA — State lawmakers will return to the Gold Dome on Monday as part of a special session primarily aimed at finalizing new districts for the state House and Senate and congressional districts. Georgia is gaining a 14th seat in Congress following last year’s Census. Other items on the docket for the special session include “technical changes” — as Gov. Nathan Deal’s office put it in a news release — to next year’s TSPLOST referendum and
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Georgia

Deal officially calls for special session

August 10, 2011 Express Telegraph
ATLANTA — Gov. Nathan Deal, joined by House Speaker David Ralston and Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle, today issued the call for the 2011 special legislative session. The special session is set to convene at 10 a.m. on Monday, and will include redistricting of the Georgia House and Senate and congressional districts, technical changes to next year’s TSPLOST referendum and ratifying the governor’s gas tax rate freeze.
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Georgia

State committee to review open records law

August 5, 2011 Express Telegraph
ATLANTA — The state House Judiciary Committee is set to discuss proposed changes to the Georgia’s open records and meetings laws, Attorney General Sam Olens said this morning. The committee will be meeting Aug. 30 to discuss House Bill 397, which was introduced late in this year’s legislative session. The committee will meet at the end of a special session to draw new Congressional district maps as part of this year’s redistricting process. According to
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Georgia

Rep. Bobby Franklin dies

July 26, 2011 Express Telegraph
ATLANTA — State Rep. Bobby Franklin, a vocal Republican from Cobb County has died, ajc.com reported. “I was shocked and saddened to hear of Rep. Bobby Franklin’s death,” Gov. Nathan Deal said in a statement. “Bobby served the people of Georgia as a representative from Cobb County for nearly 15 years, and he never wavered in his conviction to his principles. “He staunchly defended our Second Amendment rights, and he passionately promoted the sanctity of
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Georgia

NE Ga. voters return to polls Tuesday

July 18, 2011 Express Telegraph
WATKINSVILLE — Voters in District 113 will return to the polls Tuesday to elect a new state representative. The new General Assembly member will replace Hank Huckaby, R-Watkinsville, who stepped down to become chancellor of the University System of Georgia. The July 19 election is non-partisan, but features a Republican and a Democrat in a district that leans right. Following the June 21 election, Republican Chuck Williams and Democrat Dan Matthews, both of Watkinsville, emerged
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Georgia

Lawmaker: No ‘nontax fees’ on tax bills

February 24, 2011 Express Telegraph
ATLANTA – A state lawmaker wants to ban “nontax fees” from appearing on property tax bills. Rep. Brett Harrell, R-Snellville, introduced HB 291, which would ban the non tax fees, such as waste removal and storm water fees, from appearing on tax bills. Harrell estimates 15-20 percent of some people’s tax bills come from nontax fees. “Too often citizens across Georgia experience increased property tax bills, higher month mortgage payments, and in some cases even
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Georgia

Ga. rolls out criminal justice reform council

February 18, 2011 Express Telegraph
ATLANTA — Citing disconcerting numbers about Georgia’s prison population, state leaders on Wednesday announced the 2011 Special Council on Criminal Justice Reform for Georgia. Georgia’s prison population, which has grown by 4.6 percent during the past two years, is the fourth largest in the country, according to state officials. “With this new commission in place, we hope to uncover new approaches to make Georgia communities safer while increasing offender accountability, improving rehabilitation efforts and lowering
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Georgia

Measure would require use of federal verification system

February 4, 2011 Express Telegraph
ATLANTA – A new measure introduced today in the state Senate would require Georgia businesses to use the federal government’s E-Verify system to determine whether someone is in the country illegally. Under SB 40, law enforcement officers in Georgia would also be allowed to ask for immigration documents from anyone stopped for probable cause of a crime. The proposed law is similar to one that Arizona authorities passed last year. “I do not want to