Politics

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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

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Georgia

Murphy: Immigration reform bill offers tweak to existing laws

January 28, 2011 Express Telegraph

By Sen. Jack Murphy My colleague, Sen. Bill Heath, possibly said it best. Georgians, he said, are known world wide for our hospitality and common sense. But when we look at the rising rates of illegal aliens and the staggering financial burden it places on our residents, it is time for our common sense to take precedence over our hospitality. This week, I am submitting legislation intended to make it more difficult for illegal aliens

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Politics

Deal: ‘Let us be frugal and wise’

January 10, 2011 Express Telegraph

Rebuking a growth in government, Gov. Nathan Deal in his inaugural address called on Georgians to assume personal responsibility, saying he will continue to fight Washington over the healthcare reform Congress passed last year. “The evolution of society has infringed on much of the elbow room our ancestors enjoyed and government has been asked to regulate our actions as we bump into each other in our frantic search for success,” the governor said. Deal, who

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Georgia

A look back at 2010’s hotly contested elections

December 31, 2010 Express Telegraph

ATLANTA – Here is a brief recap of 2010 elections headlines in Georgia: Democrats jump ship, join GOP: A number of Democratic state lawmakers and a Hall County commissioner decided they could better serve their constituents if they were Republicans. Case in point: Rep. Doug McKillip from the state’s liberal stronghold of Athens switched sides, saying, “by joining the House Republican Caucus, I can best represent my community and help move beyond partisanship and the

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Georgia

Longtime state senator changes to GOP

November 29, 2010 Express Telegraph

A long time Democratic state legislator from South Georgia on Monday switched to the majority party. State Sen. Tim Golden joined the Republican party, further bolstering the party’s lead in the state Senate. Republicans now control 36 seats in the state Senate to the Democrats’ 20, according to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. “With his 20 year record of service and pro-jobs philosophy, Sen. Golden will become an integral part of Republican Party efforts from day one,”