2011 Georgia General Assembly Archives

Deal appoints Butterworth as adjutant general

September 7, 2011 Express Telegraph

ATLANTA — Gov. Nathan Deal on Tuesday named state Sen. Jim Butterworth, R-Clarkesville, as the next adjutant general of Georgia, a position responsible for more than 14,000 personnel in the Georgia Department of Defense. The state senator will resign his seat on Oct. 2, according to the governor’s office. That day, he will take command of the Georgia Army National Guard, the Georgia Air National Guard and the Georgia State Defense Force. Butterworth, who was first

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

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.

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

Franklin remembered as ‘stalwart defender of the Christian Faith’

July 30, 2011 Express Telegraph

When state Rep. Bobby Franklin, R-Marietta, passed away earlier this week, the state of Georgia lost “a stalwart defender of the Christian Faith,” the co-founder of the “Institute On The Constitution” said. Michael Anthony Peroutka, the institute’s co-founder, called Franklin “a battle-tested promoter of the need to restore the Constitutional Republic through the reinvigoration of the Christian principles of the founding.” “He was a true pro-life activist,” Peroutka said in a statement. “Bobby was a

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

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

UPDATE: State to appeal judge’s decision to block law

June 28, 2011 Express Telegraph

ATLANTA – Georgia officials are planning to appeal a judge’s decision to strike down a portion of the state’s new law aimed at curbing illegal immigration. U.S. District Judge Thomas Thrash on Monday struck down two provisions of the law, including a provision that would have allowed law enforcement personnel to check the immigration stats of criminal suspects they suspect to be in the country illegally and who cannot produce a valid identification. “Gov. (Nathan)

Albers: Removal of GA 400 Tolls can Inspire Trust

June 16, 2011 John Albers

I have consistently and firmly advocated for the removal of the GA 400 tolls. I recently read many concerning news articles about suspending the tolls while millions are spent to upgrade the facilities. The postponement of the GA 400 toll for a few days or a week is a facade to fulfill a promise of removal, which is simply wrong and borders on offensive.

Takes on Georgia’s new immigration law

May 14, 2011 Express Telegraph

ATLANTA — Gov. Nathan Deal on Friday signed into law a controversial measure that aims to crack down on the state’s illegal alien population. Here are several takes on the signing: “Current economic conditions have made it painfully obvious that the state of Georgia literally cannot afford to continue this broken system.” — State Rep. Matt Ramsey, R-Peachtree City “Illegal immigration is a complex and troublesome issue, and no state alone can fix it,” Deal