Georgia Governor Nathan Deal hailed the Census Bureau's news that Georgia will gain a 14th U.S. Congressional House seat starting in 2013.  The state heads into a crucial redistricting year in the upcoming 2011 General Assembly session, and Deal says the timing couldn't have been better.

"[This] announcement reinforces my belief that Georgia remains one of the greatest destinations for Americans looking for great opportunity and a high quality of life," said Deal. "As our state continues to grow, so does our influence and stature on the national stage. I think it will serve our nation well to have another Georgian in the House. It will serve our state well to add to our clout in the Electoral College."

In late summer 2011, the General Assembly will reconvene in a special session called by Gov. Deal to redraw districts for the state House, state Senate and Georgia's congressional seats.

Any redistricting map the Legislature draws up is likely to be challenged in the courts by state Democrats and the Obama DOJ.

DEAL NAMES FINAL APPOINTMENTS

Deal announced his choice for commissioner of the Georgia Real Estate Commission, William "Bill" Rogers, Jr., and Bobby Cagle as the commissioner of the Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning.

William L. Rogers, Jr., Commissioner, Georgia Real Estate Commission

Rogers became a partner of Whelchel & Dunlap, LLP, in 1976 and practices in real estate and banking law.  Rogers was admitted to the State Bar of Georgia in 1971. He is a member of the Gainesville-Northeastern Bar Association, serving as president from 1988-1989. He has also served on the Executive Committee of the Real Property Section of the State Bar of Georgia. Rogers is a past president of the United Way of Hall County as well as the Kiwanis Club of Gainesville and as past director of the Gainesville-Hall County Chamber of Commerce.

Rogers graduated from Emory University with a bachelors of arts in history and from the University Of Georgia School of Law in 1971, where he was a member of the Georgia Law Review and a legal writing instructor.

Bobby Cagle, Commissioner, Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning

Cagle currently serves as director of legislative and external affairs for the Georgia Division of Family and Children Services, where he has worked for the past five years. Prior to his service at DFCS, Cagle was the deputy director of Youth and Family Services within the state of North Carolina's Department of Social Services and has also held the position of Chief Probation/Parole Officer for the North Carolina Department of Correction in Murphy, N.C.

Cagle earned the 2010 Higher Directions Award from Georgia Empowerment and was the 1997 North Carolina Probation/Parole Officer of the Year. He earned a bachelor of arts in political science and sociology and a master's of social work from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Isakson Condemns FCC over Decision to Move Forward with "Net Neutrality"

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Johnny Isakson (R-GA) condemned Federal Communications Commission Chairman Julius Genachowski’s decision in late December to move forward with the implementation of "net neutrality" or "Open Internet" rules.
 
“I am extremely disappointed with the Chairman’s decision, and I believe these unnecessary regulations will stifle innovation and be harmful to consumers," Isakson said. "As we move into the new-year, I will work with my colleagues to block these regulations, which are an unjustified and unnecessary expansion of government control over private enterprise."
 
Isakson's comments came after the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) approved a proposal to move forward with "net neutrality" rules. "Net neutrality" is the philosophy that Internet service providers, or ISP’s, should not be allowed to prioritize content and services, particularly video, that come across their infrastructure. Isakson says he believes there is a need to strike a balance between preventing interference with Internet traffic while allowing the ISP's to continue to invest in the nation's Internet and telecom infrastructure. Ultimately, Isakson believes it is important to provide equal access for consumers and a balanced playing field for all involved.
 
Isakson joined 28 of his U.S. Senate colleagues in sending a letter to Genachowski expressing his continued opposition to any "net neutrality" rules.

Chambliss Statement on Arizona Shooting

WASHINGTON – U.S. Sen. Saxby Chambliss (R-GA) made the following statement regarding the shooting that took place at a public event held by U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D-AZ) in Tucson, Arizona.  

"I extend my deepest sympathies to the families of those who were gunned down in Arizona yesterday while participating in our democracy, and urge all Americans to pray for the victims who continue to fight for their lives."

Rep. Mike Cheokas Joins the House Republican Caucus

State Representative Mike Cheokas of Americus announced that he is joining the House Republican Caucus and resigning from the House Democratic Caucus, and changing his Party affiliation.

"I made this decision in careful consultation with members of my community after being approached by many of them and hearing their thoughts," said Rep. Cheokas.  "As a member of the House since 2004, I have been driven to best represent the needs and interests of my constituents at the State Capitol in Atlanta. My fiscally conservative voting record reflects that effort and the views of my constituents, which ultimately led me to join the House Republican Caucus."

With Cheokas switch, the Georgia House of Representatives now consists of 114 Republicans, 63 Democrats, and one Independent. Two seats are currently vacant due to the passing of Rep.Tony Sellier (R-Fort Valley) and the appointment of Rep. Mark Williams (R-Jesup) as Commissioner of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources.

"Mike Cheokas is a principled leader who has demonstrated courage in putting the interests of his district ahead of political party,” said House Speaker David Ralston (R-Blue Ridge). "He will be a valuable and important member of our team, committed to an agenda that is focused on creating jobs and providing economic opportunities for Georgians."

Cheokas represents Sumter, Schley and Marion counties, as well as portions of Talbot County. He was elected into the House in 2004, and currently serves as the Secretary of the Higher Education subcommittee of Appropriations and is a member of the Insurance, Health & Human Services, Information and Audits, and State Institutions & Property committees

Albers On Milton County

New State Sen. John Albers (R-Roswell) made the following comments regarding Fulton County’s efforts to block re-creation of Milton County: 

"Citizens should have the opportunity to vote for or against the re-creation of Milton County. The Fulton County government wants to prevent the legislature from allowing voters to decide this issue, and is using up to $110,000 of the taxpayer’s own money to fund their efforts by hiring lobbyists," said Albers, in reference to report that Fulton County officials hired a high priced lobbyist. "This is exactly the kind of government impudence and waste that has prompted the need for a new Milton County. Re-establishing Milton will create a system of local government that is more responsive to the needs of its citizens. The population growth in North Fulton has left residents paying for services they never use and without proper representation. In these uncertain economic times, we must be focused on making government more manageable and taxes lower," Albers said.

2010 Special Council on Tax Reform and Fairness for Georgians Makes Sweeping Tax Change Recommendations

Established under House Bill 1405, the Special Council on Tax Reform and Fairness for Georgians was comprised of 11 members, including two appointed by Lt. Governor Casey Cagle. A.D. Frazier chaired the Commission. The Council held five public meetings and 11-fact finding listening sessions across the state over nine months. Approximately 200 individuals personally presented their opinions and the Council conducted an additional 60 interviews with representatives of both state government and the private sector.  

The Commissions changes to Georgia's tax code are summarized below:
 
Their proposals will now be taken up by the Special Joint Committee on Georgia Revenue Structure, comprised of members of both the State Senate and the House of Representatives. The House of Representatives and the State Senate would then vote on legislation passed by the Committee.  If passed by both chambers, the bill or bills would then be forwarded to Governor-elect Deal for his consideration.

INCOME TAX

1. Decrease the personal and corporate state income tax rate to 4 percent by 2014.

2. Repeal the retirement income exclusion.

3. Eliminate all itemized and standard deductions and personal exemptions except for dependents ($2,000).

4. Sunset all personal income tax credits except for: taxes paid in other states; federally funded energy and water efficient products; angel investor credit which already contains a sunset law.

5. Eliminate all economic development credits by 2012, but create a fund with an annual cap for business expansion.

SALES TAX

1. Eliminate existing sales tax exemption for groceries by June 30, 2011 Retain government, business/agricultural/manufacturing exemptions,

2. Sunset exemptions for government authorities, healthcare, education, nonprofit by June 30, 2014.

3. No more sales tax holidays.

4. Impose sales tax on casual personal property transactions (automobiles/boats/airplanes).

5. Expand sales tax to certain personal and household services, including clothing and shoe repair/alteration and dry cleaning, household utilities of trash, water, and septic, housekeepers, lawn care, appliance repair, home security fees, vet and pet services, haircuts and styling, photography, golf courses, gyms, dating services, credit card membership fees, car repair, tires, and other auto services.

6. Repeal current sales tax on franchise fees for video and telecommunications and replace with a seven percent excise tax on all communications services (except internet service which is prohibited by federal law).

7. Raise cigarette tax to $.68 per pack.

8. Revise motor fuel tax to cents per gallon rather than indexed to average price to gallon.

9. Reduce the insurance premium tax to 1.75 percent.

10. Establish a tax court independent of the Georgia Department of Revenue (DOR).
“I appreciate the hard work of the members of the 2010 Special Council on Tax Reform and Fairness for Georgians and their willingness to begin an important discussion on how we could best modernize Georgia’s tax code," Cagle said upon learning about the proposed tax code reforms. "From the beginning of this process, I encouraged the Commission to work to find ways to enhance our state’s economic prosperity by incentivizing job growth, to ensure our citizens have the benefit of a fair and equitable tax structure, and to minimize the impact any changes might have on the vital services the state provides," the Lt. Governor concluded. "Now that they have released their recommendations, I look forward to a thoughtful debate on this very complicated, yet critically important issue.”