070104

On Monday, January 8, members of the Georgia General Assembly will convene for our 2007 legislative session. This is my fifth year in the state House of Representatives, representing southwest Gwinnett County from District 99, and I continue to be honored to serve as your voice at the Capitol.

Based on the number of legislative proposals that have already been pre-filed or announced for 2007, lawmakers will once again have our hands full of issues to address when we return to the Capitol. Here are just a few of the proposals to be considered:

Prohibiting Georgia motorists from using handheld cell phones while driving.
Increasing the minimum wage in Georgia to $7.25 per hour by January 1, 2008.
Allowing local counties and cities to decide whether to let grocery stores and convenience stores sell beer and wine on Sundays.
Expanding the judicial branch of state government to add two Justices to the Supreme Court of Georgia
Changing the state’s Constitution to mandate that Georgia voters present a government-issued photo ID at the polls.
Using public funds for private school vouchers.
Implementing a 1 percent sales tax to raise revenue for transportation projects.
Prohibiting governmental agencies from printing public documents in languages other than English.

One encouraging development recently has been the Perdue administration’s decision to back off from a proposal to eliminate the state healthcare benefits of retired teachers and state employees as a means of dealing with Georgia’s healthcare funding liability. Balancing the state’s books on the backs of these state employees and educators and their families is the last thing the government needs to be doing.

I will continue to work in support of our public schools and address the overcrowding of Gwinnett classrooms. I will work in support of economic development to address Georgia’s manufacturing job losses. It is extremely important that we seek transportation solutions. I will also continue to support efforts of the Gwinnett Village Community Improvement District.

Throughout the 2007 session, please contact me with your views on the issues we are addressing. I look forward to hearing from you. Please let me know when I can be of service.

Rep. Hugh Floyd (D-Norcross) represents the 99th District (Gwinnett County) in the Georgia House of Representatives. Contact him at 611 Coverdell Office Building, Atlanta, GA 30334; by phone at 404-656-0314 or by e-mail at hughfloyd@mindspring.com. For more information, visit www.hughfloyd.com.