By Sen. Jim Butterworth

Senate Press Office

CLARKESVILLE (Dec. 10, 2009) – The 2010 legislative session is upon us and I’m once again honored to represent you. As you are finishing up your Christmas shopping, at the State Capitol we are rolling up our sleeves in preparation to do the people’s business and move Georgia in a positive direction.

Last session, while facing historic drops in revenue, we passed a balanced budget without raising taxes. This year, we are facing additional declines in revenue and shrinking reserve funds. Although tough decisions must be made, raising taxes is still not an option. Your money belongs in your pocket. You are the best budgeter of your money, not the government. Attracting business and getting Georgians back to work is the only solution that will lead to economic recovery.

It is statistical fact that Georgia is currently ranked as one of the top states to do business in the nation. We have one of the lowest corporate income tax rates, total per person tax burdens, and cost of living in the nation. We have eagerly opened our doors to new and emerging businesses that will only lead to positive economic growth and increased job opportunities.

Northeast Georgia, along with the entire state, is feeling the strains of the tri-state “Water Wars.” Judge Magnuson’s ruling that Atlanta does not have the right to take its drinking water from Lake Lanier shocked millions. As much as I disagree with the decision, we must find a solution. The upcoming session will be an opportunity to work with the Governor’s Water Contingency Task Force and the states of Alabama and Florida, and even South Carolina, to find a solution that will work for everyone. One part of Georgia is not more important than another. We can all agree on one thing, the water faucet cannot be simply turned off to four million people and a solution that comes at others expense is no solution at all.

Trauma care must be addressed. A great extent of Northeast Georgia, as well as much of the rest of rural Georgia, has little access to trauma care. Trauma is the number one killer of Americans between the ages of one and 44, and the third cause of death across all age groups. We made steps in the right direction last year with the “super speeder” bill which imposes an additional fee on drivers convicted of driving at excessive speeds.  Money collected from the fee will go into the State’s general fund with the intent of funding a trauma care system in Georgia. Despite this, we must find a consistent funding source for trauma care.

We will work diligently to find a long term, sustainable answer to transportation in Georgia. We passed a transportation governance bill last year that streamlines the way transportation projects are developed, implemented and funded. With this headway, it allows our time this session to be focused on more pertinent issues, like budget and trauma care. We must find a funding solution but we must also prioritize.

The General Assembly continues to work throughout the year to prepare for the next session. Many bills have been pre-filed and meetings have already started. I am co-sponsoring a bill with Sen. Seabaugh (R-Sharpsburg) that will increase legislative oversight of the Georgia Lottery Corporation. This bill will ensure that money intended to be genrated for the Hope scholarship is being used properly and efficiently instead of going to Lottery executive bonuses.

I am employed by you. You elected me to do a job. I am honored and ready to tend to our business at the state capitol. If you have any comments, concerns or would like your voice heard, please feel free to contact me anytime. If you need contact information you can go to the Georgia General Assembly website or simply send an e-mail to jim@jimbutterworth.net.