GRIFFIN, Ga.- House Speaker David Ralston (R-Blue Ridge) today named State Representative David Knight (R-Griffin) to the Transit Governance Study Commission. Speaker Ralston made this announcement as a part of his address to the Griffin Rotary Club.
“Rep. Knight understands that Georgia needs one seamless transportation system, something greater than a city to city or station to station connection,” said Speaker Ralston. “He will bring a policy perspective to the commission grounded in his past work which has the potential to affect our state for decades.”
The Transit Governance Study Commission is charged with examining the feasibility of combining all regional public transportation entities into one integrated transit body. It was created under House Bill 277, which was signed into law June 2, 2010 by Governor Sonny Perdue. Rep. Knight is one of four state Representatives from the Atlanta Regional Commission area selected by Speaker Ralston. State Representatives Ed Lindsey (R-Atlanta), Pat Gardner (D-Atlanta) and Donna Sheldon (R-Dacula) were also named to the commission by Speaker Ralston.
“I am honored Speaker Ralston appointed me to this commission and look forward to serving in this capacity,” said Rep. David Knight. “I have been committed to transit in this state for years. I also understand how important it is for Griffin and the entire state of Georgia if we are going to improve our transportation infrastructure and continue bringing jobs to this state.”
Rep. Knight was also named vice chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee by Speaker Ralston. This committee oversees legislation that affects Georgia’s state tax codes and tax policy. It derives a large share of its jurisdiction from the state Constitution which declares, “All Bills for raising Revenue shall originate in the House of Representatives.”
Rep. Knight will continue to serve as the secretary of the Higher Education Committee and as a member of the Banks & Banking and Game, Fish, & Parks committees.
Further information on the Transit Governance Study Commission
The Transit Governance Study Commission will be composed of four state Representatives from the Atlanta Regional Commission area appointed by the Speaker of the House; four Senators from the Atlanta Regional Commission area appointed by the Lieutenant Governor; the chairperson of the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Oversight Committee; the chairperson of the Atlanta Regional Commission; the chairperson of the Regional Transit Committee of the Atlanta Regional Commission; one staff member from the Atlanta Regional Commission to be selected by the chairperson of the Atlanta Regional Commission; the executive director of the Georgia Regional Transportation Authority; the general manager of the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority; and the directors of any other county transit systems operating in the Atlanta Regional Commission area. A link to the legislation can be found by clicking here.
Representative David Knight represents the citizens of District 126, which includes portions of Butts, Lamar, and Spalding counties. He was elected into the House of Representatives in 2004, and is currently the Vice Chairman of the House Ways & Means Committee and Secretary of the Higher Education Committee. He also serves on the Banks & Banking and Game, Fish, & Parks Committees.
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