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State House Recognizes Success of Augusta’s Super Bowl Champ

ATLANTA – State Representative Henry “Wayne” Howard (D-Augusta) today welcomed New York Giants’ safety Deon Grant to the Georgia House of Representatives to be recognized with House Resolution 1588, which commends Grant for his recent Super Bowl Victory with the New York Giants.

“I’m proud to welcome Deon Grant to the State Capitol,” said Rep. Howard. “He is not only an extraordinary football player, but a fine Georgian, who contributes to his community and inspires the people of this great state with his hard work and perseverance.”

Grant is originally from Augusta, Georgia, where he attended T.W. Josey High School and became the nation’s top defensive back recruit. He then attended the University of Tennessee as the first-team All American selection. In 2000, Grant was drafted into the NFL as a second-round pick by the Carolina Panthers. He then signed as an unrestricted free agent with the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2004. Three years later, he signed with the Seattle Seahawks and became the highest paid defensive back in NFL history. He has been with the New York Giants since April 2010.

Representative Wayne Howard represents the citizens of District 121, which includes portions of Richmond County. He was elected into the House of Representatives in 2007 and currently serves on the Children & Youth, Education, Health & Human Services, and Legislative & Congressional Reapportionment committees.

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Guest Editorial: It’s Your Turn Now!

As a state representative, it is not unusual for constituents to tell me about a state law or regulation that is hurting their business, either directly or through the ridiculous paperwork required to comply. While no one likes dealing with bureaucratic red tape, many of these Cherokee County residents are even more frustrated because the regulation is outdated or unnecessary. In the past I have always made sure to take down the information, bring it back to the Capitol, and try to work with my colleagues to change the situation. Unfortunately that’s not an easy thing to do when a small handful of representatives are trying to reform bureaucratic systems. Well things have changed!

House Speaker David Ralston has heard enough of these types of concerns from us that he decided to challenge the House Special Committee on Small Business Development and Job Creation to undertake serious regulation reform in order to help spur our state economy and create jobs for Georgians. The initiative, called “Red Tape Watch,” charges the House Special Committee on Small Business Development and Job Creation to spend the current legislative session reviewing and evaluating Georgia’s current regulatory environment. To do this, the special committee will meet throughout the 2012 legislative session to hear directly from small business owners about burdensome or onerous state regulations that unnecessarily hinder economic development, business growth, and job creation in Georgia.

Over the past three weeks the special committee has hosted three of these meetings, which are already allowing us to identify opportunities cut the red tape that is restricting small business growth in our communities. For example, business owners from several different industries have complained about delays in working with state agencies to obtain inspections and licenses. Also, many owners of day care centers complained of a new requirement that employees must have a technical or college degree. Some of these centers say they may have to lay off workers who have been working with them for 20 years. We need to look at policies like these and determine if this is the right step to take.

While the feedback from the first three meetings has provided us with some insight into possible areas for improvement that we have already begun to work on, the special committee plans to continue to hold hearings. Small businesses across the state are sharing the challenges caused by unnecessary government regulations, and Cherokee County must join them before it is too late.

If you are aware of any oppressive or outdated state regulations that should be brought before the special committee, please visit www.house.ga.gov/redtapewatch and let your voice be heard. Once on the Red Tape Watch website, you can choose to either come down to a hearing to state your concerns publicly or simply submit a comment for the special committee to review. Either way, YOU will be heard and your opinion will be duly considered.

With your help, we can make it easier for small businesses in our community to grow and thrive. This is your opportunity to let us know about those onerous rules and regulation that waste your time and money. This is your opportunity to get action.

As your representative, I will always make myself available to hear your concerns, but now is the time to make something happen.

Representative Calvin Hill represents the citizens of District 21, which includes portions of Cherokee County. He was elected into the House of Representatives in 2002, and is a Vice Chairman of the Appropriations Committee and the Secretary Budget & Fiscal Affairs Oversight Committee. He also serves on the Banks & Banking, Special Rules, and State Institutions & Property committees.

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House Legislative Delegation Releases Statement on Cherokee County Reapportionment & Redistricting

ATLANTA – The Cherokee County House Legislative Delegation issued the following statement today regarding reapportionment and redistricting in Cherokee County:

“The State of Georgia requires local delegations to review census information for the reapportionment and redistricting of all local governing bodies. The delegation is charged with ensuring all districts are represented fairly and equitably. Cherokee County has grown dramatically in the last ten years, shifting the population much more into the northern portions of the county. Hence, extreme population disparities have developed in the posts of the county commissioners and school board members.

“Initially, the Cherokee County Legislative Delegation requested input from the County Commission and the School Board as to their suggestions for making necessary changes in the post districts; neither body could reach a unanimous agreement. The Delegation rules require a unanimous decision by the County Commission and School Board in their vote for future governance; therefore, we took further action to ensure the citizens of Cherokee County have fair and equal representation on the County Commission and the local School Board.

“First, an open public town hall forum was held in December 2011. This event was well attended by the public and everyone who wanted to express an opinion had an opportunity. The Delegation listened intently and made note of each and every comment by the citizens who spoke. Each comment was considered during the decision making process.

“In January 2012, a Blue Ribbon Committee was appointed to review the question of governance. It consisted of local citizens who furthered discuss and propose ideas. This citizens’ roundtable met a number of times and, within it had differing opinions on how the restructuring might be accomplished. Votes taken on two different occasions reached different outcomes.

“Additionally, the Delegation commissioned a third party poll of voters in Cherokee County. 61% of those polled were in favor of having School Districts and County Commission posts coincide. A second question asked on the poll concerned the method of electing those members – whether we would continue with our current method of electing across post lines or whether we would change our procedure to vote only for a representative within the post where you live. Again 65% of respondents were in favor of changing the method of election to allow voting only for the School Board member to represent their district.

“Citizens of all differing opinions have come forth with a myriad of ideas for redistricting and voting plans. The Delegation has listened intently to all sides of the issues, and has considered all of the information. As a result, a determination was made to include the updates addressed in House Bills 978 and 979.”

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Rep. Rashad Taylor to Oppose New Charter School Amendment

ATLANTA – State Representative Rashad Taylor (D-Atlanta) announced today his intention to oppose a revision of the charter school amendment that was recently announced. Rep. Taylor plans to introduce an alternative version that could preserve local control while still recognizing the necessity for alternate authorizers of charter schools.

“After reviewing the latest version of the charter amendment I have decided to continue to oppose HR 1162,” said Rep. Taylor. “I do not believe our state government should be in the business of circumventing local control. My amendment gives local voters the option of having an alternate authorizer in their local school system.”

Representative Rashad Taylor represents the citizens of District 55, which includes portions of Fulton County. He was elected into the House of Representatives in 2008, and currently serves on the Education, Regulated Industries, and Ways & Means Committees. Rep. Taylor also currently serves as Vice Chairman of the House Democratic Caucus.

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Rep. BJ Pak Introduces Legislation to Penalize False Liens

ATLANTA – State Representative B.J. Pak (R-Lilburn) today announced the introduction of House Bill 997, which protects law enforcement personnel and other public servants from the growing problem of having false liens filed against their personal property by individuals calling themselves “sovereign citizens.”

“False liens can threaten an individual’s ability to obtain credit or sell property,” said Rep. Pak. “Our law enforcement officers work long hours to keep us safe. We must make all efforts to deter the criminal elements from filing these fraudulent liens that are designed to harass and intimidate our men and women in uniform.”

“Sovereign citizens” believe that federal, state, and local governments operate illegally. By declaring themselves as sovereign citizens, these individuals believe they are emancipated from the responsibilities of being a U.S. citizen, and therefore no longer need to pay taxes, possess a state driver’s license, or obey the law.

While simply refusing to obey the law is the most basic premise of the sovereign citizen movement, some take their beliefs a step further and actively harass law enforcement, officers of the court, and other government officials by filing fraudulent liens against their property Some of these false liens have disclosed individuals’ social security numbers and other personal indentifying information.

Members of the group also convene their own special courts that issue fake, but realistic-looking indictments, warrants, and other documents. The FBI considers sovereign-citizen extremists to be a domestic terrorist organization.

To combat this growing problem, HB 997 makes it a separate crime for a person to knowingly file a false lien or encumbrance in a public record or private record that is generally available to the public, against the real or personal property of a public officer or a public employee. Individuals found guilty of this crime will be punished by imprisonment between one and ten years, a fine less than $10,000, or both.

For more information on HB 997, please click here.

Representative B.J. Pak represents the citizens of District 102, which includes portions of Gwinnett County. He was elected into the House of Representatives in 2010 and currently serves on the Health & Human Services, Judiciary Non-Civil, and the Code Revision committees.

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