Newspaper Page Text
HOUSTON HOME JOURNAL
GOP leader: Water, tax reform to dominate session
Don’t look now, but the
Legislature opens for busi
ness in about eight weeks.
You might want to hide the silver
ware.
To find out what we should be
prepared for, I
dropped by Jerry
Keen’s offices for
a chat recently.
Keen (R-St.
Simons) is the
House major
ity leader and a
major player in
the Legislature.
It will be a busy
session, he said,
but one issue
Dick Yarbrough
Columnist
yarb24oo@bellsouth.net
dominated the conversation: water.
“A water management plan is at
the top of our legislative agenda,”
he says. “We need to build more
reservoirs, obviously, but that will
be easier said than done.” Before
a spade is put in the ground, there
will be environmental issues, land
Stop before you gripe
Before you blow your
top about the holiday
hassle at the airport,
the long lines at the grocery
store, all
the hours
you’ll
spend
cooking
and clean
ing, the
uninvited
guests
who are
crashing
hubby’s
foot-
gm ...ah
Michelle Malkin
Columnist
malkin@comcast. net
ball party, and the endless
Christmas shopping list that
awaits, just stop.
Stop and think of the
Johnson family. Army Spc.
John Austin Johnson of El
Paso, Texas, is recovering
from massive head wounds
sustained in an IED attack.
Johnson is a member of Fort
Bliss’ 4-1 Cavalry. He had
HOOPER
From page 4A
gives you for what it’s
worth.”
At age 80, our friend
Margery Zerko traveled with
my wife and me to western
North Carolina. The three of
us stood on the roadside over
looking the 4-foot falls on the
Nantahala River, watching
the never-ending flow of raf
ters. My wife knew what I
was thinking! We’ve canoed
that river many times, and
we both longed to enjoy
the thrill again. Neither of
us mentioned it, though,
because we didn’t wanted to
leave Margery alone for half
a day. We put the thought out
of our minds.
Somehow over dinner,
however, Margery let it slip
that she had always wanted
to go whitewater rafting, but
had never found the oppor
tunity. Shocked, my wife and
I looked at each other. We
quickly agreed with Margery
that the next day we’d fulfill
her desire.
One of my favorite pho
tographs is the three of us
Houston Medical Center &
Perry Hospital Auxiliaries
r fundraiser
November 26 • 7 am - 7 pm
November 21 *7 am - 4 pm
Houston Medical Center
Front Lobby
November 29 • 9 am - 6 pm
November 30 • 7 am - 4 pm
Perry Hospital
Medical Library
Earrings, Necklaces, Rings and much more!!
Cash, credit card, check and debit accepted.
acquisitions and the inevitable law
suits. “In the meantime,” Keen
says, “we have to manage the
resources we have.”
I told Keen that some Democrats
claim they would have solved the
water problem by now had they
still be in charge. “They had the
governor’s office and both branches
of the Legislature for over a hun
dred years,” Keen said, “and didn’t
solve it when they had the chance.”
Still, the majority leader says man
aging the existing supply of water
during the severe drought will get
bipartisan support and bipartisan
opposition. “It is going to boil down
to rural and urban interests,” he
believes.
That leads to the out-of-control
growth in the Atlanta area. In my
opinion, the local governments
around Atlanta have been total
ly irresponsible in granting well
heeled developers carte blanche
to build condos, townhouses and
shopping centers with little or no
survived five previous bomb
ing incidents. That is not all.
Earlier this month, Johnson
and his wife, Mona Lisa, bur
ied their 9-year-old son, Tyler
Anthony Johnson. The little
boy had been on life support
for several weeks after sus
taining critical injuries in a
horrible car accident. He was
on his way with his family
to see his dad in recupera
tion at Brooke Army Medical
Center in San Antonio. He
never made it. The family
car rolled over several times
after being hit by powerful
blasts of wind. Tyler was laid
to rest at Pinecrest Memorial
Park in Benton, Ark. That is
not all.
The Johnsons had two
other children. Ashley
Mishelle was 5 years old.
Logan Wesley was 2. They
were killed instantly in the
same car crash that claimed
their older brother’s life.
rafting over that class 111
rapid. With boiling water all
around, Margeiy is concen
trating on the moment, my
wife is watching Margery,
and I’m keeping us headed
in the right direction.
When we returned Margeiy
to her north Georgia home,
her friends would not believe
she had done such a thing!
The few who accepted her
story considered her two
Peny friends to be absolutely
irresponsible. Yet ask any of
the three of us to describe
Michael Proscia Organbuilder
168 Barr Ave.
Bowdon, GA 30108
770-258-3388 j
Prosciaorgans. comm
Repairs & MHBiijjfl
Rebuilding w
Reasonable I
Rates f
All Repairs Warranted
During the funeral service,
the Benton Courier reported,
the program included Ashley
Mishelle’s favorite song -
Ashley Simpson’s “Pieces of
Me”- and Sarah McLachlan’s
haunting “In the Arms of
an Angel.” White doves were
donated by a retired military
officer.
To lose one child is devas
tating enough. To lose three?
While recovering from trau
matic war injuries? And to
bury three little angels just
weeks before Thanksgiving?
No parent can read of suffer
ing like that of the Johnsons
and indulge the petty, selfish
complaints of holiday grip
ers and road-ragers. The
complainers featured on the
nightly news this week wal
lowing in self-pity over a few
hours’ delay on the road or
in the air need to get a grip,
get over themselves and get
some perspective.
our experience, and we won’t
shut up!
Life is an adventure! Give
thanks! I chose to deviate this
week from my normal focus
on leadership development.
I dedicate this article to my
deceased Dad and to our very
alive friend Margery Zerko!
They, and Kenny Chesney,
remind us that the ’’years go
faster than we think!”
Dennis Hooper is a local
certified leadership develop
ment coach, helping leaders of
middle Georgia build organi-
v ijr
Houston Healthcare
Auxiliary
OPINION
concern for their impact on the
infrastructure. These governments
claim they need the revenue. What
they don’t say is that for all the
revenue the growth brings, it also
brings the need for more roads,
more schools, more water and
yes higher property taxes to pay
for them. It is a vicious cycle.
Keen says the answer is House
Speaker Glenn Richardson’s
tax reform initiative, known as
Georgia’s Repeal of Every Ad
Valorem Tax. It is Richardson’s
idea to do away with ad valorem
taxes and expand taxes on sales,
uses and services.
The monies collected through the
tax would then be distributed to the
local counties and cities and to local
schools. “This plan,” Keen says,
“would be an incentive for cities
and counties to control growth and
would give property owners a major
relief from ever-increasing property
taxes.”
Keen and the speaker expect
Thankfully, countless
citizens were roused by the
Johnsons’ plight - and dem
onstrated that the American
giving spirit lasts 365 days
a year.
More than 200 Patriot
Guard Riders, the volunteer
band of motorcycle enthu
siasts who provide protec
tion during military funerals,
served as Tyler’s pallbearers.
The Patriot Guards traveled
from Arkansas, Tennessee
and Louisiana to attend.
Anonymous donors provided
the gravesites and markers
for the children’s plots. That
is not all.
Soldiers’ Angels provided
hotel stays as needed for the
Johnsons’ extended fam
ily in Dallas, a Brooke Army
Medical Center official told
the American Forces Press
Service. The group also pro
vided funding for food and
other basic needs. The Dallas
Veteran Service Organization
and the Veterans of Foreign
Wars pitched in with meals.
Operation Comfort covered
gas for rental cars, which
zations of excellence. Contact
Dennis at (478)-988-0237 or
dhooper2@juno.com.
f ~ Rudolph,
V Lead the
ff%\ Way to
Steve &
Barry's!
555^
56677
strong opposition from groups
ranging from school boards to drug
stores, but he says they are also
hearing from a number of taxpay
ers who support the concept. Why
bring up tax reform now when
Georgia is in pretty good financial
shape? “Two reasons,” the majority
leader says. “The best time to look
at an issue is when you don’t have
a crisis on your hands, and two, you
don’t want to wake up one morning
and have to face that crisis because
you didn’t plan ahead.”
I was curious about what hap
pened to the GOP in Washington,
and could it happen in Atlanta?
“The national party failed to deal
with tax reform, illegal immigra
tion and other matters of vital con
cern to the American public,” he
says, “and we aren’t going to do
that in Georgia. We have taken on
the tough issues and will contin
ue to do so. While everybody may
not agree with us, polls show that
Georgians appreciate the fact that
Grand Opening
Saturday, November 24, Bam
The first 100 shoppers in line by Bam will receive a free
$lO Steve and Barry’s gift card valid for Saturday only.
Find exceptional value and high quality on casual wear for the entire family.
Jeans, t-shirts, sweatshirts, jackets, sweaters,
polos, cargos, footwear and accessories.
BITTEN ™ by Sara Jessica Parker Under S2O
Stabury™ by NBA® Star Marcus Starbury Only $14.98
Plus great gear by Venus Williams, Big Ben Wallace and Bubba Watson
Live radio remotes Saturday 9:30-11:30am, WIBB and Peach 96.5
Register to win Georgia Grizzlies Basketball Tickets and meet the players.
Your wish.
Your list.
Your place.
3661 Eisenhower Pkwy ■ (478) 477-7328 ■ www.shopmaconmaii.com
200 Stores Including BeSk, Dillard's, JCPenney, Macy's, Sears
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 2007 ♦
were provided by Hertz and
National. That is not all.
The Fisher House
Foundation’s Hero Miles
program provided travel for
Johnson to get to his injured
wife. American Airhnespicked
up the tab for the Johnsons
to travel to their children’s
funerals. The Professional
Golfers Association raised
$95,000 for a new car and
other expenses. Operation
Homefront will use leftover
funds to build a permanent
memorial playground in
the children’s honor at Fort
Bliss.
Bonanza Way - Plane Living Skypark
4BR, 3.58 A, brick home on 1 acre lot. This home
has 2680 sq.ft, heated, with office, 24’x24’ carport,
walk-in closets, gas logs, hardwood & ceramic tile floors,
solid surface tops, beautiful oak mantle & bookcases,
jetted X-large tub, sprinkler system - too many extras to
mention. House has access to runway.
Located 4.5 miles west off 1-75, Exit 142, Buckeye Rd.
Call (478) 808-6704 or (478) 956-4550
liiacon
■■■MALL
we are making the effort, and that
includes tax reform.”
With two public school teachers
in my family, I suggested to Keen
that he ask his colleagues to not
go messing around in public educa
tion as legislators are wont to do,
without first getting some input
from classroom teachers. I hope he
will. That would make all our lives
easier.
It was a good conversation. Now,
I plan to go see Dubose Porter (D-
Dublin), the House minority leader,
and get his views of the upcoming
session. Something tells me he is
going to have a different perspec
tive. But, that’s okay. That is how
a democracy works. And it works
well in Georgia.
However, just to be on the safe
side, you might want to hide the
silverware.
You can reach Dick Yarbrough at
yarb24oo@bellsouth.net, P.O. Box
725373, Atlanta, Georgia 31139, or
Web site: www.dickyarbrough.com.
Before Thanksgivingbrings
out the worst in you, stop
before you gripe. Give thanks
for noisy houses, healthy chil
dren and overflowing com
pany. Give thanks for boun
teous tables, rambunctious
friends and neighbors, life
and limb. And give thanks
for those who give of them
selves - in service to our
nation, in civic duty and in
answer to His call - all year
‘round. That is all.
Michelle Malkin is author of
Unhinged: Exposing Liberals
Gone Wild. Her e-mail address
is malkinblog@gmail.com.
7A
56438
56558