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OPINIONS -
Session
a signal
for better
Georgia
Georgians have again survived
another session of the Georgia
General Assembly.
Notwithstanding the media
attention surrounding more
controversial topics such as partial
birth abortions, the real news
coming from the 1997 Georgia
General Assembly was the change
in the way it
operated.
For the most Randy
part, the Evans
players stayed
the same. Tom
Murphy was Political
again the
Speaker Georgia of House the Analyst
of
Representatives. Pierre Howard
presided over the Georgia Senate,
and Zell Miller remained in the
Governor’s chair.
While the players remained the
same, the game changed
dramatically. Simply put, Tom
Murphy no longer “ruled the
roost.”
For Murphy, and
correspondingly, for Georgians, the
dynamics changed and changed
dramatically.
First, Murphy no longer
possessed a solid majority from
which to control every aspect of the
House of Representatives. While
the Democrats had a majority, it
was comprised of traditional
southern white Democrats and the
black caucus.
Specifically, the unanimity of
interests and purpose that permitted
Murphy’s near total control in the
past was not present.
Second, having decided to forego
further political office, Miller
stepped from behind the political
curtain to exercise the power that
can make a Governor dominant.
For politicians with an eye toward
their political future, it is nearly
impossible to muster the political
courage to stand up to the Speaker,
much less use the power to hold up
special pork projects and convince
legislators to seriously consider the
Governor’s position on various
issues and his overall legislative
package. Zell Miller did exactly
that during the 1997 session.
Third, with larger delegations,
Republicans made their presence
felt. Whether through filibusters,
committee maneuvers, forced votes
or just pure political strategy,
Republicans had more impact on
the legislative agenda in the
General Assembly that at any time
during Murphy’s tenure in the
House of Representatives.
As a result, Murphy was
repeatedly in the well of the House
urging his formerly loyal (blindly
loyal) following to again follow his
lead.
At the same time, he was
apologizing to the Governor for
effectively killing legislation aimed
directly at domestic violence,
watching his amendments to the
welfare package fail, and his vision
of welfare in Georgia defeated.
Indeed, there was a new dynamic
in the Georgia General Assembly.
Rather than a few power brokers
deciding Georgia’s future while
smoking cigars behind closed
doors, a mixture of the Governor,
the Lieutenant Governor, the black
caucuses, the Republican caucuses,
the Speaker, traditional southern
Democrats, liberal urban
Democrats and many others were
actively engaged in the democratic
process trying to address Georgia’s
problems and shape Georgia’s
future.
This change in political
dynamics, more than any piece of
legislation passed, signals a better
future for Georgians.
(Evans is an Atlanta attorney
active in state politics)
The Meeting Place
Poach County Commission - moots every
second Tuesday of month in jury room of court
house at 6 p.m.
Fort Valley City Council - meets every third
Thursday of month in courtroom at city hall at 6:30
p.m.
Board ot Education - meets every first Tues¬
day of month in board office on Vineville at 6:00
p.m.
Byron City Council - meets every first Mon¬
day of month at the old school at 7 p.m.
Utility Commission - meets every second
Monday of month in courtroom at city hall at 7:30
p.m.
Hospital Authority - meets every fourth Thurs¬
day of month in hospital conference room at 9 a.m.
Leader-Tribune Wednesday, 9,1997
|Guest Forum
The to schools
Our Nation’s system of primary and
secondary education faces a crisis that
demands immediate action.
Each day across America, parents are forced
to send their children to dangerous schools
plagued by violence and drugs, and the
problem is getting worse.
In fact, according to the Clinton
Administration marijuana use among eighth
graders soared from 4.5 percent to 13.6
percent between 1990 and 1996; teen
violence increased approximately 22 percent
over the same period.
All of these statistics suggest that, instead of
learning, students are struggling simply to
survive.
We are failing our children, and while most
observers agree on this point, we need more
than rhetoric to change course.
The Safe and Drug-Free Schools Act forms
the centerpiece of comprehensive education
reform I have introduced in the Senate.
The proposal — based on the fundamental
principles of parental choice and local control
— gives parents the freedom to rescue their
children from dangerous schools.
Specifically, the measure would pursue the
Some good
news for
state farmers
There were also a number of
important developments last week
in the House Agriculture '
Committee-most of which were
good news for Georgia’s farming
community.
First, we learned that the United
States Department of Agriculture
(USDA) will take no further
regulatory
action in the
Southeast Saxby
regarding the Chambliss
wheat disease
known as
Karnal bunt. U.S.
ALthough Congressman
karnal bunt, a
wheat fungus,
is harmless to
humans and animals, its presence is
a major barrier to international
export because countries without
the disease use its potential
presence as a political issue during
global trade negotiations.
Because of its use as a political
issues, the announcement that no
regulatory action will be taken is a
tremendous relief to Georgia’s
farmers. ALthough we knew all
along (hat no concrete evidence of
karnal bunt had been found in
Georgia, it is reassuring USDA
finallv agrees.
1 know hope to continue working
with the House Agriculture
Committee and the USDA to
ensure that karnal bunt is properly
reclassified and deregulated as the
minor disease that it is. Hopefully
such action will prevent any future
worries that our farmers will be
unfairly punished on the global
export market.
The second bit of good news for
our farmers concerns the recent
rumors that county Farm Service
Agency offices will be closed this
year. After speaking with USDA
Secretary Glickman last week, I ,
was assured that there will be no
such FSA office closing in Ga. this
year.
While this is a short-term victory
for the farming community, it will
be important for Congress to keep
pressure on the USDA to ensure
that FSA office closings are kept at
a bare minimum in future years.
During future meetings with the
Secretary, I will continue to remind
him of Georgia’s contributions in
helping food America produce the finest
and fiber in the world, ahd
ho9w any major reductions in our
county agriculture offices could
place that in jeopardy.
As always, if you have any
concerns regarding the issues or
any other matter, please contact my
office toll-free at 1-800-234-4208.
(Chambliss is congressman for
the Eighth District)
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following goals
through clear,
decisive action: Paul
• Rescuing
Children from Coverdell
Dangerous
Schools • School
districts that u.s.
choose to Senator
participate can
use federal
resources to
establish parental
choice in education, including grants for
scholarships to low-income parents whose
children attend an unsafe school:
• Saving Schools Plagued by Violence and
Drugs - The bill establishes a grant program
to fund local efforts to improve unsafe
schools and gives local school districts access
to existing federal funds to implement school
safety programs.
Such programs could include the
installation of metal detectors and the hiring
of law enforcement patrols in schools;
mentoring programs for at-risk children; and
mandatory suspension or withholding of
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Governor’s legislative accomplishments wide ranging
Governor Zell Miller’s 1997 legislative
victories gave Georgians some of the toughest
DUI and teenage driving laws in the nation,
provided crime victims with new protections,
expanded the HOPE Scholarship Program and
created a new welfare program that offers
temporary, limited assistance and emphasizes
work.
In addition, a 6 percent pay raise will make
teacher salaries the highest in the Southeast in
fiscal year 1998.
• HB 681, Georgia’s new DUI/Teen Driving
law, ends Governor Miller’s six-year crusade
against drunk drivers. The new legislation puts
first time offenders behind bars for 24 hours -
young teens in juvenile detention centers and
adults in jail. It seizes license plates of habitual
DUI offenders and eliminates the effect a nolo
plea has on drivers’ license suspensions -
currently drunk drivers can keep their drivers’
licenses by pleading nolo.
The law also imposes a zero tolerance policy
on drivers under 21; a three-stage graduated
drivers license programs on teen drivers,
delaying full licensure until age 18 - and only
then if they stay in school and keep a clean
driving record; and a I a.m. to 5 a.m. curfew for
drivers under 18.
The law takes effect July I, 1997.
• SB 104, the Governor’s Welfare Reform Plan,
continues the focus of previous welfare reforms.
The new effort requires more, personal
responsibility and stresses the need for self
sufficiency and parental responsibility. At the
same time, the plan is designed to continue
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drivers licenses for those under the age of 18
who are convicted of a drug violation;
• Increasing Slate and Local Flexibility and
Control — The bill provides access to block
grant funds that allow states to experiment
with ways to improve primary and secondary
schools,,including school choice initiatives
and teacher incentive programs that reward
improvements in student academic
performance.
.Enacting this legislation will allow students
who attend a failed or dangerous school an
opportunity to attend another school —
public, private or religious.
Families need a way out, and while our
schools are the responsibility of states and
local communities, the federal government
has a responsibility to help in the battle for
safe and effective schools.
We confront two immediate challenges:
first, protecting children currently trapped in
violent and druginfested schools; and second,
turning schools that are failing today into
tomorrow’s success stories.
The Safe and Drug-Free Schools Act aims
to address both of these problems by offering
parents and communities real choices in
toward the ultimate goal of employment for
those willing to help themselves. While assisting
those who will assist themselves, the new plan
also increases penalties for those who fail to
comply.
Welfare is no longer an entitlement under the
new plan. The receipt of cash assistance is
limited to a maximum of four years. Georgia will
meet all federal work participation guidelines for
recipients, who must engage in work activities
shortly after assistance is sought. In addition,
current family cap provisions will be
strengthened so that families receiving assistance
for 10 or more months will receive no increase in
cash assistance for the birth of additional
children.
Most importantly, the plan emphasizes that
education and training are the long-term
solutions for ending the cycle of poverty that
traps so many on welfare. The new proposals
require teen mothers receiving assistance to stay
in school, adult recipients to ensure their minor
children attend school and parents to participate
in parent-teacher conferences. Assistance is also
available for adults wishing to finish high school
or work towards a GED, with a special focus on
persons between the ages of 20-26 with at least a
10th grade education.
Child care and educational opportunities are
expanded for those willing to help themselves,
while punishments are increased for those not
willing to work, go to school or live within the
law.
Those persons who fail to cooperate in '
establishing paternity or obtaining child support
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education. I hope every Georgian will join
this effort to rid our schools of the drugs and
violence that threatens the next generation of
American citizens.
Paul Coverdell serves as Georgia’s senior
United States Senator and chairs the Senate
Republican Task Force on Education.
(Coverdell serves as Georgia’s senior
United States Senator and chairs the Senate
Republican Task Force on Education)
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will be denied assistance or have their benefits
terminated. In addition, those found guilty of
drug felonies or serious violent crimes will have
their assistance terminated forever. ,
Governor Miller’s $11.8 billion fiscal year
1998 state budget includes:
• $249.5 million for a 6 percent pay raise for all
public school teachers and state university
employees and a 4 percent pay raise for state
paid school bus drivers and lunchroom workers.
• $6.2 million for expansion of the HOPE
Scholarship Program to include college students
who maintain a “B” average during their
freshman year - currently, students must earn a
“B" average for two years to earn their way onto
HOPE while in college.
• $2.4 million for a major statewide expansion
of Governor Miller’s newborn screening
program. The Governor’s Children 1st Program
guarantees every child in Georgia will be
screened at birth to identify special needs and
provide whatever support services are necessary
to ensure the child grows up healthy and ready
for school.
• $6.5 million to hook up all of Georgia’s high
schools and public libraries to the Internet.
• $5.3 million to fund a five-part prevention
plan to combat teen pregnancy in Georgia.
The Sexual Offender Registration
Amendments, SB 105: Changes the permissive
authorization of information to a mandatory
release of information by the GBI or any sheriff
maintaining required records of sexual offenders.
This hill brings Georgia into compliance with
“Megan’s Law”.