Savannah Politics

This week the General Assembly concluded the last week of our two week recess to work on the Fiscal Year 2011 Budget.  It is a difficult task to balance the budget for the state, but one that must be effectively done.  Budget hearings have consumed all of our time over the last two weeks as […]

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The budget was the focal point and our top priority this week.  Although the General Assembly was not in session, our time consisted of attending and giving input during the subcommittee meetings  of  the Appropriations Committee.  This week marks the end of the first two week recess.  Far from a recess or a break, much […]

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The Georgia General Assembly adjourned on Thursday, February 18th after day 20 of the 2010 legislative session.  The General Assembly has decided to take a two week break from the legislative session to work on the daunting task of balancing the Fiscal Year 2011 budget.  Although labeled a “break,” it is far from what will actually be taking […]

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The General Assembly completed our 17th legislative session day on Thursday, February 11th.  One of our major accomplishments this week was the passage of the Amended Fiscal Year 2010 budget by the House.  Now the FY 2010 amended budget will be considered by the Senate. This allows the House Appropriations Committee to now focus our […]

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February 6, 2010
Following a full week of session, the legislature adjourned on Friday for our thirteenth legislative day.  The session is quickly picking up and we are anticipating many more important discussions regarding the House version of the budget as we continue to work through this difficult budget year. The amended 2010 budget will be […]

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On Thursday, January 28th we adjourned after our eighth legislative day of the 2010 session.  This week consisted of short days of legislative action followed by committee hearings reviewing legislative initiatives.  Bills are currently being drafted and introduced by legislators and the committee process is beginning to take full swing as we debate introduced legislation […]

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Many legislators filled the Capitol this week although we were not in session.  Our agenda consisted of Joint Appropriations Committee hearings.  During these joint hearings, each state agency presents their budget to both the Senators and Representatives of the Georgia General Assembly.  Now that the agencies have presented their budgets, the House and Senate Appropriation […]

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Representative Ron Stephens Weekly Capitol Update
January 16, 2010
 
The first day of the 2010 legislative session started on Monday,  January 11th.  During the first week of the session, the work that  takes place is mostly procedural. Elections for vacant leadership positions took place on Monday.  We elected a new Speaker of the House, Representative David Ralston.  Then, legislation […]

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Representative Ron Stephens Pre-Session Update
January 7, 2010 
As we quickly approach the beginning of January and are embarking on the start of a new year and another legislative session, it is time for us as legislators to focus on setting our agenda for the 2010 session.  The budget will be our priority during the session.  Other […]

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Savannah Morning News- November 1st, 2009
Author: Larry Peterson
More crops used to grow in what’s now state House District 159, which covers west Chatham County and south Effingham County.
These days, the 159th sprouts mostly subdivisions and people; the burgeoning area has more registered voters than any House district outside metro Atlanta.
But its electoral harvests are […]

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