150th Georgia General Assembly
(Redirected from 2010 Georgia General Assembly)
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Overview
The 150th General Assembly of the U.S. state of Georgia convened its first session on January 12, 2009, at the Georgia State Capitol in Atlanta, Georgia. The 150th Georgia General Assembly succeeded the 149th and will serve as the precedent for the 151st General Assembly in 2011.
The 150th General Assembly adjourned its first session on April 3, 2009. The second session of the 150th General Assembly convened January 11, 2010.
Officers
Senate
Presiding officer
| Position | Name | District | Party | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| President | Casey Cagle | n/a | Republican | |
| President Pro Tempore | Tommie Williams | 19 | Republican | |
Majority leadership
| Position | Name | District | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Senate Majority Leader | Chip Rogers | 21 | |
| Majority Caucus Chairman | Dan Moody | 56 | |
| Majority Whip | John Wiles | 37 | |
Minority leadership
| Position | Name | District | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Senate Minority Leader | Robert Brown | 26 | |
| Minority Caucus Chairman | Tim Golden | 8 | |
| Minority Whip | David Adelman | 42 | |
House of Representatives
Presiding officer
| Position | Name | District | Party | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Speaker of the House | David Ralston | 7 | Republican | |
| Speaker Pro Tempore | Jan Jones | 46 | Republican | |
Glenn Richardson (R) served as Speaker of the House from January 2009 through Jan. 1, 2010. Mark Burkhalter (R) served as Speaker pro tempore during the same period, and was acting Speaker when the House reconvened on Jan. 11, 2010, at which time the House elected David Ralston and Jan Jones.[1][2]
Majority leadership
| Position | Name | District | |
|---|---|---|---|
| House Majority Leader | Jerry Keen | 179 | |
| Majority Whip | Edward Lindsey | 54 | |
| Majority Caucus Chairman | Donna Sheldon | 105 | |
| Majority Caucus Vice Chairman | Jeff May | 111 | |
| Majority Caucus Sec./Treas. | Allen Peake | 137 | |
Minority leadership
| Position | Name | District | |
|---|---|---|---|
| House Minority Leader | DuBose Porter | 143 | |
| Minority Whip | Carolyn Hugley | 133 | |
| Minority Caucus Chairman | Calvin Smyre | 132 | |
| Minority Caucus Vice Chairman | Nikki Randall | 138 | |
| Minority Caucus Secretary | Kathy Ashe | 56 | |
| Minority Caucus Treasurer | Don Wix | 33 | |
Members of the state senate
| District | Senator | Party | First elected | Residence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Earl “Buddy” Carter | style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" | Republican | 2009 | Pooler |
| 2Script error: No such module "Unsubst". | Lester Jackson | style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" | Democratic | 2008 | Savannah |
| 3Script error: No such module "Unsubst". | Jeff Chapman | style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" | Republican | 2004 | Brunswick |
| 4Script error: No such module "Unsubst". | Jack Hill | style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" | Republican | 1990 | Reidsville |
| 5Script error: No such module "Unsubst". | Curt Thompson | style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" | Democratic | 2004 | Norcross |
| 6Script error: No such module "Unsubst". | Doug Stoner | style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" | Democratic | 2004 | Smyrna |
| 7Script error: No such module "Unsubst". | Greg Goggans | style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" | Republican | 2004 | Douglas |
| 8Script error: No such module "Unsubst". | Tim Golden | style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" | Democratic | 1998 | Valdosta |
| 9Script error: No such module "Unsubst". | Don Balfour | style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" | Republican | 1992 | Snellville |
| 10Script error: No such module "Unsubst". | Emanuel Jones | style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" | Democratic | 2004 | Ellenwood |
| 11Script error: No such module "Unsubst". | John Bulloch | style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" | Republican | 2002 | Ockhocknee |
| 12Script error: No such module "Unsubst". | Freddie Powell Sims | style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" | Democratic | 2008 | Dawson |
| 13Script error: No such module "Unsubst". | John Crosby | style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" | Republican | 2008 | Tifton |
| 14Script error: No such module "Unsubst". | George Hooks | style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" | Democratic | 1990 | Americus |
| 15Script error: No such module "Unsubst". | Ed Harbison | style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" | Democratic | 1992 | Columbus |
| 16Script error: No such module "Unsubst". | Ronnie Chance | style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" | Republican | 2004 | Tyrone |
| 17Script error: No such module "Unsubst". | John Douglas | style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" | Republican | 2004 | Social Circle |
| 18Script error: No such module "Unsubst". | Cecil Staton | style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" | Republican | 2004 | Macon |
| 19Script error: No such module "Unsubst". | Tommie Williams | style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" | Republican | 1998 | Lyons |
| 20Script error: No such module "Unsubst". | Ross Tolleson | style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" | Republican | 2002 | Perry |
| 21Script error: No such module "Unsubst". | Chip Rogers | style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" | Republican | 2004 | Woodstock |
| 22Script error: No such module "Unsubst". | VACANT | |||
| 23Script error: No such module "Unsubst". | J.B. Powell | style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" | Democratic | 2004 | Blythe |
| 24Script error: No such module "Unsubst". | Bill Jackson | style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" | Republican | 2007 | Appling |
| 25Script error: No such module "Unsubst". | Johnny Grant | style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" | Republican | 2004 | Milledgeville |
| 26Script error: No such module "Unsubst". | Robert Brown | style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" | Democratic | 1991 | Macon |
| 27Script error: No such module "Unsubst". | Jack Murphy | style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" | Republican | 2006 | Cumming |
| 28Script error: No such module "Unsubst". | Mitch Seabaugh | style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" | Republican | 2000 | Sharpsburg |
| 29Script error: No such module "Unsubst". | Seth Harp | style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" | Republican | 2000 | Midland |
| 30Script error: No such module "Unsubst". | Bill Hamrick | style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" | Republican | 1999 | Carrollton |
| 31Script error: No such module "Unsubst". | Bill Heath | style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" | Republican | 2004 | Bremen |
| 32Script error: No such module "Unsubst". | Judson Hill | style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" | Republican | 2004 | East Cobb |
| 33Script error: No such module "Unsubst". | Steve Thompson | style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" | Democratic | 1990 | Marietta |
| 34Script error: No such module "Unsubst". | Valencia Seay | style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" | Democratic | 2003 | Riverdale |
| 35Script error: No such module "Unsubst". | Donzella James | style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" | Democratic | 2009 | College Park |
| 36Script error: No such module "Unsubst". | Nan Orrock | style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" | Democratic | 2006 | Atlanta |
| 37Script error: No such module "Unsubst". | John Wiles | style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" | Republican | 2004 | Kennesaw |
| 38Script error: No such module "Unsubst". | Horacena Tate | style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" | Democratic | 1998 | Atlanta |
| 39Script error: No such module "Unsubst". | Vincent Fort | style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" | Democratic | 1996 | Atlanta |
| 40Script error: No such module "Unsubst". | Dan Weber | style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" | Republican | 2004 | Dunwoody |
| 41Script error: No such module "Unsubst". | Steve Henson | style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" | Democratic | 2002 | Tucker |
| 42Script error: No such module "Unsubst". | David Adelman | style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" | Democratic | 2002 | Atlanta |
| 43Script error: No such module "Unsubst". | Ronald Ramsey, Jr. | style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" | Democratic | 2006 | Lithonia |
| 44Script error: No such module "Unsubst". | Gail Buckner | style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" | Democratic | 2008 | Jonesboro |
| 45Script error: No such module "Unsubst". | Renee Unterman | style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" | Republican | 2002 | Buford |
| 46Script error: No such module "Unsubst". | Bill Cowsert | style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" | Republican | 2006 | Athens |
| 47Script error: No such module "Unsubst". | Ralph Hudgens | style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" | Republican | 2002 | Hull |
| 48Script error: No such module "Unsubst". | David Shafer | style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" | Republican | 2001 | Duluth |
| 49Script error: No such module "Unsubst". | Lee Hawkins | style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" | Republican | 2006 | Gainesville |
| 50Script error: No such module "Unsubst". | Jim Butterworth | style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" | Republican | 2008 | Cornelia |
| 51Script error: No such module "Unsubst". | Chip Pearson | style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" | Republican | 2004 | Dawsonville |
| 52Script error: No such module "Unsubst". | Preston Smith | style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" | Republican | 2002 | Rome |
| 53Script error: No such module "Unsubst". | Jeff Mullis | style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" | Republican | 2000 | Chickamauga |
| 54Script error: No such module "Unsubst". | Don Thomas | style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" | Republican | 1996 | Dalton |
| 55Script error: No such module "Unsubst". | Gloria Butler | style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" | Democratic | 1999 | Stone Mountain |
| 56Script error: No such module "Unsubst". | Dan Moody | style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" | Republican | 2002 | Alpharetta |
Changes in membership from previous term
While no seat changed party control from the previous session, the beginning of the 150th Georgia General Assembly still saw five new state senators. Two of these new senators defeated the incumbent in the runoff for their parties' primaries. Two replaced incumbents who had run for other office. Another replaced a senator who had retired.
| District | Previous | Subsequent | Reason for change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2nd | style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" | Regina Thomas (D) | style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" | Lester Jackson (D) | Ran for Congress |
| 12th | style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" | Michael Meyer von Bremen (D) | style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" | Freddie Powell Sims (D) | Ran for a seat on the Georgia Court of Appeals |
| 13th | style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" | Joseph Carter (R) | style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" | John Crosby (R) | Retired |
| 44th | style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" | Gail Davenport (D) | style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" | Gail Buckner (D) | Defeated in primary runoff |
| 50th | style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" | Nancy Schaefer (R) | style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" | Jim Butterworth (R) | Defeated in primary runoff |
Changes in membership during current term
There have been three vacancies in the State Senate as of December 25, 2009. All three have been due to resignations. Two have since been filled, both by members of the same party as the former incumbent. Another vacancy is expected at some point during the term.
| Date seat became vacant | District | Previous | Reason for change | Subsequent | Date of successor's taking office |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| August 2009 | 35th | style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" | Kasim Reed (D) | Resigned to run for Mayor of Atlanta. A special election was held on November 3, 2009. Because no candidate gained a majority of the vote, a runoff was held December 1, 2009. | style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" | Donzella James (D) |
|
| September 15, 2009 | 1st | style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" | Eric Johnson (R) |
Resigned to run for Governor of Georgia. A special election was held on November 3, 2009. | style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" | Buddy Carter (R) |
|
| November 9, 2009 | 22nd | style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" | Ed Tarver (D) |
Resigned after being confirmed as U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. A special election is to be held January 5, 2010 with a runoff, if necessary on February 2, 2010.[3] | style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" | Hardie Davis (D) |
|
| March 19, 2010 | 42nd | style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" | David Adelman (D) |
Nominated by President Barack Obama as United States Ambassador to Singapore.[4] If confirmed, Adelman will have to resign his State Senate seat, creating another vacancy. | style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" | Jason Carter (D) |
Announced retirements
As of December 25, 2009, six state senators have announced that they will not be running for re-election in 2010. One senator, Dan Moody (56th) is retiring.[5] The other five are seeking higher office.
Jeff Chapman (3rd) is running for governor.[6] Following State Insurance and Fire Commissioner John Oxendine's decision to run for governor, Seth Harp (29th) and Ralph Hudgens (47th)[7] announced that they will seek the Republican nomination for the office. Lee Hawkins (49th) announced that he will run for the Congressional seat to be left open by incumbent Nathan Deal's campaign for governor. Finally, Gail Buckner is running for state secretary of state,[8] a position she also ran for in 2006.
Members of the House of Representatives
Major issues
- Severe budget cuts due to the Great Recession.
- Circumvention of the Georgia Public Service Commission, by allowing Georgia Power to charge power company customers (which includes most Georgians) for two new nuclear reactors at Plant Vogtle years before they are built. The bill exempts businesses, putting the entire burden on residential customers. This passed in both chambers and was signed by the governor, but has been challenged in court as having raised revenue without being originated in the lower house.
- Proposed cuts in aid to counties, which reduce property taxes they must charge their residents. These were not cut, meaning that the state, rather than the counties, will have to cut over 400 million dollars from the fiscal 2010 (July 2009 to June 2010) budget.
- The massive food recall caused by the Peanut Corporation of America in Blakely, Georgia, and the role that the Georgia Department of Agriculture and lax state laws may have played in allowing it to happen. Food-processing companies will now be required to notify the state within 24 hours of any test results indicating contamination, among other changes.
- A bill to move MARTA oversight from MARTOC to GRTA, which did not pass.
- A bill to permanently remove the mandatory 50/50 split on capital expenditures, so that MARTA can postpone these and maintain service (operational expenditures) during periods of low sales tax revenue. The failure of the legislature to pass this means crippling cuts in MARTA service because it cannot access its reserve account, and the MARTA board has requested a special session to correct the situation. The Atlanta Regional Commission has suggested giving MARTA enough money from the U.S. stimulus act to get it to the 2010 legislative session with minimal cutbacks to the already-limited public transit system.
- Reinstatement of the sales tax on groceries, allegedly to target illegal immigrants. This failed.
- Elimination of sales taxes and annual ad valorem taxes on new cars, to be replaced by a car title transfer tax of 7%, including transfers between family members, and possibly to or from charities. This would also take a significant amount of money (the 2-4% local portion of the sales tax) away from local government. The 2000-dollar cap on the tax also would make it a regressive tax. This did not pass.
- Banning of all stem-cell research, passed by the Senate.
- Gutting most of the Georgia Department of Transportation, merging all of its planning authority into a new State Transportation Authority along with the Georgia Regional Transportation Authority and the State Road and Tollway Authority. This failed, an instead other changes were made to put more power in the hands of state politicians.
- Changing state law in order to accept money for the state unemployment insurance fund from the federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (the U.S. "stimulus act"). This became law, but no help will get to the unemployed until May 25.
- Requiring pickup truck and other truck drivers to wear their seat belts like other motorists have been for years. This failed again as in years past.
- Addition of a 200-dollar fine for excessive speeding, over Script error: No such module "convert". on expressways and over Script error: No such module "convert". on smaller roads. The money will go to trauma care in the state's hospitals.
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See also
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References
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- ↑ AJC: Richardson out, Burkhalter will be speaker
- ↑ AJC: Live blogging from the Legislature: David Ralston elected House speaker Script error: No such module "webarchive".
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External links
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