State Headlines

WHAT:           State Sen. Vincent Fort (D-Atlanta) will join Derrick Boazman, former Atlanta Public Schools Superintendant Jerome Harris, DeKalb County Board Member Eugene Walker and other community activist for the, “Are our schools failing our children or are our children failing our schools” panel tomorrow. Participants will discuss the Atlanta Public Schools CRCT cheating scandal, vouchers, [...]

WHAT:           State Sen. Vincent Fort (D-Atlanta) will join the Grady Coalition for a candlelight vigil at Grady Hospital tonight.  August 31 marks the last day Grady Hospital will provide treatment for 40 patients.  Vigil participants will light candles in memory of those who have passed, and for the future fatalities that will occur due to [...]

By Chip Pearson DAWSONVILLE (August 27, 2010) – When our country’s financial deficit reaches into the trillions, it’s hard to put such excessive government spending into perspective.  Here’s one way to look at it: in order to cover your share of the government’s spending, you would have to work an average of 231 days out of [...]

ATLANTA (August 26, 2010) – State Senate and House members are forming a legislative review committee in response to the DeKalb County school board’s changing leadership and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools’ (SACS) questions regarding the board’s practices.  Sen. Emanuel Jones (D-Decatur) and Rep. Mary Margaret Oliver (D-Decatur) will co-chair the DeKalb School [...]

WHAT:           Sen. Vincent Fort (D-Atlanta) and the Grady Coalition of Concerned Citizens will host a rally at Grady Hospital to protest the end of dialysis treatment for 40 patients.  These individuals will be forced to find alternative treatment facilities after Aug. 31. This rally marks the second day of events regarding the end of services [...]

ATLANTA (August 19, 2010) – Sen. Gail Buckner (D-Jonesboro) will host a Women’s Equality Day program in the Senate Chamber of the Georgia State Capitol on Thursday, August 26.  The program will feature a presentation by Kaye Shipley, a board member of the League of Women Voters of Georgia.  Buckner will also present resolutions to [...]

ATLANTA (Aug. 18, 2010)-Sen. Vincent Fort (D-Atlanta) made the following statement today regarding the CRCT testing scandal and the release of related documents:  “The CRCT testing scandal has brought negativity to the students, teachers and administrators in the Atlanta Public School System.  I am demanding that Dr. Beverly Hall release all information regarding the investigation, and [...]

By Chip Pearson ATLANTA (August 13, 2010) – Washington has released its latest assault on American liberty with the president’s recent signature of the massive financial overhaul bill.  Publicized by the White House and political left as a way to prevent another financial crisis, the bill is merely a vehicle for a government takeover of our [...]

ATLANTA (August 9, 2010) – Sens. Emanuel Jones (D-Decatur) and Lester Jackson (D-Savannah) are announcing that U.S. Rep. James Clyburn (D-SC) will be the keynote speaker at the Georgia Legislative Black Caucus’ (GLBC) annual legislative conference in Savannah on Friday, August 27.  Jones serves as GLBC chairman, while Jackson is the caucus’ conference chairman.  The [...]

WHAT:           State Sen. Vincent Fort (D-Atlanta) will give testimony tomorrow during a public hearing at the Federal Reserve Bank regarding the Community Reinvestment Act.  Fort’s testimony will discuss using loan modifications as a component for measuring banks compliance with the Community Reinvestment Act.   WHO:             State Senator Vincent Fort (D-Atlanta)                                     WHEN:           Friday, August 6                         2:45-4:00 [...]

July 23, 2010 By Sen. Chip Rogers (R-Woodstock) All we ask is equal treatment under the law!   A single piece of equity legislation would improve two of Georgia’s crown jewels; Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport and UPS. Unfortunately, this important measure is being held-up in a Congress more intent on destroying American business than helping it.   The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) [...]

By Chip Pearson ATLANTA (July 15, 2010) – The 2010 Legislative Session will be remembered as one of the worst budget years in Georgia’s history.  We did our best to minimize the impact on citizens, yet some cuts were unavoidable.  Amid the worst recession since the 1930’s, it’s expected that states would feel a budget crunch.  [...]

ATLANTA (July 23, 2010) – State Sen. Ron Ramsey (D-Lithonia) was appointed co-chair of the Georgia Vulnerable Adults Study Committee by Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle. This study committee, which will address the needs of Georgia’s vulnerable adult and elderly citizens, is a result of Sen. Ramsey’s Senate Resolution 57. Sen. Renee Unterman (R-Buford) was appointed [...]

ATLANTA (July 15, 2010) – Sen. Emanuel Jones (D-Decatur) will speak during the Closing Event of the Character Competencies Program (CCP) on Tuesday, July 20 in Atlanta.  Presented by the Global Peace Festival Foundation (GPFF) and Atlanta Workforce Development Agency (AWDA), the program is part of the Georgia Teenwork Program and represents a unique partnership [...]

By Sen. Emanuel Jones and Rep. Roberta Abdul-Salaam ATLANTA (July 15, 2010) – The future of Metro Atlanta’s economic vitality is on a perilous tipping point.  Already this year, Georgia has lost billions of dollars in federal funding for transportation while other states to our north and south received money to grow and strengthen their infrastructure.  [...]

ATLANTA (July 8, 2010) – Sen. Donzella James (D-College Park) invites all local residents, community leaders and businesses to attend her “People Speaks” forums next week.  Union City constituents will have the opportunity to meet with James on Tuesday July 13.   WHEN:           Tuesday, July 13                         7-9 p.m. WHERE:        Resurrection House for All Nations Church                         6605 Mall [...]

CHICKAMAUGA (July 6, 2010) – Senate Transportation Chairman Jeff Mullis (R-Chickamauga) will co-author legislation that will provide for greater enforcement of federal illegal immigration laws in Georgia.  Mullis will join fellow Georgia Senate GOP colleagues later this summer for the official announcement of the legislation. “The United States is a land of opportunity for all who [...]

ATLANTA (July 1, 2010) – State Sen. Jim Butterworth (R-Clarkesville) commended the Hart County Industrial Building Authority for winning two Economic Development, Growth and Expansion Grants (EDGE Grants) awarded by the OneGeorgia Authority. The Tenneco Automotive Operating Company, Inc. received a $1.4 million award and Ritz Instrument Transformers received a $200,000 award. “These awards are a [...]

ATLANTA (July 1, 2010) – State Sen. Donzella James (D-College Park) worked closely with Governor Sonny Perdue’s office to produce a $1.5 million grant for the expansion of Oakley Industrial Boulevard in South Fulton County.  South Fulton is one of eight Community Improvement Districts (CID) that will receive transportation funding from the Georgia Transportation Infrastructure [...]

ATLANTA (June 30, 2010) – Sen. Emanuel Jones (D-Decatur), chairman of the Georgia Legislative Black Caucus (GLBC), is announcing that the caucus will hold a town hall meeting in DeKalb County on Saturday, July 10.  The meeting will feature a wrap up of the 2010 Legislative Session, focusing on such hot topics as transportation, education, [...]