Capitol Update from the Center for an Educated Georgia

From the Inbox: 

Legislative News

  

The Georgia General Assembly kicked off the 2010 legislative session and the House of Representatives elected a new Speaker of the House.

Representative David Ralston (R-Blue Ridge) was chosen to lead the chamber. Ralston was elected by a vote of 116-58 over Representative Calvin Smyre (D-Columbus). He assumes the position after former House Speaker Glenn Richardson resigned his post, effective January 1.

In other chamber elections, Representative Jan Jones (R-Milton) was elected House Speaker Pro Tempore.  Jones is the first woman to hold the position and replaces Representative Mark Burkhalter (R-Johns Creek).

In other news, Governor Sonny Perdue kicked of the Georgia Chamber of Commerce's annual "Eggs and Issues" breakfast on Tuesday with the announcement that he will pursue a pay-for-performance teacher pay measure this legislative session.  Currently, there is no bill language available for this proposal.

 

Bills to Watch

  

The following are education bills before the General Assembly that the policy staff at CEG are tracking. 

 

SB 90     Sen. Eric Johnson 

Would provide scholarships for current public school students to attend any school in the state, public or privateRecommitted to Senate Education and Youth Committee on 1/11/10

SB 137  Sen. Ed Harbison

Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children -- would remove possible barriers to educational success imposed on children of military families because of frequent moves and parental deployment through record sharing, attendence policy changes, etc. Recommitted to Senate Education and Youth Committee on 1/11/10

SB 307    Sen. Chip Rogers

Would provide for a "Teacher's Bill of Rights."Read and referred to Senate Education and Youth Committee on 1/13/10

HB 908   Rep. David Casas

Regarding public school systems, this bill would temporarily suspend laws are requirement relating to expenditure controls, minimun classroom expenditures, maximum class size, additional days of instruction, and salary schedules.Read second time by the House and referred to House Education Committee on 1/13/10

--

James A. Nichols IV

cell: (770) 312-6736

www.JimN2010.com

www.JimNichols4.com

 

"Nothing in the world can take the place of Persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent. The slogan 'Press On' has solved and always will solve the problems of the human race."     ---Calvin Coolidge (1872 - 1933)

 

"I have come to the conclusion that politics are too serious a matter to be left to the politicians."    Charles De Gaulle (1890 - 1970)

 

 

Posted via email from Jim Nichols