The Georgia General Assembly kicked off the 2019-2020 session last Monday, January 14 and it looks like it will be a very interesting session. The first order of business was to swear in all members and to elect officers. No matter how often it happens, it is always an overwhelming and humbling experience to take the oath of office. It’s a tremendous honor and responsibility, and I’m grateful every day for the opportunity to represent you.
There were no changes in officers as Rep. David Ralston was was once again elected Speaker of the House and Rep. Jan Jones will continue as our Speaker Pro Tem. After their election, we passed a basic rules package which will govern the House during this Session. We then adjourned until 2 PM and reconvened for the inauguration of Georgia’s 83rd Governor Brian Kemp.
The Governors swearing in ceremony was held on the campus of Georgia Tech and it was a great occasion. I was honored to have been chosen to serve on the Governor’s Committee of Escort, and I’m looking forward to helping with his agenda by continuing to serve as his Floor Leader in the House. There’s a lot of work to be done, but fortunately our state is in great shape thanks to the guidance and leadership of Governor Nathan Deal. He has been a phenomenal leader and all Georgians owe both he and Mrs. Deal a debt of gratitude for their hard work and many accomplishments. In my opinion, he will rank as one of Georgia’s greatest Governors.
Probably the biggest highlight of the week was the Governor’s State of the State speech on Thursday. Governor Kemp outlined his proposals for the coming year and has already established a great working relationship with the legislature. Among his proposals were pay hikes for teachers and state employees, eliminating bureaucracy and regulations which hurt all Georgia businesses, and increasing the budget to provide funds on the local level for school safety and better mental health screening.
Governor Kemp, in conjunction with Attorney General Chris Carr will also lead a strong crackdown on gangs in Georgia and the human trafficking problem. In addition, rural Georgia will be one of his top priorities. He will work closely with the legislature to improve workforce development, better internet service, and to explore new options for healthcare improvement.
It’s an aggressive agenda, but it almost mirrors the legislature’s, so I’m very hopeful that this year’s Session will be extremely productive.
This week is appropriations week and as a member of that committee, I’ll be in Atlanta looking at the budget. In next week’s column we’ll take a closer look at the numbers and examine the impact it will have on the state as a whole, and also specifically how it may impact our area and all of Northeast Georgia.
You humble me by allowing me to represent you. As always, you are my top priority. If I can ever help with an issue or answer any questions please don’t hesitate to get in touch. I can be reached at 404-651-7737 or by email at [email protected]. Better yet, if you’re in Atlanta, drop by and visit our office at the Capital in room109! Thank you for allowing me to be your Representative!
About the author: Representative Terry Rogers represents the citizens of District 10, which includes portions of Habersham and White counties. He was elected into the House of Representatives in 2011 and currently serves as the Governor’s Floor Leader and the Vice Chairman of the Economic Development & Tourism and State Planning & Community Affairs committees. He also serves as Vice Chairman of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Public Safety and the Defense & Veterans Affairs, Regulated Industries, Human Relations & Aging, and Rules committees.
