The 2020 Georgia General Assembly is in full swing! The Session is off to a fast start on many fronts affecting Georgia consumers.
We're very excited about legislation already or about to be introduced that will benefit consumers if passed. Read more about strong consumer protections on the way for Georgians below.
Introduced by Sen. Randy Robertson (R – Columbus),
Senate Bill 329 would close legal loopholes that currently allow car titles to be “pawned” at interest rates as high as 300 percent. We are grateful to Sen. Robertson for his leadership on this legislation to protect Georgians from harmful, predatory loans. See the press release
here.
With the support of Governor Kemp and legislative leaders, we are very optimistic that patients will soon be taken out of the middle of disputes between insurance companies and healthcare providers. Georgia Watch and our partners at Georgians for a Healthy Future have long advocated for a legislative solution that protects Georgia consumers. We expect legislators in the House and Senate to drop identical bills next week. All the key players are working diligently to finalize bill language to ensure the legislation becomes law this year.
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Georgia Watch will stay active at the Capitol protecting Georgia consumers and giving you a voice in critical policy debates right up until midnight on the final day! But our success depends on you. Please be on the lookout for action alerts from us throughout the session as we call on you to contact your legislators to amplify consumer concerns on the issues that matter most to you.
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Liz Coyle,
Executive Director
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SW Atlanta Wealth Building: Black Entrepreneurs in Clean Energy
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Georgia Watch is excited to be working with wealth building advocates and The Ke'nekt in Southwest Atlanta to host two community talks about opportunities for black entrepreneurs in clean energy! During the first meeting on January 29, Dana Clare Redden, CEO of
Solar Concierge, joined us to discuss what led her from interior design to a career in clean energy. She spoke about her challenges and successes as well as the emerging opportunities for entrepreneurs in solar energy in Georgia.
It's not too late to participate in this important community conversation. The next community meeting will be held on the
evening of February 19, featuring guest speaker
Cosco Jones of Jones Sustainable Solutions Group, LLC. Jones will discuss his experience as a black entrepreneur in energy efficiency, the importance of energy efficiency in struggling Atlanta communities, and pathways into the sector for interested entrepreneurs. Click the link below to learn more and RSVP today!
- Feb. 19, 6:30pm - 8pm | RSVP
If you would like to learn more about clean energy and how black entrepreneurs in Atlanta can leverage the opportunities in this growing space, join us at The Ke'nekt on Feb. 19!
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Take Action: Submit Comments About Georgia's Medicaid Plan
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Georgia’s Governor recently announced a Medicaid plan that will do little to close Georgia's coverage gap, leaving thousands of low-income Georgians uninsured with no way to access needed healthcare.
While adults with incomes below the poverty line (about $12,000 a year for an individual or $26,000 for a family of four) would be able to enroll in Medicaid, the plan prevents most from getting covered and makes it hard for others to keep their coverage. The barriers to coverage include paperwork to report hours at work, school or volunteering, paying premiums to the government, and more complicated provisions that have failed in other states. Georgians who cannot meet these requirements—like full-time parents and caregivers, people who are experiencing homelessness, those with limited access to the internet, and others—will remain uninsured.
What can you do?
Health officials are asking for
comments from Georgians about the Governor's Medicaid plan. This is your chance to say how this plan will affect you, your loved ones, and Georgians across the state.
The deadline for comments is Friday, February 7th. Visit
CoverGA.org to comment today!
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Atlanta magazine recognizes Liz Coyle
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This month, Atlanta magazine released its special publication,
The Atlanta 500. The annual publication, which debuted last year, highlights "the city's most powerful, influential, and impactful people," across all industries from banking and law to education and healthcare.
"We are very excited that our Executive Director is being recognized for the second year in a row as one of Atlanta's top leaders in advocacy," said Georgia Watch Board of Directors Chair, Martha Wilber. "On behalf of the Board and Staff, we congratulate Liz on this achievement and look forward to a successful 2020.
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Georgia Watch
55 Marietta Street NW
Atlanta, Georgia 30303
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