I watched the sun set on 2021 from Sapelo Island, a treasure among Georgia's barrier islands, beautifully managed by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources. All Georgians are invited to visit--to camp, hike, volunteer for multiple research projects, or stay at the Reynolds mansion. All of Georgia's history can be seen and understood from Sapelo. |
|
DEKALB DELEGATION TOWN HALLS
Bring your questions and comments!
|
|
DeKalb House Chair Karla Drenner and DeKalb Senate Chair Emanuel Jones announce two upcoming DeKalb Delegation Joint Pre-Session Virtual Town Halls to listen to constituents' questions and legislative priorities for the Legislative Session, which begins Monday, January 10th, 2022.
Registration is required. Please plan to attend one of the town halls. Your legislative delegation wants to hear from you. What are your concerns for this Session?
Register HERE for Saturday, January 8th, 2022 at 9:30am
Register HERE for Tuesday, January 11, 2022 at 7:00pm
Submit Questions and Feedback: To help us prepare, please submit your questions and feedback about legislative priorities HERE. We also plan to also take questions and feedback from the audience as time allows.
|
|
MY LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES
|
|
Photo credit: Scott Bryant, Statesboro Herald |
|
This picture of Governor Kemp and former Senator Perdue encapsulates the predictable political distractions that will dominate the upcoming 2022 Session. We have many challenges and opportunities as we enter Year 3 of COVID. COVID protocols will be strict for the House and will impact your visits to the Capitol. We again will be taking COVID tests twice weekly, wearing masks, sitting at distance on the floor and in the gallery and in a hearing room, and operating without pages, interns, and personal aides. January infection rates will be high again without question.
What can we accomplish in this historic and unprecedented political year? The incumbent Governor will be fully involved in fighting for his political life from a credible challenger, and many House and Senate incumbents are running for statewide new offices. The money spent on 2022 campaigns will be unlimited given Georgia's national prominence--very unpredictable environment and results, but undoubtedly will be harsh and partisan.
Despite many challenges, I choose to be optimistic, and below I preview bipartisan legislation that I hope will make an actual difference to you and other Georgians.
Behavioral Health Commission Legislation
Throughout 2021 and continuing this week, I have worked in a bipartisan way with legislative colleagues and advocates to prepare legislation based on the recommendations of the Behavioral Health Commission. Under Speaker Ralston's leadership, a major comprehensive bill will be filed next week and legislators from both parties will have press conferences in the Capitol to announce details and budget support.
I am especially involved in sections of the bill addressing parity for mental health, requiring private insurers operating in Georgia to provide mental health coverage in accordance with the federal Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act. My subcommittee addresses workforce issues, and we plan for education debt reduction for providers going to underserved areas of Georgia. There also will be provisions to enhance crisis treatment for individuals coming out of jails or emergency evaluation facilities and additional mandatory data collection tasks. I look forward to doing all I can to help pass this bipartisan and comprehensive bill.
Development Authority Legislation
As I reported in my last newsletter, the Study Committee on Annexation and Cityhood completed its work and filed an extensive report. (You will find videos of all the committee meetings and the report HERE. ) Committee members will file legislation to implement its recommendations.
I support the committee findings and recommendations, and I will file additional separate legislation to address my ongoing concerns relating to Development Authorities not covered in the report. From last year, I will again pursue passage of HB 66, and my new proposals will expand transparency and accountability for Development Authorities and participation by local governments impacted by tax incentives and tax abatements. I issued a press release today summarizing my bills.
Please note that beginning this week I will be posting regularly on the Session activities, and invite your questions and comments.
Appropriations
If you have been my constituent for a while, you know I am a nerd about the numbers. As we begin the budget appropriations process for 2023, I'm looking at these issues:
- What has happened to the $800 million in Rescue Act money in the Governor's hands that has yet to be designated? What are the hold ups to distributing this money?
- What are the Governor's plans for using the $3 billion currently in the Georgia state reserves?
- Will we see rate increases for residential treatment centers serving children in foster care? On average, over 30 children in state custody are living in hotels with caseworkers because of a lack of treatment beds---a terrible daily fact of wasting money and failing to help children in extreme need.
GOVERNOR KEMP WILL GIVE HIS STATE OF THE STATE SPEECH AND RELEASE HIS BUDGET NEXT WEEK--JANUARY 13 IS NOW THE SCHEDULED DAY AND THE SPEECH WILL BE LIVE-STREAMED.
|
|
In January, I will appear in person or virtually at these events. Please contact me if you would like me to visit or speak with your group.
Thursday, Jan. 20, 7:30 p.m. LaVista Park Residents.
Sunday Jan. 23, 11:30 a.m. St. Luke's Episcopal Church Faith and Advocacy Network.
Sunday Jan. 30, 10:15 a.m. All Saints' Episcopal Church Under the Gold Dome, Jesus on the Front Page Sunday School Class.
Thursday, February 3, 6:00 p.m. Zoom with Glenn Memorial Methodist Church.
|
|
I'm always happy to be a guest of Bill Nigut on Political Rewind. On Monday, our panel discussed the political world in Georgia and beyond in 2022. You can listen HERE. Political Rewind airs daily at 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. on GPB Radio 88.5 FM. If you want to catch me on future shows, look for announcements on my Facebook page.
Student journalist Taylor Reimann at Fresh Take Georgia did this profile of my career. Taylor was professional, thorough, and courteous. I was honored she chose to write about me, and moreso when the article was picked up by other outlets. You can read it HERE.
|
|
Michelle Salandy, graduate student in bioethics at Emory University. |
|
I am always happy to have student interns from Emory University (which is in our district and from which I received my law degree). Let me introduce you to Michelle Salandy, who will be working with me this Session. Michelle plans to go to law school, and her interests include public health policy. We anticipate her involvement in my work on behavioral health, as well as other parts of my legislative duties. You may see Michelle with me from time to time at the Capitol. Welcome, Michelle!
By the way, my Chief of Staff Sydney Cleland and my Capitol office Assistant Olivia Sims are always ready to help you. Please use the contact information below.
|
|
NEW ATLANTA MAYOR ANDRÉ DICKENS |
|
I supported and endorsed new Atlanta Mayor André Dickens' run for office, and I enjoyed meeting him on several occasions. Other legislators and I had a chance to hear his plans at a luncheon after the election. He is energetic and wants to build trust. I'm hopeful and excited about his leadership and look forward to the General Assembly working with him. |
|
Top to Bottom L to R: A windswept beach walk; The R. J. Reynolds home, originally built by Thomas Spalding in 1810, restored by automotive pioneer and Sea Island developer Howard Coffin after his purchase in 1912, and again by tobacco heir Richard Reynolds in 1934. (For more: Reynolds Mansion); driftwood in dunes; algae-covered pond.
|
|
After spending several days there, I cannot say enough about Sapelo Island. Sapelo is a repository of Georgia history and natural beauty, available to all. From the Guale Native Americans through French, English, and Spanish settlers, through what used to be known as plantations reliant on the work of enslaved peoples, to a retreat for business tycoons, Sapelo has survived to tell many stories. It is also a birders' paradise. Your tax dollars sustain this island, which includes the Hog Hammock community of residents descended from enslaved peoples and the cutting-edge University of Georgia Marine Institute. I encourage you to check it out online and put it on your list of places to visit. |
|
You can search for and track bills, watch the House (or Senate) in Session, watch committee hearings, monitor legislation by committee, and find contact information —- all on the revamped General Assembly website. Here are quick links:
Make your views known. Write to the leaders:
|
|
Henry was done with 2021, especially after a big fun visit from his friend Gracie.
I hope you had a safe holiday and are looking forward to a better, brighter 2022. As always, I am here to serve you and want to hear from you. Please contact me or my staff with any questions or concerns.
|
|
|
|
Coverdell Legislative Office Building
18 Capitol Square, Suite 604
Atlanta, GA 30334
404-656-0265
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
