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Last modified: 01/14/06
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Press Releases 2004
February 12, 2004: Sudden Change February 27, 2004: Defense of Marriage March 4, 2004: Update as of Day 29 March 25, 2004: By the Numbers April 1, 1004: Mischaracterization and Misrepresentation April 15, 2004: Press Release by Jeff Brown’s Legislative Aide April 22, 2004: Representative Jeff Brown to Seek Reelection
January 14, 2004
Typically, in the first week of a legislative session, very little happens as measured by votes. However, by other measures, the 2004 session got off to a good start. Scores of new bills were introduced, and hundreds of carry over bills from last session are being postured by advocates and opponents for committee action.
There were a number of activities that I participated in that get little or no press coverage but which influence how state government can or could affect you. In no particular order, I had a conversation with Lonice Barrett, who is the Commissioner of the Department of Natural Resources (DNR), about the deer population, which I believe has reached a very dangerous level. The commissioner has heard others voicing the same opinion. He indicated that DNR will be addressing this problem in the days ahead. I’ll keep you informed.
Governor Perdue brought in John Maxwell to address department heads and legislators. John is an expert on leadership who has written a number of books, probably the best of which is the 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership. Last year, the Governor brought in Steven Covey to talk with us on the same subject. He is well known as the author of The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People. It is obvious that Governor Perdue is attempting to elevate our leadership skills. As John Maxwell says, “An organization can not rise above the level of its leader.”
Another meeting that I attended, in which I happened to be the only legislator, was at the Department of Transportation where they’re reviewing plans to widen Interstate 85 from Rt 34 Bullsboro Blvd. in Newnan south to the Rt 109 exit in LaGrange. The first half of this is tentatively scheduled for 2005, and the southern portion of it, which brings it into Troup County, is scheduled for approximately 2007. As a frequent user of that section of interstate, I think that widening will very much be needed by the time construction is finished.
The governor’s chief of staff called, and I had a one on one with him to discuss some of my earlier recommendations in regard to reducing the cost of Medicaid. Its very gratifying to see the governor evaluating such. I think he clearly understands that we have a real problem with Medicaid but that there are ways to save money without cutting providers while improving healthcare outcomes as I have long advocated.
When our session is over Friday at about 11:30, the Republican House Caucus will reconvene at the Marietta Conference Center. We will be there through noon on Saturday to hear a number of speakers, including former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich and Governor Perdue.
The House Republican Caucus this week announced six key legislative policy initiatives that we will attempt to pass this session. The one that has generated the most comments is a bill to replace property taxes with a sales tax to fund local school budgets.
During the legislative session I can be reached at 404.656.0177. Or email me anytime at jbrown@legis.state.ga.us. My website, created earlier when I ran for Minority leader, will be continuously updated throughout the session. We have several openings for pages during the session. Call my legislative office for information.
January 29, 2004
Last week, I appeared on LaGrange’s TV33 expecting to give a 2004 legislative overview, but taxes dominated the call-ins. People are dissatisfied with the amount of taxes they pay; especially local taxes.
Our tax system is increasingly burdensome as a result of some fiscal irresponsibility but mostly because of ever growing government at all levels. While some tax increases often create a public outcry, some like property taxes, can be subtly increased. Tax assessors are required to periodically re-asses property values, and this usually increases the appraised value of the property, so the result is higher taxes without a millage increase.
Low-income senior citizens are especially vulnerable to property tax increases. In Troup County, there is a $10,000 exemption for this group of tax payers, but some counties do more.
This homestead exemption, which helps all of us, increased steadily for three years from fiscal year 2001-2003. However, because of state revenue shortfalls, Governor Perdue’s 2005 budget holds the exemption at its 2003 rate of $8,000. Some counties have enacted varying forms of property tax freezes. Senator Lee prefers to pass statewide legislation, calling for a property tax freeze to accomplish this. Personally, I feel our local officials should vote for some type of relief and ask us to introduce it as local legislation, which would easily pass, as the counties just referenced have done.
Unfortunately, the Federal government and the state governments have a long history of creating unfunded mandates for cities, counties, and school boards. Nonetheless, there is much every level of government can do to be more efficient. I think its time to ask tough questions of all elected officials who have taxing authority. There are hundreds of questions we should be asking about all government expenditures; starting with the most basic which is does government really need to provide this service?
To me the most egregious thing we are doing with taxes is cutting federal rates, which by the way I support, but substantially increasing the size of federal government which I do not support. While Congress passed a balanced budget act years ago, as evidenced by a $500,000,000,000 deficit this year, this has been totally ignored. Most states, California very belatedly will vote on one soon, local governments and school boards, thank goodness, may not deficit spend.
As a conservative, I am for limited government, but as just referenced, many Republicans in Washington have abandoned that. Other conservative principles are lower taxes, more free enterprise, more personal responsibility and empowering the family. Guess what? When you abandon limited government as a principle de facto the other principles are neutered.
If you agree with me, rise up and demand the facts, challenge expenditures and if you do not like the answers, elect new people. If the calls I received on TV33 are any indication, this is underway.
If you would like to contact Representative Brown, please visit his website (www.repjbrown.org), call his office at the capitol (404-656-0177), or email him (jbrown@legis.state.ga.us).
February 12, 2004
The first fifteen days of the 2004 legislative session were been slow and uneventful. However, that all changed when late Tuesday a three federal judge panel unanimously ruled that the maps that the legislature had passed for State House and State Senate Districts were unconstitutional (the congressional districts were approved) and the State was enjoined from using these maps in the upcoming election. A quote from that 91 page ruling, which is available on www.thinkmajority.com, is telling: “where a state’s reapportionment intrudes upon the fundamental right to vote for what can be characterized only as discriminatory and arbitrary reasons it is our duty to step in.”
The Courts have given the legislature until March 1st to redraw maps. This is very doable, and as a matter of fact the Senate has already passed a Senate map and there’s a House map in the House Reapportionment Committee, but politics may prevent this from happening. If so, the Court will draw the maps.
If you watch police shows, you’ve heard people being read their Maranda Rights, which in essence, says anything that you say may be held against you and used in a court of law. Anything a legislator says about redistricting could be used by the Courts as they look at new maps and such comments were presented as testimony in the prior proceedings. While there is a lot that I would like to say given the above I will not. However, a number of my prior weekly press releases contain numerous negative comments about the maps that were just rejected, (see www.repbrown.org.). Let it suffice to say, I feel vindicated by the judges’ ruling.
At the beginning of the Session I said that if we did nothing but pass a budget and pass tort reform we would have a successful Session. Now we need to add redistricting to that list.
In regard to tort reform (also called civil justice reform or Patient’s Access Protection Act) several bills sit in the Senate and House Judiciary Committees. Only attorneys serve on these committees and some of them oppose many if not all the ways to improve civil justice. H.B. 1472 was just filed and contains a number of these proposed changes. Go to www.legis.state.ga.us to view this bill.
Many constituents are pleading for mercy, in regard to budget cutting in their area of interest. No group has screamed louder than democratic legislators. Please remember one key thing: the Governor is required by law to present a balanced budget to the legislature within five days of the legislature convening. Further, an appropriations bill must start in the House. Since the House is controlled by the democrats and they also control the Appropriations Committee, they can recommend whatever budget they want. Therefore, you need to direct your concerns to the democrats in particular who serve on the Appropriations Committee, instead of blaming the Governor. It is no longer his budget.
If you would like to contact Representative Brown, please visit his website (www.repjbrown.org), call his office at the capitol (404-656-0177), or email him (jbrown@legis.state.ga.us).
February 19, 2004
Arrogance cost former Governor Barnes his election, so you would think House Democrats would have learned. However, this week as follows proved they have not.
The amended 2004 budget contained $100,000,000 of bonds, most of which were for projects in powerful Democrat Representatives’ districts, despite our budget crisis and that most of these projects are not on priority lists that each department researches and presents to the Governor and Legislature.
The Democrat controlled Reapportionment Committee, that did such a poor job drawing maps in 2002 that a three federal judge panel unanimously rejected them, just presented their new map. Despite 22 multi-member districts, a creation of the 2002 committee work, being the unfairest of all their work in 2002, they created 23 multi-member districts in their new effort in 2004.
We have a total of 76 Bills and Resolutions that have passed a House committee vote and are eligible to be voted upon by the House if they are put on the House calendar by the Rules Committee. Our Calendar for Thursday, which is a full day, is five bills, none of which are very controversial. What this inevitably does is create a backlog in those final 12 - 14 hour sessions. This inevitably results in the passage of some bad legislation because of the press for time.
Engrossment means that if a Bill is engrossed (requested by the author and voted for by a majority of the House) then there can be no amendments to the Bill. I have long contended that this preempts much of the legislative process. For about seven (7) years prior to the House Democrats changing the rules to make it easier to engross by going from 120 votes to 90 we were averaging less than 15 engrossed bills a year. In 2003, this went to 56 and already this year we are over 80!
Some Committee chairs in the House periodically block the democratic process by ignoring the clear will of the majority of the committee members by denying a vote on a bill placed in the committee for a decision. Examples include tort reform, child endangerment and Women’s Right to Know. This is most grievous in the Rules Committee where the Chairman and a handful of Democrats regularly block legislation from being voted on by the full Rules Committee despite the affected bills having passed a committee vote. Before 1997, we were able to discharge a bill from a committee where no vote was allowed by getting 91 of the 180 House members to vote in favor of the motion. This was raised to 120, further restricting democracy.
The above examples will change when the Republicans take over. As a proof statement, look what happened in the Senate when the Republicans took over last year.
Last call for pages. It’s a wonderful experience, but your child must be at least 12 years of age. Also, if you are coming to the Capitol for one of the many events that we have up here, please let me know before hand.
If you would like to contact Representative Brown, please visit his website (www.repjbrown.org), call his office at the Capitol (404) 656-0177, or email him (jbrown@legis.state.ga.us).
February 27, 2004
At 1:45 p.m. on Thursday the Rules Committee voted 24 yeas and 6 nays to pass Senate Resolution 595, which is known as the Defense of Marriage Amendment. This would put on the November ballot a proposed Constitutional Amendment that says Marriage is only the union of man and woman. After a four (4) hour debate, the vote on the House floor on Thursday was 117 for and 50 against. Since the Constitutional Amendment requires a 2/3 vote (120 of 180 members) the vote failed. However, a motion for reconsideration was made. If a majority on Monday vote for reconsideration then there will be another vote on Senate Resolution 595.
I voted for Senate Resolution 595 because I believe the historical and biblical definition of marriage is under attack. Secondly, I believe that the maintenance of the institution of marriage must be preserved, or a number of negative consequences will result. Thirdly, while the same wording is a law in Georgia now, having it as part of our Constitution affords a much better chance to preventing what is happening in Massachusetts and Hawaii, where judges are allowing gay marriages, and in areas such as San Francisco, where the locally elected mayor is allowing the same.
I would be remise if I didn’t admit that a major erosion of the institution of marriage is due to nearly 50% of heterosexual couples who marry, then making a mockery of their wedding vows by adultery and divorce of convenience. I will leave it to those who voted against SR 595 to offer their constituents their own reasons. However, here are the major objections. First, some disagree with my assessment as to the need to put it into the State Constitution to help prevent encroachment by judges. Second, some feel it is divisive, and I can’t disagree with that, but again, so is anything that is as consequential as this is. Also it is going to be divisive if you take no stand and allow the evolution which is increasingly permissive. Third, some feel that those voting for it are doing it for purely political reasons. Probably some are, but I can assure you I am not. Fourth, we heard a number of comments that we have more important things to do. I don’t think there is much of higher importance than maintaining the institution of marriage. Regardless, as I have regularly said we waste massive amounts of time, so the reality is this is not taking away from anything else that needs to be done. Finally, some have said that this is just the natural evolution of law, and cited removing segregation laws. Certainly there is a natural evolution of law, but that doesn’t mean it covers all things. Things like segregation, in my opinion, were dead wrong and should have been reversed years before they were. However, on the key issue of marriage I don’t feel such bedrock principles evolve.
If you would like to contact Representative Brown, please visit his website (www.repjbrown.org), call his office at the Capitol (404) 656-0177, or email him (jbrown@legis.state.ga.us).
March 4, 2004
We have now completed 29 of the 40 days of the 2004 Legislative Session. It is of great concern when I realize how few days we have left but so much still to do. The amended 2004 budget, 2005 budget, the Amendment for Defense of Marriage, tort reform, ten commandments, six bills in regards to education reform, faith based charities Constitutional Amendment, child endangerment, Hope scholarships, etc., have yet to be decided by the legislature.
An already difficult budget situation was compounded with very disappointing February tax revenue figures. This prompted the Governor to further reduce the revenue projection for the balance of the 04 budget, which ends June 30, 2004.
One legislative duty that probably will not be done by the Legislature is the redrawing and approval of the Senate and House maps. The House Democrat Leadership has exhausted every potential judicial remedy. Instead of producing constitutionally sound maps, they are going to let the judges do it, and since the most likely effect will be a loss of Democrat seats, they can say that the maps were not their’s, but the Judges. What an abdication of responsibility!
We have passed legislation to further enhance economic development in the state. Given the disappointing news of the Dixie, Dunson and Inflation Systems plants closings Troup County can certainly identify with the need for such. While there is much government is doing and yet more that should be doing, each of us needs to better prepare ourselves for a truly global economy. As I have written before, our preparation in math and sciences is deplorable. Instead of looking to the government and employers for better health insurance, we need to take better care of ourselves and start to provide for our own health insurance through Health Savings Accounts, etc. Instead of demanding that the government require employers to pay us more money, we need to be more productive to warrant higher compensation. This failing, we need to find better jobs for ourselves; remember over 94% of those eligible to work are working. There is no question that for the first time we are truly in a global economy and the short range effects have been very devastating to some.
The overwhelming endorsement of the 2003 state flag versus the Barnes flag prevented a mandate to the legislature to once again address the flag issue. Granted there was not a choice on the ballot for the Confederate Battle Flag (flag from 1956 - 2001) but there is no legal requirement for such. Legislators, by an overwhelming majority, decided to exclude it, and it is the legislature who decides such issues. Granted the “flaggers” are not happy, but I doubt anyone in the legislature is willing to reopen this issue. Unlike the bedrock principle in the issue of the Defense of Marriage resolution, it was time to move on, in regard to the flag, I find it pathetically amusing to listen to some calling the Republicans intolerant and hateful. John Watson, Governor Perdue’s Chief of Staff, said it well when he addressed a rally Monday of Baptists from all over the State, including a number from LaGrange, “just because two people have opposite views on a given issue does not make one tolerant and the other hateful.” I say to those who ask, “why the fuss,” despite many of them personally being against gay marriages, perhaps its time to spend a little of your time to understand that this is part of a massive evolution changing the value structure of this country. Once you have an understanding of this, perhaps you might agree it is time to draw a line in the sand and get involved in doing something about it.
If you would like to contact Representative Brown, please visit his website (www.repjbrown.org), call his office at the Capitol (404) 656-0177, or email him (jbrown@legis.state.ga.us).
Last week I incorrectly listed Inflation Systems as one of the local plant closings. My sincerest apologies for this mistake. I understand the anxiety that this caused which was obvious based on the calls I received. Again, my apologies.
In last week’s article I listed some things that each of us need to do to better prepare ourselves for a global economy. There is one key thing that I did not include, which is to buy products made in the United States. The Made in America movement that Milliken is so involved with is a step in the right direction, but leaves out a number of costing factors. Simplistically a full accounting must include where the raw materials come from, where the parts are made, where those parts are assembled, whether the profits accrue to a United States based company, and where you purchased the product since at least some monies accrue to the dealer, if it is in the United States. As an example if you were to buy a Japanese car in Mexico that had no raw materials, nor parts made in the United States and was not assembled here then the percent of monies accruing to our country would be zero. I know of no system that puts a percentage of the total price you pay that accrues to the United States and therefore creates jobs here, but I hope that we start to do something like that. Last summer I wrote an article about this which can be found on my web site: www.repjbrown.org, then click on issues. As the old Pogo cartoon says, “we found the enemy and it was us.”
When I wrote to you last week we had finished day 29. One week later as I write this we have completed day 30. The problem is the Senate and House Conferees have yet to resolve the amended 2004 budget. I find this particularly galling since one of the main hang ups is over “pork” projects for some of the most powerful people of both bodies. This is inexcusable! We cannot finish the 2005 budget until we know the final numbers for the 2004 budget. The net of this and other examples is that this has been the least productive first 30 days of a session I’ve been involved with in my ten (10) years. Perhaps this will change in the final ten (10) days of the session, but I doubt it.
As I dictate this article I hear the rumble of NASCAR cars outside my window. In conjunction with the Golden Corral 500 to be held at the Atlanta Motor Speed Way this Sunday we recognized NASCAR today, so they brought some of their cars, rigs and drivers here. This is a huge industry which has a great economic impact in Georgia. Personally, I look forward to being at the race on Sunday with my son. Ah the roar of the engines, the smell of fuel and 200,000 screaming fans!
By the time I write my article next week, the Judges will have finished the new maps. This will create absolute havoc! My prediction is that 50% of our members will not return which is almost twice the normal attrition. The primary reason will be the maps since the judges will not take into consideration incumbency. While I see some advantages of turnover, the complexity of state government requires experienced legislators or you wind up with the bureaucrats having too much power. I have started what we call a “discharge petition” to get SR 595 (the defense of Marriage Bill) back on the House Floor for a vote. If I can get 120 signatures, which is no small task given the intimidation the Democrats feel from their leadership, then regardless of what the Rules Committee decides, we’ll again have a vote on it.
If you would like to contact Representative Jeff Brown, please visit his website (www.repjbrown.org), call his office at the Capitol (404) 656-0177, or email him (jbrown@legis.state.ga.us).
March 18, 2004
On legislative days 31, 32 and 33, we voted on 111Bills (65 during a 14 hour session Wednesday), all of which passed. In my opinion some should not have passed. Some of the bills where I voted NAY are outlined below.
House Bill 1181 is the 2005 Budget, and the vote count was 106 for - 65 against - pretty much along party lines. In my opinion, the Democrat controlled House Appropriations Committee made significant changes to the Governor’s budget, many of which are financially irresponsible. Further as you have heard me talk about regularly, the budget process is very poor.
34 of us voted NAY on House Bill 1327, which has to do with racial profiling. There are already laws on the books for this. Further, this Bill requires that the officer who stops a vehicle, answer 10 questions, which is going to take time away from law enforcement. Most importantly, this could become grounds for throwing out cases based on solid evidence just because of a clerical error. Finally, there are no guidelines to describe which percentage of pull-overs will constitute evidence of racial profiling. Interestingly the unfortunate incident in Columbus that prompted this Bill had nothing to do with racial profiling.
House Bill 1559 had to do with exempting the Sheriff, Clerk of Superior Court, Judge of Probate Court, and Tax Commissioner from basically being at the table discussing delivery of services that takes place between cities and counties. This is a complicated issue but I believe one that needs some in-depth long term study. People are over-taxed and duplication of services is one of the reasons. Please remember that the Troup County Commissioners raised the millage 25% in the present budget and that a significant portion of the county budget is for these four departments.
House Bill 1615 has the potential of negatively impacting streams and lakes south of Atlanta. There were some good amendments put on this Bill, nonetheless 61 of us felt that it was not worthy of a YEA vote.
House Bill 1372 has to do with increasing the compensation of probate judges. While we amended it from State mandated to local option, I found it very objectionable that we should give one group paid by tax payers a large increase while teachers who got nothing last year and may not even get 2% for a full year in the upcoming budget.
House Bill 1406 would require adopting a national educational core curriculum. The problem is there is no such curriculum, and it takes away State and local control.
House Bill 1123 requires publishing the contracts of school superintendents, which is already available. Duplication of laws is unnecessary; if anything we need fewer laws.
Now that we have a Republican Senate, there is an opportunity the above bills will be defeated in a Senate Committee or significantly modified by Committee and/or Senate floor amendments. Finally since we also have a Republican Governor a veto is possible. The point of this is that these NAY votes will have much more impact than they have in the past when the Senate and Governor were controlled by the Democrats.
As I predicted the maps the special master and expert appointed by three federal judges is creating an uproar given that 65 of our 180 House Members must run against each other.
If you would like to contact Representative Brown, please visit his website (www.repjbrown.org), call his office at the Capitol (404) 656-0177, or email him (jbrown@legis.state.ga.us).
March 25, 2004
Early in my career in personnel (now called human resources) a mentor gave me a sound piece of advice in regard to evaluating candidates for a job; “let the facts speak louder than the reasons given for the facts.” I’m going to devote a fair amount of this week’s article to giving you some facts so you can draw your own conclusions.
Through day 33 (Wednesday, March 17, 2004) the Senate passed approximately 200 Senate bills which excludes resolutions and local legislation while the House passed 251 House bills using the same exclusions. During the last four (4) legislative days (days 34-37) the House has voted on 24 bills of 148 Senate bills that have been passed by a House Committee while the Senate has voted on 71 of 248 such bills. I think the foregoing adds substance to charges by some Senators that the House is stalling.
Now let me go through a different set of numbers in regards to the House maps. You’ve probably read that the experts, hired by the three federal judges, have now come out with their third version which is probably the final version. This version has 77 split counties and 33 incumbents running against each other. The Barnes’ map, which was used in the latest election but was ruled unconstitutional, had 80 split counties and 47 incumbents (37 of them Republican) running against each other. Meanwhile, for the past four plus weeks the House Republicans have had a map that they presented to anyone who was interested and to the reapportionment committee, which had 66 split counties and 24 incumbents running against each other. Again draw your own conclusions.
As the saying goes, “the devil is in the details.”
Earlier this week ABC had an interesting show entitled: “Lies, Myths and Downright Stupidity.” I would like to make nominations for each of those categories, based on recent events. The easiest pick for lies is Richard Clark’s book entitled: Against All Enemies: Inside America’s War on Terror. For Myths, I present Bill Kennedy’s comment in a recent article in the LaGrange Daily News, “When all the data is considered, the only conclusion possible is that George Bush will lose.” I contend that the truth is that none of us really know what is going to happen eight months from now. In this increasingly global economy with instantaneous communications and events happening at a much faster rate, an analysis of the past to predict this election is not a very sound basis on which to draw such a conclusion. Perhaps it’s wishful thinking.
For Downright Stupidity I feel that those who are clamoring about the loss of jobs, but at the same time are buying expensive products, such as cars, made outside of the United States, are the hands-down winner for this category.
Let me present a second candidate for the most stupid, which is the jury in Alabama that awarded 11.9 Billion Dollars to the state of Alabama to be paid by Exxon Mobil. They awarded 63 Million in compensatory damages, which I would presume is a fairly realistic figure for what I further presume was a wrong act by this company. But to award 11.9 Billion is just another proof why we so desperately need Tort Reform in this country. Do these jurors and others like them not understand that if this award is upheld, the end result could be to put hundreds of people, some of them possibly at the LaGrange Exxon Mobil plant, out of jobs? Further most large companies are owned by thousands of investors, many through mutual funds used for retirement. Therefore these people, through no fault of their own, are hurt financially. What do the Jurors really think they are proving?
The 38th day of the 40 day Session will be next Wednesday, March 31st.
If you would like to contact Representative Brown, please visit his website (www.repjbrown.org), call his office at the Capitol (404) 656-0177, or email him (jbrown@legis.state.ga.us).
MISCHARACTERIZATION & MISREPRESENTATION April 1, 2004
During the two hour debate on Senate Resolution 595, dubbed the Defense of Marriage Bill, a number of representatives spoke for and against it. One I found to be particularly offensive and a massive misrepresentation of the 122 of us who wound up voting for this Resolution. In her five (5) minute speech Rep. Kathy Ashe used some of the following words to describe those of us who were preparing to vote for this: we were doing it for political gain, we were being intolerant and she called us cowards. Further, she claimed that we were going to use this as a score card when we run candidates against people who voted against it. Yet another quote was that the lie of the true motivations is now being exposed. Finally she said we don’t really care about homosexuals and mentioned violence and condemnation.
I personally know many of the 162 representatives and senators who voted for this amendment. Quite frankly, none of the misrepresentations of Rep. Ashe are appropriate to describe why they so voted. For me, this amendment was one of core values. It comes from my understanding of what the Bible says about this and I was guided in prayer. Now I understand down through history we’ve had people reading the same verses and coming up with a very different interpretation while others pray and get an answer very different than someone else who prayed about the same situation. Nonetheless, I must be guided as I feel lead. Meanwhile I don’t condemn those who have a different interpretation or different answer to prayer.
Within several hours of this vote I was watching the NBC Channel 11 News. In that brief approximate three (3) minute “report” on our vote, which was the lead story, Duffy Dixon had a number of incorrect or opinionated comments. She started her comments by saying that the House had voted to amend the Constitution. WRONG. What we voted for was to put this on the November ballot so that the voters of Georgia can decide whether it becomes a part of our Constitution. BIG DIFFERENCE. Next she talked about how much this was going to cost the tax payers because it would necessitate a special session. WRONG. This issue has absolutely nothing to do with whether or not we go into a special session. If we go into a special session it is because the House and Senate Conferees can’t agree on the budget.
Duffy then rapped up her “report” by interviewing a lesbian legislator and a homosexual couple. Why not interview somebody from the 70+% of our population who favor such an opportunity to vote and/or one of the 162 legislators who voted for this Resolution?
I submit that this is another classic example of media misrepresentation that goes on all the time. Remember they are to be reporting the news. If you are reading this column, it is not being reported as news, but instead is on the editorial/opinion page of the paper. Al Franken, Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity, Alan Colmes, etc. aren’t reporting news, but instead they are observing the news and commenting on it from their liberal or conservative bias. BIG DIFFERENCE.
I have a nephew who used to be a video journalist for CNN. The “reporter” would tell him what excerpts of a 30 – 60 minute talk or event to use for the 30 – 40 seconds video segment supporting his or her story. Time and again my nephew would say that it was a total misrepresentation of the actual event.
If you would like to contact Representative Brown, please visit his website (www.repjbrown.org), call his office at the Capitol (404) 656-0177, or email him (jbrown@legis.state.ga.us).
April 8, 2004
At 2:20 p.m. on Wednesday, April 7, 2004, I did a quick tally and found that we still had 23 agrees/disagrees left on the calendar, and that would build as we went further into the day. Both the House and the Senate must agree on a bill before it passes, and if either disagrees, a conference committee of three members of each chamber is appointed to reach a compromise. The conference committee, having reached a compromise, presents its report to both chambers for a final vote. We also had approximately six (6) Senate Bills that were on the original calendar for the day, and by the way this would be supplemented with ten (10) more later at 6:00 p.m. that evening. Also bear in mind that we started session an hour earlier at 9:00 a.m., but had already recessed for over two (2) hours by 6:00 p.m. They say in sports, don’t burn your time outs early because you will often need them at the end of the game. We certainly needed them, but we had already burned them.
At 9:10 p.m., we voted on a conference committee report on the Hope Scholarship. This was one of our better accomplishments of the Session.
At 9:45 p.m., after needless parliamentary rangling that took 30 minutes, we approved a bill that, had it not passed, could have resulted in increases of upward of 100% for employers in regard to workmen’s compensation. Another good accomplishment of the Session.
At 10:30 p.m., I got a dirty look from the Speaker because I questioned why we would want to add a Constitutional Amendment vote on the November Ballot to require law enforcement to stop, board, or inspect recreational boats only with probable cause. It is ridiculous to use our State Constitution to further some legislator’s private agenda rather than creating a law where this issue belongs. Clearly the message from the Speaker and the whole tenor of the evening was increasingly no questions, just vote. Sad, sad comment.
At 11:00 p.m., we started the debate on the conference report on the 2005 budget, which most of us didn’t even have on our desks. After only five (5) questions, it passed by a vote of 155 to 15. I was one of the 15 NAY votes.
A few minutes before midnight, somebody ran down the aisle to give the Clerk the conference report on the Education Bill which we desperately needed or our local systems would have had to spend millions to comply with smaller class sizes. This bill also had many other provisions. According to my watch, at 12:02 p.m. we approved it. Someone could make the point that the time made the vote illegal because our Session had to be over at midnight. Thankful the 2004 Session then ended.
At about 1:00 a.m., while I was at a Republican House Caucus Session party, I learned that the Governor had announced that we would be coming back into a Special Session because we passed an unbalanced budget, which is against state law.
In a later article, I will give a wrap up to the Session, which had some highlights but certainly far far too many low lights. The people of Georgia deserve much better, and, from my biased stand point, should get it if we return in January with the Republicans still in control of the Senate, and for the first time in 130 +years, the Republicans controlling the House.
If you would like to contact Representative Brown in the off-session, please visit his website (www.repjbrown.org), call his office (706) 884-3232 ext. 203, or email him at (jbrown@legis.state.ga.us).
Press Release by Jeff Brown’s Legislative AideApril 15, 2004
It has been my privilege to assist Representative Jeff Brown these last four years as his legislative aide in the Georgia General Assembly. At the same time, I have been a student at Emory University. My academic experience has mainly focused on comparative politics and the European Union. These four years with the state legislature however have given me a particular interest in legislative politics and especially southern politics. This experience also has provided a unique perspective of our state government.
I have learned that there is a particular finesse to government in Georgia that is uniquely southern. One moment, two legislators are battling against each other on the floor of the house over some piece of legislation, and the next minute they are walking out of the capitol together discussing baseball. Most legislation that passes through the Assembly is not contentious, and usually passes with a bipartisan vote.
I have learned that any political system has its problems that detract from the good that it accomplishes. There still remain some relics of the old southern Democratic Party machine who control legislation in the House of Representatives. Certain members have the power to hold a bill in committee, refusing to allow a vote on it at all. Countless bills, good or bad, die without letting a majority decide on the merits of the legislation. However politically motivated, this authority is undemocratic. The assembly can only vote on what is provided for them by the Rules Committee, and this explains why the Defense of Marriage amendment was given much attention, and tort reform little.
I have learned that there are certain ironies of politics. A minister is invited to give an address to the Assembly at the start of each legislative day. This tradition extends back to the founding of our state government when officials affirmed their faith in God most notably in the Constitution. It is ironic that these same legislators who must first listen to a minister preach then go on to unabashedly remove religion from our schools or refuse to privilege faith-based programs providing much needed services in communities.
But I have also learned that most Georgia legislators like Representative Brown have a genuine interest in the future of Georgia, and who insist on the best legislation possible. Legislators tend to specialize in policy fields, and provide leadership in those areas. The two-party system in Georgia may create more contentious politics, but it should also create better policy through debate, rather than one party simply dictating policy.
I encourage you to contact your legislators when you have interests in some legislation. Representative Brown carefully considers any information he receives on legislation from his constituents before voting. I also recommend contacting his office during the session if you have a child 12 years or older who would like to page in the House. This is a wonderful experience for children to meet their legislators and to participate in the legislature for a day.
My experiences at Emory University culminate in an honors thesis on the court system of the European Union, and I will graduate in May. Using my experiences in state politics and my education, I will move on to national politics in Washington, DC. But my time in the state legislature is certainly the highlight of these last four years. (Elizabeth Montgomery, a 2000 graduate of LaGrange High School, is a senior at Emory University studying political science and history.)
Representative Jeff Brown to Seek Reelection April 22, 2004
Representative Jeff Brown (R) LaGrange announced today that he will seek reelection to the Georgia House of Representatives representing District 69. 20,643 citizens from Troup (Armory, East Vernon, Hollis Hand, Long Cane, Mclendon, and Northside precincts), 9,449 from Heard (Centralhatchee, Cooksville-Corinth, Ephesus, Franklin, Glenloch, Roosterville, Southwest, and Walnut Hill precincts), and 15,209 from Carroll Counties (Bowdon, Burwell, Lowell, Oak Grove, Old Camp, Roopville, and Tyus precincts) make up this district.
Brown was first elected to the House is 1994 when he defeated a five term incumbent Democrat. Prior to that, he was the first Republican elected to the LaGrange City Council in 1990.
Brown serves as Republican Chairman of the Health and Human Services Committee and is also on the Public Utilities and Telecommunications and Human Relations and Aging Committees. He is a Team Leader for the Republican House Policy Caucus.
As a member of the Conservative Policy Caucus, he supports legislation that decreases the size of government, lowers taxes, empowers the family, supports free enterprise, and increases personal responsibility. Organizations such as Georgia Right to Life, National Federation of Independent Businesses, National Rifle Association, and the Georgia Chamber of Commerce repeatedly rate his voting record very highly.
Among other legislative initiatives next year, if elected, he will push for further property tax relief, increased financial stability of the HOPE Scholarship program, improved public education results with an emphasis on removing disruptive students, tort reform, economic development resulting in new jobs with above average income, and removing illegal immigrants.
With a good probability of the Republicans becoming the majority party in the House next year, Brown feels that he will be named a committee chairman. Regardless, he plans to continue to be a leader for a statewide water management plan and sponsor legislation to improve water quality, with both of these efforts positively impacting the Chattahoochee River and West Point Lake. Several environmental organizations have recognized Brown’s efforts with awards.
Another area of Brown’s focus has been healthcare. He chaired a task force to recommend Medicaid savings to the Governor, resulting in $500,000,000 of proposed savings. Also, he chaired a subcommittee looking at prescription drugs for low-income seniors. Reducing healthcare costs while improving outcomes and increasing personal responsibility for one’s health are among his ongoing priorities. The Medical Association of Georgia and the Georgia Hospital Association have awarded Brown’s involvement in healthcare issues.
Brown is President of Comprehensive Search, a human resources firm based in LaGrange with employees in 26 states and Canada. Prior to that, he was Business Manager for Milliken.
He is an Elder at the First Presbyterian Church in LaGrange. Present community involvement includes appointed member of the LaGrange Industrial Development Authority, High Tech Task Force, West Georgia Technical College Foundation, and West Point Lake Advisory Committee. Also, he is a member of Rotary International. Brown has a B.A. in Political Science and M.Ed. in Counseling.
Brown is married to Shirley Scott Brown, who is very involved in community activities. Also, she serves on the Board of Comprehensive Search and is President of Brown and Brown Properties. They have a son Greg who moved back to LaGrange in 2002, and is Manager of New Business Development for Comprehensive Search. Further, he is a Senior High Youth Fellowship Advisor at First Presbyterian, Vice President of the Troup County Young Republicans, and was recently appointed to Leadership Troup.
Brown says, “I believe two key responsibilities of a legislator beyond being his or her constituents’ representative are to communicate and to listen.” In regard to communicating, Brown writes a weekly column while the legislature is in session, regularly appears on radio and television, and is always available to the media. These articles are on his website at www.repjbrown.org. Additionally, white papers, links to other sites, etc. are there.
In regard to listening, Brown is available by email (jbrown@legis.state.ga.us), phone 706-884-3232 ext 203 (or when in session at 404-656-0177), and by mail (316 S. Lewis Street, LaGrange GA 30240 or 501 Legislative Office Building, Atlanta GA 30334). “I assure you that you will be heard and I will respond,” says Brown.
In conclusion, Brown says, “I want to represent all of the citizens of District 69 in the Georgia House of Representatives. The best indication of what I, or any other candidate, will do is what we have done in the past. I invite you to examine my record as an elected official for 14 years.”
For more information, contact Representative Jeff Brown at (706) 884-3232 ext 203.
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