Senator Jim Whitehead Sr. We are in the home stretch with only six legislative days remaining in the 2006 legislative session. The hours are getting late and our concentration has now shifted mostly to House bills, while at the same trying to ensure that our legislation passes out of the House to go to the Governor's desk. As one might imagine, this involves a lot of running back and forth from the Senate floor to the House floor, and from office to office. I am quite pleased to say that he biggest news last week concerned job creation in our State.

Last week, Governor Sonny Perdue announced Kia Motor Corporation's plans to build a new assembly plant in the City of West Point. The company will invest $1.2 billion in the State in a deal that will create as many as 5,500 new jobs. I had hoped the Kia deal would bring a new manufacturing plant closer to our district, but this is still a huge victory for our State. In the long run, any job creation is great for us and the Kia plant is going to bring over 5,000 new jobs to Georgia.

Kia Motors will invest $1.2 billion in the state of Georgia. The new manufacturing plant will be built on a 2,200-acre site, and it will produce two Kia vehicles. The site will also include an engine plant, a paint shop, a training center, a welcome center and third-party contractors. Kia will employ about 2,893 people with average salaries of $50,000 per year plus benefits. Also, five supplier companies will locate nearby and will employ an estimated 2,600 workers. Needless to say, I am very happy to bring all of you this exciting news.

Legislation that we passed last week also aims to help senior citizens in our State. A resolution that will encourage seniors to relocate and move to Georgia passed the Senate this week, extending the income exclusions on income tax for those over age 62. Senate Resolution 1085 passed by a vote of 49-2. This constitutional amendment needed at least 38 votes for passage. This is the right decision. We lose a lot of people, particularly retirement age individuals, who are moving out of our state. They are selling their homes and businesses and moving to Florida or other states in which they are not penalized for their personal income. If the House passes the constitutional amendment, it will be on the ballot in November to be approved by a majority of Georgia voters.

Finally, on a personal note, last week I presented Senate Resolution 843 to the family of Army Specialist Joseph Alan Lucas, Sr. He was fatally wounded, giving his life in defense of freedom and the liberation of the citizens of Iraq while serving with an armored squadron of the 3rd Infantry Division in Balad, approximately 40 miles north of Baghdad. Col. Bill Hitchins, Commissioner of the Department of Public Safety, presented an Honorary Trooper Award to SPC Lucas, which his wife, Heather, accepted on his behalf. It is our duty as legislators to honor those who serve, and I was happy to be a part of this special award. We have many more issues ahead of us and as always so please feel free to call me with your opinions or suggestions. Until next week...

Sen. Jim Whitehead, Sr. represents the 24th Senate District, which includes all or parts of Columbia, Elbert, Glascock, Lincoln, McDuffie, Warren and Wilkes Counties. He can be reached at 404.656.5114.