Much has happened over the past two weeks in the Georgia legislature. Last week, both the Senate and the House took a week-long recess for spring break, giving everyone a chance to spend time with their families and prepare for the end of session. It was announced last week that the 2007 session will finally adjourn next Friday, April 20. Stay tuned to the news coming out of the General Assembly, as the pace will quickly escalate as members work hard to see their bills passed before the 40th legislative day.

First, let me bring you up to speed on the budget talks that have taken place in the last few weeks. Recently, members of the Senate voted to cut all "pork" out of the FY 07 amended budget and include only those items that are absolutely necessary. In a bipartisan spirit, members of the Senate rallied behind Lt. Governor Casey Cagle in the goal to fund only those items necessary - additional funding for Georgia's school systems and emergency spending needs, such as the PeachCare for Kids program, the counties damaged by the March 1 tornadoes and the public defender program.

Last week, a compromise was reached on the amended budget that will allow approximately $140 million to be returned to Georgia homeowners in the form of a $100 refund check or property tax credit. In adopting this budget, we are taking our state government in a positive new direction. Georgia's taxpayers are currently overburdened, and we need to do everything we can to return surplus revenues to the taxpayers once we've adequately funded the next year's budget and put money into the state reserves. In my mind, anytime we can refund money to the taxpayers of Georgia, we are doing what we were elected to do by the voters.

In other news, the Senate passed an important bill (HB 128) last week that will pave the way for Georgia's sixth sales tax holiday. As many of you know, the tax holiday allows consumers an exemption from both state and local taxes on personal purchases, such as school supplies, personal computers, accessories and clothing items with a sales price of $100 or less per item. This year, parents and teachers will again get a little help from the state with back-to-school preparation, while out-of-state shoppers will invest their dollars in our economy. Once again, the weekend will be a win-win for consumers and retailers alike. This year's back-toschool sales tax holiday begins at midnight on Thursday, August 2, and runs through midnight on Sunday, August 5, 2007. In addition, a sales tax holiday on energy efficient appliances will take place Thursday, October 4 through Sunday, October 7.

Please contact me in my office on the issues that are affecting you and your area.