News from the Georgia State Senate

Last week, we spent our time in Senate committees moving bills through the legislative process. We are headed toward the halfway point in the 2007 legislative session, and the pace will become frenetic by the time we reach Day 20. We also celebrated Family Day at the State Capitol on February 10, where Senators' families and members of the general public come to the Capitol to experience the legislative process in person.

Family Day 2007

At press time, we were preparing for the second installment of Family Day at the State Capitol. Family Day is a day chosen during the legislative session to convene on a Saturday morning. On this day, members of the General Assembly will bring their families to the Capitol to take part in the legislative process. Also, we invite members of the general public to visit either the Senate or the House Chamber to witness a day of session. All of this is done for a few reasons - to allow Senators and Representatives to show their loved ones what they actually do during the long hours of the legislative session, to educate the public on the legislative process and how a bill becomes a law, and most of all, for everyone to have a fun day at the Capitol. On Family Day 2007, the Senate will take up regular business, which is a change from the first Family Day in 2005. Besides learning about how a bill becomes law, Family Day 2007 also will feature the Secretary of State's copy of the U.S. Declaration of Independence. There will be displays from the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, classic cars from the Georgia State Patrol, the "Orange Crush" Humvee and an OH58 helicopter from the Georgia Department of Defense, snakes, owls and other birds from the Department of Natural Resources, displays from the Atlanta Fire Department, including fire trucks and a blow-up slide, and Georgia Tech's mascot "Buzz." It should be a great time for Georgia families to enjoy.

PeachCare for Kids

PeachCare for Kids is a comprehensive healthcare program for uninsured children in Georgia. The program provides health benefits that include primary, preventive, specialist, dental care and vision care. Currently, Georgia ranks fourth in the country in the number of enrolled children behind New York, California and Florida. PeachCare is Georgia's version of the State Children's Health Insurance Program or "SCHIP." Because of the formula used to calculate federal allotments to the state coupled with the unexpected success of many SCHIP programs, Georgia is in danger of facing a shortfall in federal funds, and could run out of PeachCare money in April or May 2007. Despite lobbying efforts by Governor Sonny Perdue and others, Georgia is facing a $57.8 million shortfall in federal funds for FY 07 (which ends June 30). In response to this issue, Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle has formed the PeachCare Task Force. The Task Force will be charged with developing a short list of options for the full Senate to consider in order to save the PeachCare program over the long term. Needless to say, we are doing everything possible to restore federal funding for the PeachCare program, because many children in Georgia depend on this program. Many of those enrolled in PeachCare are Georgia's neediest kids, and we cannot leave them without the proper healthcare treatment.

Senate Resolutions 88 and 89

This week in the Senate I introduced SR 88 and 89, which I co-sponsored with Sen. Jack Hill (RReidsville) to recognize Agent Howard Tyler and Officer Matthew Buehler for their awards from the Peace Officers Association. SR 88 commends Agent Tyler, senior manager and certified peace officer with the Alcohol and Tobacco Division of the Georgia Department of Revenue, who has recently been recognized by the Peace Officers Association of Georgia as Officer of the Year for Meritorious Service. SR 89 also offers commendation to Officer Buehler of the Marietta Police Department for his Officer of the Year for Valor award. I was extremely pleased to be able to honor these upstanding individuals in the Senate chamber, and thank them for their brave service to the state of Georgia. Remember to contact me in my office on the issues that are affecting you and your area.

Sen. Jim Whitehead, Sr., serves as Chairman of the Public Safety and Homeland Security Committee. He represents the 24th Senate District which includes Columbia, Glascock, Lincoln, McDuffie and Wilkes counties and portions of Elbert and Warren counties. He can be reached at 404.656.5114 or via e-mail at jim.whitehead@senate.ga.gov.