Here is a report on last week’s legislative action by state Rep. Ronnie Mabra:
“A couple of weeks ago, we successfully passed the amended fiscal year (also known as, AFY 2016) budget, or the mid-year adjustment of state spending through June 30, 2016. The amended budget, HB 750, is very similar to Gov. Deal’s recommendations, consisting of $1.1 billion, or 5.3 percent, in “new” funds, bringing the total appropriation for AFY 2016 to $22.9 billion with education and transportation funds accounting for approximately 85 percent of the new appropriations.
“As a result of the diligent work of the members of the House Appropriations Committee and the staff in the House Budget and Research Office, HB 750 passed the House Jan. 28 by a vote of 176-0. We also celebrated Georgia National Guard Day in honor of our brave Georgians in uniform.
“Members of the Georgia National Guard were recognized on the House floor and presented with House Resolution 1007. It was an honor to have Adjutant General Joe Jarrard and members of the Georgia National Guard with us in the House, where we were also privileged to witness a new member of the Georgia National Guard be sworn into the Army National Guard. These soldiers embody the true meaning of patriotism, and I cannot thank them enough for their service to our state and to our country.
“As of last Wednesday, we have made it halfway to Crossover day. Sine die is expected to be March 24 and we still have a lot of work to do.
“On Thursday, it gave me great pleasure to introduce Dr. Creflo Dollar to the House Chambers as Chaplain of the Day. Chaplain of the Day is a great honor where a visiting Chaplain offers the opening prayer. The use of the opening prayer is a longstanding tradition at the federal level and Georgia has continued the tradition and procedure to signify the start of each legislative day. Dr. Creflo Dollar blessed the Chamber with a prayer in the House while his wife, Pastor Taffi Dollar, blessed the Chamber as Chaplain of the Day in the Senate. The Dollars made history Thursday, as the first pastoral couple to be the Chaplain of the Day in both the House and Senate Chambers on the same day and at the same time.
“As the 2016 legislative session moves into its fifth week, committees will be meeting more frequently to discuss many more pieces of legislation. I am currently serving on the Code Revision, Governmental Affairs, Higher Education and Judiciary committees, and I would love to hear your input on any bills that come before these committees or before the House for a vote. Your comments help guide my decisions on Capitol Hill, and I encourage you to call my office at the State Capitol in Atlanta at 404-656-7859 to share your thoughts.”
