The activity here at the Capitol

has definitely picked up. Committees have begun work on legislation and

[this] week we should see some significant bills come to the Senate floor

for debate.

Of those bills most likely

see Senate action [this] week, Senate bills 50 and 53 are the most significant.

SB 50 is the Georgia Consumer

Choice of Benefits Health Insurance Plan Act, a bill I authored. This

would allow insurance companies to offer insurance plans to small businesses

and individuals, giving them the freedom to choose their benefits.

The bill does not get rid of

any mandates, but instead allows the opportunity to choose which benefits

you wish to have in your insurance plan. This will allow for lower, more

affordable premiums that will help more people access health insurance.

Senate Bill 53, sponsored by

Sen. Cheeks, addresses the issues with the Georgia Fair Lending Act. The

Act, passed last session, has caused more than 20 lenders to leave the

state. Many people have been unable to close loans or get equity out of

their homes due to these lenders refusing to do business in the state.

While I support dealing harshly

with predatory lenders, the act passed last year went too far and has

hurt the people it was intended to help.

Both SB 50 and SB 53 should

provide for some lively debate [this] week on the Senate floor, but action

will not be limited to floor action.

The Senate Reapportionment

and Redistricting Committee will take up Senate Bill 91, which establishes

principles to be adhered to when drawing district maps. SB 91 would require

districts be as compact as possible, recognize county, city and precinct

lines and would take out political information as a part of the process.

[Last] week was full of appropriation

subcommittee meetings. We are still working to find cuts in our state

budget that make sense. We are looking at as much information as we can

digest on state spending, reserve funds and programs.

I have been focusing my efforts

on healthcare, including Medicare. Working with consultants along with

House and Senate colleagues we have identified between $50 million and

$75 million savings from restructuring plans and additional insurance

options for state employees. We will continue to work to save the taxpayers'

money.

It has been very busy here

at the Capitol and it will get even busier, but your comments are most

important to me. Please feel free to call my office at 404-656-6446 or

e-mail me at GaSenate28

@aol.com.