The state received just over

$400 million from the feds, which helped get the deficit more under control.

"We got $136 million back

in Medicare reimbursements and $279 million in federal flexible assistance,"

he said.

Still, the legislators are

going to sharpen their knives to make more cuts to the budget. Westmoreland

still believes teachers will get a raise this year, and he would like

to see the governor's education program move further.

Other issues he sees drawing

interest this year is tort reform and on a local level, golf carts. "I'm

going to propose legislation Monday that explains what a golf cart pathway

is, and what a roadway is," he said. "That will enable cities

like Peachtree City to set age and other requirements for who can travel

on the paths."

But there is one issue that

could throw the whole session into an uproar. A lawsuit got underway yesterday

in the courts brought by the state Republican Party, challenging the redistricting

after the 2000 Census. That gerrymandering is responsible for the awkward

legislative map that serves Fayette County today.

"If they decide our way,

we also might be doing some redrawing of lines," Westmoreland said.

WHO REPRESENTS FAYETTE

Fayette County is in the 17th,

18th and 24th State Senate Districts, and the 48th, 85th and 86th State

House Districts.

State Senate

17th District

MIKE D. CROTTS

Phone: 404-656-0071

E-Mail: [email protected]

28th District

Mitch Seabaugh

Phone: 404-656-6446

Fax: 404-657-3217

E-Mail: [email protected]

OR

P.O. Box 504

Sharpsburg, GA 30277

Phone: 770-304-0652

34th District

Valencia Seay

Phone: 404-656-0109

State House

48th District Post 1

Bob Holmes

Phone: 404-755-9528

48th District Post 2

Sharon Beasley-Teague

Phone: 404-656-0188

Fax: 404-651-8086

E-Mail: [email protected]

48th District Post 4

Virgil Fludd, Virgil (D-SH

048 P4)

48th House District Post 3

Heckstall, Joe (D-SH 048 P3)