Resolution to Support Georgia’s Forests

WHEREAS the forest products industry in Georgia provides more than 115,000 jobs, supports more than $25 billion in annual economic activity, and supports more than 24 million acres of Georgia forestland.

WHEREAS the United States Green Building Council (USGBC) only recognizes building materials certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) for credit toward its Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification.

WHEREAS FSC certifies 0.1% of the productive forestland in Georgia, and a requirement for FSC certified materials would exclude 99.9% of the building materials produced from Georgia’s forests.

WHEREAS these Georgia produced building materials are renewable, sustainable, and many are certified by other programs which include, but are not limited to: Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) and American Tree Farm System.

WHEREAS Governor Deal issued an executive order in August 2012 which requires state projects to use only programs which recognize all product certification standards equally.

WHEREAS Governor Deal’s order does not apply to private projects and “school districts, municipalities, and counties”.

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Georgia Republican Party will actively discourage the use of LEED certification. All delegates to this convention are hereby charged to protect Georgia’s timber industry by going home and encouraging their local elected officials to follow Governor Deal’s lead. All local projects should recognize all timber certifications equally.

Resolution for Reform of Civil Forfeiture Reporting Laws in Georgia

WHEREAS, the US Constitution Bill of Rights prohibits unreasonable search and seizure in the 4th amendment; and,

WHEREAS, the Georgia Constitution states in Section1, Paragraph 1. Life, liberty, and property. No person shall be deprived of life, liberty, or property except by due process of law; and,

WHEREAS, Georgia’s civil forfeiture laws allow the taking of private property on the mere suspicion that the property may be connected with a crime, then places the legal burden on the owner of the property in any actions to recover; and,

WHEREAS, the Georgia GOP supports the rule of law, which protects private property rights of citizens; and,

WHEREAS, in 2010 Georgia law enforcement seized more personal property under civil forfeiture laws than any other states except Texas and California; and,

WHEREAS, in 2011, 147 of Georgia’s law enforcement agencies seized over $33 million worth of private property; and,

WHEREAS, this Party supports law enforcement officials in their duties, but recognizes that some abuse of authority exists when it is mostly unrestrained; and,

WHEREAS, civil forfeiture reporting requirements under current Georgia law are vague and not enforced.

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, by the Georgia Republican Party that the Georgia Legislature should reform civil forfeiture reporting laws by clarification and some means of outside enforcement.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT, a copy of this resolution is delivered to the Honorable Governor of Georgia Nathan Deal, House Speaker David Ralston and Lieutenant Governor Casey Cagle.

A Resolution in Support of American Law for Georgia Courts

WHEREAS, it is expected that the judicial branch of government will resolve legal disputes by review of the American body of law, to include the Constitution of the United States, the Constitution of the State of Georgia, federal, state and local law; and

WHEREAS, Supreme Court Justices Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Elena Kagan have opined that foreign law and decisions of foreign courts should have persuasive value when deciding cases in American courts and

WHEREAS, the Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court (John Roberts) responded to this judicial activist view by stating:

“If we’re relying on a decision from a German judge about what our Constitution means, no president accountable to the people appointed that judge and no Senate accountable to the people confirmed that judge…And yet he’s playing a role in shaping the law that binds the people in this country” and

WHEREAS, the Georgia Republican Party abhors the notion of activist judges using foreign legal sources to resolve disputes in American courts

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED by the Georgia Republican Party that the Georgia General Assembly and our Constitutional Officers take all necessary action to insure that courts in Georgia do not use foreign law in resolving cases, except international agreements to which the United States is a party.

[Editor's Note: the proper title to be used in the Third Clause is “Chief Justice of the United States.”]

A Resolution of the Georgia Republican Party in Support of the Armed Forces of the United States

WHEREAS, over 1.3 million American men and women have taken the oath and volunteered to serve in the Armed Forces of the United States; and

WHEREAS, thousands of the these men and women are serving in over 179 countries in the world; and

WHEREAS, they have placed themselves unselfishly in harm’s way to defend and protect the people of these United States.

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT: The members of the Georgia Republican Party express deep affection and support for those that serve in our Armed Forces around the world; and

THAT: we pray for God’s blessing and protection for them and their families.

Resolution Honoring Leadership of Sue Everhart

WHEREAS we find it fitting to honor individuals who have committed their lives to organizing and motivating Republicans in Cobb County, the State of Georgia, and beyond;

WHEREAS the Georgia Republican Party is very fortunate to have enjoyed exceptional leadership at the County and State level from one individual who has been tireless in upholding the principles of the Republican Party;

WHEREAS the influence and activity of the GOP grassroots has strengthened and expanded under her leadership;

WHEREAS, during her tenure Republicans were elected to every statewide constitutional office;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, the Georgia Republican Party hereby recognizes and commends Mrs. Sue Everhart for her 6 years of exceptionally meritorious service as the Chairman of the Georgia Republican Party.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

At the Cobb County Republican Party Breakfast, Congressman Bob Barr announced that Steve Forbes, one of the country’s foremost economic and financial experts and former Republican presidential candidate, will be in GA 11 on Tuesday 18 June, 2013 from 11:30am to 1:30pm at The City Club of Buckhead speaking on “The Economic Outlook for 2013 and Beyond” in support of Bob Barr for Congress.

For Information on This Event: Maggie Bohannon [email protected] 706.394.8893

For Additional Campaign Information: Jeff Breedlove [email protected] 404.543.6446

The head of the state’s banking regulatory commission is leaving to lead one of Georgia’s largest bankers groups.

Rob Braswell will take over as CEO of the Community Bankers Association later this month. In the state that leads the nation in bank failures, his appointment is the latest move to raise questions about the relationship between regulators and those they are charged with watching.

There is no rule or law that prevents the move, and some in the industry believe Braswell’s appointment could benefit consumers.

Tony Plath, a former banker who is a professor at the University of North Carolina-Charlotte, said “there is nothing wrong with it per se, but it’s just another indicator that points out the close relationship between regulators and the people they’re supposed to regulate.” He said the move is like the “fox being named head of the hen house security council.”

via Banking regulator to head bankers’ group | www.myajc.com.

Roswell’s recent vote on taxes to help fund its $101 million budget barely raised an eyebrow among most residents here because they won’t pay a penny more than last year.

But, critics in North Fulton’s second largest city contend the vote was nothing more than a tax hike in disguise because property taxes should have been lowered.

To some, it’s just semantics. To others, it’s about $1.7 million dollars that should have been rolled back to residents or, at least, discussed openly at public forums.

Mayor Jere Wood bristles at any charge of a tax hike, proclaiming the overall tax rate on property — or millage rate — has not increased in 10 years, and he doesn’t anticipate it going up anytime soon.

via Budget juggling act has some in Roswell crying foul | www.myajc.com.

Kasim Reed recently has become quite the active tweeter.It just takes him a while to string together those 140-character messages.

“I value writing, and I like the process of putting my thoughts together,” Reed said. “So it was difficult for me at first, and I was very dismissive of the forum. One hundred and forty characters was offensive to me. I didn’t like it, so I rejected the medium.”

A Howard University-trained attorney and writer, the Atlanta mayor has now fully embraced many forms of social media, including Twitter and Facebook. He’s also led a social media revolution through City Hall, preaching the virtues of getting government more connected while building a network of followers he can have ready access to.

“What I like about Twitter is it is direct and authentic,” Reed said. “It has morphed into something that I enjoy, because I can express how I feel. If you read my tweets, it is me.”

Sonji Jacobs Dade, the city’s communications director, said when she came aboard in 2010, she found a city website and social media philosophy that was woefully behind the times.

“The whole world had moved and the city’s way of communicating was still in a 1990s framework,” Dade said. “One of my goals was moving the city in the direction of digital communication, and social media is a huge part of that.”

Between Twitter, Facebook and emails amassed during his 2009 campaign, Reed has “a universe of 100,000 individual identities” he can reach out to.

via Social media seeping into City Hall life | www.ajc.com.