Georgia Pundit

Dear Fellow Conservative,

There are those in Congress who attack our liberties, push for increased government takeovers of private industry, and support out-of-control spending. They have put our nation on the path to fiscal ruin.

These “go along to get along” politicians in Washington are more concerned about re-election than about defending the Constitution from federal government overreach.

Thankfully, there are a few strong defenders of the Constitution who stand firm against out-of-control spending and overreach by politicians in both political parties…

…Dr. Paul Broun of Georgia’s 10th District is one of those principled Constitutional conservatives in Congress.

He has worked hard to get federal spending under control by sponsoring a balanced budget amendment and a bill to repeal ObamaCare. He’s pushed for over $155 Billion in spending cuts over these last two years alone!

He has also been a strong proponent for oversight of the Federal Reserve and is now sponsoring my “Audit the Fed” bill in Congress. I cannot thank him enough for leading on this issue.

A few weeks ago Congressman Broun launched his campaign for U.S. Senate. He’s counting on grassroots Constitutional conservatives like you to rally with me in support of his campaign.

Below is a personal email from Congressman Broun to you about his grassroots campaign for U.S. Senate.

Please take a few moments to read it. Then join his efforts today with your most generous contribution of $2,600, $1,000, $500, $250, $100, $70, or $35.

Congressman Broun has been a staunch ally against out-of-control spending from politicians in both parties, and he will continue that fight in the Senate. We need Paul there! Like me, he’s also one of the few remaining veterans of our armed forces serving in Washington.

You and I have an excellent opportunity to send one of our own to the U.S. Senate in 2014, and we must seize it.

Now more than ever, we must elect principled Constitutional conservatives who will reject the deficit-spending, “go along to get along” mentality in the U.S. Senate.

I am confident Paul Broun would join the ranks of principled U.S. Senators like Ted Cruz, Mike Lee, and my son Rand Paul.

Please read Congressman Broun’s enclosed letter. Then join me in support of his grassroots campaign today with your generous gift of $2,600, $1,000, $500, $250, $100, $70, or $35.

If we’re going to restore our Constitution and put our nation back on the path to prosperity, we must elect principled conservatives who will fight in Washington.

Paul Broun will continue fighting, and that’s why I endorsed his candidacy for U.S. Senate in Georgia.

Before you do anything else today, I ask you to read Congressman Paul Broun’s enclosed letter and join his grassroots campaign with your generous contribution of $2,600, $1,000, $500, $250, $100, $70, or $35.

Thank you for standing with me and Congressman Broun today.

Congressman Ron Paul, MD
U.S. Congressman (ret)

In January the Georgia State Senate started the first term of the 152nd legislative session of the Georgia General Assembly with a challenging task list. We were asked to find a way to fill a very large anticipated Medicaid shortfall, evaluate the ethical behavior of elected officials, do more with less in the state budget, revamp the state’s juvenile justice system, clarify points from 2012’s tax code overhaul and find ways to expand access to higher education—among many, many other items on the agenda.

To say the Senate had its work cut out this year is an understatement, and the reason why the Senate got down to business and passed legislation on the very first day of the legislative session. Almost 230 bills were introduced in the Senate alone, and while some have already been signed by the Governor, others face a more uncertain future. Since this is only the first term of a biennial year, any bill that did not pass both chambers is eligible for consideration during the second term in 2014. However, that does not mean that those bills will remain untouched until next January since study and sub-committees will meet to further review some of the most important issues. I created one such sub-committee to explore viable fiscally responsible options to eliminate the state income tax as well as implement a state fair tax.

Georgia will benefit from several pieces of legislation that passed in 2013, including a solution to the anticipated Medicaid shortfall, an overhaul of the state’s juvenile courts, a large step towards ethics reform and a measure to prevent unions from taking advantage of employee members.

SB 24: Also known as the Hospital Medicaid Financing Program Act, SB 24 will authorize the Department of Community Health to establish a financial structure to protect Georgia’s healthcare system and obtain additional federal funding for the state’s Medicaid program. A failure to pass this bill would have meant potentially devastating cuts in reimbursement rates for medical providers and up to a 32% percent reduction in Medicaid reimbursements, which could have resulted in a loss of services and jobs. SB 24 will allow the Department of Community Health to continue assessing an existing small fee – not to exceed the percentage of net patient revenues as allocated by the state budget – in order to ensure Medicaid rates remain at current levels and give Georgia the flexibility needed to react quickly to changes in federal health care policy.

SB 62: This legislation creates a standing legislative overview committee with eight legislative members split between the Senate and House to regularly meet with Georgia’s health agencies to examine innovative measures to improve access to healthcare, improve and reform state and federally administered programs and to provide a closer relationship between our heal agencies and the legislature since these agencies administer nearly 25% of our state taxpayer dollars.

SB 160: This legislation is meant to clarify and streamline verification processes for applying or renewing business licenses and public benefits. Specifically, the legislation exempts contracts under $5,000 from E-Verify requirements, outlines reporting procedures for public employer compliance with E-Verify, exempts business license renewals from E-Verify requirements if previous compliance has been met and amends the list of public benefits where lawful presence must be confirmed. In addition, the legislation also allows applications for public benefits include copies of secure and verifiable documentation of lawful presence.

HB 106: The Georgia General Assembly is constitutionally mandated to revise the current fiscal year’s budget and set the general budget for the following fiscal year during every legislative session. What adds to this challenge is the constantly changing fiscal atmosphere both at the state and federal level, and as a result, a final version of the bill is not usually able to be negotiated until the final hours of the legislative session. This year was no different. The finalized version of the FY 2014 budget is set at $19.9 billion and includes an added $146.6 million for K-12 enrollment growth, reflects a $2.6 million in Medicaid and Peach Care savings by eliminating hospital reimbursements for preventable admissions.

HB 142: One of the most debated issues this session was the ethics legislation and the effort to cap lobbyist gifts. The House and Senate came to an agreement on HB 142 on Day 40 that sets a cap of $75 on lobbyist expenditures and completely bans gifts such as golf outings, concert tickets and international travel, while also preserving the First Amendment rights of citizens expressing personal views. I was proud to see the House and Senate work together to negotiate a final agreement, and although it is not a perfect solution, it is certainly a big step in the right direction.

HB 242: This landmark juvenile justice reform bill calls for substantial changes in the state’s juvenile court proceedings. Based on recommendations and years of work by the Governor’s Special Council on Justice Reform, the legislation calls for well-defined articles outlining a juvenile’s right to procedural due process, family preservation and proper representation based on the specific reason for juvenile court intervention. By updating an outdated juvenile code, focus can be placed on the proper rehabilitative measures needed to move children out of the juvenile court system permanently. HB 242 modernizes existing code to create a more efficient system for the rehabilitation and counseling of youth and families within the system.

HB 171: Each year, there are also many local government bills that are introduced A large amount of media attention circled around the legislation affecting Fulton County. One of the bills, HB 171, was imperative to ensuring that Fulton County residents continue to have equal representation by the Board of Commissioners.

North Fulton County has experienced tremendous population growth over the past decade, but is currently only represented by one Board of Commissioners seat. HB 171 redraws the current commission district lines and ultimately moves another seat into the northern part of the county. This practice isn’t any different than when our nation adds or removes state Congressional seats according to census numbers. It is important to re-evaluate representation on a regular basis to guarantee the proper representation of Fulton County residents and comply with the law..

Overall, the 2013 legislative session was one that will benefit Georgia and District 32 for years to come. However, there are times when the Georgia General Assembly fails to reach consensus on good bills, and this year was no exception. Although it’s disheartening, I anticipate that many of these bills will be brought back for discussion during the second term of the biennial legislative session in 2014. I am looking forward to the continued review of these bills and the introduction of other measures that will improve Georgia’s status as a great place to live, work and play.

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Washington, D.C. – Congressman Tom Price, M.D (R-GA) has introduced legislation aimed at improving the competitive bidding process for Medicare. “The Medicare DMEPOS Market Pricing Program Act of 2013” (H.R. 1717), would replace the current Medicare “DMEPOS,” or “Durable Medical Equipment, Prosthetics, Orthotics and Supplies,” competitive bidding system with a sustainable market pricing program (MPP) that is based upon sound economic principles that are embraced universally by auction experts across the U.S. Rep. Price first introduced this legislation during the 112^th Congress.

Modifying pricing for DMEPOS would help curb costs and curtail government spending, while assuring patients have the access to the medical supplies they require. To this end, the Secretary of Health and Human Services would contract with an “auction expert” through a competitive process to develop and design the implementation of the MPP. A market monitor would be responsible for the evaluation of the design, implementation and functioning of MPP for the purpose of identifying weaknesses or problems, as well as recommending adjustments and changes.

“Instituting MPP would improve the delivery of care for seniors while ensuring quality and spurring innovation, so that patients are best-served by their health care coverage,” Rep. Price said. “Additionally, the American people deserve and are right to demand that their taxpayer dollars are used in an accountable and effective way.”

To read H.R. 1717 in its entirety, please click here. This legislation is already co-sponsored by 25 Members of Congress.

Rep. Tom Price, a physician, serves as the vice chairman of the House Committee on the Budget. He is a member of the House Committee on Ways and Means, as well as the House Committee on Education and the Workforce.

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via The Marietta Daily Journal – County OKs first mental health court.

The Cobb Board of Commissioners agreed to accept a state grant that will create the county’s first mental health court, to be overseen by Cobb Superior Court Judge Mary Staley, above.

The vote to accept the grant Tuesday was 3-2 with commissioners Helen Goreham and Bob Ott opposed.

“I voted against that because I felt that there were too many unknowns, too many moving parts in order to obligate our, the county’s, general fund for anticipated expenditures,” Goreham said, in explaining her vote after the meeting.

This is Clayton County week at GaPundit.com and we continue with a couple repeat visitors. Friday is euthanasia day at Clayton County Animal Shelter, so if you can help, please do so today.

This handsome young male dog is called “Mambo,” and he’s a Golden mix about whom the volunteers say great things like “well-behaved, intelligent, and beautiful.” If you are unable to rescue or foster, consider making an online donation to the fund that will help a rescue pay for his vet expenses.

Neon (left) and Neptune (right) are young mixed-breed males who obviously get along well with each other. Here’s a link to their freedom fund – your online donation, even a couple of dollars from downgrading your morning starbucks to plain coffee will help save a life.

Scout (left) and Rascal (right) are young male Shepherd mixes. Here is their Freedom Fund. Rascal looks a little like my Roxy must have looked as a pup, and I’d adopt both these guys if I could.

Angel is an eight-week old female Lab mix puppy. Click here for her freedom fund account.

“Samson” is an adult male Rottweiler who came in with his companion “Delilah”. His freedom fund is here.

Delilah below and Samson would go together nicely as a pair. Her freedom fund is here. Finally Hobbes really wants to get out of his cage and go home with someone as a foster or adopted dog. On the Clayton County Partners Facebook page, a dentist offered a free cleaning, exam and x-rays for the human who adopts or fosters Hobbes.

Weimaraner Week

Yesterday there was such an outpouring of support and interest for a young Weimaraner who was in a North Georgia shelter that he’s been saved and is on his way to foster, and some of the folks who were willing to help him won’t get that chance yet. So next week will feature Weimaraner and Weimaraner mixes every day. Here’s a preview.

Dubose is a Weimaraner mix 4-year old adult dog who is at Heart of Georgia Humane Society for a second time after his adoptive owner died. He is up-to-date on his shots and house-trained.