Author: calendar

Your Georgia Desk

From Governor Nathan Deal

Deal: Caesarstone to create 130 jobs in Bryan County  

Gov. Nathan Deal today announced that Caesarstone, a manufacturer of high-quality engineered quartz surfaces, will expand in Richmond Hill, creating 130 jobs.

“Caesarstone’s expansion underscores just how well our partnerships with the international community can strengthen Georgia’s network of advanced manufacturing companies,” said Deal. “During my economic development trip to Israel last summer, I had the opportunity to visit Caesarstone at Kibbutz Sdot Yam. I’m thrilled that Caesarstone has found such success here in Georgia, and I have no doubt that it will continue to benefit from our solid workforce and strong logistics system for years to come.”

Caesarstone announced its first U.S.-based manufacturing plant in the Belfast Commerce Centre in November 2013. Due to a steady increase in sales in the United States and Canada, the company is further expanding its U.S. manufacturing operations. The company will continue to use the intermodal facility at the Port of Savannah and it also plans to utilize the access to rail to import raw materials for its production process.

“We are pleased with the assistance and support received from the state of Georgia, Bryan County and Richmond Hill,” said Caesarstone CEO Yos Shiran. “We see Richmond Hill as a long-term home for our North American manufacturing operations.”

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Your Washington Desk

From Bob Barr via TownHall.com

America’s First Anti-Exceptionalism President

The Administration of Barack Obama may be struggling with strengthening the economy, controlling the damage of Obamacare, remaining an influential player in international politics, and a number of other crucial issues, but it has at least found one area in which the President excels – denigrating the country he leads.

Obama’s latest display of the contempt he harbors for the country and history of America, came last week at the National Prayer Breakfast, when the President gratuitously accused Americans of “get[ting] on our high horse” when criticizing those countries or non-state actors (such as ISIS) that commit horrendous acts of violence in the name of religion. Obama used the examples of “slavery and Jim Crow” to justify his point that America is no better than any others – including by implication ISIS – when it comes to committing violent acts in the name of religion.

The few remaining liberal apologists for this Administration, such as commentators at MSNBC, tried to rationalize Obama’s remarks by characterizing them as an “accurate” history lesson taken out of context by the “Right.” However, it is exactly the current global context in which the comments were made, amplified by the hubris with which they were delivered, that makes them so damaging to us in the real world.

Today, the world is gripped at the throat by a “religious” organization that uses a level of savagery not seen since the Medieval era to attempt to terrorize and intimidate its enemies, including the United States. Yet Obama, speaking in his capacity as the President of the United States, found it appropriate and timely to liken such tactics – which include the burning-alive of captives, throwing homosexuals off buildings, stoning women, decapitating hostages on video, and slaughtering minority groups — to America’s long-ago outlawed Jim Crow laws and slavery.

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Your Georgia Desk

From Senator Judson Hill

Sen. Judson Hill: Capitol News Session Weekly Update # 5

Greetings from the Capitol !

We have been in Session for about a month completing day 15 of the 2015 Session.e Senate and House Committees are meeting  and debating issues and bills relevant to each specific committee. The job of the committees is to gather a group of Senators with knowledge on a topic and get testimonies from people outside of the Senate to share information and oft times advocate on proposed legislation in order for the Senators to make informed decisions for their constituents. More Bills are beginning to make their way onto the floor for a vote. Of note is the legislature has passed a Resolution setting the last legislative day for 2015 – April 2nd.

Below is a list of notable legislation that has been introduced in the Senate or passed the past week.

2015 Legislation of Note Passed or Introduced this Week in the Senate:

SB 3: The Supporting and Strengthening Families Act” passed to allow parents to temporaility trabsfer custodial oversight to another adult during times when extenuating circumstances impact the ability to propoerly care for a child.

SB 8 / SR 7:  Rachel’s Law / the Safe Harbor for Sexually Expolited Children Fund Commission passed the Senate to increase criminal and civil penalties for perpetrators of human trafficking. It includes certain proetctions for and increases the statute of limitations on sexual exploitation crimes.

SB 86:  This was introduced to prooses to create an alternative to medical malpractice litigation whereby patients are compensated for medical injuries to provide for filing of and disposition of applications, appellate review, and administrative expenses. A similar bill titled the Patient Compensation Act has been under consideration in prior legisltive sessions.

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Your Washington – GA 9 – Desk

From Congressman Doug Collins 

The President Doesn’t Always Submit a Budget on Time. But When He Does…

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Your Washington  – GA 3 – Desk

From Congressman Lynn Westmoreland 

Senate Democrats Are Stalling DHS Funding

In January, the House passed funding for the Department of Homeland Security that funds the agency through September 2015, and most importantly, blocks President Obama and his administration from granting amnesty to illegal immigrants. Both Republicans and Democrats have expressed opposition to the President acting alone on immigration reform, and believe that Congress should be working on a comprehensive reform that puts the needs of the American people first.

In a recent ABC poll, 57 percent of registered voters said they disapprove of the President’s amnesty plan. Those Americans went to the polls last November and their voices were heard loud and clear. As a result, Republicans gained the largest majority in the House since 1928, and won back the Senate.

We thought we had an opportunity to get the DHS funding bill quickly to the President’s desk, however, Senate Democrats are stalling debate and holding the fate of our homeland security hostage. Even the eight Senators who have been quoted in opposition of Obama’s amnesty plan are still voting against moving the bill to a debate. These senators have been nicknamed the “Obstructionist Eight”: Senators Joe Donnelly (D-IN), Joe Manchin (D-WV), HeidiHeitkamp (D-ND), Angus King (I-ME), Al Franken (D-MN), Mark Warner (D-VA), Claire McCaskill (D-MO), and John Tester (D-MT).

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Your Georgia Desk

From Senator Steve Gooch

Checking Items Off a Growing ‘To-Do’ List

We have now reached the point of the legislative session where lists are everywhere. It doesn’t matter if they are the individual to-do lists or the bills eligible for consideration by the Senate Rules Committee, all of these lists are getting substantially longer every day. We still have a long way to go in the 2015 legislative session, so these lists are very important tools that keep legislators on task for the State of Georgia and the people we represent.

The Senate approved the Amended FY 2015 appropriations bill last week, which means we are halfway to fulfilling our annual constitutional requirement to pass a balanced budget. HB 75 increases the AFY 2015 budget by $276 million, bringing the total funding amount to $21.1 billion. Most of this funding increase will be allocated towards public school enrollment growth. Another $20 million will be aimed towards economic development recruitment efforts, while $4.8 million will be directed towards medical trials studying how cannabidiol may help in treating severe childhood seizure disorders. Since there were some discrepancies between the House and Senate on certain line items, a conference committee made up of members from both chambers will now negotiate a final version of HB 75.

However, the House and Senate have agreed on one very significant thing when it comes to the AFY 2015 budget—and that’s the importance of keeping insurance coverage for school employees who work less than 30 hours per week. The Senate also included language in their version of HB 75 that strongly supports providing these hard-working employees with health insurance, and I am feeling hopeful about the General Assembly’s chances of finding a way to keep our bus drivers and cafeteria covered.

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Your Georgia Desk

From Senator John Albers 

Updates from the Capitol

We have now completed day 15 of the Legislative Session and things are moving quickly. Committees are meeting and passing bills daily. We are in full swing and I look forward to keeping you updated as we progress at the Gold Dome.

Last week, the Senate and the House of Representatives met for a joint session to hear the Honorable Chief Justice Hugh P. Thompson of the Supreme Court of Georgia deliver his annual “State of the Judiciary” address.  Chief Justice Thompson updated lawmakers on the accomplishments of the judicial branch over the last year and the challenges that lie ahead.

I am happy to report that on Day 14 of this legislative session, the Senate passed the Fiscal Year 2015 Amended Budget. After careful consideration and deliberation from the Governor, the House and the Senate, we determined that education and public safety, among others, will receive additional funding to adequately provide for the people of Georgia.

The Department of Education will receive an additional $126.2 million for midterm enrollment growth and almost $10 million will go to charter schools. The additional funding will allow incoming students to be provided with the supplies and support they need when entering a new school. In addition, the amended budget provides an additional $20 million in competitive grants to local school systems for broadband internet connectivity through the Connections for Classrooms program. These grants will provide teachers to interact with their students through live online instruction.

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Your Georgia – Winter Weather – Desk

From Governor Nathan Deal

Deal declares emergency for North Georgia counties

Governor’s move opens up state resources for disaster preparedness in areas expecting ice

Acting on a recommendation from the state’s Emergency Operations Command, Gov. Nathan Deal this evening signed an executive order to declare a state of emergency for disaster preparedness for the 15 North Georgia counties under a winter storm warning and will ask state workers in affected areas who are not involved in emergency response to work from home.

“I am issuing this order out of an abundance of caution, so the state can make all preparations necessary to quickly and efficiently address any potential winter weather problems,” said Deal. “We will monitor the weather throughout the night and allocate state resources as needed should ice formation creep further south into the metro area.”

Deal has declared emergencies for Catoosa, Dade, Dawson, Fannin, Gilmer, Habersham, Lumpkin, Murray, Pickens, Rabun, Towns, Union, Walker, White and Whitfield counties. The governor’s order notes that in these counties forecasts call for ice accumulation and moderately high wind gusts that could bring down tree limbs.

“I remain hopeful that the low pressure system will move northward, thus allowing warmer temperatures into our state,” Deal said. “With forecasts showing temperatures hovering around the freezing point, however, we have to work on the assumption that we’ll face icy conditions.”

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Your Georgia Desk

From The Senate Press Office and Senator Mike Crane

Senate in a Minute: Day 15

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Your Washington Desk

From Senator Johnny Isakson and Senator David Perdue

Senators Isakson, Perdue Support Ashton Carter for Secretary of Defense

U.S. Senators Johnny Isakson (R-GA) and David Perdue (R-GA) today voted to confirm Dr. Ashton Carter as Secretary of Defense. Carter was unanimously confirmed by the Senate Armed Services Committee on Feb. 10, 2015, and was confirmed today by the full Senate in a 93-5 vote.

“America faces many diverse and complex challenges to our national security – from the serious threat posed by the Islamic State to the crisis in Ukraine to the security risks from Boko Haram – and we need a strong Secretary of Defense now more than ever,” said Senator Isakson, chairman of the Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. “The next Secretary of Defense must honestly assess the military’s needs in order to successfully fulfill its mission to degrade and defeat ISIS. I am encouraged that Dr. Carter has shown independent judgment and a willingness not to be a rubber stamp for the White House as we continue our mission to combat terrorists around the globe. Additionally, I expect Dr. Carter to instill a culture of accountability at the Department of Defense that ensures our national security remains a top priority and guarantees our servicemen and women are prepared to successfully carry out their missions. At a time when we cannot afford to let Iran gain access to nuclear weapons or allow the further destabilization of Eastern Europe, it is imperative for us to ensure that the U.S. military remains the world’s premier fighting force.”

“In these challenging times, we need a Secretary of Defense who understands the importance of fiscal responsibility, while protecting our national security,” Senator Perdue said. “As Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology, and Logistics, Dr. Carter successfully implemented new technologies and resources needed to maintain our military readiness, while applying appropriate oversight to help save the Defense Department billions of dollars. Dr. Carter also understands that we cannot allow Iran to have nuclear weapon capabilities, and that the threat of terrorism is still very real. I am confident that Dr. Carter will continue to propel the Pentagon to work more efficiently and effectively, while protecting our long-term national security interests at home and around the world.”