After snow blanketed most of Georgia this past weekend, legislators returned to the Capitol Tuesday morning to move forward with the business of the state. Foremost on everyone’s mind is the 2011 budget, or more precisely, the funding of the budget. Thursday afternoon, members agreed to an adjournment resolution until March 8. During this time, the Speaker, Lt. Governor, House and Senate Appropriations chairmen, and committee members from both chambers will focus on the state’s budget line by line.

Seventeen bills and resolutions passed the House this week. Lawmakers agreed to HB 122, which provides a single searchable website the public can access and see local government budget expenditures for the first time. The House also passed HB 665, which creates a pilot program for the electronic transmission of absentee ballots for U.S. service members overseas. House Bill 981 allows the department of public safety to paint patrol cars in a solid color in an effort to save the State money in these financially strained times.

The House recognized many special guests this week. Diamond Dog infielder Chance Veazey, a freshman honor student at the University of Georgia, was recognized with House Resolution 1141 for his perseverance and fortitude as he recovers from an injury he suffered in a scooter accident last fall, which left him paralyzed from the waist down. He thanked those who have supported him throughout this ordeal including UGA head baseball coach David Perno and athletic trainer, Mike Dillon.

In keeping with Ash Wednesday and the beginning of Lent, pastors spoke this week of preparing for life’s victories and failures, forgiveness and repentance. Pastor Buddy Cooper of St. Paul’s United Methodist Church in Columbus said let us all strive to become ancestors worthy of our descendants.

Representative Greene stated his concern to the House of Representatives that the State was about to place heavy tax burdens on boards of education and counties by these severe cuts in education. “We must prepare the counties for the cuts that are coming,” Greene stated during a subcommittee hearing. The Subcommittees of the Appropriations Committee will start meeting on Monday and continue for two weeks to find money to cover the gaping holes in Medicaid, Education and Transportation.

The House has moved very slowly with the number of bills voted out for the first 20 days of the Legislature. The Rules committee which is the “Traffic Cop” of the House is very careful in placing bills on the debate calendar. The following bills were passed this last week in the House of Representatives. You will note that these are not earth-shattering bills that generated a large amount of debate.