Questions abound at the State Capitol as to the many bills that are being pondered before the law makers of this state. Questions are also coming from constituents wondering when this session is going to end and what will be the outcome of this budget crisis. February revenue collections are way down from one year ago which signals that Georgia's economy is not recovering as soon as what had been predicted. With that in mind legislators have adopted a resolution to slow the process down a bit by working three days next week and three days the following week which will put us at cross over day 30. Crossover day signals the last day that a House bill came "cross to the Senate for action." The governor also moved on the budget crisis by lowering his revenue estimate. This means that over 341 million more dollars are going to have to be cut from the budget. This was not unexpected by the House members. The governor also moved to cut Medicaid reimbursements by 10.25 percent. The governor also moved to take away the sales tax exemption that hospitals enjoy for purchases. This move alone will create a major hole for rural hospitals to fill if it is adopted by the legislature. The governor's sick tax, which Governor Perdue has proposed will also cause severe financial problems for hospitals across the state. It is not popular with members of the legislature. Representative Greene said that he had received large numbers of emails against this proposition.

The Georgia House passed several bills this week sending each of them to the other body for its approval. House Bill 883 is a follow-up bill to regulations put in place last year after tainted peanuts from a South Georgia plant caused several deaths, sicknesses, recalls and a salmonella scare. The bill makes it a felony if knowingly putting tainted food into the market and failing to file certain safety reports a misdemeanor. It passed the House. House Bill 1073 would allow soldiers overseas to request an absentee ballot via email. This method should allow a request for a ballot for our troops serving in faraway places in a more timely manner. It passed as well. A water conservation bill was approved as well. The long awaited proposals provide incentives to encourage water conservation. The bill is a good faith effort on Georgia's part to reduce water usage, especially from Lake Lanier. This legislation is viewed as good for negotiations in the ongoing battle between Alabama, Florida and Georgia. The states have until 2012 to reach an agreement.

The Rules Committee's General calendar is growing longer as the committees vote out bills to be debated on the floor of the House of Representatives. The Rules Committee is the traffic cop of the House as it places bills on the consent calendar and then votes on the ones that will be actually debated. It is a long process, but one that works in a democratic government.

You may reach Rep. Gerald Greene at 404-656-0314 or email him at gerald. greene @house.ga.gov