The 2008 General Assembly

© Dr. Gary D. Lemmons, April 6, 2008

I suppose that in some people’s opinion I have been too critical of the Georgia General Assembly over the years.  Quite often, I have agreed with Neal Boortz’s opinion that, when in session, that august body is the greatest collection of losers to be found anywhere…except in a prison!

If I harbored any doubts that my assessment of our state legislature was accurate, its 2008 performance removed them.  Indeed, based upon the results of the pasted 40 legislative days (which, with the various recesses, committee meetings days, and holidays, has turned into over three months) I am of the opinion that none of the current inhabitants of the Georgia State Senate or House of Representatives should be returned to office in the forthcoming elections.

By far, the major failure of the General Assembly lies in the area of tax reform.  Despite much discussion, political wrangling, and debate, the legislature could not reach agreement on any legislation to offer for the people’s consideration in the form of constitutional amendments concerning taxes.  Nor could it devise tax cuts legislatively.

Close on the heels of the General Assembly’s failure to cut taxes was its inability to create a statewide trauma network.  This gross negligence will not only cost the taxpayers money, but it will cost lives in the future.

In the area of illegal immigration, the state legislature did nothing.  In fact, the three major anti-illegal immigration bills before the General Assembly went no where.

Regarding the use of the alcohol, the General Assembly was staunch in its opposition of Sunday sales.  However, it conveniently waived that ban for Gwinnett County’s new minor league ball park.  Guess one can go out to the ball game and have a cool one on the Lord’s Day!

In the interest of fairness, I will applaud the members of the General Assembly in one case.  They enacted legislation that requires credit reporting agencies to create an Internet-based system for consumers to block identity thieves from obtaining our credit histories.  Also, they liberalized the concealed weapons laws, and that is a move in the right direction.

All in all, I would grade this session with a C- as to substance.

The thing that galls me is that the General Assembly in Georgia is controlled, for the most part, by one party…the Republicans.  It is within that own party that the members fight among themselves and act like immature middle school children.  In the end, it is we the citizens who have to pay.