We returned to the House chamber on Monday, January 23, to begin our third legislative week of the 2012 session. During the 2nd week we were in recess as appropriation committees heard from leaders of our state agencies and worked on the budget. This week we were in session Monday through Thursday and found ourselves quite busy between session in the morning and committee meetings in the afternoon.
One of the highlights of this past week was the Speaker challenging the House Special Committee on Small Business Development and Job Creation, which I serve on, to undertake serious regulation reform in order to help spur our state economy and create jobs for Georgians. The initiative, called “Red Tape Watch,” charges the House Special Committee on Small Business Development and Job Creation to spend this legislative session reviewing and evaluating Georgia’s current regulatory environment. To do this, the special committee will meet regularly throughout the 2012 legislative session to hear directly from small business owners about burdensome or onerous state regulations that unnecessarily hinder economic development, business growth, and job creation in Georgia. These meetings will allow us to identify opportunities to further shrink the size of our state government and thereby help create an economic environment that fosters job creation and is conducive to the growth of strong small businesses throughout the state.
You should know that the idea for Red Tape Watch came directly from individual Georgians, like you, voicing their concerns about bureaucratic regulations and time-consuming red tape that directly interfere with their everyday operations. I believe the work of this committee is exactly what we should be doing more of. Rather than passing more legislation we should be working to undo needless and often burdensome legislation.
Yesterday I received a call from the Speaker’s office asking that in addition to serving on the committee I also help locate businesses that need to be heard from. Please help me get the word out to everyone and invite anyone who has been burdened by oppressive and outdated state regulations to please visit www.house.ga.gov/redtapewatch and make your experiences known. In addition to filling out the form online please copy and paste the content into an email and send it to me so that I can get you scheduled to speak before our committee. With your help, we can make it easier for small businesses in our community to thrive and hire new employees by removing burdensome regulation.
In addition to our efforts to cut red tape, we also gained insight into our state’s court systems when State Supreme Court Chief Justice Carol Hunstein delivered her State of the Judiciary Address, which primarily focused on the recommendations of the Special Council on Criminal Justice Reform.
The special council was a joint effort by Chief Justice Hunstein, Gov. Deal, Speaker Ralston, Lt. Gov. Cagle, Representative Jay Neal, and others to develop a more cost effective corrections system in Georgia. After concluding an in-depth review of our state’s current justice system and those of other states, the council published a report of its findings. According to the report, non-violent drug and property offenders represent almost 60 percent of prison admissions. With each prisoner costing taxpayers $49 a day, it is no surprise that Georgia spends one billion dollars a year on our corrections system. Instead of sending these low-risk, non-violent, first offenders to an expensive prison, where they often learn to become hardened criminals, the council’s report recommends cost effective alternatives, like community treatment at a Day Reporting Center for $16 a day or probation supervision for $1.50 a day.
The strategies recommended by Chief Justice Hunstein and the Special Council on Criminal Justice Reform have been proven to save taxpayers’ dollars and decrease crime in other states. Last year I had the privilege of attending a workshop by Rep. Jerry Madden who led successful criminal justice reform in Texas and has been credited with spurring reform across the country. Through his leadership Texas avoided the need for two billion dollars in new prison construction and is actually closing a prison down, after making an investment in diversion and treatment centers. More importantly, after introducing these prison-alternatives, Texas saw its lowest crime rate in 37 years.
This week I am hoping that HB 670 will be heard in committee. This is the bill I filed that would create a Constitutional Guardian Council to review, evaluate and respond to federal legislation that adversely impacts our state rights. To learn more about it to go my blog and look under Legislative Update: Week One.
This week, we passed an adjournment resolution that sets a preliminary legislative schedule for most of this year’s 40 day session. For this schedule, please visit our website at www.house.ga.gov and click on the Adjournment Resolution link. Don’t forget to can always watch us while in session by going to http://www.legis.ga.gov/Streaming/en-US/Both.aspx
You’re my boss and I work for you. If you have questions or concerns please do not hesitate to contact me. You can reach me at my Capitol office (404) 656-0325, cell (404) 723-8989.
Sincerely,
Josh Clark
State Representative, District 98
612-E Coverdell Legislative Office Building
18 Capitol Square
Atlanta, GA 30334
O. 404-656-0325
C. 404-723-8989
Assistant: ReJenia.Ford@house.ga.gov
“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed people can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has” – Margaret Mead
Josh, his wife, Chelsey, and his four children reside in Buford, Georgia, where he runs two local small businesses and is actively involved in the community. He currently serves on the executive board for the Berea School of Ministry, coaches his son’s baseball team and currently serves on the 7th District Committee of the Republican Party of Ga. They attend the “The Family Church,” First Baptist of Sugar Hill.
