Bruce Thompson Wants Georgia To Be The Best Place To Do Business

Submitted by State Senator Bruce Thompson (R-White)

A week ago Monday marked the beginning of the 2015 legislative session. After the swearing in ceremonies for the legislature, Governor (Nathan) Deal, and the other constitutional officers, we quickly dispatched with our chamber rules and parliamentary procedures for what was a quick first day of business in the Senate.

On Wednesday, Gov. Deal gave his fifth State of the State address in which he announced large funding commitments for transportation and education. In his speech, he announced more than $1 billion additional dollars going to K-12 education between this year’s budget and next year’s. It’s up to the General Assembly to ensure this proposed historic increase is able to make it to the classrooms of our schools and help our education system progress.

His transportation plan includes additional new capacity express lanes along large stretches of I-75 and I-575. Driving from my home into the Capitol for Senate business, I know this stretch of roads well, as well as anyone in Senate District 14 who commutes to and from Atlanta.

In his State of the State address the governor announced $1.1 billion dollars’ worth of new interstate lanes to the metro Atlanta area. This expansion will be the largest interstate expansion in Georgia since the 1980s. This is welcomed news to the determined commuters in Senate District 14. The challenge at this point is to find ways to fund transportation without raising taxes.

I am honored to say that I will serve as a member of several prominent Senate committees this biennial term, including Banking and Financial Institutions, Finance, Higher Education and Science and Technology. Committee selections are done by the Senate’s Committee on Assignments comprised of Senate leadership. I am thankful that the committee put me in areas where they think I can best serve my district and the people of Georgia. I’m especially passionate about several issues I’ll encounter in my committee work in the coming weeks as bills are assigned to them.

An important trend that interests me as a business man and a state legislator is where economic development is growing. It’s our goal in the General Assembly to make Georgia a great place to live, work, raise a family and do business. Economic development enhances all four of those areas.

The General Assembly did complete four legislative days this past week, meaning our session is already 10 percent complete. Although we will not be in session, this week is what we call “budget week.” It is a full week of work set aside from other legislative duties to vet through the budget, budget requests and budget proposals by state agencies including the Governor.

Today (Monday) and Thursday of this week, there will be joint meetings of the House and Senate Appropriations committees for presentations on budgetary needs and issues. Georgia’s constitution requires that the state legislature pass a balanced budget. First we will consider the fiscal year 2015 budget which runs through May of this year to ensure accuracy and true up any areas of concern. Then, we’ll turn our attention to the fiscal year 2016 budget to invest state tax dollars and federal grant money where it best serves the state of Georgia.

I hope you’ll reach out to my office with questions and feedback. The governor’s budget and bills that are already moving through the legislative process are available online for you to see and review.

I encourage you to get involved in the legislative process happening in your state government, and I look forward to being your voice as it unfolds.

Photo: Sen. Bruce Thompson represents the 14th Senate District, which includes portions of Bartow, Cherokee and Cobb counties. Credit: state of Georgia