By Elliott Brack,
Editor and publisher, GwinnettForum
JAN. 9, 2024 | State legislators gathered Monday at the Capitol to start the 2024 session of the Georgia General Assembly. Meanwhile, all Georgians must keep their fingers crossed hoping the current session doesn’t legislate too much mischief.
Most average Georgians feel we have far too much government involvement with our lives. We need to find more ways to limit, not expand, government. Far too many laws are passed, while not enough are vetoed by the governor, who, as another segment of government, should maintain independent judgment on all legislation.
Virtually every time a bill is introduced at the Legislature, you can bet one thing: this innocent-looking bill that changes the law will benefit some individual or some corporation, but not benefit most other Georgians. To get such laws on the books, the legislators proposing such bills often use the phrase: “All this bill does…….” When you hear that, hold tightly onto your pocketbook. Someone’s going to benefit if that legislation passes….and you can bet it won’t be you.
Simply look through the bill to determine “Whose ox is being gored?”
All the average Georgian asks of government is that it provide essential services, uphold the law, be open and fair, and make sure everyone is treated equally. Another way to say it is that a government should provide leadership, safety and economic security, maintain order, and give assistance when needed.
To all this effect, GwinnettForum has maintained for years that all of Georgia would benefit if the General Assembly continued to limit its time of meeting to 40 days and meet only every-other-year, not annually. How’s that for limiting government?
Such a proposal is among GwinnettForum’s Continuing Objectives, which are listed to the right. These are long-term solutions to some of the more pressing problems in the area.
Most legislators will tell you that there is so much legislative work they need to get done that they are rushed to complete the job in 40 days. They get around that by simply “adjourning” to a date certain. In effect, they don’t meet for 40 consecutive (week) days. They meet two or three times a week, then take a few days off for studying proposals in committees, before resuming regular sessions.
If the Legislature met for truly 40 consecutive work days, it would adjourn by the end of February. Instead state lawmakers drag it out meeting a few days a week, then adjourn for a break. They are really meeting for about 60 days before they finally adjourn toward April 1. Essentially, by adjourning every so often, they skirt the state law that says they should meet for only 40 days each year.
Next time you are talking to your legislator, bring up the subject of changing the session to meet for 40 days semi-annually, not annually. It’ll take some strong talk to convince a legislator that it is better to meet every two years. By citizens advocating this proposal to legislators, perhaps we’ll find common-sense legislators on both sides of the aisle understanding we need to limit government, not continue to expand it.
- Have a comment? Send to: elliott@brack.net
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