Dahlonega-Lumpkin County Chamber of Commerce

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE -- February 27, 2009

In good times and bad, running government is all about money

In times like these we are all living on a decreased budget.  As legislators, we must consider the long term effects of every dollar we spend in order to get the best value for Georgia’s taxpayers.  Sometimes that means spending a little more in some areas now in order to save much more down the road.  With all of this in mind, the state House passed two bills this week that I want to discuss: Senate Bill 31, energy financing legislation, and House Bill 118, the 2009 Amended Budget.

Energy needs have been an increasing concern in Georgia for the last several years.  According to the 2006 State Energy Strategy report, Georgia’s demand for electricity grew 61 percent from 1990-2004 and will sustain an annual growth rate of three percent over the next several years.  Nuclear energy has operated safely and securely in Georgia since 1975 and currently provides more than 20 percent of the state’s electricity.  Nuclear power is a safe, clean and affordable source of base load electricity that produces zero emissions.

Last week President Obama called for the country to get 25 percent of its energy from renewable sources by 2025.  In his speech to Congress, Obama called for a federal carbon cap-and-trade system that would force coal-fired power plants to limit their greenhouse gases and buy carbon credits from renewable energy producers.  Our Public Service Commissioner testified last week before Congress that "Georgia simply doesn't have the wind, solar, or biomass resources required to meet proposed new federal regulations for renewable energy."

Since most of our electricity is produced by coal-fired, carbon-emitting plants, our electric bills could rise by as much as 25 percent over the next 15 years, and billions of our taxpayer dollars would flow out of Georgia to import renewable energy from other states.  I wish we had a half dozen more zero carbon emission, nuclear plants on line now.  Importing renewable energy from other states doesn’t help our cash flow or jobs creation.

These are some of the reasons the House passed a bill this week that will address how to finance the construction of two additional nuclear reactors at Plant Vogtle in Burke County.  Senate Bill 31 will lower the overall cost of the project, which will lead to lower rate increases for consumers in the future.  Failure to pass SB 31 would have cost Georgians an additional $300 million in interest alone.  By paying a small increase in rates beginning in 2011, we will ultimately lower our overall costs in the future.

Due to the declining economy, the state faced a $2.2 billion shortfall for FY 2009.  After months of hard work as a member of the House Appropriations Committee, we passed a fiscally sound Amended Budget out of the House that meets Georgia’s critical needs.

The 2009 Amended Budget fully funds the Homeowner Tax Relief Grants for Tax Year 2008.  This means an average saving of $200-300 for every homesteaded property in Georgia.  This budget also funds education, maintains funding for the GBI crime labs, restores funding to Meals on Wheels, and expands state health services.

Many of you have read about how the Governor wants to reform the way the state’s transportation system is run.  Last week, the DOT Board fired the Governor's hand-picked DOT Commissioner, claiming that she was ineffective and created too much turmoil.  This did not sit well with the Governor.  I have no doubt that the Governor's plan to reform the DOT will pass the General Assembly.

The Lt. Governor's plan to add a penny to our sales tax burden to fund our transportation needs may also pass although it will require voter approval in the form of an amendment to Georgia’s Constitution.  Most folks who wrote to me last week on this issue seemed to favor the penny increase in sales tax if our area really would receive significantly more money for road projects.

It is projected that the amount received for road projects over the next 10 years by both Dawson and Lumpkin Counties will triple what they received from 1999-2008.  For example, Lumpkin County's road projects totaled just over $5 million with a projected $15 million for 2011-2020.  This is in addition to projects they would normally receive from the sales tax on gasoline.

Running government in good times and bad is all about money, your money.  I need to hear from you about what kind of a job we are doing managing your tax dollars.  You can meet with me during one of my Saturday morning breakfasts with constituents.  My March 7 and 14 breakfasts will be at 8 a.m. at the Wagon Wheel Restaurant in Dahlonega.

During the Session I can be reached at 401 Capitol, Atlanta, Georgia 30334; 404/657-8534; fax 404/463-2044; e-mail This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .  Or you can contact Gerald Lewy, my Communications Director, at 706/344-7788.  He’ll know how to get your message to me.  You can also go to my website www.amosamerson.com to get further information and my committee schedule.  Remember, the secret of good government is a well-informed electorate.

for more information contact:                
Gerald Lewy                                
Communications Director
House District 9 – Amerson
471 Cloudland Road
Dahlonega, Georgia 30533
phone/fax: 706/864-4613
e-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it