Governor Deal Signs Bill Enhancing Beautification, Outdoor Advertising Projects in Georgia

(BUSINESS WIRE)--Governor Nathan Deal yesterday (May 12) announced he has signed House Bill 179, legislation that finally creates a common sense approach balancing the need for our community businesses to effectively promote themselves, while establishing stronger stewardship provisions than are in current law. In addition to the bill signing, the Outdoor Advertising Association of Georgia (OAAG) is also proud to announce that member companies are donating hundreds of vinyl signs to be used as tarps to cover storm-damaged homes as well as space on billboards to inform residents of Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and American Red Cross contact information.

“I am proud that we are doing our part to help our neighbors who were severely impacted by these devastating storms.”

Under the new law, vegetation removal will now be allowed in a smaller area in front of billboards allowing motorists to fully view advertising messages and bring new business to Georgia companies. The bill requires outdoor advertising companies to pay the highest mitigation fees in the country and fund the replacement and replanting of all vegetation that is removed.

“The previous law was very ineffective, leaving signs close to the ground obstructed from view behind trees and either abandoned or raised to skyscraper levels for visibility,” said Ray Moyers, President of the Outdoor Advertising Association of Georgia (OAAG). “This compromise bill will lead to lower signs, more beautification projects and, most importantly, economic growth as Georgia small businesses reach new customers through advertising.”

In addition, the bill requires signs to be lowered to at least 75 feet as a condition for receiving relief from obstructions. It also ensures the industry fully funds the Georgia Department of Transportation’s administrative costs, relieving the burden from our state’s taxpayers.

For the first time in state law, House Bill 179 creates new provisions for the removal of abandoned, cluttered, and dilapidated signs at no cost to the taxpayer. And, the legislation emphasizes local control allowing local governments to determine billboard regulations in their community.

“Georgia’s network of outdoor advertising can be an incredible resource to help us market our community businesses, grow new jobs, and maintain our existing workforce, but only if the messages were visible to the traveling public,” said Rep. Jon Burns, sponsor of HB 179. “We worked hard over the past few months and fashioned a reasonable bill that achieves many of the goals sought after by both sides of this debate. I want to publicly thank Governor Deal for recognizing the benefits of the bill and signing it into law.”

Since the bill passed during this year’s legislative session, the outdoor advertising industry has continued to contribute heavily to Georgia’s economy and civic concerns. When tornados struck Georgia in late April, billboard companies immediately mobilized and donated over 500 vinyl signs that can be used as tarps to cover storm-damaged homes until repairs can be made.

The industry has also donated space on 75 electronic message boards in Georgia, including the hardest-hit storm areas of Rome, Griffin and Clayton. The messages inform residents on how to contact FEMA for storm-related assistance. There will also be two traditional (non-electronic) billboards in Trenton and Ringgold with FEMA contact information. The Outdoor Advertising Association of Georgia is paying for the production of the vinyl signs and Fairway Outdoor Advertising of Chattanooga is donating the space for those two signs. Clear Channel is also featuring messages for the American Red Cross on more than 20 digital signs in the Metro Atlanta area.

“Our industry is made up of community-minded citizens that respond quickly when Georgians are in need,” Moyers added. “I am proud that we are doing our part to help our neighbors who were severely impacted by these devastating storms.”

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Governor's Office Grant Helps Prevent Underage Drinking

/PRNewswire/ -- The Georgia Governor's Office for Children and Families (GOCF) awarded a $60,000 grant to The Council on Alcohol and Drugs to prevent and reduce underage drinking through a statewide website, stopalcoholunder21.org. The grant also provides for radio PSAs and newspaper print ads in ten counties in Georgia determined to be most at risk via a 2010 Underage Drinking Needs Reassessment conducted by Georgia State University and The Council on Alcohol and Drugs.

Underage drinking and the consequences of juvenile alcohol use are serious issues in the state of Georgia. The Georgia Governor's Office for Children and Families (GOCF) has awarded a $60,000 grant to The Council on Alcohol and Drugs to prevent and reduce underage drinking by providing a statewide website, stopalcoholunder21.org.

The website includes features designed to help parents, youth, educators, alcohol retailers and others. Those features include downloadable:

* Public Service Announcements for Radio Broadcast
* Newspaper Print Ads
* Parenting Manuals for Parents of Children Ages 6-11 / 12-14 / 15-18/ and 19-20
* 1/2 Hour Video: "The Worst Drug of All"
* Video Vignettes on various topics related to Underage Drinking
* Resource Links to Other Web Sites related to Preventing Underage Drinking
* Additional Print Resources


The grant also provides for radio PSAs and newspaper print ads in ten counties in Georgia determined to be most at risk for underage drinking via a 2010 Underage Drinking Needs Reassessment conducted by Georgia State University and The Council on Alcohol and Drugs. The counties being served by the grant's Media Campaign are Ben Hill, Bulloch, Candler, Catoosa, Fannin, Lanier, Lowndes, Walker, Wilcox and Worth Counties.

This program is made possible with funding from the Governor's Office for Children and Families under a grant from the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, Enforcing the Underage Drinking Laws Block Grant Program, CFDA 16.727.

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Inaugural Address of Governor Nathan Deal

Lt. Governor Cagle, Speaker Ralston, Governor Perdue, Members of the General Assembly, Members of our Congressional Delegation, Members of the Judiciary, Members of the Consular Corps, my fellow Georgians:

On this second week of the second decade of the 21st Century, my wife Sandra and I enter the service of our native state with excited expectancy, sincere humility and unwavering resolve.

As we stand here in this beautiful Capitol building, I recall my first visit here as a fifth grade student at Sandersville Elementary School. Our class rode the Nancy Hanks train to Atlanta and visited here and the Cyclorama. For many of us it was our first train ride and our first visit to our Capitol city.

Much has changed in the more than a half century since my first visit here, but my sense of awe and appreciation of our history has not. The historic journey on the road of self-government which our nation and state embarked upon almost two and one half centuries ago has taken us through the battlefields of Revolution, Civil War and World Wars.

Throughout this "Experiment in Democracy," there has been a healthy skepticism by "We the People" about the role of government which we have "ordained and established." The lingering pain of this "Great Recession" in which we are still engulfed has underscored the urgency of re-examining the role of government in our lives.

The evolution of society has infringed on much of the elbow room our ancestors enjoyed and government has been asked to regulate our actions as we bump into each other in our frantic search for success. In times of economic prosperity, we often ignore the costs and inconvenience of governmental paternalism. But in times such as these, with more than one of every ten of our employable citizens out of work, we must justify every cent that government extracts from our economy. Therefore, we must concentrate our attention and our resources on the core responsibilities of government.

Our State Constitution provides that "Government is instituted for the protection, security, and benefit of the people..." (Article 1, Section2, Paragraph 2). Keeping our citizens safe, therefore, is one of state government's primary responsibilities. The challenge is great. Presently, one out of every thirteen Georgia residents is under some form of correctional control. It cost about Three Million Dollars per day to operate our Department of Corrections. And yet, every day criminals continue to inflict violence on our citizens and an alarming number of perpetrators are juveniles.

College students should be concerned about their grades not whether they are going to be mugged on their way home from class. Visitors to our cities should be treated as welcomed guests and protected. Families should not live in fear of gang violence and drive-by shootings. But most of all, our dedicated law enforcement officers must not be targets for criminals. Anyone who harms one of them harms us all, for they embody the Constitutional mandate that government provide us with protection and security.

Breaking the culture of crime and violence is not a task for law enforcement officials alone. Parents must assume more responsibility for their children. Communities must marshal their collective wills; civic and religious organizations must use their influence to set the tone for expected behavior.

For violent and repeat offenders, we will make you pay for your crimes. For other offenders who want to change their lives, we will provide the opportunity to do so with Day Reporting Centers, Drug, DUI and Mental Health Courts and expanded probation and treatment options. As a State, we cannot afford to have so many of our citizens waste their lives because of addictions. It is draining our State Treasury and depleting our workforce.

As Governor I call on local elected officials, Sheriffs and local law enforcement personnel to work with me and State law enforcement officers to break this cycle of crime that threatens the security of all law abiding citizens.

One of the other core responsibilities of State government is the education of our children. This is an undertaking that has been the primary focus of several of my predecessors in this office. Despite their best efforts and that of dedicated teachers and educators all across our state, our public education system in grades K through 12 has failed to make the progress we need. This failure is a stain on our efforts to recruit businesses to our State and is a contributing factor in the frightening crime statistics previously mentioned. High dropout rates and low graduation percentages are incompatible with the future I envision for Georgia.

We are blessed with many schools that are producing excellent results and it is their example which we should attempt to replicate all across the state. We are also blessed with dedicated teachers and principals who work very hard to improve the lives of the young people they teach. In addition, we have many support staff and dedicated parents who are an important part of our education system. I thank them for their service and encourage them in these difficult economic times. I will do my best to reward their efforts.

Improving public education is not just the responsibility of educators. Therefore, I call on all Georgians to rededicate themselves to the improvement of education. I ask parents to read to their young children and cooperate with teachers so that educational excellence is a family goal. I ask teachers and educators to recommit themselves to their profession and be willing to embrace new ideas. I ask local school boards to listen to the opinions of parents and teachers as they adopt education policies. And I ask the members of the General Assembly and our State School Board to work with me to restore discipline in our schools, eliminate bureaucratic nonsense, adopt fair funding mechanisms and reward quality and excellence. If we do these things, we will convey the magic of learning to our children and restore the joy of teaching to our educators.

One of the bright stars of education in our State is the HOPE Program. This initiative of Former Governor Zell Miller has greatly enhanced the Pre-K, Technical College and College and University opportunities for our young people. As the scope of these programs has expanded and as the number of participants has increased, the financial reserves are being rapidly depleted. I am dedicated to honoring the promise that has been made to our students through HOPE and will work with the General Assembly to tailor the program to the financial realities we face today. I was not elected to make easy decisions, but difficult ones. In this legislative session we will save the HOPE for future generations.

Another core responsibility of State Government is transportation. With an expansive land mass that is populated by one large metropolitan area, several medium-sized municipalities, and many smaller cities and rural counties, our transportation needs are very diverse. With our ports at Savannah and Brunswick, we are part of an expanding international trade community. We will do our part to deepen the Savannah port in order to accommodate the larger vessels that will soon pass through the Panama Canal. But we must do more. Our rail capacity and cargo routes must be improved and expanded. We must not miss this opportunity to provide jobs for Georgians.

Highway congestion, especially in the Greater Atlanta area is a deterrent to job growth in the region. If we do not solve this problem soon, we will lose the businesses who want to expand or locate in our State. I am dedicated to working with all elements of government to improve our transportation system and I call on all Georgians to join us. We must put aside some of the regional differences of the past and work for the common good of our State.

As our State continues to grow, the demand for water has likewise increased. As Governor, I will continue to pursue negotiations with Alabama and Florida to reach a resolution of the long standing dispute over the use of water in our Federal reservoirs and our major rivers. We will develop regional reservoirs and continue our conservation efforts. We have been blessed with abundant water resources and we must use them wisely.

Georgia cannot achieve its potential if its people are not healthy. As Governor, I will resist the efforts of the Federal Government to mandate its solutions on our people, our businesses and our State government. We will do our part to provide healthcare to our most vulnerable citizens, but government cannot make or keep us healthy. The primary responsibility for good health rests with individuals and families. We can help cultivate a culture of wellness in our educational programs and offer incentives in Medicaid and the State Health Insurance Program, but it is only individuals and families that can make healthy lifestyle choices.

There are many other functions of our State Government, but I consider these to be the most important. Each in its own way is a part of the greatest challenge we face, the creation of jobs for our citizens. If we make Georgia the best place in the country to live, learn and work, businesses will grow and expand and we will achieve real prosperity. That is my goal and the actions of my administration will always be focused on it.

So today as we embark on this journey to lead our State forward, I call on all Georgians to assume responsibility for themselves and their family. I call on communities and civic and religious organizations to continue and expand their efforts to serve the needs of people in their area. State government cannot and should not be expected to provide for us what we can provide for ourselves.

Let us refocus State Government on its core responsibilities and relieve our taxpayers of the burden of unnecessary programs. Let us be frugal and wise. Let us restore the confidence of our citizens in a government that is limited and efficient. Together let us make Georgia the brightest star in the constellation of these United States.

May God bless you and our great State of Georgia.

Governor, First Lady to Light Governor's Mansion Christmas Tree

Governor Sonny Perdue and First Lady Mary Perdue will host the annual tree lighting at the Governor’s Mansion this SUNDAY, December 5 at 6:30 p.m., an event jump starting the Mansion holiday touring season.

“Mary and I would like to invite Georgians to visit the Governor’s Mansion this holiday season,” said Governor Perdue. “It is our privilege to welcome visitors to the Mansion and celebrate the holidays in this beautiful residence.”

The annual holiday tour hosts musical performances from students and groups from across the state.   Tours featuring the holiday-themed decorations at the Governor’s Mansion will be held Dec. 6 through Dec. 17, Monday through Friday from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday from 10 p.m. to 1 p.m. For information regarding holiday tours please visit www.mansion.georgia.gov.

The Governor’s Mansion is also a drop-off location for Toys for Tots. Visitors are encouraged to bring a new, unwrapped toy for children ranging from toddlers-18 years of age. Toys for Tots Began in 1947, when Major Bill Hendricks, USCR and a group of Marine Reservists in Los Angeles collected and distributed 5,000 toys to needy children. The tradition has continued for more than 60 years and thousands of toys are donated each year. More information on the Toys for Tots program can be found at www.toysfortots.org.

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Governor Perdue Visiting Troops in Iraq

Governor Sonny Perdue and three other governors are visiting American soldiers serving in Iraq today (November 10), as Veteran’s Day approaches this week. Governor Perdue is in Iraq as part of a delegation with Governors Haley Barbour of Mississippi, Dave Freudenthal of Wyoming and Ted Kulongoski of Oregon.

“I am very encouraged with the progress that has been made in Iraq,” Governor Perdue said. “I have been able to visit troops from across Georgia and it is clear that the strength and courage of our soldiers have made a real difference here.”

The governors were able to attend a cookout today in Iraq with soldiers from each of their states.

“I am especially honored to be with our soldiers as we all prepare for Veteran’s Day tomorrow,” Governor Perdue added. “I encourage all Georgians to do all they can to show our veterans how much we appreciate their service and commitment to our great country.”

On Monday, the governors received a briefing in Washington D.C. by Secretary of Defense Robert Gates and other Pentagon officials. They also visited Walter Reed Army Medical Center to meet with wounded soldiers.

Governor Perdue last visited Iraq in November 2005. On that trip, he also visited Qatar, Kuwait and Afghanistan.

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Governor Perdue to Visit Panama Canal

Governor Sonny Perdue will lead a state delegation September 23 – 26 to Panama to discuss Panama Canal Expansion and the proposed Savannah Harbor Expansion Project. Governor Perdue will be joined by senior leaders of the Georgia Ports Authority (GPA) and the Georgia Department of Economic Development. The trip will include a meeting with the Panama Canal Authority and with Maersk, GPA’s largest customer.

“More than 72 percent of total trade moving through Georgia’s ports transits the Panama Canal,” said Governor Perdue. “The economic engine of the Port of Savannah is directly tied to the Canal. It is the lifeline that feeds our port by bringing jobs and prosperity to not only Georgia but the entire eastern half of the United States.”

As home to the fourth largest U.S. container port in Savannah, the state of Georgia has a great interest in the Panama Canal Expansion. The Georgia Ports Authority has had a strategic partnership with the Panama Canal Authority since 2003, which provides economic benefits to both regions.

The Panama Canal will celebrate its 100th anniversary in 2014 with the opening of a new set of locks. The new locks will double capacity and allow more traffic and longer, wider ships to go through the canal.

In preparation for the expanded canal and larger ships calling on the East Coast, the GPA is working diligently to gain approval on the Savannah Harbor Expansion Project, designed to deepen the Savannah River up to 48 feet. With an estimated completion date of 2014, the deepened shipping channel will be able to handle the larger vessels that will transit the expanded canal.
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Oxendine Holds a Commanding Lead

John Oxendine, Georgia's fire and insurance commissioner, holds a commanding lead over all other Republican gubernatorial hopefuls in an early look at next year's state GOP Primary.

A new Rasmussen Reports telephone survey in Georgia shows Oxendine with 35% support among those likely to vote in the state's open Republican Primary. His next closest competitors are Georgia Secretary of State Karen Handel with 11% and Congressman Nathan Deal at 10%. But 33% are not sure which candidate they prefer.

State Senator Eric Johnson has three percent (3%) support, while State Representative Austin Scott tallies two percent (2%). Conservative businessman Ray McBerry is supported by one percent (1%), and five percent (5%) like some other candidate.

Sixty-one percent (61%) of those likely to vote in the GOP Primary have a favorable opinion of Oxendine, while just 18% view him unfavorably. Twenty percent (20%) don't have an opinion of Oxendine. These numbers are largely unchanged from April.

Forty-nine percent (49%) have a favorable view of Handel, with 12% unfavorable. But like all the candidates other than Oxendine, she is little known by many Georgia voters. Thirty-eight percent (38%) say they don't know enough about Handel to voice an opinion of her.

For Deal, his favorables are 28% and his unfavorables are 14%. But 58% don't have an opinion about the 16-year congressman.

Johnson is viewed favorably by 21% and unfavorably by 14%, with 66% not sure what they think of him.

Twenty percent (20%) have a favorable regard for Scott, while 11% view him unfavorably. But nearly seven-out-of-10 Georgia voters (69%) aren't sure what they think of Scott.

McBerry has 17% favorables and 14% unfavorables, also with 69% who have no opinion of him.

This statewide telephone survey of 463 Likely Republican Primary Voters in Georgia was conducted by Rasmussen Reports June 17, 2009. The margin of sampling error for the survey is +/- 5 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence.

Statement from Team Oxendine:

At some point, John's opponents will need some new spin. John has demonstrated respect for his opponents by publicly acknowledging that with six candidates, a runoff is a reality. John has demonstrated in a very consistent manner that he has earned the trust and respect of the conservative movement in Georgia and John will be the conservative candidate in the runoff.

The numbers speak for themselves:

* John has more than a three to one lead over his two closest opponents.
* When you combine the numbers of his two closest opponents, he has a greater than 10 point lead over their combined numbers.
* When you combine the numbers of all other announced candidates and the "other" category, John leads all those combined.
* John's approval rating is at a solid 61%. John is the only Republican with an approval rating higher than 50%.


"With Roy Barnes in this campaign, Georgia Republicans understand we must nominate the strongest candidate to run in the general election. John Oxendine is that candidate," said Kathryn Ballou, campaign manager.

"John's opponents will say the poll numbers do not matter. The polls are not worth the paper they are printed on. In other words, John's opponents validate the central premise of John's campaign. John Oxendine is the grassroots Governor who represents people - the people who participate in these polls. John's establishment opponents, who listen to the special interests in Atlanta and Washington DC, simply are out of touch with what the grassroots in the Georgia Republican Party want in a nominee for Governor," said Kathryn.

"John's very proud of where the campaign is and he will continue to work very hard to earn the trust and support of Georgia," said Kathryn.

John Oxendine
Governor 2010

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Oxendine Leads Republican Candidates in Georgia Municipal Association (GMA) Membership Poll

As it does each year, GMA conducted a survey of both elected and appointed city officials a few weeks before its Annual Convention. The survey was successfully emailed to 2,099 mayors, council members, managers and clerks. GMA received 528 usable responses for a response rate of 25.15%.

The results are as follows:

If held today, who do you think would win the 2010 Republican primary for Governor?

John Oxendine 25.4%
Nathan Deal 18.2%
Karen Handel 12.9%
Eric Johnson 8.9%
Austin Scott 1.3%
Other 1.3%
Ray McBerry 0.4%
Undecided 31.6%

If held today, who do you think would win the 2010 Democratic primary for Governor?

Roy Barnes 44.1%
Don't Know 20.7%
Thurbert Baker 16.1%
David Poythress 10.9%
Dubose Porter 7.5%

"It is an honor to receive this support from Georgia's municipal leadership. I am committed to our local government leaders. My Administration will work as an equal partner with Georgia's counties and cities on behalf of the people we all serve," said Oxendine.

"I appreciate the hard work our municipal leaders do on behalf of Georgia. Day in and day out they make decisions that impact real Georgia families and businesses. They do so with a sense of professionalism and pride which makes Georgia a better place for all of us," said Oxendine.

"I look forward to continuing to earn the trust and support of the members of the Georgia Municipal Association," said Oxendine.

John Oxendine
Governor 2010

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Fox 5 Atlanta Oxendine, Barnes Top Picks For Governor

A poll to be released Wednesday by Strategic Vision, LLC, a public relations and public affairs agency, shows that state insurance commissioner John Oxendine and former governor Roy Barnes are the leading candidates for Georgia's governor.

If the Republican primary for Governor were held today, for whom would you vote, Nathan Deal, Karen Handel, Eric Johnson, Ray McBerry, John Oxendine, or Austin Scott? (Republicans Only)

John Oxendine 35%
Karen Handel 13%
Nathan Deal 12%
Eric Johnson 4%
Ray McBerry 2%
Austin Scott 2%
Undecided 32%

If the Democratic primary for Governor was held today, for whom would you vote, Thurbert Baker, Roy Barnes, Dubose Porter, or David Poythress? (Democrats Only)

Roy Barnes 49%
Thurbert Baker 30%
David Poythress 5%
Dubose Porter 2%
Undecided 14%

Strategic Vision, LLC is an Atlanta-headquartered public relations and public affairs agency. Results are based on telephone interviews with 800 likely voters in Georgia, aged 18+, and conducted June 12-14, 2009 by telephone. The margin of sampling error is ±3 percentage points. Additional information on Strategic Vision, LLC may be obtained at www.strategicvision.biz.

"While it remains early in the campaign, Team Oxendine notes that John Oxendine continues to lead in every independent poll and leads the undecided category - the first time a Republican candidate has done so with the current field," said campaign manager Kathryn Ballou.

"We are proud that John Oxendine continues to earn the support of Republicans across Georgia. With Governor Barnes entrance into the race, Georgia Republicans understand that our Party must support the candidate who can win in November of 2010. These numbers indicate John Oxendine is that candidate," said Ballou.

John Oxendine
Governor 2010

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DGA Welcomes Former Gov. Barnes to Georgia Race

/PRNewswire/ -- With the announcement that former Governor Roy Barnes is entering the race for Georgia governor, the Democratic Governors Association today adds the state to its growing list of potential pickup opportunities in 2010.

"Roy has the right vision to look forward, restore the values that Georgians grew up with and improve the lives of all Georgians throughout the state," said Montana Governor Brian Schweitzer, Chairman of the DGA. "Roy has the knowledge and character to get rid of the special interest influence that's rampant at the Capitol and get the economy moving again. His campaign will strengthen a healthy Democratic field."

Barnes' entry into the race makes Georgia a high-level pickup opportunity, as recent polling shows him in a dead heat with and even overtaking the leading Republicans. In one recent poll, Barnes is leading both of the top two GOP contenders by 5 points. ["IA poll: Barnes could threaten the GOP streak," Atlanta Journal Constitution, March 20, 2009]

Electoral trends in Georgia also have been moving in Democrats' favor. Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Jim Martin forced Republican Saxby Chambliss into a runoff election, and President Obama came within 5 points of beating Sen. John McCain.

The national playing field continues to expand for Democrats in previously red territory. In the past month, Florida and Minnesota have also become top-tier pickup opportunities.

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The Biotechnology Industry Organization Honors Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue as Governor of the Year

/PRNewswire/ -- The Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO) announced its selection of Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue as 2009 Governor of the Year in recognition of his leadership and support of the biosciences in Georgia.

"Governor Perdue's support of biotechnology has been vital for our industry's success in Georgia," said Jim Greenwood, President and CEO of BIO. "He has been a stalwart advocate of the biosciences in Georgia and truly understands the promise of our industry to provide revolutionary therapies and cures for patients, increase agricultural sustainability and develop alternative fuels. In addition, I would like to personally thank the Governor and his team at the Department of Economic Development for being such great partners in helping to plan and organize the upcoming 2009 BIO International Convention."

Among Governor Perdue's programs is the implementation of the first-ever seed capital and facilities funds focused specifically on the life sciences industry. The Georgia Bioscience seed fund has been used to support 16 start-up companies over the past two years. The life sciences facilities fund assists companies with their facility needs including new building and laboratory construction. Governor Perdue has also allocated, on average, $30 million to $40 million a year towards strengthening research in life sciences and other advanced technologies at the state's universities.

"Governor Perdue recognizes that a robust life sciences industry is essential for the state's economic growth," said Charlie Craig, President of GeorgiaBio. "He has put in place policies that will continue to support Georgia's position as a leading home for biotechnology long after he leaves office."

Research confirms biotechnology's strength in Georgia. Released today, the 2009 Shaping Infinity report, produced by GeorgiaBio in association with the Selig Center for Economic Growth at the Terry College of Business, includes the first-ever economic impact study of the life sciences industry in Georgia. The key finding of the study is that Georgia's life sciences companies contribute substantial economic activity to the state: one out of every 68 jobs in Georgia owes its existence to the life sciences industry and university research.

The industry is both a pillar of and a driver of the state's economy, translating into jobs, higher incomes, greater production of goods and services, and higher revenue collections for state and local government. The study reveals that Georgia's life sciences industry and research at the state's universities are responsible for:

-- 62,033 jobs
-- $17.3 billion in annual economic impact.

-- $517 million in tax revenues for state and local governments

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Governor Proposes Investments in Georgia's Future, Encourages Long-Term Perspective

Governor Sonny Perdue today delivered his annual State of the State address before a joint session of the General Assembly detailing how the state continues to fulfill its core mission through challenging economic times. The Governor’s Amended FY 2009 and FY 2010 budgets and policy initiatives continue his commitment to education, economic development and government transformation to deliver better value for the taxpayer’s dollar.

“We must not allow ourselves to be trapped in a short-term mindset where rash decisions result in dire long-term consequences,” said Governor Perdue. “Our perspective must be one of optimism even in the face of difficult economic cycles.”

Governor Perdue used his State of the State address to formally submit his Amended FY 2009 and FY 2010 budget recommendations to the General Assembly. Governor Perdue’s recommended Amended 2009 budget totals $19.2 billion and the 2010 budget stands at $20.2 billion.

The Governor thanked the legislature for working with his administration to help replenish the Rainy Day Fund, which now stands at $1.2 billion. In these budgets, Governor Perdue recommended using the maximum amount available for appropriation from the reserves, appropriating $187 million for the education midyear adjustment, $50 million in 2009 and $408 million in 2010. In 2009, a number of one-time strategies unavailable in 2010 will be implemented to balance the budget. Therefore, Governor Perdue recommended the largest portion of available reserve funds be committed to the 2010 budget.

The Governor’s 2010 budget includes a $1.2 billion bond package that will create an estimated 20,000 jobs and features projects in which both design and construction are funded in the same year.

“These projects touch every corner of the state and include new construction at our universities, technical schools, local school systems and libraries; harbor deepening at the Savannah port and needed improvements at state facilities.,” said Governor Perdue.

Governor Perdue also outlined a proposal to restructure the Department of Human Resources. Currently, $3.8 billion is spent within DHR every year. The plan calls for the creation of a new Department of Behavioral Health which will include all mental health and addictive disease programs. The bill also establishes a Department of Health, a combination of the public health and oversight programs in DHR and the current functions of DHR. Remaining social services, such as Developmental Disabilities, Aging, DFCS and Child Support, will come together under a reconstituted Department of Human Services.

Governor Perdue will also introduce legislation to ask those who receive Medicaid payments to help fund the system. This proposal takes advantage of the fact that every dollar used toward Medicaid purposes draws down almost two additional dollars from the federal government. The budget will reflect, and an accompanying bill will propose, a 1.6 percent fee on hospitals and health insurance plans to, not only fill the hole in Medicaid, but also to do what the healthcare community has asked of Governor Perdue’s administration. This proposal will significantly raise Medicaid rates, particularly for hospitals; and in conjunction with the SuperSpeeder legislation, provide $60 million for trauma to sustain and expand the state’s trauma hospitals, EMS and trauma physician infrastructure.

The Governor asked the General Assembly to carefully consider the consequences of cutting healthcare coverage.

“I implore you, do not rush into a short-sighted cut that would have long-term consequences for Georgia’s most needy,” the Governor said.

Governor Perdue highlighted the efforts by Gwinnett County schools to increase student achievement. Last week, the State Board of Education approved an IE2 contract and committed to be held accountable for increased student achievement above and beyond state and federal requirements.

For the 2009 session, Governor Perdue is proposing merit pay legislation that will award teachers who show evidence that their classroom instruction leads to increased student achievement. Governor Perdue is also proposing differentiated pay for math and science teachers. Additional legislation will ensure every student in Georgia has the benefit of responsible leadership at the school system level. This legislation will clearly define what citizens expect from Georgia’s school board members, and it will give the state the ability to replace board members who aren’t serving in the best interests of their students.

“Education means opportunity,” said Governor Perdue. “We spend more than half of our state budget on education because we know that opportunity is discovered in Georgia’s classrooms.”

Governor Perdue’s encouraged legislators and all Georgians to remember the resiliency of our great state, and while we confront the short-term challenges of today we will continue to prepare to take advantage of future opportunities.

“As I think about the American promise of freedom and economic opportunity, I know that rich promise will mean great things for Georgians in the years to come. The soil has proven too rich to dare believe anything else,” the Governor said. “As I look within, I find something within the human constitution that bounces back, something within this collective American spirit that rebuilds. This is the time to continue building our state, to prepare for the future, to plant the seeds that will enrich our children’s inheritance. Together, we will do just that.”



The text of the Governor’s State of the State speech is below…

Mr. President, Mr. Speaker, President Pro Tem Williams, Speaker Pro Tem Burkhalter … Members of the General Assembly. Constitutional officers and members of the judiciary. The Consular Corps and other distinguished guests. And, most of all, my fellow Georgians.

I want to begin this morning with the story of a young Georgian who embodies the resiliency of our state.

Just three years ago, Jeremy Lee was a 14-year old student from Clayton County on his way to the Ireland Youth Development Campus in Milledgeville because he and some friends made a bad decision.

He could have seen this as an indictment not only of his crime, but of his potential. He could have settled for a life marked by disappointment.

But Jeremy made a life altering decision, one that will benefit the lives of others for years to come. He chose to focus on what he could be, not wallowing in the self-pity of tough times, and invested his time and energy in preparing himself to emerge from that campus a better person.

Last summer, Jeremy walked out of those gates with a high school diploma and is now enrolled at Morehouse College.

Jeremy is now pursuing his goal to be a doctor, and that pursuit is a testament to his inner-resilience. I am pleased that he could join us this morning. Jeremy, please rise so we can recognize your efforts.

It’s Jeremy’s resilience and the resilience of thousands like him across our state that gives me confidence that we will emerge from these challenging times stronger.

This is a pivotal moment in our nation’s history. It is a moment in which we are asked to see beyond what George Will calls the “tyranny of the short-term,” beyond the circumstances of the moment, to the big picture – a picture that is informed by our history, bolstered by our character and steeled by our will to succeed.

Despite the stresses of a moment like this, we must not allow ourselves to be trapped in a short-term mindset where rash decisions result in dire long-term consequences. We must remain focused on the big picture … Our perspective must be one of optimism even in the face of difficult economic cycles.

… I look forward to attending President-elect Obama’s inauguration next week and I am confident that he and the new administration will do everything in their power to meet the challenges that face this nation.

However, we cannot plan by relying on the unknown, and the budgets I present to you today are balanced and do not assume money from Washington. Our latest revenue estimate for this fiscal year shows a decline of $2.2 billion, resulting in a $19.2 billion amended budget.

Political mantras aside, cutting more than 10 percent from a budget cannot be achieved by simply cutting waste. While we have worked for six years to do more with less, at some point, in business or in government, it becomes less with less.

The job of budgeting is hard right now, but it’s not because the directions are complicated. Like families sitting around their kitchen tables all over Georgia, we are doing what is necessary to balance our checkbook.

… I want to thank the legislature for working with us to replenish the Rainy Day Fund, which now stands at $1.2 billion. As you all know, at my request, you wisely passed legislation requiring us to retain at least four percent of previous year’s revenue in the reserve fund for balancing the budget at the end of the year if needed.

So I have recommended using the maximum amount available for appropriation from the reserves, appropriating $50 million this year and $408 million next year, as well as $187 million for the midyear education adjustment. We are using some one-time strategies to help balance this year’s budget that won’t be available next year. Therefore, I have recommended that the largest portion of available reserve funds be committed to next year’s budget, which stands at $20.2 billion.

I want to applaud our department leaders -- men and women who are on the ground, who know their mission, their people and their customers. This past spring, agencies willingly responded to my call for restrained spending and returned over $200 million to our state’s Rainy Day Fund at the end of last year.

And then this summer, when I asked them to identify potential budget reductions, their response was thorough and strategic. They were able to find the cuts and maintain the ability to execute their core missions.

That is a testament to those leaders and to the culture change we’ve made in state government!

In six years, we have transformed government making it more efficient and more accountable by instilling a customer-focused culture of public service.

Sometimes this difference isn’t seen in a budget document. But even then, it often impacts thousands of Georgians, who spend less time waiting on government and more time doing what they want to do.

Over the last three years, Joe Doyle and his team at the Office of Customer Service have led this culture change. For example, in Child Support Services, the time between a parent’s initial contact with the agency and meeting with a case worker, has gone from a 30 day wait to same-day service.

A year ago, when a prospective teacher seeking certification called the Professional Standards Commission, they waited nine minutes, on average, to speak with a person … 37 percent just hung up out of frustration. Now, those folks wait eight seconds.

The wait for a new driver’s license has gone from two hours to six minutes and the Medicaid approval process has gone from nine weeks to twelve days, with half of all applicants getting same day approval. And those changes didn’t cost a penny!

This year, we experienced a historic early voter turnout and this same group partnered with the Secretary of State’s to assist 13,000 voters: telling them where and how to voter early. They will continue their work with projects ranging from improving financial aid response times to speeding up DCH’s approval process for children with special needs.

Ladies and gentlemen, I want you to help me recognize Mr. faster, friendlier and easier … Joe Doyle.

We are working in every area of government to ensure that we are getting the best possible value for our investment and that we are providing the best possible service to every Georgian.

To that end, in February, I signed an executive order forming a task force to look at a possible restructuring of the Department of Human Resources. Folks, we spend $3.8 billion within DHR every year – an agency that hasn’t undergone major change since it was formed over three decades ago.

After a thorough review by the Health and Human Services Task Force, we have determined a course of action that will re-orient our approach to healthcare by shifting the focus from inputs to results.

First, we are proposing the creation of a new Department of Behavioral Health which will include all mental health and addictive disease programs. This will improve our responsiveness to mental health needs and will make funding more transparent.

We will continue to improve care by moving towards a community-based delivery system. I know some folks will be concerned with how this might affect jobs in their area, but when it comes to mental health, I believe we have an obligation to provide services to Georgians as close as possible to where they live.

Second, the bill would establish a Department of Health – a combination of the public health and oversight programs in DHR and the current functions of DCH. This agency, which will be led by Dr. Rhonda Medows, will deliver workable solutions on the key healthcare issues we face …

Issues affecting Georgians like how to best facilitate and finance healthcare coverage and how to provide needed access.

Preventative medicine will play a bigger role, inefficiencies and redundancies will be eliminated and every stakeholder in Georgia’s healthcare system – from county boards of public health to Medicaid providers – will work as part of a more coordinated effort.

The remaining social services – Developmental Disabilities, Aging, DFCS and Child Support – will come together under a reconstituted Department of Human Services led by Commissioner B.J. Walker.

We have made progress in the delivery of these safety-net services to our critical populations: we have improved from 50th to 5th in the nation for moving people from state hospitals to community facilities; DFACS has reduced out-of-home placements by 21 percent, and recurring child abuse rates have dropped from 9 percent to 3 percent in the last two years, 2 percent below the national average. I believe a more targeted focus on these programs will lead to even further improvement.

We know that improved lines of communication and enhanced coordination are critical, and I fully expect that these agency heads will meet regularly to coordinate policy and cross-agency service delivery.

I have charged the affected agencies to make this transition within their current budgeted amounts and, in the long term, we believe this reorganization will bring greater efficiency and greater value for the taxpayer dollar.

I want to thank all those who have helped make this happen, particularly the legislative members of the task force: Senators Jack Hill and Renee Unterman, and Representatives Ben Harbin and Mark Butler.

I look forward to working with the legislature and health and human service leaders and providers throughout this state to improve healthcare delivery for every Georgian.

When I came into office, Medicaid was growing annually at rates as high as 17 percent. Over the last four years, growth averaged just 3.4 percent, saving the state a staggering $4.7 billion. Those are numbers that any business would envy.

Even though we have controlled the growth of our Medicaid budget, we faced some very difficult choices this year. The federal government has told states that we can no longer fund Medicaid as we have since 2006. That decision could not have come at a worse time. Washington, in its infinite wisdom, has decided that if we assess a fee against our Care Management Organizations as we currently do, we must impose it on all commercial health plans.

We had to choose: everyone or no one. If we said “no one,” it would have cost Georgia $96 million in state Medicaid funds.

While I’m recommending cuts to many agencies and programs above ten percent, even a five percent cut to the state Medicaid budget would mean an additional $112 million reduction.

That one-two punch of federal mandates and declining revenues means we faced a $208 million hole in the state’s Medicaid budget. To be clear, this $208 million represents the funds paid to providers on behalf of Georgia’s most needy.

To ensure these needed services continue, I had to choose between some tough options. The first option was to eliminate discretionary Medicaid programs – the ones that the federal government does not require us to fund.

This would mean eliminating the medically needy category for eligibility, which serves 7,100 Georgians; eliminating the Katie Beckett Program for 3,100 Georgians; eliminating dental benefits for the 60,000 pregnant women that were covered last year; and eliminating Medicaid coverage for foster children over the age of 18.

In PeachCare, we would have had to eliminate dental benefits, freeze enrollment and reduce the enrollment cap, as well as increase premiums and – for the first time – impose premiums on children between the ages of two and five. All of those cuts combined would still have left a gap exceeding $150 million.

A second option, I could have cut reimbursements to our providers by $208 million. Providers have consistently told us – rightly or wrongly – they believe even our present reimbursement rates are already too low.

A third option would have been to impose the same 4.5 percent fee on commercial and Medicaid managed care and preferred provider plans, that we currently impose only on CMOs. While that remains an option, I prefer a broader based approach that spreads the burden.

I chose to ask those who receive Medicaid payments to help fund the system. This proposal takes advantage of the fact that every dollar we send to Washington for Medicaid draws down almost two additional dollars.

So my budget will reflect, and an accompanying bill will propose, a 1.6 percent fee on hospitals and health insurance plans to fill the hole in Medicaid, and to do what the healthcare community has asked of us for so long: one, to significantly raise reimbursement rates for providers, particularly for hospitals; and two, in conjunction with SuperSpeeder legislation, provide $60 million to sustain and expand the state’s trauma network.

Like most things we address here at the Capitol, this plan will not be universally acclaimed, but I have arrived at this solution after thoughtful, careful deliberation. I implore you … Do not rush into a short-sighted cut that would have long-term consequences for Georgia’s most needy.

Finally, for those that would wait for Washington … we have waited before. And while I am hopeful that we may receive additional federal funds, when I put the budget together, I did not have the option to budget for money that may never materialize.

… We all say, whether it’s in a campaign or a State of the State speech like this, that education is our number one priority. But what does that mean? To me, it means providing opportunity. We spend more than half of our state budget on education because we know that opportunity is discovered in Georgia’s classrooms.

In these budget times, there are certain things we can do to help our local school systems. We have already informed schools of our intention to relax expenditure controls, giving them additional flexibility. This move will allow those closest to the students to manage funds in the most efficient way.

… Last year, I proudly signed IE2 legislation. Let me boil it down for you … this is true local control with real accountability! In exchange for this flexibility, systems entering into a contract with the State Board of Education are held accountable for increased student achievement above and beyond state and federal requirements. And they will face serious consequences if they fail to meet those goals.

It’s exactly the kind of clear, straightforward and results-driven program local school districts have asked for since I came into office. And, just last week, the State Board of Education approved the first IE2 contract with Gwinnett County.

This means that ten percent of the students in Georgia will be under a performance contract to increase student achievement. I commend Alvin Wilbanks and the Gwinnett County School Board for continuing to lead by example.

In the weeks and months to come, I believe you’re going to see progressive school systems from all around the state sign on, and if you’re in a parent in Georgia, that’s something to be excited about!

As I outlined yesterday, I am proposing legislation that will ensure that every student in Georgia has the benefit of responsible leadership at the school system level.

Most local school board members in this state are in that position for all the right reasons and they do a great job for our students, but unfortunately, that isn’t universal. And we must take action, because when a school board is failing, every student that depends on them is cheated.

This legislation will clearly define what citizens expect from school board members and it will give the state the ability to replace board members with responsible, local citizens when accreditation is threatened. Never again, do I intend for the state to be handcuffed by our current law and powerless to help students who are being failed by the adults in their community.

Also, I will propose legislation to establish a high school principal incentive pay program for those principals who increase student achievement – raising graduation rates and improving SAT and End of Course Test scores.

I am proposing merit pay legislation that will award teachers who show evidence that their classroom instruction leads to increased student achievement. Currently, extraordinary teachers are locked into a compensation model that fails to reward excellence. This is the next step in moving education from a culture of compliance to one based on performance.

We are also proposing differentiated pay for math and science teachers. It astonishes me that this state produced just three physics teachers last year. We must introduce a market dynamic into the salary schedule to address these critical needs areas. Some may be surprised to hear these ambitious plans in these times, but, this more than any other period, is a time to continue improving education and the basic institutions of government.

We are fortunate to live in a state where people want to be. Last year, Georgia was the fourth fastest growing state in the nation. And in the last eight years, we have added 1.5 million people.

Not only do people move here, they stay here. Georgia ranks third in the nation for keeping our native-born population, with over 69 percent of people who were born in Georgia still living here. I don’t say all this just to share statistics, there is a story there, and it’s a story about Georgia’s competitive advantages and a great quality of life.

This enormous growth brings its own challenges … I call those the “problems of prosperity.”

We continue to work to protect our most precious natural resource … water. Last year, I signed into law Georgia’s first Comprehensive Statewide Water Management Plan to help our state balance water use and growth.

I want to, again, thank all of you for participating in what I consider to be the most inclusive piece of legislation we’ve worked on since I’ve been Governor.

The Lieutenant Governor, Speaker and I will soon announce our appointments to the Regional Water Councils. We are working to ensure that those selected will represent a good cross-section of Georgia talent – both in their personal experiences and geographically. These councils are going to put our Statewide Water Plan in action.

I am confident the rains will come, and I am encouraged by the fact that our new management plan will make us better stewards, both now and over the long term.

Our experience in working together on the water plan will be needed again as we address our transportation needs. A growing Georgia will depend upon a transportation network that supports mobility and commerce. Like most government programs, the money available is short of what our needs are, so we must guard every dollar that is spent to make sure we maximize its value. Reforming DOT has been one of the toughest challenges my administration has faced, and we are not through yet.

Last summer, I commissioned Investing in Tomorrow’s Transportation Today, or IT3, so that we as policymakers could understand the value of additional investment, while we continue to bring our transportation planning, funding and building policies up to date.

Transportation improvements providing access to markets, reliable and stress-free commutes and speedy freight movements can be the catalyst that propels our economy forward, just as we have seen over our state’s history.

The Lieutenant Governor, Speaker and I share a mutual commitment to address our transportation needs, and we will continue reforming DOT with a goal of standing up a system that can take that funding and provide the value Georgians deserve. Once I feel certain that we can deliver transportation value to Georgia citizens, I will support responsible measures to raise additional revenues.

… As Georgia grows, so do our energy needs and Georgia is meeting this challenge by creating a fertile environment for alternative energy production. Those efforts have been rewarded with $2.4 billion of investment over the last two years. That investment means new jobs for Georgians.

In November, Norcross-based Suniva, birthed right here in one of our research universities, began fabricating the most advanced solar technology in the world.

This summer, we will host more than 15,000 energy innovators for the biggest bio-lifescience conference in the world – BIO 2009. This is an outstanding opportunity to showcase Georgia’s progress in life sciences, and our potential to help heal, fuel and feed the world.

As we continue to attract new investment in biotechnology, we can secure our position as a leader in this industry by enacting laws that respect the role of the federal Food and Drug Administration as the regulator of the safety of drugs and medical devices.

But the best incentive we can offer an employer is a talented workforce that is ready to meet their needs, and our Work Ready program does just that.

We began Work Ready two years ago and Georgia workers have responded. There are now 111 counties – 70 percent of the state – working toward Certified Work Ready Community status.

As Georgia workers compete with peers as far away as China or as close as South Carolina, Work Ready puts them a step ahead. That is certainly the case with Joy Anthony.

Joy’s Work Ready Certificate distinguished her and gave her the edge she needed in her job search. Her employer was impressed by the skills Work Ready identified and they have designated her as a “Rising Star” in their company.

Joy is one over 35,000 Georgians to take control of their future, making themselves more marketable to employers looking for a talented workforce.

Ladies and gentleman, Georgia is ready to take advantage of our workforce and our strong balance sheet. We remain one of seven states with a triple-A bond rating and we will invest in projects that will be of long-term value to Georgians.

This year’s bond package, totaling over $1.2 billion in new investment, will put Georgians to work and build critical infrastructure. In the past, we have often funded the design phase of a project one year and construction at some later date. This year’s package will feature many projects in which both design and construction are funded in the same year, ensuring their timely completion.

In a time that we have trimmed our budget in other areas, we are aggressively increasing our bond package by a full twenty percent over last year. This will take advantage of low construction costs and create an estimated 20,000 new jobs in an industry that is ready to go to work.

These projects touch every corner of the state and include new construction at our universities, technical schools, local school systems and libraries; harbor deepening at the Savannah port and needed improvements at state facilities.

As I said at the outset today, we’re going to maintain a long-term perspective – we are not going to panic and make knee-jerk decisions that will have negative long-term consequences.

We stand at a crossroads, and as a father and a grandfather ten times over, I can say, we all recognize how important it is to the next generation that we get it right … right now.

Don’t hear me dismissing the scope or severity of this downturn. But, more importantly, don’t leave failing to hear the message that we need to look beyond this downturn.

Think about it, you don’t get anywhere in life without a long-term perspective and a long-term plan. You have to weather the turbulence - that’s true in a career, that’s true in the history of every successful marriage. Isn’t that right, Mary?

When the economy takes a downturn, you don’t give up on the economic promise of America that has proven true over the centuries. You don’t discard the promise … you build for the future with that promise in mind.

There is much to do in Georgia in this coming year but it can be summarized in that overarching mission to continue executing on the fundamentals of good government; to improve our competitive advantages, to make Georgia a better place to live and a better place to do business.

As I look back and think about our history, I am certain that this is not the tallest mountain we’ve been asked to climb.

As I think about the American promise of freedom and economic opportunity, I know that rich promise will mean great things for Georgians in the years to come. The soil has proven too rich to dare believe anything else.

As I look within, I find something within the human constitution that bounces back, something within this collective American spirit that rebuilds.

I’ll never claim to be a Nehemiah; but the prophet’s call, “Let us rebuild the walls,” rings true today. This is the time to continue building our state, to prepare for the future, to plant the seeds that will enrich our children’s inheritance. Together, we will do just that!

Thank you! God bless you. God bless America … and may God bless the great state of Georgia!

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Road Safe America Applauds American Trucking Associations Policy Supporting Electronic Speed Governors on All Big Trucks

(BUSINESS WIRE)--Road Safe America, a non-profit seeking to have a national regulation adopted requiring the use of speed governors to slow down tractor-trailer rigs to save lives, applauds the action by the board of the American Trucking Associations (ATA) supporting required activation of electronic speed governors on big trucks built since 1992 at 65 mph or slower.

The ATA board took the action as part of an 18-point initiative to reduce the number of highway fatalities by improving driver performance and vehicle safety. The ATA formerly had endorsed activation of speed governors on big trucks built in the future, so the retroactive nature of its new directive is welcomed as a pro-safety measure. This addresses the millions of existing trucks as well as those manufactured in the future.

“This is an historic breakthrough in our efforts to have speed governors activated at 65 mph on tractor trailer trucks over 13 tons because statistics from other nations show that when heavy trucks are operated at slower speeds, they are involved in fewer and less violent wrecks,” commented Stephen C. Owings, co-founder of Road Safe America (www.roadsafeamerica.org).

“The ATA is to be commended for its wisdom and foresight, and we hope the new policy will go into effect as soon as possible,” said Owings. “Each day that passes, more truckers and passenger car occupants and drivers are injured or killed in wrecks involving big rigs.”

Road Safe America was founded by the Owings after their son, Cullum, was killed in 2002 when his car – stopped in an interstate traffic jam – was crushed from behind by a tractor trailer truck going 7 mph over the posted speed limit on cruise control.

Since then, the Owings family and thousands of supporters in the trucking industry, government, business, and the insurance industry have been working to have speed governors, standard equipment on all heavy trucks in the U.S. since 1992, required to be activated on all Class 7 and 8 trucks (over 13 tons). “That one change will save the lives of some of the 1,000 truckers killed and the 4,000 motorists killed yearly in large-truck-related highway crashes,” said Owings, who has served on the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Advisory Committee.

The European Union, Australia, Japan and the Canadian provinces of Ontario and Quebec have regulations requiring speed limiting devices set at or below 65 mph on all large trucks. Sadly, instead of showing international leadership, the U.S. is behind the rest of the world on this issue.

Owings said citizens should contact their representatives in Congress and Senators as well as the candidates for president requesting their support for requiring speed governors on big trucks to make the roads safer for everyone.

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UGA to Name Campus Buildings for Former Governors Vandiver, Harris and Miller

The University of Georgia will name three prominent campus buildings for former Georgia governors S. Ernest Vandiver, Joe Frank Harris and Zell Miller. The namings honor the former governors, all UGA graduates, for their contributions to advancing higher education in the state and their support of the university.

UGA will name a residence hall in the East Campus Village the S. Ernest Vandiver Jr. Hall to honor the state’s chief executive from 1959 to 1963. A building known as East Village Commons will become the Joe Frank Harris Commons in honor of Harris, who served two terms from 1983 to 1991. The Student Learning Center will become the Zell B. Miller Learning Center recognizing Miller’s 60 years of public service including two terms as governor, from 1991 to 1999, and four years in the U.S. Senate.

The University System of Georgia Board of Regents today approved a request from UGA President Michael F. Adams to name the buildings for the former governors.

“Ernest Vandiver, Joe Frank Harris and Zell Miller stand out as three of the greatest champions of education in modern Georgia history,” Adams said. “Their leadership, vision and commitment were instrumental in helping build an outstanding system of public colleges and universities in Georgia and instilling in our citizens a deep respect for the value of education. The University of Georgia is extremely grateful for their service and accomplishments, and proud to pay them homage through these namings.”

While doing much to improve higher education for the entire state, the former governors also strongly supported their alma mater, said Arnett Mace, UGA’s senior vice president for academic affairs and provost.

“Governors Vandiver, Harris and Miller all recognized UGA’s role in providing educational leadership for Georgia and they worked to ensure that the university received state resources and assistance to carry out this mission,” said Mace.

Vandiver, who died in 2005, held business and law degrees from UGA. As governor, he oversaw a 29 percent increase in state appropriations for higher education and helped fund major construction projects at UGA and other colleges. But his lasting legacy is his leadership in keeping UGA open in the face of efforts by other state leaders to close the school rather than accept racial integration in 1961.

The six-story building that will bear his name is one of four apartment-style residence halls in East Campus Village. Opened in 2004, the halls offer single-occupancy bedrooms, private or semi-private bathrooms, kitchens and furnished living rooms and collectively house about 1,200 upper-class and graduate students.

Harris, who earned a business administration degree from UGA in 1958, instituted the Quality Basic Education program, created the Georgia Research Consortium and boosted state funding for education by $2 billion. The number of students at the state’s public colleges and universities grew by a third and 1,100 elementary and secondary school buildings were erected. In 1999, Harris became the first former governor appointed to the Board of Regents.

His namesake building, which features a dramatic staircase and sweeping vistas of East Campus, is a hub of student activities on East Campus. The building houses the primary food service facilities for students living in East Campus Village including a large cafeteria with specialty food stations, a small café and a convenience store. The building also includes spaces for meetings and student activities, commissary and production facilities to support food venues, and offices of University Parking Services.

Miller earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in political science from UGA. While he was governor, state higher education appropriations rose by almost 60 percent, faculty salaries climbed almost 30 percent and capital expenditures for the university system increased by $1 billion. A hallmark of Miller’s administration was creation of the HOPE Scholarship, which has provided more than $4 billion in college scholarships to more than one million Georgia students.

The Miller Learning Center, occupying a 6.5-acre footprint, is the second-largest building on UGA’s campus. Opened in 2003, the center includes 26 classrooms and 96 small study rooms, an electronic library that allows users to electronically access materials in other university libraries, and 500 public-access computers. Many classrooms and study rooms have laptop connections. The building also has a reading room and coffee shop.

Dedication ceremonies to officially name each building will be held later.

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Governor Perdue Announces Executive Appointments

Governor Sonny Perdue announced today the following executive appointments:

Board of Early Care and Learning
Carolyn W. Ormsby, Ed.D., 65, Conyers, Fourth Congressional District Representative —
Ormsby is the principal of Honey Creek Elementary School in Rockdale County. She serves on the Board of Child Development Center of First Baptist Church of Conyers, and is a member of the National Association of Elementary School Principals, the Georgia Association of Educational Leaders, and the Association of Supervision and Curriculum Development. Ormsby earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Tennessee, master’s and specialist’s degrees from Georgia State University, and a doctoral degree from Nova Southeastern University. She and her husband, Ted, have three grown children and nine grandchildren.

Board of Governors of the George L. Smith II Georgia World Congress Center Authority
John H. Downs, Jr., 51, Marietta –- Downs is senior vice president of public affairs and communications for Coca-Cola Enterprises. He serves on numerous boards including The Coca-Cola Foundation, Georgia Chamber of Commerce, Cobb County Chamber of Commerce, Morehouse School of Medicine, Voices for Georgia’s Children, and the Georgia Public Policy Foundation. He was appointed to the Georgia Department of Education’s Parent, Community and Business Advisory Board and the Commission for a New Georgia’s Administrative Services task force by Governor Sonny Perdue. Downs earned a bachelor’s degree from Washington College. He and his wife, Molly, have four children.

Board of Trustees of the Subsequent Injury Trust Fund
John L. Quinn, 59, Avondale Estates, Labor Representative –- Quinn serves as district counsel for Communications Workers of America, where he represents nine Southeastern states. He is currently chair-elect of the Georgia Bar’s Labor and Employment Law Section, along with being a longstanding member of the American Bar Association’s EEO Committee. He is an active member of the AFL-CIO Lawyers Coordinating Committee and has chaired its advisory board. Quinn earned a bachelor’s degree from Wesleyan University and a law degree from the University of Georgia School of Law. He and his wife, Kerry, have five children and four grandchildren.

Georgia Board of Chiropractic Examiners
Kathleen T. Bowen, 29, Decatur, Consumer Representative –- Bowen is special projects coordinator for the Association County Commissioners of Georgia (ACCG) and serves as program director for the Georgia Civic Awareness Program for Students. She is a member of the Georgia Society of Association Executives, the Southern Center for International Studies Young Professionals, the Atlanta Ole Miss Alumni Club and a volunteer with Hands on Atlanta. Bowen earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Mississippi. She is married to Will Bowen.

Georgia Music Hall of Fame Authority
R. Charles “Charlie” Loudermilk, Sr., 80, Atlanta – Loudermilk serves as chairman of Aaron Rents, Inc. He is the founder and past chairman of the Buckhead Coalition and founder and chairman of the Buckhead Community Bank. He served on the board of the Atlanta Rotary Club, Piedmont Hospital Foundation Board, Atlanta Community Food Bank, and served as chairman of the Omni Group and the MARTA Board of Directors. Loudermilk earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of North Carolina. He is married to Courtney Loudermilk and has three children, two stepchildren, and five grandchildren.

State Board of Cosmetology
James S. “Slatz” Gaines, 74, Flowery Branch, Cosmetologist – Gaines has been a professional hairdresser for over forty-seven years and has owned multiple salons around the Atlanta area. He is a member of Blackshear Place Baptist Church and the National Hairdressers Association and a former member of Intercoiffure America-Canada.

State Workforce Investment Board
Edward P. “Phil” Best, Sr., 52, Dublin, Municipal Elected Official – Best is the mayor of the City of Dublin and the chief executive officer of Premier Construction Group, LLC. He serves on the Laurens County Board of Health, Community Mental Health Board and the Solid Waste Management Authority. He is a graduate of Leadership Georgia and served as director of the Dublin-Laurens County Chamber of Commerce. Best attended Floyd Jr. College and DeKalb College. He and his wife, Cile, have two children.

State of Georgia's Revenue Collecctions for May 2008 Cause Concerns

State of Georgia's Revenue Collections for May 2008 Cause Concerns: Governor Should Appoint Commission to Study Revenue Structure

The latest Georgia revenue figures released by the Department of Revenue show that revenues have declined by 0.1 percent through the first 11 months of the fiscal year. The Governor's FY 2008 revenue estimate is based on revenue growth of 2.7 percent. If revenue growth remains flat in June, the FY 2008 Georgia budget will be facing a $500 to $600 million shortfall.

"Because of the Governor's wise fiscal management over the past four years, the state has healthy reserve funds. These reserves put the Governor in a position to manage the economically driven revenue shortfalls without cutting vital government services," said Alan Essig, the executive director of the Georgia Budget and Policy Institute. The Revenue Shortfall Reserve (RSR) contains over $1.5 billion. If revenues remain sluggish throughout FY 2009, it is expected that almost all of the $1.5 billion of reserve funds would be needed to cover budget shortfalls.

"The continued revenue slowdown highlights the fiscal irresponsibility of those legislative leaders who proposed significant tax cuts this past legislative session. Along with this slowdown, there are continued needs, such as trauma care, full education funding, the mental health system, and health insurance for children who are eligible but not enrolled in Medicaid and PeachCare. In light of legislators wasting time with politically motivated tax cut rhetoric, the Governor should take the responsible action of establishing a blue ribbon commission to study the revenue and budget realities of Georgia," Essig concluded.

Governor’s Mental Health Service Delivery Commission Releases First Progress Report

The Mental Health Service Delivery Commission established by Governor Sonny Perdue released its first progress report today, outlining specific recommendations to improve treatment, care and services for Georgia’s mentally ill.

The commission, created by executive order in August 2007 to take a comprehensive look at the delivery of mental health services to Georgians, is one of several steps taken by Governor Perdue to establish a new direction for Georgia’s mental health system. Other steps include the approval of increased funding for mental health services and meeting with key mental health stakeholders and advocates to develop a blueprint for improving the system.

According to the commission’s report, two essential elements in improving Georgia’s mental health system will be strengthening community-based services to prevent unnecessary hospitalization and incarceration, and improving treatment and care in state hospitals.

Specifically, the commission’s progress report includes several recommendations for improving Georgia’s entire mental health system. Highlights of the recommendations include:

· Creating a behavioral health collaborative or Cabinet that will help leverage resources and standardize policies across the State’s behavioral health services.
· Improving access to medications and improving the transition of consumers from one system to another to ensure better continuity of care.
· Expanding core community services such as short-term and mobile crisis stabilization, intensive case management, and detoxification.
· Completing a study of the economic effects of mental health parity in health insurance to determine benefits and costs to public and private healthcare systems in Georgia.
· Enhancing the quality of care at the State’s seven hospitals by increasing and standardizing the average cost per bed day.
· Developing a guaranteed benefit package for serving children and adolescents with uniform authorization procedures and standards, regardless of payer source.

These and other recommendations address the need for comprehensive quality improvements in how the state delivers mental health treatment and care and promotes the adoption of clinical best practices.

The commission’s progress report issues specific goals and measures to improve Georgia’s mental health system. The commission is planning meetings with state agency representatives from the Department of Juvenile Justice, Department of Education, Department of Labor, Department of Community Affairs and the Secretary of State’s Office to develop action steps for each recommendation in the report.

The commission is expected to issue a full report this December.
A copy of the 25-page progress report may be accessed at this web address: http://dhr.georgia.gov/DHR-MHDDAD/DHR-MHDDAD_File/Final%20-Commission%20Progress%20Report_1.doc

Governor and Mrs. Perdue Host U.N. Secretary-General at State Luncheon

Today (May 8, 2008) Governor Sonny Perdue and First Lady Mary Perdue welcomed United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to a State Luncheon at the Governor’s Mansion. A diverse collection of distinguished Georgians gathered at the Mansion to honor the Secretary-General.

“Mary and I are proud to welcome the Secretary-General to Georgia and thank him for his leadership on important issues that affect the global community that is the United Nations,” said Governor Sonny Perdue. “Secretary-General Ban’s visit reminds us that Georgians have an ever increasingly important role in the world. From innovations in healthcare to programs to conserve our natural resources, we are proud to work with our neighbors, at home and abroad, for the greater good.”

Secretary-General Ban joined the Governor as part of an official two-day visit to Atlanta focusing on global health care. Secretary-General Ban, the eighth Secretary-General of the United Nations, brings to his post 37 years of service both in government and on the global stage. Previously, he served as the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade for his native country, the Republic of Korea.

During today’s event Governor Perdue and Secretary General Ban focused on Georgia’s global outreach and the increasing need to conserve the world’s natural resources.

“Governor Perdue, your Conserve Georgia campaign is a major step forward and I commend you for it. You’ve said that Georgia’s drought is a sign that we need to conserve natural resources. I think this is true not just here but all over the world,” said U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon. “I travel the world trying to make this point: that we have a responsibility to care for our planet for future generations. I applaud your State’s efforts to conserve water, save energy, safeguard lands, prevent litter and promote recycling. I’m going to share what I’ve learned here in Georgia with leaders and communities around the world.”

Approximately 130 distinguished Georgians, leaders from the fields of government, the military, education and religion from across Georgia attended the luncheon. Cultural figures from entertainment and sports also dined with the Governor and the Secretary-General.

“We look forward to welcoming the Secretary-General back to Georgia whenever his busy schedule will allow,” said Governor Perdue. “I think he has found, as all visitors to our state do, that Georgians are more than happy to share our distinct blend of global understanding and southern hospitality.”

Governor Perdue Announces Commissioner of Department of Technical and Adult Education

Governor Sonny Perdue announced that the state board overseeing the Department of Technical and Adult Education (DTAE) has unanimously approved Ron Jackson as the new commissioner of the department. The vote came during the board’s monthly meeting in Augusta. Jackson has served as the interim commissioner of DTAE since the retirement of former commissioner Mike Vollmer in November 2006. Jackson joined the agency in 2004 as its deputy commissioner.

“Ron Jackson brings with him several years of leadership experience within state government,” said Governor Sonny Perdue. “His dedication to Georgia’s education system will continue to provide our citizens excellent lifelong adult education and training.”

Carl Swearingen, the chairman of the DTAE board, praised Jackson’s appointment. “Ron has demonstrated outstanding leadership skills and careful management of DTAE over the past year,” said Swearingen. “Our entire board agrees that our colleges, the students, faculty and staff, and all of the agency’s programs are going to be well-served by Ron as the new commissioner.”

Jackson served as the deputy director of the Governor’s Office of Planning and Budget (OPB) from 2002 to 2004. Previously, he was OPB’s director of strategic planning, research and evaluation. He worked for three governors during his tenure at the Office of Planning and Budget and was closely involved with Georgia’s results-based budgeting and the development of the state’s web-based financial management system. Jackson also advised the Education Reform Study Commission.

The Department of Technical and Adult Education manages the 33 colleges of the Technical College System of Georgia and also administers Quick Start, the state’s internationally-known workforce development program that provides free customized training to new, expanding and existing businesses. In addition, the agency is responsible for providing the adult literacy programs to more than 84,000 Georgians annually.

Almost 141,000 students enrolled in Georgia’s technical colleges in 2007 and 27,000 graduated with either technical certificates of credit, diplomas or associate degrees. Of those graduates, 98.7% are either employed or continuing their education.
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Governor Announces Legislation Filed to Establish Identity Theft Task Force

Governor Sonny Perdue announced today the filing of legislation to establish an identity theft task force within the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI). This legislation is being carried by Senator Joseph Carter (R – Tifton).

“Today I have a message for identity thieves in Georgia: Your number is up,” said Governor Sonny Perdue. “With this legislation, we are ensuring that Georgia’s identity theft laws are backed by the full force of the GBI and that identity thieves will be brought to justice.”

Governor Perdue’s legislation would establish a dedicated identity theft task force within the Investigative Division of the GBI. Governor Perdue included $1 million in his budget proposal to fund this initiative. This task force will combat identity theft on several fronts including investigating alleged identity theft, educating the public, supporting victims and training local law enforcement in combating identity theft.

"The General Assembly looks forward to supporting the GBI as they work to protect Georgia's citizens and businesses from the scourge of identity theft," said Senator Carter. "I have full confidence that the GBI will take this new duty on and produce the kind of results the people of this state deserve."

Identity theft cost Georgia’s citizens and businesses more than $25 million in 2006. From 2002 to 2006, there were more than 34,000 reports of identity theft in Georgia filed with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). Georgia is ranked 7th in the nation in incidents of identity theft per capita.

The GBI has a proven track record of combating crimes that plague Georgia’s citizens. In recent past, the Governor has charged GBI with aggressively combating methamphetamines and predators who prey on Georgia’s children via the internet. Since the launch of the methamphetamine task force, total drug seizures have increased from $7.6 million in 2005 to over $32 million year to date in 2008. Governor Perdue’s child safety initiative (CSI Georgia) was launched to provide more GBI agents to investigate crimes against children committed by internet predators. The GBI’s High Technology Investigations Unit caseload increased 57 percent in 2007 compared to 2006.

Currently, the Governor’s Office of Consumer Affairs is charged with investigating identity theft. This legislation would transfer that statutory authority to the GBI.