NOPA Applauds GA Bill Passage to End Sole-Source Contracts

/PRNewswire / -- The National Office Products Alliance (NOPA) applauds Georgia Senator Eric Johnson, 1st District and Representative Mark Williams, 178th District for their successful efforts on behalf of small businesses and for the passage of Bill SB-211. The bill removes responsibility for state government purchasing of "routine office supplies used for the daily operation of an office" from the scope of duties of the Department of Administrative Services (DOAS). The practical result of the bill would be to do away with "sole-source" contracts and open the office supplies business with all state government agencies to direct competition among all qualified Georgia businesses.

Unanimously passed by the Georgia State Senate on March 12th and by the House on March 30th by a vote of 144 to 17, the bill need only be signed by Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue to become law.

Although not law yet, the State already opened the doors to competition last year when a large volume of contract pricing irregularities and unauthorized product substitutions were revealed after an audit of sole-source contract holder Office Depot. Following the audit, DOAS terminated the contract and notified Office Depot that it would suspend the company from participation in state government business for up to one year. A legal appeal by Office Depot led to a settlement with DOAS and a temporary reopening of state government business to all qualified office product dealers.

"SB-211 maintains this present situation, precludes DOAS from issuing a new state contract and alleviates awards based on political pressure from the large national companies," said Chris Bates, president of NOPA. "Small independent dealers have fought long and hard to recapture state business they believe was unfairly awarded to a single national company several years ago. SB-211 ensures that state customers continue to receive "best value" when purchasing office supplies."

"Our successes show what independents can achieve when we work together," commented Juanita Strickland of Malone Office Environments in Columbus, GA. "With the current state of the economy, it's more important than ever for government, particularly at the state level, to support small business and our bill does just that."

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GBPI: Senate to Consider Bipartisan Tax Transparency Bill

The Senate Appropriations Committee will take up Senate Bill (SB) 206, introduced by Senator Greg Goggans, Chair of the Community Health Appropriations Subcommittee, on Tuesday March 3rd.

The bill would require a regular accounting of tax breaks to bring more transparency and accountability into tax decisions. Bill cosponsors include Senate President Pro Tem Tommie Williams, Senate Majority Leader Chip Rogers, Appropriations Chair Jack Hill, Senate Minority Caucus Chair Tim Golden, and Senator Bill Cowsert, the Governor's floor leader.
"Over the past six years the Senate has taken the lead in budget transparency and accountability," said Sen. Goggans (R-Douglas). "For too long we've been operating in the dark in regards to tax policy. As with budget decisions, it is time that our tax decisions are accountable to citizens."

SB 206 requires that tax expenditures are made known, benefiting not only the public, but lawmakers who until now have not known the cost and effectiveness of tax preferences passed over the years. Tax expenditures grant special tax relief designed to encourage certain kinds of taxpayer behavior or to aid taxpayers in special circumstances. Expenditures help either a particular business, industry, or group of people by exempting them from a class of taxes or by providing credits, which in turn directly reduces state revenues.

"We made significant progress in budget transparency last year in passing Senate Bill 300," said Senator Rogers (R-Woodstock). "Good government demands transparency in budgeting, but also in taxing. As stewards of the public's money we need this information to understand the ramifications on all taxpayers of particular tax choices."

As Georgia faces a $2.5 billion budget deficit and staggering unemployment rates, this bill provides opportunities to review tax relief provisions and understand financial ramifications of existing and proposed expenditures. Currently only budget items face annual scrutiny and performance measures, although tax expenditures have the same potential to impact revenue.

"As Georgia decides how to respond to its growing needs, all sources of spending must be on the table, and lawmakers must assure Georgians that tax expenditures on the books today make sense for Georgia during a recession and into the future," said Senator Golden (D-Valdosta).

The tax expenditure report proposed in SB 206 is recommended by Georgia Budget and Policy Institute (GBPI), Georgia Department of Audits and Accounts, and Pew Center of the States, which measures states' performance and management. Thirty-nine states have such transparency.

"The bipartisan support for SB 206 shows that the principles of good government are held by both political parties," said Alan Essig, executive director of GBPI. "Although there may be honorable disagreements over policy, there is agreement that policy decisions should be made based on accurate and timely information. SB 206 gives policy makers such information."

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Students Named to U.S. Senate Youth Program

U.S. Senators Saxby Chambliss and Johnny Isakson have announced that two Georgia students will be among 104 delegates to the United States Senate Youth Program March 1-March 8 in Washington D.C. The students will also each receive a $5,000 scholarship.

The winners were Logan Krusac of Campbell High School in Cobb County and Alan Binder of Greater Atlanta Christian School in Gwinnett County. Chosen as alternates were Cameron Day of Trion (City) High School and Joshua Buttenhoff, of Northwest Whitfield High School in Whitfield County.

Students are nominated by their teachers and principals and are interviewed by staff members from the Georgia Department of Education. The winning delegates are submitted by State Superintendent of Schools Kathy Cox.

"Congratulations to Logan and Alan for being chosen to represent the great state of Georgia at the United States Senate Youth Program. This will be an experience that will change their lives," Superintendent Cox said. "I also want to congratulate our alternates and all those who were nominated by their teachers and principals."

Release from the Senate:

Georgia Students Selected for United States Senate Youth Program
-- Students Headed to Washington and to Receive $5000 Scholarship--

Senators Saxby Chambliss and Johnny Isakson today announced the names of the two Georgia students who have been selected as delegates to the 46th Annual United States Senate Youth Program (USSYP) that will be held March 1 – 8, 2008 in Washington, D.C. Alan Blinder of Norcross and Logan Krusac of Acworth were chosen from hundreds of applicants to be part of the group of 104 student delegates who will attend the program’s 46th Annual Washington Week.

The USSYP was created by Senate Resolution 324 in 1962 and has been sponsored by the Senate and fully funded by the William Randolph Hearst Foundation since inception. Originally proposed by Senators Kuchel, Mansfield, Dirksen and Humphrey, the impetus for the program as stated in Senate testimony was “to increase young Americans’ understanding of the interrelationships of the three branches of government, the caliber and responsibilities of federally elected and appointed officials, and the vital importance of democratic decision making not only for America but for people around the world.”

Each year this extremely competitive merit-based program brings 104 of the most outstanding high school students -- two from each state, the District of Columbia and the Department of Defense Education Activity -- to Washington, D.C. for an intensive week-long study of the federal government and the people who lead it. The overall mission of the program is to help instill within each class of USSYP student delegates more profound knowledge of the American political process and a lifelong commitment to public service. In addition to the program week, the foundation grants each of the 104 student delegates a $5,000 college scholarship with encouragement to continue coursework in government, history and public affairs. Transportation and all expenses for Washington Week are provided by the foundation, as stipulated in S.Res.324; no government funds are utilized.

Alan Blinder is Class President at the Greater Atlanta Christian School. His leadership activities include: Treasurer of the National Honor Society, Managing Editor of the Literary Magazine and National Chairman and Executive Director of Teens for Bush. Alan also is active with the Beta Club, Envirothon, Forensics Team, Civic Leadership Development Program, and the International Studies Program. He plans to pursue an interdisciplinary degree in neuroscience.

Logan Krusac is Student Council President at Campbell High School. Logan also serves as Governor of Georgia Boys State and lead prosecutor of Mock Trial. He is active in Model United Nations, Georgia Youth Symphony Orchestra, Hugh O'Brien Youth Leadership Summit, CNN Leadership Unplugged, Economics for Leaders, and National Student Leadership Conference. He plans to pursue a degree in political science.

Chosen as alternates to the 2008 program were Cameron Day, a resident of Summerville, who attends Trion High School and Joshua Buttenhoff, a resident of Tunnel Hill, who attends Northwest Whitfield High School

The chief educational officer in each state selects the delegates after nomination by teachers and principals. This year’s delegates were designated by Ms. Kathy Cox,
State Superintendent of Schools.

While in Washington the student delegates will attend meetings and briefings with Senate leadership, other Senators and Congressional staff; the President, a Justice of the Supreme Court, leaders of cabinet agencies, an Ambassador to the United States and top members of the national media. The students will also tour many of the national monuments and several museums and they will stay at the historic Mayflower hotel in downtown Washington, D.C.

In addition to outstanding leadership abilities and a strong commitment to public service, this year’s students rank academically in the top one percent of their states. They continue to excel and develop impressive qualities that are often directed toward public service. Among the many distinguished former program delegates are Senator Susan Collins of Maine, the first program delegate elected to the Senate; Judge Robert Henry, U.S. Court of Appeals; former Ambassador to West Germany Richard Burt; former Presidential Advisor Karl Rove and former Presidential Advisor Thomas "Mack" McLarty. Additional distinguished alumni are former Lt. Governor of Idaho David LeRoy, U.S. Attorney for New Jersey Christopher Christie, military officers, Foreign Service Officers, members of State Legislatures, top Congressional staff, healthcare providers and university educators.

Members of the USSYP 2008 46th Annual Senate Advisory Committee are: Co-Chairs — Senator Dianne Feinstein of California and Senator Pat Roberts of Kansas. Advisory Committee — Senator Sherrod Brown of Ohio, Senator Robert P. Casey, Jr. of Pennsylvania, Senator Daniel K. Inouye of Hawaii, Senator Edward M. Kennedy of Massachusetts, Senator Richard Burr of North Carolina, Senator Michael B. Enzi of Wyoming, Senator Chuck Grassley of Iowa and Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison of Texas. Each year, the Honorary Co-Chairs of the program are the Senate Majority and Minority Leaders and the Vice President of the United States.