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Peggy Harned, Rebecca Rolling and Rex Yerkes
State Senator Ronnie Chance
State Representative Johnnie Caldwell
By Editor Becky Watts
ZEBULON - Pike County Farm Bureau and the Pike County Cooperative Extension sponsored the Eggs and Issues breakfast on April 25, 2014. The purpose of this meeting was to keep members informed of what is going on in Atlanta under the Gold Dome.
State Representative Johnnie Caldwell and State Senator Ronnie Chance were guest speakers. Aides for U.S. Senator Johnny Isakson and U.S. Representative Lynn Westmoreland were also present along with many local elected officials and several candidates for local and state offices.
A special presentation was made in honor of Mr. Rex Yerkes in memory of his wife Dorothy who passed away last year. She is missed very much. White rocking chairs are sitting on the front porch of the Farm Bureau in her honor. Pictured are Peggy Harned, Rex Yerkes, and Rebecca Rolling.
Rep. Johnnie Caldwell told the audience that the state budget was passed for $20.8 billion which is the largest budget passed since 2005. He pointed out that there was no tax increase and that that was put back into education with no strings attached. He said that the gun bill passed but that it really hasn’t changed a lot because churches or bars have to opt into it and said that this would allow permit holders to carry in a government building if there was no security there.
Some of the other topics that he touched on include an opportunity for voters to decide whether to freeze the state income tax at 6% on the November ballot, the Help Freedom Act which prohibits the state from using state funds to promote Obamacare, drug testing for people on food stamps, a medical amnesty law which would prevent charges from being filed against anyone who brought someone to an emergency room for help in a drug overdose situation, the trespass bill that says unless you make a trap or are willfully negligent you can’t be sued if someone is on your property and gets hurt, and the Flint River Act which protects mussels in Spring Creek but allows farmers to continue to irrigate. Rep. Caldwell also commended Senator Ronnie chance for giving others a chance to run for his seat.
Senator Ronnie Chance praised Rep. Caldwell for his service in the House of Representatives. Senator Chance was the majority leader in the Senate when he decided not to run for re-election and has been in office since 2004. He touched on many issues and tried not to overlap on what Rep. Caldwell spoke about though he did praise the House and Senate for working together to pass a budget that put over $½ billion in for education without strings.
He also said that the state of Georgia has passed a balanced budget for the past ten years without raising taxes and has kept an AAA rating. He said in reference to the gun bill that the state of Georgia has the most pro 2nd amendment laws in the country. He also cited the need for the state to focus on business and recruiting jobs and businesses. Senator Chance said that there is a difference between policy and politics. He stated that the statesman makes tough decisions and the policy is not always popular.
Senator Chance explained that the medical marijuana law was not about legalizing marijuana but about helping people with seizures with oil from the plant. “If we can help one child who’s suffering, we should,” he said. He also stated that cancer treatment is legal now but the legislation is antiquated.
He said that he has been in office for the past ten years and that he is not seeking re-election so that he can go back to his small business and spend time with his family. His oldest daughter is now in the 4th grade and his youngest daughter is six months old. He has three children. Senator Chance said that people have been good to him and that he appreciates the support that has been given to him.
Senator Chance said that seven people are running for his Senate seat and that he spent a lot of time in Pike County as our state senator. He urged those in attendance to get out and vote and be active. “Whoever wins this seat,” he said, “hold them accountable like you did me.” He ended by saying that his biggest honor was being sent to the Capitol for five terms.
Jon D. Huffmaster, Sr., Legislative Director for Georgia Farm Bureau, ended out the session. He praised the metal theft database and the $150,000 for it that was included in this budget. He talked at length about a proposed federal rule that would greatly expand the definition of waters in the United States. He said that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Army Corps of Engineers are trying to make an end run around Congress who chose to keep it defined as navigable waters. He urged those in attendance to get educated about this legislation and to comment during this 90 day comment period.
Click here to read a UGA blog about this rule. Click here to read an EPA blog about this rule. And click here to make your comments about the proposed changes to the definition of the Clean Water Act. From the EPA website: “The proposed rule was published in the Federal Register on Monday, April 21, 2014. The public comment period will be open for 91 days and will close on Monday, July 21, 2014.”
A picture of peace on the front porch
Jon D. Huffmaster, Sr.