150th Georgia General Assembly explained

150th Georgia General Assembly
Body:	Georgia General Assembly
Meeting Place:	Georgia State Capitol
Before:	149th
After:	151st
Chamber1:	Senate
Membership1:	56 (34 R, 22 D*)
Control1:	Republican Party
Chamber1 Leader1 Type:	President of the Senate
Chamber1 Leader1:	Casey Cagle (R)
Chamber2:	House of Representatives
Membership2:	180 (108 R, 71 D, 1 I)
Control2:	Republican Party
Chamber2 Leader1 Type:	Speaker of the House
Chamber2 Leader1:	David Ralston (R)

Overview

The 150th General Assembly of the U.S. state of Georgia convened its first session on January 12, 2009, at the Georgia State Capitol in Atlanta, Georgia. The 150th Georgia General Assembly succeeded the 149th and will serve as the precedent for the 151st General Assembly in 2011.

The 150th General Assembly adjourned its first session on April 3, 2009. The second session of the 150th General Assembly convened January 11, 2010.

Officers

Senate

Presiding officer

Position	Name	align=center	District	align=center	Party
	President	Casey Cagle	align=center	n/a	Republican
	President Pro Tempore	Tommie Williams	align=center	19	Republican

Majority leadership

Position	Name	align=center	District
	Senate Majority Leader	Chip Rogers	align=center	21
	Majority Caucus Chairman	Dan Moody	align=center	56
	Majority Whip	John Wiles	align=center	37

Minority leadership

Position	Name	align=center	District
	Senate Minority Leader	Robert Brown	align=center	26
	Minority Caucus Chairman	Tim Golden	align=center	8
	Minority Whip	David Adelman	align=center	42

House of Representatives

Presiding officer

Position	Name	align=center	District	align=center	Party
	Speaker of the House	David Ralston	align=center	7	Republican
	Speaker Pro Tempore	Jan Jones	align=center	46	Republican

Glenn Richardson (R) served as Speaker of the House from January 2009 through Jan. 1, 2010. Mark Burkhalter (R) served as Speaker pro tempore during the same period, and was acting Speaker when the House reconvened on Jan. 11, 2010, at which time the House elected David Ralston and Jan Jones.^{[1] [2]}

Majority leadership

Position	Name	align=center	District
	House Majority Leader	Jerry Keen	align=center	179
	Majority Whip	Edward Lindsey	align=center	54
	Majority Caucus Chairman	Donna Sheldon	align=center	105
	Majority Caucus Vice Chairman	Jeff May	align=center	111
	Majority Caucus Sec./Treas.	Allen Peake	align=center	137

Minority leadership

Position	Name	align=center	District
	House Minority Leader	DuBose Porter	align=center	143
	Minority Whip	Carolyn Hugley	align=center	133
	Minority Caucus Chairman	Calvin Smyre	align=center	132
	Minority Caucus Vice Chairman	Nikki Randall	align=center	138
	Minority Caucus Secretary	Kathy Ashe	align=center	56
	Minority Caucus Treasurer	Don Wix	align=center	33

Members of the state senate

District	Senator	Party	First elected	Residence
1			Republican	2009	Pooler
2			Democratic	2008	Savannah
3			Republican	2004	Brunswick
4			Republican	1990	Reidsville
5			Democratic	2004	Norcross
6			Democratic	2004	Smyrna
7	Greg Goggans		Republican	2004	Douglas
8			Democratic	1998	Valdosta
9			Republican	1992	Snellville
10	Emanuel Jones		Democratic	2004	Ellenwood
11			Republican	2002	Ockhocknee
12	Freddie Powell Sims		Democratic	2008	Dawson
13	John Crosby		Republican	2008	Tifton
14	George Hooks		Democratic	1990	Americus
15			Democratic	1992	Columbus
16	Ronnie Chance		Republican	2004	Tyrone
17	John Douglas		Republican	2004	Social Circle
18	Cecil Staton		Republican	2004	Macon
19	Tommie Williams		Republican	1998	Lyons
20	Ross Tolleson		Republican	2002	Perry
21	Chip Rogers		Republican	2004	Woodstock
22	VACANT
23	J.B. Powell		Democratic	2004	Blythe
24	Bill Jackson		Republican	2007	Appling
25			Republican	2004	Milledgeville
26	Robert Brown		Democratic	1991	Macon
27	Jack Murphy		Republican	2006	Cumming
28	Mitch Seabaugh		Republican	2000	Sharpsburg
29	Seth Harp		Republican	2000	Midland
30	Bill Hamrick		Republican	1999	Carrollton
31	Bill Heath		Republican	2004	Bremen
32	Judson Hill		Republican	2004	East Cobb
33	Steve Thompson		Democratic		1990	Marietta
34	Valencia Seay		Democratic	2003	Riverdale
35	Donzella James		Democratic	2009	College Park
36	Nan Orrock		Democratic	2006	Atlanta
37	John Wiles		Republican	2004	Kennesaw
38			Democratic	1998	Atlanta
39			Democratic	1996	Atlanta
40			Republican	2004	Dunwoody
41			Democratic	2002	Tucker
42			Democratic	2002	Atlanta
43	Ronald Ramsey, Jr.		Democratic	2006	Lithonia
44			Democratic	2008	Jonesboro
45			Republican	2002	Buford
46	Bill Cowsert		Republican	2006	Athens
47	Ralph Hudgens		Republican	2002	Hull
48	David Shafer		Republican	2001	Duluth
49	Lee Hawkins		Republican	2006	Gainesville
50			Republican	2008	Cornelia
51	Chip Pearson		Republican	2004	Dawsonville
52			Republican	2002	Rome
53			Republican	2000	Chickamauga
54			Republican	1996	Dalton
55			Democratic	1999	Stone Mountain
56			Republican	2002	Alpharetta

Changes in membership from previous term

While no seat changed party control from the previous session, the beginning of the 150th Georgia General Assembly still saw five new state senators. Two of these new senators defeated the incumbent in the runoff for their parties' primaries. Two replaced incumbents who had run for other office. Another replaced a senator who had retired.

District	Previous	Subsequent	Reason for change
2nd		Regina Thomas (D)		Lester Jackson (D)	Ran for Congress
12th		Michael Meyer von Bremen (D)		Freddie Powell Sims (D)	Ran for a seat on the Georgia Court of Appeals
13th		Joseph Carter (R)		John Crosby (R)	Retired
44th		Gail Davenport (D)		Gail Buckner (D)	Defeated in primary runoff
50th		Nancy Schaefer (R)		Jim Butterworth (R)	Defeated in primary runoff

Changes in membership during current term

There have been three vacancies in the State Senate as of December 25, 2009. All three have been due to resignations. Two have since been filled, both by members of the same party as the former incumbent. Another vacancy is expected at some point during the term.

Date seat became vacant	District	Previous	Reason for change	Subsequent	Date of successor's taking office
August 2009	35th		Kasim Reed (D)	Resigned to run for Mayor of Atlanta. A special election was held on November 3, 2009. Because no candidate gained a majority of the vote, a runoff was held December 1, 2009.		Donzella James (D)
September 15, 2009	1st		Eric Johnson (R)	Resigned to run for Governor of Georgia. A special election was held on November 3, 2009.		Buddy Carter (R)
November 9, 2009	22nd		Ed Tarver (D)	Resigned after being confirmed as U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. A special election is to be held January 5, 2010 with a runoff, if necessary on February 2, 2010.^[3]		Hardie Davis (D)
March 19, 2010	42nd		David Adelman (D)	Nominated by President Barack Obama as United States Ambassador to Singapore.^[4] If confirmed, Adelman will have to resign his State Senate seat, creating another vacancy.		Jason Carter (D)

Announced retirements

As of December 25, 2009, six state senators have announced that they will not be running for re-election in 2010. One senator, Dan Moody (56th) is retiring.^[5] The other five are seeking higher office.

Jeff Chapman (3rd) is running for governor.^[6] Following State Insurance and Fire Commissioner John Oxendine's decision to run for governor, Seth Harp (29th) and Ralph Hudgens (47th)^[7] announced that they will seek the Republican nomination for the office. Lee Hawkins (49th) announced that he will run for the Congressional seat to be left open by incumbent Nathan Deal's campaign for governor. Finally, Gail Buckner is running for state secretary of state,^[8] a position she also ran for in 2006.

Members of the House of Representatives

District	Representative	Party	First elected	Residence
1			Republican	2004	LaFayette
2			Republican	2004	Rossville
3			Republican	2008	Ringgold
4			Republican	2001	Ringgold
5			Republican	2004	Calhoun
6			Republican	2004	Cohutta
7			Republican	2002	Blue Ridge
8			Republican	2008	Blairsville
9			Republican	2000	Dahlonega
10			Republican	2008	Clarkesville
11			Democratic	1998	Menlo
12			Republican	2010	Jasper
13			Republican	2006	Rome
14			Republican	2010	Cassville
15			Republican	2008	Cartersville
16			Democratic	2007	Cedartown
17			Republican	2002	Dallas
18			Republican	2010	Carrollton
19			Republican	2010	Hiram
20			Republican	2004	Woodstock
21			Republican	2002	Canton
22			Republican	2006	Holly Springs
23			Republican	2006	Cumming
24			Republican	2010	Suwanee
25			Republican	1992	Gainesville
26			Republican	1994	Gainesville
27			Republican	2006	Gainesville
28			Republican	2008	Toccoa
29			Democratic	1990	Hartwell
30			Republican	1994	Elberton
31			Republican	2004	Jefferson
32			Republican	1996	Marietta
33			Democratic	2010	Austell
34			Republican	1998	Smyrna
35			Republican	2004	Acworth
36			Republican	1988	Powder Springs
37			Democratic	2004	Marietta
38			Democratic	2010	Marietta
39			Democratic	2002	Austell
40			Democratic	2010	Atlanta
41			Republican	1996	Marietta
42			Republican	1994	Marietta
43			Republican	1996	Marietta
44			Democratic	2004	Atlanta
45			Republican	2002	Marietta
46			Republican	2003	Milton
47			Republican	2002	Alpharetta
48			Republican	2004	Roswell
49			Republican	2000	Sandy Springs
50			Republican	2010	Johns Creek
51			Republican	1996	Norcross
52			Republican	2000	Atlanta
53			Democratic	2008	Atlanta
54			Republican	2004	Atlanta
55			Democratic	2008	Atlanta
56			Democratic	1990	Atlanta
57			Democratic	2001	Atlanta
58			Democratic	2009	Atlanta
59			Democratic	2006	Atlanta
60			Democratic	2010	Atlanta
61			Democratic	2008	Atlanta
62			Democratic	1994	East Point
63			Democratic	1980	Atlanta
64			Democratic	2002	Atlanta
65			Democratic	1992	Red Oak
66			Democratic	2002	Tyrone
67			Republican	1998	Winston
68			Republican	2004	Villa Rica
69			Republican	2006	LaGrange
70			Republican	1996	Newnan
71			Republican	2004	Newnan
72			Republican	2006	Peachtree City
73			Republican	1988	Griffin
74			Democratic	2004	Riverdale
75			Democratic	2010	Jonesboro
76			Democratic	2010	Jonesboro
77			Democratic	2000	Riverdale
78			Democratic	2008	Jonesboro
79			Republican	2010	Dunwoody
80			Republican	2004	Brookhaven
81			Republican	2000	Atlanta
82			Democratic	2004	Atlanta
83			Democratic	2002	Decatur
84			Democratic	2006	Atlanta
85			Democratic	1998	Atlanta
86			Democratic	2000	Avondale Estates
87			Democratic	1990	Stone Mountain
88			Democratic	2002	Stone Mountain
89			Democratic	2002	Avondale Estates
90			Democratic	2002	Atlanta
91			Democratic	2008	Atlanta
92			Democratic	2002	Decatur
93			Democratic	2008	Lithonia
94			Democratic	2010	Lithonia
95			Democratic	2010	Conyers
96			Democratic	2002	Duluth
97			Republican	1992	Duluth
98			Republican	2010	Buford
99			Democratic	2002	Norcross
100			Democratic	2004	Lilburn
101			Republican	2010	Lawrenceville
102			Republican	2004	Lilburn
103			Republican	2002	Lilburn
104			Republican	2004	Lawrenceville
105			Republican	2002	Dacula
106			Republican	2006	Snellville
107			Republican	2004	Loganville
108			Republican	2004	Auburn
109			Republican	2004	McDonough
110			Republican	2004	McDonough
111			Republican	2004	Monroe
112			Republican	2004	Social Circle
113			Republican	2004	Watkinsville
114			Democratic	1992	Athens
115			Democratic	2006	Athens
116			Republican	2002	Greensboro
117			Republican	2008	Grovetown
118			Republican	1994	Evans
119			Republican	2006	Augusta
120			Democratic	2002	Augusta
121			Democratic	2006	Augusta
122			Democratic	2009	Augusta
123			Democratic	2006	Hephzibah
124			Democratic	1996	Sparta
125			Republican	2004	Monticello
126			Republican	2004	Griffin
127			Republican	2007	Zebulon
128			Democratic	1992	LaGrange
129			Republican	2009	Columbus
130			Democratic	2002	Junction City
131			Republican	2004	Columbus
132			Democratic	1974	Columbus
133			Democratic	1992	Columbus
134			Democratic	2004	Americus
135			Democratic	1992	Montezuma
136			Republican	2011	Musella
137			Republican	2006	Macon
138			Democratic	1999	Macon
139			Democratic	1975	Macon
140			Democratic	2008	Dry Branch
141			Independent	2009	Milledgeville
142			Democratic	2008	Sandersville
143			Democratic	1983	Dublin
144			Republican	2006	Eastman
145			Republican	2004	Warner Robins
146			Republican	2001	Bonaire
147			Republican	2008	Cordele
148			Republican	1975	Parrott
149			Republican	1982	Cuthbert
150			Democratic	1996	Albany
151			Democratic	2008	Albany
152			Republican	2002	Albany
153			Republican	2004	Tifton
154			Republican	2002	Ocilla
155			Republican	1998	Vidalia
156			Republican	1984	Swainsboro
157			Republican	2004	Newington
158			Republican	1983	Brooklet
159			Republican	2009	Rincon
160			Democratic	2004	Garden City
161			Democratic	2008	Savannah
162			Democratic	2006	Savannah
163			Republican	2000	Savannah
164			Republican	1996	Savannah
165			Democratic	2002	Midway
166			Republican	2004	Glennville
167			Republican	2004	Darien
168			Republican	1978	Nicholls
169			Republican	1996	Ambrose
170			Republican	1998	Nashville
171			Republican	2008	Camilla
172			Republican	2004	Cairo
173			Republican	2004	Thomasville
174			Democratic	2002	Valdosta
175			Democratic	2006	Valdosta
176			Democratic	2004	Lakeland
177			Republican	2004	Waycross
178			Republican	2004	Jesup
179			Republican	2004	Brunswick
180			Republican	2004	Woodbine

Major issues

• Severe budget cuts due to the 2009 recession.
• Circumvention of the Georgia Public Service Commission, by allowing Georgia Power to charge power company customers (which includes most Georgians) for two new nuclear reactors at Plant Vogtle years before they are built. The bill exempts businesses, putting the entire burden on residential customers. This passed in both chambers and was signed by the governor, but has been challenged in court as having raised revenue without being originated in the lower house.
• Proposed cuts in aid to counties, which reduce property taxes they must charge their residents. These were not cut, meaning that the state, rather than the counties, will have to cut over 400 million dollars from the fiscal 2010 (July 2009 to June 2010) budget.
• The massive food recall caused by the Peanut Corporation of America in Blakely, Georgia, and the role that the Georgia Department of Agriculture and lax state laws may have played in allowing it to happen. Food-processing companies will now be required to notify the state within 24 hours of any test results indicating contamination, among other changes.
• A bill to move MARTA oversight from MARTOC to GRTA, which did not pass.
• A bill to permanently remove the mandatory 50/50 split on capital expenditures, so that MARTA can postpone these and maintain service (operational expenditures) during periods of low sales tax revenue. The failure of the legislature to pass this means crippling cuts in MARTA service because it cannot access its reserve account, and the MARTA board has requested a special session to correct the situation. The Atlanta Regional Commission has suggested giving MARTA enough money from the U.S. stimulus act to get it to the 2010 legislative session with minimal cutbacks to the already-limited public transit system.
• Reinstatement of the sales tax on groceries, allegedly to target illegal immigrants. This failed.
• Elimination of sales taxes and annual ad valorem taxes on new cars, to be replaced by a car title transfer tax of 7%, including transfers between family members, and possibly to or from charities. This would also take a significant amount of money (the 2-4% local portion of the sales tax) away from local government. The 2000-dollar cap on the tax also would make it a regressive tax. This did not pass.
• Banning of all stem-cell research, passed by the Senate.
• Gutting most of the Georgia Department of Transportation, merging all of its planning authority into a new State Transportation Authority along with the Georgia Regional Transportation Authority and the State Road and Tollway Authority. This failed, an instead other changes were made to put more power in the hands of state politicians.
• Changing state law in order to accept money for the state unemployment insurance fund from the federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (the U.S. "stimulus act"). This became law, but no help will get to the unemployed until May 25.
• Requiring pickup truck and other truck drivers to wear their seat belts like other motorists have been for years. This failed again as in years past.
• Addition of a 200-dollar fine for excessive speeding, over 85mph on expressways and over 75mph on smaller roads. The money will go to trauma care in the state's hospitals.

See also

• List of Georgia state legislatures

External links

• Georgia General Assembly website
  • 2009-2010 Representatives by Name, District
  • 2009-2010 Senators by Name, District

Notes and References

1. http://www.ajc.com/news/georgia-politics-elections/richardson-out-burkhalter-will-225231.html AJC: Richardson out, Burkhalter will be speaker
2. http://blogs.ajc.com/political-insider-jim-galloway/2010/01/11/the-new-house-speaker-and-the-race-for-governor/ AJC: Live blogging from the Legislature: David Ralston elected House speaker
3. Web site: Candidate Qualifying . 2018-12-21 . https://web.archive.org/web/20100404080441/http://www.sos.ga.gov/elections/qualifying.htm . 2010-04-04 . dead .
4. Web site: President Obama Announces More Key Administration Posts, 11/19/09 . 2018-12-21 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170216173555/https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/the-press-office/president-obama-announces-more-key-administration-posts-111909 . 2017-02-16 . . . 19 November 2009 . live .
5. Web site: Sen. Dan Moody Will Not Run for State Senate in 2010 – Georgia Senate Press Office.
6. Web site: Brunswick Republican running for governor 090409 - the Augusta Chronicle . 2009-12-25 . 2009-11-01 . https://web.archive.org/web/20091101041956/http://chronicle.augusta.com/stories/latest/lat_701521.shtml?v=0601 . dead .
7. Web site: Hudgens to run for state insurance commissioner | Athens Banner-Herald . 2009-12-25 . https://web.archive.org/web/20100116191544/http://onlineathens.com/stories/031709/new_410989025.shtml . 2010-01-16 . dead .
8. Web site: Home . gailbuckner.com.