February 2022 Newsletter Extra Edition

Committees are the Best Place to Amend, Stop or Pass Legislation

Recently, someone asked why should anyone be interested in what happens in the Georgia General Assembly. Simply put, legislators determine how we are governed. They pass bills and resolutions that become laws that affect our lives, hopefully for the better, sometimes not so much or, perhaps, they diminish our liberties and increase the power of government.

When introduced, bills are given numbers, so they can be identified and tracked as they proceed through committees and, possibly, onto the House and Senate floors for passage or defeat. All legislators are assigned to committees (many to several committees) where bills are debated, amended, rewritten and passed as substitute bills or favorably reported in the original version. Committees are the best place to get legislation passed, stopped, or amended. Members are especially accessible when they have public hearings for speakers to present the pros and cons.

However, the House and Senate have a major committee stop-gap or gate-keeper, their Rules committee that works as a clearing house to decide which bills live or die. Rules Committees may amend a piece of legislation or hold it in committee (kill it), or pass it onto the House or Senate floor for passage or defeat. Committees are keys to the legislative process.

The master keys are the (a) Senate Rules Committee – one of 29 standing committees in the Senate – and (b) the House Rules Committee – one of 42 standing committees in the House. The list of Senate Rules Committee members remained the same from last session, while the House Rules Committee added three members, dropped one and the vice chairman switched positions with another member.

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March 30, 2018 Radio Commentary

2018 Legislative Session is Over!

Radio Commentary, 90.7, 91.7 New Life FM, March 30, 2018 – By Sue Ella Deadwyler

Yesterday was the last day of the 2018 legislative session, but it’ll be several days before we know the status of all the bills. Meanwhile, today’s topic is four bills that passed early enough for me to tell you about them today.

It’s sad, but culture had become so bad 16 years ago, that the legislature passed the Safe Place for Newborns Act of 2002 that authorizesmothers to drop off their newborns at a fire station or police station with no questions asked and no strings attached. It was enacted to prevent the injury or death of newborns whose mothers abandon them.

That law was amended in 2008 to specify medical facilities and sheriff’s offices as additional legal drop-off locations. This year, H.B. 513 passed to amend it again. The new language requires the Department of Human Services to develop a standard sign to be posted at all authorized drop-off facilities. DHS will decide the size and type of the signs and where they should be posted. Unless it’s vetoed, H.B. 513 becomes law on July 1st. Continue reading

August 15, 2014 Radio Commentary

Israel

Radio Commentary, 90.7, 91.7 New Life FM, August 16, 2014 – By Sue Ella Deadwyler

On January 15, 2014 the Georgia General Assembly adopted two senate resolutions supporting the Nation of Israel.

S.R. 741 by Senator John Albers expressed strong support and a steadfast commitment to the security, welfare, and survival of the Jewish State of Israel with secure borders and the right to protect itself against terrorism. It called for an end of attacks against Israel; for the recognition of Israel’s right to exist as a Jewish State; and for the U.N. to stop blaming Israel for defending itself. It encouraged Georgia lawmakers and citizens to give vigorous enduring support to the State of Israel.

S.R. 739 by Senator Judson Hill reached back into the Old Testament to affirm Israel’s right to occupy land deeded to the Jews “in the Old Testament … scripture held sacred and revered by Jews and Christians … as presenting the acts and words of God.” Continue reading