Two Great Bills: S.R. 926 & S.B. 459
Radio Commentary, 90.7, 91.7 New Life FM, February 24, 2012
By Sue Ella Deadwyler
Good morning, Jim. February 17th became a great day, when Georgia senators introduced two exceptionally good bills – S.R. 926, a proposed constitutional amendment concerning foreign law and S.B. 459 to correct an injustice utility companies are forcing on consumers.
Josh McKoon, freshman senator from Columbus, introduced S.R. 926 to add a new Section V to the state constitution to prohibit the use of foreign laws that fail to protect the rights and liberties guaranteed by the United States Constitution and the Constitution of Georgia.
S.R. 926 prohibits prejudicial treatment of women and violence against women and children; protects the individual right to leave, change, or renounce a religion or belief; protects freedom of speech and the right to assemble. It prohibits plural marriage, forced marriage, underage marriage or contracts for sexual services. It outlaws punishments such as amputation, lashing, flogging, stoning, branding, body piercing, female genital mutilation or human sacrifice.
This is an extremely important bill, since some U.S. courts (including Supreme) consult with foreign laws to shape decisions for this country. S.R. 926 is in the Senate Judiciary committee that must hear it within the next few days to position it for passage this session. Senator Hamrick plans to hear it in committee next week. Please call his committee as follows:
ACTION on S.R. 926 – Support. Contact Judiciary Senators Hamrick, Ch., 404 656-0036; Cowsert, 463-1383; Crosby, 463-5258; Bethel, 656-6436; McKoon, 463-3931; Stone, 463-1314; Ligon, 656-0045; Fort, 656-5091; Ramsey, 463-2598; and Carter, 463-1376.
Another great bill is Senator David Shafer’s S.B. 459, authorizing the Public Service Commission to allow consumers to “elect not to use smart meters” that are provided by electric light and power companies owned by investors. It, also, authorizes utilities to apply a surcharge for reading bills of those who refuse smart meters, but sets no limit on the additional amount.
S.B. 459 was tabled in Senator Shafer’s Regulated Industries and Utilities Committee February 23rd after Senator Carter proposed a solar panel amendment. The bill will be in the committee for further discussion Monday, February 27th. There are at several possibilities: The committee (a) could vote FOR both issues or (b) the solar amendment could be rejected and the opt-out language retained (c) or vice versa or (d) the entire bill could be defeated. Originally, S.B. 459, simply, authorized PSC to offer opt-outs for smart meter use. We need that part to pass.
ACTION on S.B. 459 – Ask the following to, especially, vote YES on the opt-out language and pass it out of committee. Call Regulated Industries and Utilities Committee Senators Shafer, Ch., 404 656-0048; Unterman, 463-1368; Harbison, 656-0074; Ginn, 656-4700; Carter, 656-5109; Jeffares, 656-0503; Jack Hill, l656-5038; Hooks, 656-0065; Butler, 656-0075; and Henson, 656-0085.
For Georgia Insight I’m Sue Ella Deadwyler, your Capitol correspondent.