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My Senate website, http://www.mitchseabaugh.com/, will be featuring polls every month this year. I want to hear what the 28th district has on their mind, so if you have a suggestion of poll, please e-mail me at
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.
From now until the 2007 session convenes on January 8, 2007, I will be working on establishing a legislative agenda. You can be part of that process. Now is the time we work on the details of legislation. This is the time for analysis, perfecting the language of the bill and building support of Senate and House members. So, please let me hear what is on your mind of what needs to be addressed next year.
Our website will also be listing current news items of what is going on with your Senator from the 28th district. So please visit our site, voice your opinion with our poll, check on the current news items and drop me an e-mail with what is on your mind.
Thanks,
Mitch
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This past week, I was appointed to chair the Senate Finance Committee.
This was a difficult decision for me to switch committees after four years
chairing the Senate Regulated Industries and Utilities Committee.
In my committee over the past four years I had the opportunity to work on
increasing property rights for people when power companies tried to run
power lines across their property, increased public safety with an update
of the state's "call before you dig law," established guidelines to market
competition in the areas of VOIP, wireless communications and broadband
and protecting consumers with the establishment of state licenses for
homebuilders and general contractors.
I look forward to my new assignment as the chair of the Seante Finance
Committee. I believe Georgia is ripe for a major, comprehensive reform of
of our state's tax code and chairing this commitee will allow me the
opportunity to have an influence on that reform.
I personally believe we are overtaxed and our tax code needs to be
simplified. I would like to see a tax system that is less burdensome on
Georgians and is simple enough that would drastically reduce the number of
notices and assessments Georgians receive every year.
As always, as we go forward in discussing the reform of our state's tax
code, I would like to have your input. Please let me hear your ideas and
issues. Just e-mail me at
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with your ideas.
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On May 15, Judge Constance Russell overturned Georgia’s Gay Marriage Ban Amendment. This action is the very reason why the amendment is needed – in order to prevent activist judges from legislating from the bench.
The Gay Marriage Ban Amendment was overwhelming approved by Georgia voters on the November 2006 ballot. More than 76% of Georgians spoke with their votes to say that Georgia will not have gay marriages and can not be forced to recognize them from other states.
Governor Perdue has released a statement that if Georgia’s Supreme Court does not act and overturn the lower court’s ruling by August 7, then he will call a special session to address the matter again. If a special session is called, then there will be two amendments, one banning gay marriages and another to deal with civil unions, in order to answer the judges concerns and put the matter to rest.
I support the Governor’s course of action. The Supreme Court can settle the matter and avoid the General Assembly having to come back to Atlanta. If the court does not, then the General Assembly must accept their responsibility and act on behalf of the people.
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Recently I was appointed to chair a Senate study committee to look at state taxation and spending. I hear from a lot of people that they feel they are overtaxed.
Georgia's revenues were down 2003 through 2004. In 2005 we saw a pick up in the economy and more revenue was coming in. It looks like 2006 will end with another surplus. The question is, what do we do with the money? The Senate committee will begin looking at different tax and expenditure limitation acts from other states and get input from people to see what their opinion is on what should be done when the state has a surplus.
Currently the state spends it all after funding reserves. Personally, I would like to see a formula that limits the growth of the state budget and when revenues exceed the budgeted amount, taxpayers should get some of the money back as a refund of overtaxation.
The committee will look at how to put the formula together that ensures our basic needs, education, transportation, public safety, health care are properly funded and then what to do with the rest, whether that be pay down debt, return it back to taxpayers or spend it or some combination of all three.
The committee will begin meeting in June and I would like to hear from you on your ideas. Please e-mail me with your opinions and ideas.
Thanks
mitch
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Today we unveiled our updated website. We are trying to make
it as informative and friendly as possible. As we progress
through the year, I
will be posting information on the state's affairs and personal
happenings. I would like to hear from you on the issues and on
any
suggestions you might have for our website.
We will periodically posting a poll for you to let me know what you
think about different issues. If you have any ideas for a poll, please
let me
know. Also note our contact section with the list of "Team 28."
They are here
to help you, so feel free to drop them an e-mail so they don't get
lonely.
Thanks
Mitch
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