Education has always been one of my top priorities while serving in the state legislature. When I was first elected I made the decision to visit every school in my district to hear the concerns about education directly from those involved. It is important we listen to our parents and local educators to help us better understand how our decisions as policy makers affect them and, in turn, how they will affect our children. I continue to visit my local schools so I may stay in touch with their needs.

This year we passed SB 390, that establishes that 65% of a local school system's operating funds must be on direct classroom expenditures. Direct classroom expenditures are all expenses for activities directly associated with the interaction between teachers and students. These expenditures include salaries, instructional materials and supplies costs, and classroom related activties costs, such as field trips, physical education, music and arts.

The 65% figure is not arbirtray; the top 5 states in the country spend 65% of education expenditures in the classroom and therefore, it is a proven model that our state should emulate. Additional resources going to the classroom as opposed to administrative overhead lead to higher acheivement. There is a direct correlation between money spent in the classroom and higher SAT scores and graduation rates.

We also passed this year the Truth in Class Size Act. This bill is intended to provide parents and guardians with a clear expectation to the maximum number of students that may be in their child's classroom. For our students to excel, they need to be more than just a number sitting in class. A lower teacher-to-student ration allows for more interaction, which is crucial in the learning process. Our state needs to combat the growing number of students in class and this measure does exactly that by setting a statewide maximum. The bill brings down the average class size by 2 students for most grade levels.

Last year we were able to pass SB33, which created the Georgia Virtual High School giving students all over Georgia access to college prep and advanced learning programs via the internet.

In addition, last year we passed SB 34 to allow for Master Teacher designation which will publicly recognize teachers who consistently raise test scores. Also, those teachers can receive 10 percent higher pay if they agree to mentor younger teachers or work in under-achieving schools.

As a state, Georgia has made significant gains in education over the past few years. However, we still have a lot of ground to cover and need to ensure the progress continues. Our goal should not be to have several outperforming school districts, but to have all of our school districts performing at a top level. The best way as a state we can pursue this goal is to make sure that every dollar invested in education is wisely utilized.

Illegal Immigrants

I have co-sponsored legislation that directly combats this growing issue in our state, SB 529, which has been signed into law by Governor Perdue. The bill prohibits public contractors from knowingly hiring someone in violation of federal immigration law. The bill also prohibits compensation given to persons illegally living in the United States from being declared as a deductible business expense. And the bill requires verification of eligibility for adult applicants for public benefits.

Eminent Domain

Private property rights had been left vulnerable after the Supre Court "Kelo" ruling last year. This year, we worked hard to pass the Private Property Protection Act that would protect all private property from eminent domain.

The bill prohibits the takking of property from a private owner for the purposes of selling it to another private owner for economic development or for increased tax collections. The legislation removes the power of eminent domain from non-elected housing authorities and development authorities. Thus, any action would have to be decided by the local elected officials who are accountable to voters.

The new legislation places the burden of proof on the condemnor and gives property owners the right to recover attorneys' fees if the condemnor is held not to have the authority to take the property. Additionally, the bill strictly and consistently defines blighted property and prohibits condeming property within generally blighted areas.

I firmly believe that the Private Property Protection Act will increase the power people will have in protecting their property rights.

Voter ID

Controlling Spending and Taxes

I understand that the citizens of the 28th district work hard to make a living. They deserve to keep as much of their money as possible. I too pay taxes and am outraged at the burden placed upon the middle class. That is why I support measures to hold government accountable for spending. In the 2005 General Assembly, I worked diligently to find ways to cut spending. In the past five years, I have never supported a tax increase and pledge to continue to uphold that principle.

As a result of HB 191, Georgia companies will see a $1billion tax cut, over the next 10 years. This will increase plant expansion and job creation. This legislation shut the door on companies that were abusing the tax structure and using a corporate tax loophole by incorporating in Delaware, while keeping a lower tax burden on our state corporations, leveling the playing field, ensuring no abuses

The 2006 state budget has included a $430 million property tax relief cut for Georgians.

Crime

This year, we worked to pass legislation that would increse penalties for those who harm children and minors. The final product, HB 1059, dramatically increases mandatory minimum sentencing requirements, mandates electronic monitoring of violent offends for the rest of their life (at a cost borne by the offender), prohibits sexual predators from ever working with children, and strengthens disclosure requirements within Georgia's state sexual offender registry. The bill prohibits sex offenders from working, loitering, and making their home within 1000 feet of an area in which children are gathered.

To combat the evils of illegal drugs, retailers are now required to place products like pseudoephedrine behind the counter because it is a key ingredient in the manufacture of methamphetamines with the passage of HB 216.

HB 172 will now require juvenile offenders or their parents to make full restitution to the victims of the crime.

Prosecutors will finally have a level playing field against the criminals when it comes to picking a jury. Present law allows the defense to remove twice as many potential jurors as the prosecution. Now HB 170 will give an equal number of strikes for both the state prosecutors and the defense lawyers. The bill also extends the state’s rape shield law to victims of other sexually violent offenses, such as aggravated sodomy and aggravated child molestation. Current law shields only the names of the rape victims from the public.

To protect personal and financial information, companies, such as ChoicePoint, will now have to notify Georgians and credit reporting agencies when their information has been leaked or stolen due to the passage of SB 230.

The publication or release of personal cell phone numbers has been banned by SB 64, and it is now a felony for a Georgian to send out more than 100,000 spam emails in any given month.

Reducing Traffic Congestion

During this time of growth, we have many traffic challenges. In order to better fund this growth, I worked to re-balance the highway funding formula. This measure will provide funding stability. This stability will ensure local projects in my district will have the money they needs to get their projects completed

I look forward to the completion of the Highway 34 expansion project this year. Additionally, I anticipate needed future projects such as the Hwy 34 bypass and the Rockaway Road reallignment.

A six-year, $15.57 billion state transportation investment strategy to relieve traffic congestion and expand urban and rural Georgia, with half spent in Metro Atlanta and the rest to be spent throughout the rest of the state, was also passed this year.

Economic Development

A community cannot survive without economic development, and the backbone of a community lies within its small business community. More than 90% of new jobs come from small business, and I will continue to work hard to support them. The National Federation of Independent Business and the Georgia Chamber of Commerce supports have given me an A rating. I have continually worked to improve the access to affordable healthcare for Georgia’s small businesses. That effort resulted in the passage of SB 174, which will provide more affordable insurance options for small businesses.

I worked tirelessly to bring the film industry back to our state. The film bill, HB 539, will provide a rebate incentive to companies that film in Georgia in Tier 1 and 2 communities which are economically challenged. They will also get bonuses for hiring Georgia residents and filming in economically challenged counties. This incentive will bring more jobs and more revenue into the state, especially the 28th district. It will also help bring more celebrities to Georgia like reconet projects including "Broken Bridges," a movie starring Kelly Preston and Toby Keith, and "October Road," an ABC TV pilot starring Tom Berenger, already have.

Conservative Family Values

There is nothing more important to me than protecting our conservative family values. I am proud to be pro-family and pro-life.

I have sponsored legislation to help keep more families together by requiring a longer waiting period and marital counseling for uncontested divorces. Our state government must debate, develop, and fund the programs to pick up the pieces of the “No Fault” divorces. Therefore, I believe that longer waiting periods will help couples reconcile.

Currently, Georgia has the shortest waiting period in the United States. States with longer waiting periods, on average, have 25% fewer divorces. I will continue to work to strengthen our families and protect the most innocent.