Business & Tech

Business, Government Leaders Address Local Chamber

Speakers discuss Sunday alcohol sales, HOPE, Milton County.

Two state legislators and the head of Georgia's Chamber of Commerce reflected on this year's legislative session at the Johns Creek Chamber's monthly luncheon last week.

Rep. Lynne Riley (R-50) said she knows tax payers are concerned about transportation, and that she's been appointed to the MARTA Oversight Committee. She urged citizens to get involved, let their legislatures know how they feel, and to attend those meetings.

Riley said the push for creating Milton County is still on. She said she thinks that South Fulton residents are going to become more dissatisfied with their county government, and that they will realize they have to become self-sufficient as a special services fund that came from North Fulton funds over the years is empty now.

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"Keep the pressure on folks, keep coming to us, push for reforms because the status quo is unacceptable," she said.

Chris Clark, president of the Georgia Chamber of Commerce, said his chamber has tracked this year some 200 pieces of legislation that would affect Georgia businesses. 

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He said he was pleased with the Sunday sales bill that allows local municipalities to vote on whether to allow Sunday alcohol sales. He said the chamber also approved of HB47, which allows the purchase of health insurance across state lines. Clark said this gives more options particularly to small businesses located along state borders.

Clark also applauded Gov. Nathan Deal for signing HB326, the bill that made changes to the HOPE scholarship to keep funds from running out. "I want to give a lot of credit to Gov. Deal. It was his first chance to show true leadership."

Clark later added, "The key for us next year is to build the jobs agenda."

State Sen. David Shafer (R-48) also spoke to the crowd gathered at Gallery Events in Johns Creek.

"Everyone you run into thinks we should spend more money," he said. He pointed to the fact that three years ago Georgia's population was 9 million, while the budget was $22 billion, but 15 years prior the population was 5.9 million while the budget was $5.9 billion.

"There's not a single politician that can look you in the eye and tell you government got 2.5 times better," he said.

He said part of the problem is that Georgia operates on a continuation-based budget, but that he would like to see it changed to a zero-based budget, meaning that the budget starts fresh each year rather than continuing to fund unnecessary or non-existent positions or programs.


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