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STATE LEGISLATURE BACK IN SESSION
How to contact your legislators
A recent article in the
Atlanta Journal caught our attention.
This is well written and informative and let’s you know how to keep in
touch with legislators and legislation.
We have copied the basic information from the article, but for the
entire article see the link below.
Atlanta Journal, Wednesday, January 07, 2009
http://www.ajc.com/services/content/metro/stories/2009/01/07/georgia_legislature_guide.html?cxtype=rss&cxsvc=7&cxcat=13
How to contact your legislators:
Online:
www.legis.state.ga.us
The General Assembly’s home page links to House and Senate members by name and
by district. The directory lists the legislator’s office phone and e-mail. Some
legislators also list home address and phone.
The White Book: Has photographs and bios of all 236 legislators. Download a
copy from www.legis.state.ga.us
(click on “picture book” at the bottom of the page).
Who are my legislators?
Use the Secretary of State’s poll locator service to learn your House and
Senate districts and who represents you: www.sos.state.ga.us/cgi-bin/Locator.asp.
How to track bills:
In person: Find copies of
bills in the House clerk’s office (Room 309) and the secretary of the Senate’s
office (Room 353). Each has a desk where you can request a bill. Committee
hearing notices are posted daily on a bulletin board outside both offices.
House clerk’s office: 404-656-5015; secretary of the Senate’s office:
404-656-5040.
Online: Go to www.legis.state.ga.us and click on the
“legislation” icon under either the House or the Senate, depending on where the
bill you are tracking originated. This allows you to view the bill in its
entirety, track it through committees and see roll call votes.
How to watch the action:
Business begins most days in the House and Senate chambers at 10 a.m., but
legislators often arrive before that time. If you want to catch a legislator
before the day’s session, try waiting at the velvet ropes outside the chamber.
Each chamber also has a gallery on the fourth floor of the Capitol overlooking
the floor. The hallways on the third floor have TV monitors that carry live
feeds from the House and Senate. You will have to jockey with the lobbyists
crowding the hallways for a good spot.
The live video feeds are also available online at www.legis.state.ga.us.
How to follow the money:
At the State Ethics Commission’s Web site — ethics.ga.gov — click on “report search” to
see campaign finance disclosures, lobbyist disclosure reports and lawmakers’
personal finance disclosures. You can also request hard copies at the commission’s
offices in the James H. “Sloppy” Floyd
Building. Call
404-463-1980 or 1-866-589-7327 for information.
How to speak at hearings:
The real work on bills is done in committees, and that’s the place to weigh
in on them. Contact committee members by phone, mail or e-mail to make your
voice heard. Speaking in person before a committee, though, is one of the most
effective ways to reach legislators. The experience can be a little daunting,
but legislators sometimes appreciate hearing from the little guy. Most
committees have a sign-up sheet for speakers. Try to keep your remarks short
and to the point.
Jasper County Legislators
are:
Senator Johnny Grant
johnny.grant@senate.ga.gov
Representative Jim Cole jmalcolmcole@hotmail.com
TWG
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Mission
Statement:
** To keep the taxpayers of Jasper County, Georgia
informed as to where and how their tax dollars are
being spent.
** To keep the taxpayers abreast of local policies
and laws being discussed and enacted.
** We advocate more open government, less government
spending, and lower property taxes.
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