Gov. Proclaims Georgia's Support of National Preparedness Month

September is National Preparedness Month and Gov. Sonny Perdue is encouraging residents to get ready for the unexpected by creating an emergency plan and “Ready Kit” of emergency supplies – steps only about 20 percent of Georgians have taken.

National Preparedness Month, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Ready America campaign, is a nationwide effort to increase awareness and encourage action for emergency preparedness. Nearly 2,000 private, public and nonprofit organizations across the country participate as National Preparedness Month Coalition Members to remind citizens of the importance of emergency preparedness by hosting events and initiatives during September.

The Georgia Emergency Management Agency’s Ready Georgia campaign, an extension of Ready America, is Georgia’s local, comprehensive resource for emergency preparedness. The campaign’s Web site, www.ready.ga.gov – sponsored by the Georgia Department of Community Health, Division of Emergency Preparedness and Response – offers users an interactive tool that generates a tailored communications plan for the entire family and a list of specific supplies to include in household Ready kits, along with other valuable information for individuals, families and businesses on how to get ready.

To help spread the campaign’s message – prepare, plan and stay informed – The Ad Council in cooperation with DHS, launched a new public service announcement today that was localized for Georgia by the Metro Atlanta Urban Area Security Initiative on behalf of Ready Georgia. The new PSA will air on television stations throughout the state to educate and engage viewers in the preparedness process.

“Research has shown that most Georgians feel immune to the threats that are real and dangerous,” said Julia Janka, program administrator for Metro Atlanta UASI. “By creating awareness for the need to be prepared, we hope that more people will act as their own first responders should disaster strike.”

Citizens Corps, Community Emergency Response Teams, local emergency management agencies and organizations across Georgia are planning additional preparedness events in their communities. For a list of events taking place during September and for more information about the Ready Georgia campaign and National Preparedness Month, visit www.ready.ga.gov .

Georgia Unemployment Sits at 10.1% for June

A new report from the Georgia Department of Labor shows that the state's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate increased to 10.1 percent in June. The unemployment rate for May was a revised 9.6 percent.

Looking at Atlanta specifically, Atlantans lost nearly 134,000 jobs in June. That number was down 5.5 percent from the same time a year ago.

For Georgia as a while, this year's June jobless rate increased 4 percentage points from the same time a year ago, while the state's unemployment rate was still above the national rate of 9.5 percent for the 20th straight month.

One positive figure is that health care and educational services saw a total increase of 12,000 jobs.

Report: Georgia 14th Heaviest State in the Nation

According to a new report from the Trust for America's Health and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, Georgia residents definitely like their food.

Georgia ranked 14th in a nationwide report of adult obesity. Not to be outdone, eight of the Top 10 were in the South.

In the study, “F as in Fat: How Obesity Policies Are Failing in America 2009”, nearly 28 percent of Georgia's adult population resided in the obese range.

Even more alarming, Georgia ranked worse in the rate of obese children ages 10-17, placing third with 37.3 percent.

According to the study, factors, including economic conditions that may result in higher food prices and added levels of depression and stress, contributed to the problems when it came to obesity.

Risse Named Ga. Power Professor of Water Resources Policy

Mark Risse has been named Georgia Power Company Professor of Water Resources Policy at the University of Georgia, according to Steve Wrigley, director of the Carl Vinson Institute of Government, where the position is based.

As Georgia Power Professor, Risse will work with the institute’s Environmental Policy Program, which has a strong record of providing research support and technical assistance to those charged with managing Georgia’s water resources at both the state and local levels. He also may be involved in environmental management training conducted by the institute, identifying water experts, and serving as liaison between the institute and the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, where he is a faculty member.

The Georgia Power Company Professorship of Water Resources Policy was established to enable the university to focus its wide-ranging water-related expertise on the specific water challenges confronting the state. The inaugural position was held by James Kundell, director of the institute’s Environmental Policy Program prior to his retirement in 2007.

Gov. Perdue Notes Infrastructure Projects for Areas

Gov. Sonny Perdue recently announced the approval of 11 state and federally funded environmental infrastructure projects totaling $91.5 million. Five of the projects were either fully or partially financed by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) at a total of $40.5 million.

The Georgia Environmental Facilities Authority (GEFA) board of directors approved the commitments to help finance water and sewer infrastructure projects in Cobb County, ColquittCounty and Gwinnett County, and the cities of Camilla, Hiawassee, Port Wentworth, Portal, Sparta, Stillmore, Valdosta and West Point.

GEFA helps communities prepare for economic growth and development through the provision of low interest loans. The Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) is a federal loan program administered by GEFA for wastewater infrastructure and water pollution abatement projects. Eligible projects include a wide variety of storm water and wastewater collection and treatment projects. The Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF) is a federal loan program administered by GEFA for water infrastructure projects. Eligible projects include public health-related water supply construction. The Georgia Fund is a state funded program administered by GEFA for water, wastewater and solid waste infrastructure projects. The Georgia Fund provides loans and grants to local governments for projects such as water and sewer lines, treatment plants, pumping stations, wells, water storage tanks and water meters. Low interest loans from this program are available up to $10 million.

Under the ARRA financing terms adopted by the GEFA board of directors, cities or counties that are OneGeorgia-eligible qualify for a 70 percent subsidy. Cities or counties that are not OneGeorgia-eligible qualify for a 40 percent subsidy. Green projects receive a 60 percent subsidy. For example, if a OneGeorgia-eligible community applies for a $1 million loan, then 70 percent of the loan will be forgiven and the community will close on a 20-year loan of $300,000 at a three percent interest rate. OneGeorgia-eligible communities are located outside the state’s metropolitan areas and have a population of 50,000 or less with a poverty rate of 10 percent or greater. The unprecedented amounts of subsidy in the ARRA financing terms will help Georgia meet the ARRA’s short-term goals of job creation and economic stimulus.

Georgia local governments expressed a tremendous amount of interest in the ARRA funds. Cities and counties submitted more than 1,600 clean water, drinking water and green projects with a total cost that exceeded $6 billion. Total available funding for projects through the ARRA is $144 million. Funding is obligated to projects on a first-come-first-served basis.

Gov. Perdue Unveils Be Work Ready Program

In tough economic times, it is more important than ever for unemployed Georgians to embrace life-long learning opportunities and improve their core job skills.

With that in mind, Gov. Sonny Perdue announced the launch of Be Work Ready, a program designed to help unemployed Georgians jump start their job search, develop confidence and gain a competitive advantage in the job market.

Be Work Ready is a one-of-a-kind initiative providing unemployed Georgians a monetary incentive for either earning a Work Ready Certificate or improving their skills through free, online Work Ready skills gap training. Funding for the initiative is provided by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA).

When an individual earns a bronze, silver or gold level Work Ready Certificate, they are eligible for a $50 incentive; those who earn platinum are eligible for $100. When an individual improves their Work Ready Certificate level in any way, they are eligible for a $100 incentive. The incentive, in the form of a pre-paid card, can be used to offset job search expenses.

Be Work Ready is available to those age 18 or older who are currently unemployed and have earned a Work Ready Certificate and/or improved their Work Ready Certificate level through skills gap training. Those who have earned a Work Ready Certificate since Sept. 1, 2008 are also eligible to apply. Individuals answer a short questionnaire and fill out an application form at

www.begaworkready.org to qualify.

Job seekers can also post their Work Ready qualifications at www.begaworkready.org and select a target industry where employers throughout the state will be able to access this information and contact candidates about available jobs.

A Work Ready Certificate, powered by ACT’s nationally accredited WorkKeys® assessment system, validates an individuals’ skill and knowledge levels to potential employers. Individuals take the free assessment and earn a certificate at one of four levels – platinum, gold, silver and bronze. Free, online skills gap training helps individuals improve their Work Ready Certificate level.

Gov. Perdue Signs $18.6B Fiscal Year 2010 Budget

Gov. Sonny Perdue announced that House Bill 119, the state’s FY 2010 budget, has been signed into law. The FY10 budget year begins July 1, 2009.

The $18.6 billion FY10 budget is $2.5 billion less than the original FY 09 budget passed during the 2008 session of the Georgia General Assembly. Gov. Perdue began reducing agency spending in the FY09 budget last summer, and submitted significant budget cuts in both the Amended FY09 and FY10 budgets to the legislature in January. The Governor revised the revenue estimate during the session, accounting for further reductions in tax collections and the availability of stimulus funding in certain state programs.

The FY10 budget includes $23 million for trauma funding, the first consistent funding of state’s trauma network approved. Increased fines on dangerous driving behaviors will finance the first sustainable source of funds for trauma in the state budget. Major reforms of state government passed this year, including the transformation of the Department of Human Resources, the creation of an Aviation Authority, and the first major alteration to the way that the Department of Transportation does business in decades – all are revenue neutral and will result in better service for taxpayers.

The Governor also signed 13 bills this year that either extend current tax exemptions or provide additional tax savings to citizens and businesses in Georgia. Many of these bills were already evaluated and calculated into the FY2010 revenue estimate.

Gov. Perdue also issued three line-item vetoes and 12 agency directives to ignore intent language included in the budget. The budget is an appropriations act, not general law, and therefore intent language is non-binding. As the language is non-binding, the Governor may authorize agencies to utilize funds subject to non-binding intent language in accordance with the overall purpose of the appropriation and within their general law authority. Vetoed items and messages regarding non-binding information language to disregard are included below.

Gov. Perdue Reports Final Ideas From Education Group

Gov. Sonny Perdue recently announced the final recommendations of the Tough Choices or Tough Times working group.

The working group was tasked with investigating innovative ways to create long-term, comprehensive education reform to make Georgia more globally competitive. The group, which was chaired by Dr. Charles Knapp and Dean Alford, reviewed the national Tough Choices or Tough Times report to determine how Georgia might improve its education practices.

“These recommendations provide a useful framework for addressing critical areas such as teacher preparation and gauging when high school students are ready for additional challenges,” said Gov. Perdue. “I applaud the working group for taking a long-term view of improvements needed in our education system and providing recommendations to produce high achieving students prepared for the 21st century.”

Key findings of the working group fall into three areas of recommendations; Move on When Ready, Recruiting and Retaining World Class Teachers, and Development of Students’ Analytical and Creative Problem-Solving Skills.

In addition to receiving the group’s findings, the Governor also asked the group to continue to meet and develop more recommendations for transforming education in Georgia.

Complete findings of the working group will be posted at http://www.gaosa.org/toughtimes.aspx.

Estimated Losses From Friday Storms at $60 Million

Georgia Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner John Oxendine said violent weather that struck Georgia last Friday caused an estimated $60 million in insured losses.

“That’s a preliminary figure from the insurance companies we’ve surveyed so far,” Oxendine said. “It’s quite possible that more claims will come in, causing the number to rise.”

The Commissioner said storms that raged across Georgia on April 10 caused damage in the metro Atlanta area, Burke, Chattooga, Crisp, Floyd, Franklin, Hancock, Richmond, Stephens, and Sumter Counties.

Georgians can call the Commissioner’s Consumer Services Division at (404) 656-2070 or, outside the Metro area, 1-800-656-2298, if they have questions about a claim, or if they are experiencing difficulty reaching their insurance company. Phone lines are open from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday through Friday.

UPDATE: Tornado Watch Issued for Northern Georgia

A tornado watch is in effect for Atlanta and surrounding counties until 10 p.m.

According to the National Weather Service, there is a 90 percent chance of rain, which could be accompanied by damaging winds, hail and potential thunderstorms.

Rainfall totals may amount to between a quarter and half of an inch.

Saturday's forecast calls for partly cloudy skies and a high approaching 70 degrees. Easter Sunday should be mostly sunny and a few degrees warmer.

Yogurt Recall Advised for Stonyfield Farm Product

A statewide recall on yogurt was advised around Georgia on Monday as health officials believe one company's product may contain sanitizer.

Officials said that Stonyfield Farm of Londonderry, New Hampshire, recalled a portion of Fat Free Plain Yogurt Quarts.

The recall is focused on Stonyfield Farm 32-ounce Fat Free Plain yogurt UPC # 52159 00006 carrying one of the following product codes printed along the cup bottom that begin with the following date codes:

May 06 09 -- Time stamped 22:17 thru 23:59 (limited to these specific time stamps only)

May 07 09 -- All time stamps

Consumers have been asked to return opened and unopened containers to the store where they bought it for a full refund.

Customers with concerns are advised to contact Stonyfield Farm Consumer Relations at 1-800-Pro-Cows (776-2697) or visit the company's Web site at www.stonyfield.com.

Landowners' Protection Act Sent to Governor's Desk

The General Assembly has given final passage to Gov. Sonny Perdue’s proposed legislation that limits liability concerns for landowners who open their property to hunters and agri-tourists.

House Bill 529 started as Senate Bill 75, the Landowners Protection Act, introduced by Administration Floor Leader Sen. Bill Heath. Sen. John Bulloch, Rep. Tom McCall and Rep. Jim Cole also worked for passage of the bill.

“Georgia is a premier agri-tourism destination,” said Gov. Perdue. “This legislation ensures that the threat of litigation does not prevent landowners from welcoming guests onto their property. I appreciate all who worked together to protect landowners and stand up for the rights of private property owners.”

The Landowner’s Protection Act protects landowners, who allow hunters to hunt on their property, from being sued for accidents arising during a hunt except those due to gross negligence on the part of the landowner. Likewise, visitors to an agri-tourism attraction (e.g., visiting a farm to pick peaches) would not be able to win lawsuits filed against the landowner for injuries during such a visit except in cases of gross negligence.

“We want to encourage landowners to open their hunting property and farms to visitors to enjoy Georgia’s natural beauty as an agricultural and sportsman’s paradise,” said Sen. Heath. “This bill allows landowners to be able to open their property to everyone that shares their deep appreciation of Georgia’s natural resources."

Bill Requires English on Written Driving Tests for New Drivers

According to a proposed bill being looked at by Georgia lawmakers, new drivers would have to take a written license test in English.

Some people concerned with the proposed legislation say it may frighten away some people who do not know enough English from being able to work in the state. If the bill passed, those new drivers taking the written test and not familiar with English would be prohibited from using any kind of assistance.

Different versions of the bill have received approval in both chambers of the Legislature, and lawmakers hope to come together on differences prior to the end of the session on Friday.

Gov. Issues Emergency Declaration for 6 Counties

Gov. Sonny Perdue has issued an executive order declaring a state of emergency in six counties affected by heavy rain and severe weather that passed through Georgia on Friday and Saturday.

The counties are Baker, Colquitt, Miller, Tift, Turner and Worth. The counties requested help from the state after determining that the response to subsequent flooding exceeded local capabilities.

Nine bridges and over 800 miles of roads were damaged in the counties. Nearly 100 homes were damaged. The Tift County 911 Center was struck twice by lightning and 50 residents were housed overnight by the Red Cross.

Assessment teams continue to work to determine the full scope of the damage to businesses, residences and public facilities.

Agencies standing by to assist local communities include GEMA - Office of Homeland Security, Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Georgia State Patrol and the Georgia Department of Transportation.

Georgia Chosen to Participate in Pew Center Project

Gov. Sonny Perdue announced that Georgia is one of three states selected by the Pew Center on the States to participate as a government “laboratory” for projects that will enable the state to use resources more efficiently.

Georgia will receive $50,000 and intensive management support from Pew experts to assist it in delivering better value through its purchasing power.

Georgia’s project will build a system that collects and analyzes data on the billions of dollars spent by more than 150 state agencies and University System campuses on purchases of goods and services. Departments spend an estimated $6 billion a year – a third of the state budget – on thousands of items to operate state functions, including vehicles, maintenance contracts, computers and office supplies. Georgia will then share its best practices with other states to spur government improvements across the nation.


The Pew Center ranked Georgia’s government in its top tier of best-managed states in 2008. All 50 states were eligible to apply for the program and projects were selected based on the ability to assemble a senior-level team responsible for implementing improvement strategies with results for state taxpayers. Ohio and West Virginia were the other states selected.

The new Management Labs build off the work of Pew’s Grading the States Report. Pew has been examining all 50 states’ management of money, people, information and infrastructure for more than 10 years.

For more information on the report, log onto www.pewcenteronthestates.org/gpp_report_card.aspx.

General Assembly Offers Real Stimulus to Georgians

By Sen. Chip Pearson

ATLANTA (March 27, 2009) – The General Assembly took heed this week to provide Georgia citizens with solutions that will stimulate the state’s economy. Two important sectors of the economy are targeted under measures on their way to final passage: housing and jobs.

As I have said before, fixing housing is the first step to fixing the economy. In the past year, Metro Atlanta has seen a 20 percent decline in home values and 13 percent statewide. If we do nothing, housing values will eventually be set back 10 years at this rate.

Recognizing that immediate action is crucial, the legislature voted in favor this week of revitalizing Georgia’s housing market by offering a $3,600 home buying income tax credit. This incentivizing credit will be available for only six months, encouraging home buyers to act now. This represents the very definition of a true stimulus: a quick thrust that incites activity within the market, producing tangible results. Under House Bill 261, the credit will apply to new and previously occupied homes and condominiums, including foreclosures.

This legislation is a product of the joint Economic Development hearings held late last year on Georgia’s housing market. I was proud to work with Rep. Ron Stephens on the issue and to carry his bill to passage in the Senate. In December, industry experts warned that in Georgia, particularly in our area of Northeast Georgia, the housing market was in a depression. At that point, housing starts had plunged 67 percent.

Though the situation has continued to worsen, we had some good news recently with the unexpected 22.2 percent rise in housing starts for the month of February. While we still face an uphill battle of stabilizing housing, this tax credit will go a long way in incentivizing the market and start providing immediate relief.

The significant job loss throughout our state and across the nation is a direct result of the housing decline. Housing affects a great number of ancillary industries. When people stop buying homes, the local carpenter, painter, hardware store owner and moving man are all put in danger of losing their jobs. Georgia’s jobless rate jumped to a staggering 9.3 percent in February, putting our state above the national average. Our income growth is among the slowest in the U.S. A contributing factor has been the loss of a large base of jobs in the construction industry.

Small businesses, which represent over 90 percent of employers in Georgia, are also struggling to survive. In response to this dismal situation, the legislature is offering a bright spot of hope. Capitalizing on the hard work and entrepreneurial spirit of the people of Georgia, not big government, we have passed the most pro-business piece of legislation the General Assembly has ever considered – the Jobs, Opportunity, and Business Success Act of 2009 (JOBS Act).

This tax relief package aims to lower taxes and reduce regulation, as opposed to forcing debt on Georgia citizens with new spending. House Bill 481 and 482 comprise the JOBS Act with HB 481 providing a one-year filing fee holiday for new businesses, a $500 credit toward the unemployment insurance tax for each newly hired employee that was receiving unemployment benefits, a $2,400 income tax credit for each eligible employee hired, the refund of $186 million in state held sales tax deposits, and the gradual elimination of the business income tax for Georgia-based corporations. HB 482 is a referendum to eliminate the state inventory tax on all Georgia businesses.

In other news this week, a bill I authored that clarifies the use of stream buffers received final passage in the House and is now awaiting signature by the governor. Current law requires that a 25-foot buffer be used along the banks of all state waters. Senate Bill 155 exempts ephemeral streams from this requirement, which are areas that temporarily collect water during rainfall, such as a runoff or ditch. Simply put, this bill helps with compliance on where buffers are needed and where they are not. This is a common sense measure that codifies EPD rules and provides consistency with federal laws.

Looking ahead, the legislature faces its final week of the 2009 session. There is still much work to be done, and I am confident that this will prove to be a productive and effective session for Georgians everywhere.

Sen. Chip Pearson serves as chairman of the Economic Development Committee. He represents the 51st Senate District which includes Dawson, Fannin, Gilmer, Lumpkin, Pickens, and Union counties and portions of Forsyth and White counties. He may be reached at (404) 656-9921 or via e-mail at chip.pearson@senate.ga.gov.

Omni National Bank Closed Down

Yet another local bank has fallen during the tough financial times.

According to banking officials, regulators have closed Omni National Bank in Georgia, with The Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. being appointed receiver of the bank, based in Atlanta. The bank reportedly had $980 million in assets as of the end of 2008.

According to The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, losses have depleted the bank of most of its capital and it would have not been able to recapitalize itself without government help.

Gainesville Man Pleads Guilty to Investor Fraud Scheme

Wendell Ray Spell, 50, of Gainesville, Ga., has pleaded guilty in federal district court to charges arising out of a scheme to defraud investors out of more than $60 million.

According to United States Attorney's Office and the information presented in court, from February 2005 through October 2008, Spell was in the business of buying and selling construction equipment in Gainesville. Spell did business in the names of North Georgia Equipment Sales LLC and Cornerstone International Investments LLC.

In order to keep his failing businesses afloat, Spell sought and obtained from investors the necessary funds to purchase additional construction equipment, which he said he could re-sell to third parties for a substantial profit. Spell reportedly promised some of the investors that he would split the profits with them on a 50/50 basis, and he promised other investors that he would pay them interest at the rate of 36% per year.

Based upon such promises, Spell obtained more than $60 million in investment capital from more than 50 investors in Gainesville and elsewhere. Spell then led the investors to believe that he had used their money to purchase specific pieces of construction equipment, which he knew he had not purchased. Spell prepared and provided to the investors bogus bills of sale and other counterfeit documents to make it appear that he had purchased certain equipment as promised, thereby lulling the investors into a false sense of security and delaying or preventing their complaint to law enforcement authorities, and leading them to invest additional funds in his fraudulent scheme.

Authorities say Spell used a substantial portion of the fraud proceeds to pay phantom “profits” to the investors, to pay his own personal expenses, and to purchase a variety of real and personal property for himself and his family members.

Spell was charged in a Criminal Information with one count of wire fraud, to which he pleaded guilty.

He could receive a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.

Pickup Buckle Up Gets Stopped in its Tracks

A key House panel has stopped a measure in its track that would require adults in pickup trucks to buckle up in Georgia.

The House Consumer Affairs subcommittee voted 4-3 against the measure, marking the first time in at least three years a House panel has looked at the issue.

As of now, Georgia is the only state that exempts adults in pickups from wearing seat belts. Proponents of seat belt requirements for pick up trucks say that the state's stance has cost Georgia millions of dollars in federal highway funds.

While the Senate has approved the seat belt changes for the last three years, House lawmakers, worried it would negatively impact rural residents, have blocked the bill.

Gov. Perdue Signs Amended Fiscal Year '09 Budget

Gov. Sonny Perdue this week signed into law House Bill 118, the state’s Amended Fiscal Year 2009 budget. The amended budget signed by the Governor stands at $18.9 billion.

“This is a budget that focuses on the core services of government,” said Gov. Perdue. “We have made effective use of federal stimulus dollars and the state’s rainy day fund, which we worked so hard to build up, to lessen the impact of this economic downturn and plan for next year’s budget. Through sound management by our agency leaders and wise decisions by lawmakers, Georgia will endure a challenging economy and emerge ready to prosper.”

Gov. Perdue has taken a number of steps to ensure the FY 2009 budget does not spend more than the state will collect. A year ago, Gov. Perdue reduced the revenue estimate for the budget by $245 million to begin preparations for the slowing economy. In August, amid continuing revenue declines, the Governor announced six percent reductions in state agencies except for education and some health care programs.

In February, Gov. Perdue again reduced the revenue estimate by another $450 million. A total of $2.6 billion, well over 10 percent of the original $21.1 billion budget, has been cut from the spending plan. Those cuts have been softened by strategic use of the state’s rainy day reserve fund and the recognition of funding from the federal stimulus package.

The budget maintains critical services in public safety, healthcare, and education, and includes the pay raises for teachers that were granted at the beginning of this school year. The budget also maintains Georgia’s strong infrastructure in education, transportation, and economic development and takes advantage of the state’s AAA bond rating to save the state $10.5 million through lower construction costs. The AFY09 budget includes $428 million in Homeowner Tax Relief Grants for this year, as required by House Bill 143, which the Governor signed in February.

Certain language contained in HB 118 was included for informational purposes and thus did not constitute an appropriation. Because the language is not an appropriation, it is non-binding.