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JANUARY 1, 2007
David Shafer's Senate Update
David launches blog for 2007 legislative session
Calling it A Diary of the 2007 Legislative Session, David has launched a
blog at www.davidshafer.org.
He will be updating the site daily throughout the session.
Click here to read
David's entry about pre-filed legislation. Your comments are welcome. If you
have a blog of your own, please add David's new site to your blogroll.
New Lieutenant Governor hosts reception for David
Lieutenant Governor-Elect Casey Cagle will host a pre-session fundraiser for
David on Wednesday, January 3, from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. at the 191 Club. A
number of David's colleagues in the General Assembly will be attending as
special guests. For more information, visit this page:
http://www.votedavid.com/invites/070103invite.htm
David moves to new offices
David will be moving out of the Floor Leader's Office and into the former
Leadership Suite on the fourth floor. His address and telephone number will
change, as of next Monday, January 8:
Senator David Shafer
State Capitol, Room 421
Capitol Square
Atlanta, Georgia 30334
404-656-0048
His legislative secretary, Anna Boggs, will make
the move with him. If you have reason to be at the Capitol during the session,
please be sure to stop by Room 421 and say hello.
Reprinted
from www.insideradvantagegeorgia.com
Pre-filed Senate measures would put new restraints on budget
By Dick Pettys
InsiderAdvantage Georgia
(12/27/06) The supplemental – or midyear budget – could not be used to increase
state spending except for schools under a proposed constitutional amendment
pre-filed in the Senate. Another measure proposed for the session would require
the governor and state agency heads to offer a zero-based budget every four
years.
Both measures were proposed by Sen. David Shafer, R-Duluth.
Under the proposed constitutional amendment, SR 5, the only midyear increases
permitted through a supplemental appropriations measure would be the required
midterm adjustment for schools. Exceptions would require a super-majority vote
in both chambers. Surplus funds would have to be used for cutting taxes, paying
down debt or building reserves.
Shafer said the measure is intended to eliminate the supplemental budget as a
tool for pork barrel spending. He introduced a similar proposal in 2005 which
passed the Senate but not the House.
His proposed SB 12 would require policymakers to build the budget once every
four years from the ground up, justifying every program rather than just the new
ones. The intensive review would occur in the second year of each gubernatorial
term.
"Ninety five percent of the state budget appears on one line item labeled
'continuation.' This bill would require the executive branch to justify every
dollar of state spending, not just new spending,” he said.
Shafer introduced a similar measure in 2003 which passed the Senate but not the
House.
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