Calvin Hill: Budget Gives Over $289 Million in New Funds to Education

State Rep. Calvin Hill made the claim during two town hall meetings held in Cherokee County over the weekend.

More money will be set aside for education funding in the state's fiscal year 2014 budget, according to one Cherokee County state legislator. State Rep. Calvin Hill (R-Hickory Flat) said on Saturday that with state revenues growing by 3 percent, over $289 million in "new funds" have been assigned to education funding in the upcoming budget. Hill made the assertion in two town hall meetings he held with State Sen. Brandon Beach (R-Alpharetta). Both men met with residents at the Hickory Flat Public Library and Ball Ground City Hall.  Hill stated House Bill 106 gave $146.5 million to fully fund Quality Basic Education, or QBE, growth from 1.4 percent for over 23,000 students. He also said the state increased equalization grants by $38.3 …

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Should the Georgia Legislature Take Up Gun Rights in 2014?

The Georgia General Assembly was not able to pass a sweeping firearms bill that would have allowed gun owners to carry in churches, bars and on school campuses.

A proposal that would have allowed firearms to be carried in churches, college campuses and in bars died on the vine as the 2013 legislative session ended on Thursday. House Bill 512, which garnered much support across the state, sailed through the Georgia House of Representatives. However, its upper chamber counterpart, Senate Bill 101, could not muster enough support to pass before the close of the session. The issue over whether or not to allow firearms on the state's nearly 50 colleges and university campuses brought down the bill. However, supporters of the bill and the campus carry provision are confident the bill will return in 2014.

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Gold Dome Update: March 11-15

State Sen. John Albers recaps the week for the 2013 legislative session at the Georgia General Assembly.

Guns at Churches, Bars? Cherokee Legislators Say Yes

Georgia State House members who represent Cherokee County all voted in favor of sweeping changes designed to ease gun regulations in Georgia.

The Georgia House of Representatives by a 2 to 1 margin on Thursday passed a bill that would relax gun regulations in the state, and Cherokee's Republican state legislators in the lower house voted in lockstep in favor of those changes. House Bill 512, which passed with a 117-56 vote, would allow gun owners with a valid Georgia weapons carry license to take firearms in bars, churches, some areas of colleges and universities and onto some unsecured government properties. State Representatives Mandi Ballinger of Canton, Michael Caldwell of Woodstock, John Carson of Marietta, Calvin Hill of Hickory Flat and Scot Turner of Holly Springs, all voted in favor of the legislation.  Tell us: do you support expanding the right to carry firearms in …

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Woodstock Leaders Closely Monitor Cell Tower Bill

A bill gathering steam in the Georgia General Assembly that would shorten the time local governments can consider cell tower applications is being monitored by local leaders.

State Rep. Michael Caldwell Votes Against Ethics Legislation

Woodstock's state representative was one of four legislators in the State House who voted against House Bill 142, which overwhelmingly passed the House of Representatives on Monday.

Woodstock's Michael Caldwell Opposes State House Ethics Bill

The newly elected state representative was one of four lawmakers who voted against House Bill 142, which overwhelmingly passed the House of Representatives on Monday.

Woodstock's freshman state representative was one of four legislators who voted against an ethics bill that passed overwhelmingly in the Georgia House of Representatives. Michael Caldwell (R-Woodstock), who represents Georgia House District 20, was one of four lawmakers who voted against House Bill 142, which ban lobbyists gifts from individual state lawmakers. Caldwell was joined by another Cherokee County freshman Rep. Scot Turner (R-Holly Springs), in his opposition to the bill. South Georgia Rep. Delvis William Dutton (R-Glenvville) and Rep. Charles Gregory (R-Kennesaw) also voted against he measure. The legislation, which now goes to the Georgia Senate, still allows lobbyists to pay for the dinners or gifts of committees, caucuses and…

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Woodstock Opposes Bill That Could Restrict Communication with Lawmakers

The Woodstock City Council unanimously approved a resolution opposing a bill that would prohibit public employees from using government-owned computers to express their opinions on certain types of legislation.

The Woodstock City Council has come out against a bill that would ban city employees from using government property to communicate how they feel about legislation pending in the Georgia General Assembly. The council approved the resolution unanimously. Councilman Randy Brewer was not present. City Manager Jeff Moon, who told the council he thought the bill was "counterintuitive," brought forth the resolution for the council to consider. He said with the way the bill is currently written, "we’d be technically breaking the state law" since he and city staff could not use government computers or email to inform lawmakers on how certain legislation would impact local governments. He also said that even if the city wanted to transmit something …

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Woodstock Leaders Closely Monitor Cell Tower Bill

A bill gathering steam in the Georgia General Assembly that would shorten the time local governments can consider cell tower applications is being monitored by local leaders.

While they have no formal plans to announce opposition to a bill that would shorten the time local cities and counties can review cell tower applications, local leaders are keeping a close eye on House Bill 176. The legislation would give local governments a 150-day window to consider approving or rejecting a cell tower application. If the application hasn't been decided on within the 150 days, the tower would automatically be approved.  The bill, formally titled the Mobile Broadband Infrastructure Leads to Development (BILD) Act, last week was approved by the Georgia House Energy, Utilities and Telecommunications Committee, chaired by the bill's chief sponsor East Cobb Republican State Representative Don Parsons. Parsons recently told …

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