From the upper chamber 2006 January 31

Report for Tuesday, January 31, 2006
The tenth day of the 2006 legislative session was called to order by Lieutenant Governor Mark Taylor.
Senator Don Thomas of the 54th stated that the journal had been read and was found to be correct.
Senate Bills 370 and 464-470, Senate Resolution 737 and House Bills 895, 999, 10771079 and 1087 were read for the first time and assigned to their respective Committees.
Following the reports of Standing Committees and second reading of Senate Bills and Resolutions, the afternoon roll call was taken.
Lt. Gov. Taylor then recognized Sen. Nancy Schaefer of the 50th to lead the Senate in the Pledge of Allegiance. Sen. Schaefer introduced the Chaplain of the Day, Dr. J. Robert White, executive director of the Georgia Baptist Convention, who led the Senate in the daily devotional.
The Secretary then read SR 747, which honors the life and the achievements of Coretta Scott King. Mrs. King passed away last night at age 78. Without objection, the resolution was adopted.
Lt. Gov. Taylor then introduced President Pro Tempore Eric Johnson of the 1st, who took the rostrum to speak to the resolution.
Lt. Gov. Taylor then asked the Sergeant-at-Arms to welcome the honorable Governor Sonny Perdue to the Senate chamber.
The Secretary read House Resolution 1171, honoring the life and work of Lonice Barrett, former Commissioner of the Department of Natural Resources and current Director of Implementation for the Office of the Governor.
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Gov. Perdue took the rostrum to speak to the resolution, and to commend Lonice Barrett for his life of public service. The resolution was read and adopted, and Director Barrett took the rostrum to thank the Senate for this honor.
Sen. J.B. Powell of the 23rd then took the rostrum to introduce the Doctor of the Day, Dr. W. Mark Newton of Augusta, who greeted the Senate from the rostrum.
Majority Leader Tommie Williams of the 19th took the rostrum to recognize a group of visitors, the Silver-Haired Legislators, in the Senate gallery.
Sen. John Wiles of the 37th took the rostrum to recognize members of the Building Owners and Managers Association of Atlanta, seated in the Senate gallery.
Minority Leader Robert Brown of the 26th took the well on a Point of Personal Privilege to express condolences to the King family, and to ask the Senate to keep former State Sen. Rene Kemp in mind during his battle with illness.
Senators Emanuel Jones of the 10th, Ed Harbison of the 15th, Sam Zamarripa of the 36th, Valencia Seay of the 34th, Vincent Fort of the 39th, Horacena Tate of the 38th, Steen Miles of the 43rd, Kasim Reed of the 35th, Ed Tarver of the 22nd, Regina Thomas of the 2nd and Gloria Butler of the 55th took the well on Points of Personal Privilege to express condolences to the King/Scott family and to speak in memory of the life of Coretta Scott King.
Sen. Miles moved to withdraw SR 429. Without objection, the resolution was withdrawn.
SR 729-741 were read and adopted.
The Secretary read SB 390, known as the Classrooms First for Georgia Act, and its accompanying amendments.
Sen. Ronnie Chance of the 16th took the well to present the bill, which would require that local school systems spend 65 percent of operating funds on direct classroom expenditures. He yielded to questions from Sens. Dan Weber of the 40th, Joseph Carter of the 13th, Jones and Brown.
Sen. Fort took the well to speak to SB 390, stating that it is imperative that media specialists are included in the 65 percent formula. He yielded to questions from Sen. Zamarripa, Dan Moody of the 56th and Brown.
Sen. Steve Thompson of the 33rd took the well to speak to SB 390 and in support of his Amendments 1 and 2, which changes language in the bill concerning class sizes and classroom expenditures. He yielded to questions from Sen. Tate.
Sen. Steve Henson of the 41st took the well to speak to SB 390 and in support of his Amendment 3, which would include the salaries of media specialists and school counselors in
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the 65 percent formula. He yielded to questions from Sens. Don Balfour of the 9th, Michael Meyer von Bremen of the 12th, Tate and Johnny Grant of the 25th.
Sen. Zamarripa took the well to speak in favor of Amendment 3. He yielded to questions from Sen. Moody.
Sen. Thomas of the 2nd took the well to speak to SB 390, and stated that several education advocacy groups oppose the bill.
Sen. Powell took the well to speak against the bill. Sen. Henson took the well to ask for support of Amendment 3. Sen. Zamarripa asked unanimous consent to withdraw Amendment 4. There was no objection. He then took the well to speak in support of Amendment 5, which would put school funding expenditure controls with the State Board of Education. Sen. Chance moved to previous question. Amendment 1 failed by a vote of 17-32. Amendment 2 failed by a vote of 17-33. Amendment 3 failed by a vote of 18-32. Amendment 4 was withdrawn. Amendment 5 failed by a vote of 15-34. SB 390 passed by a vote of 32-18. After the announcements, Majority Leader Williams moved that the Senate stand adjourned until 10:00 a.m., Wednesday, February 1.
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From the Upper Chamber Tuesday, January 31, 2006
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