From the upper chamber 2006 February 9

Report for Thursday, February 9, 2006
The sixteenth day of the 2006 legislative session was called to order by Lieutenant Governor Mark Taylor.
Senator Jeff Mullis of the 53rd stated that the journal had been read and was found to be correct.
Senate Bills 525-530; Senate Resolutions 817, 818 and 823; and House Bills 954, 1019, 1192, and 1107 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 morning roll call was taken.
Lt. Gov. Taylor then recognized Sen. Tim Golden of the 8th to lead the Senate in the Pledge of Allegiance. Sen. Golden was joined by Sen. Seth Harp of the 29th to introduce the Chaplain of the Day, Reverend Craig Rikard of Park Avenue United Methodist Church in Valdosta, who led the Senate in the daily devotional.
There were no unanimous consents or Points of Personal Privilege.
Senate Resolutions 815, 816, 819-822 and 824 were read and adopted.
The Local Consent Calendar, consisting of HB 784 and 1210, passed by a vote of 38 to 0.
SB 465, which is one of the annual house keeping bills correcting typographical, stylistic, capitalization, punctuation, and other errors and omissions in the O.C.G.A., was read. Sen. Michael Meyer von Bremen of the 12th took the well to explain the legislation.
SB 465 passed by a vote of 44 to 0.
From the Upper Chamber Thursday, February 9, 2006
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The Secretary then read SB 466, another of the annual house keeping bills, which corrects errors and omissions in the retirement code. Sen. Meyer von Bremen returned to the well to explain the legislation.
SB 466 passed by a vote of 46 to 0.
SB 467 was then read. This legislation, the last of the annual house keeping bills, corrects errors and omissions in the election code. Sen. Meyer von Bremen took the well to explain the legislation.
SB 467 passed by a vote of 46 to 0.
President Pro Tempore Eric Johnson of the 1st was then recognized to make a nomination for the position of Secretary of the Senate. Sen. Johnson nominated Robert Ewing to fill the position vacated by Frank Eldridge, who passed away Saturday, February 4.
Sen. Terrell Starr of the 44th took the well to second the nomination.
Majority Leader Tommie Williams of the 19th moved that the nomination be closed. Without objection, the nominations were closed and Bob Ewing was duly elected as the Secretary of the Senate.
Lt. Gov. Taylor asked that the Sergeant of Arms introduce the new Secretary of the Senate. Following a standing ovation, Lt. Gov. Taylor administered the oath of office.
Secretary of the Senate Bob Ewing was recognized to address the Senate.
Lt. Gov. Taylor welcomed Secretary of the Senate Ewing to the position and thanked him and his staff for their hard work.
HR 1041 was then read and Sen. Starr took the well to present the resolution, which in part designates the J.T. Williams Honorary Bridge.
Sen. Preston Smith of the 52nd took the well to speak to the section of the resolution designating the U.S. Army Specialist Justin Johnson Intersection.
HR 1041 was adopted by a vote of 45 to 0.
The Secretary then read HB 713, which designates February 6, annually as Ronald Reagan Day in Georgia. Sen. John Douglas of the 17th took the well to speak to the legislation.
HB 713 passed by a vote of 42 to 0.
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SR 813, recognizing and commending the Georgia Farm Bureau Federation, was then read and adopted. Sen. John Bulloch of the 11th was recognized to introduce Georgia Farm Bureau Federation President Wayne Dollar and members of the Farm Bureau present in the gallery.
The Secretary then read SB 450, which revises the pay structure for certain county officers and officials. Sen. Brian Kemp of the 46th took the well to explain the bill.
Sen. Steve Thompson of the 33rd took the well to present Amendment 1. However, he said that he would return to his desk and request unanimous consent to withdraw the amendment. He then moved to withdraw the amendment. Without objection, it was withdrawn.
The Committee Substitute was adopted by a vote of 40 to 1. SB 450 passed as substituted by a vote of 50 to 0. SR 715, which commends the Bagataway Lacrosse "Team Georgia" High School Boys Lacrosse Team, was then read and adopted. Sen. Judson Hill of the 32nd was joined by Sens. Chip Rogers of the 21st and Dan Moody of the 56th to introduce the group to the Senate. Majority Leader Williams moved the Senate stand adjourned until Monday, February 13, at 1:30 p.m. Following the announcements, the Senate stood adjourned.
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From the Upper Chamber Thursday, February 9, 2006
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