From the upper chamber 2007 January 31

Report for Wednesday, January 31, 2007
The twelfth day of the 2007 legislative session was called to order by Lieutenant Governor Casey Cagle.
Senator Don Thomas of the 54th stated that the journal had been read and was found to be correct.
Senate Bills 84-88, Senate Resolutions 123-125 and House Bills 96 and 132 were read for the first time and assigned to committees. The clerk of the Secretary then read the reports of standing committees and second readers.
Following the morning roll call, the Secretary read SR 106, which commends Dr. Michael Guido and recognizes the 50th anniversary of the founding of the Guido Evangelistic Association.
Lt. Gov. Cagle recognized Sen. Jack Hill of the 4th, who took the rostrum to commend Dr. Guido for his achievements and introduce Dr. Guido to the Senate as the Chaplain of the Day.
Lt. Gov. Cagle then led the Senate in the Pledge of Allegiance.
Sen. Ralph Hudgens of the 47th took the well on a Point of Personal Privilege to ask Senators to sign a resolution declaring February 6 as Ronald Reagan Day.
Majority Leader Tommie Williams of the 19th took the well on a Point of Personal Privilege to recognize today as Dialysis Day at the State Capitol.
Sen. Jeff Mullis of the 53rd took the well on a Point of Personal Privilege to recognize Tourism Day at the Capitol, and to pass along the ceremonial "tourism hat" to his successor as chairman of the Senate Economic Development Committee, Sen. Chip Pearson of the 51st.
From the Upper Chamber Wednesday, January 31, 2007
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The Secretary read SR 121, which commends the tourism industry in Georgia and establishes January 30, 2007, as a time to recognize the vital role that the travel and tourism industry plays in Georgia's economic prosperity. Sen. Pearson took the well again to speak to the resolution, stressing the importance of tourism in our state.
Sen. John Douglas of the 17th took the well on a Point of Personal Privilege to welcome several U.S. soldiers, who were seated in the Senate gallery.
Sen. Doug Stoner of the 6th took the rostrum to introduce the Doctor of the Day, Dr. Ephraim Bassey of Atlanta.
Sen. Michael Meyer von Bremen of the 12th took the well on a Point of Personal Privilege to ask Senators to sign on to a resolution commending the Capitol Police.
Sen. Steve Thompson of the 33rd took the well on a Point of Personal Privilege to commend Lt. Gov. Cagle for leading the Senate in a bipartisan direction.
Sergeant-at-Arms Lorenzo Wallace escorted Senators Valencia Seay of the 34th and Jim Whitehead, Sr. of the 24th and their guests, Atlanta Falcon D.J. Shockley and his family.
The Secretary read SR 70, which commends and congratulates Atlanta Falcons quarterback D.J. Shockley for his accomplishments in football and academics at North Clayton High School and the University of Georgia.
SR 127-129 were read and adopted.
The Secretary read SB 10, which is known as the Georgia Special Needs Scholarship Act. The legislation would provide for scholarships for public school students with disabilities to attend eligible private schools.
The Secretary then read Amendments 1-4.
President Pro Tempore Eric Johnson of the 1st took the well to present the Committee Substitute to SB 10, emphasizing that the legislation will give parents more choice when enrolling a special needs child into an educational institution. He stated that the bill is modeled after legislation in the state of Florida, known as the McKay Scholarship.
Sen. Johnson also introduced Amendment 1, which changes language in the bill concerning Georgia code that applies to private schools. He yielded to questions from Sens. Emanuel Jones of the 10th, Regina Thomas of the 2nd, Nan Orrock of the 36th, Vincent Fort of the 39th and David Adelman of the 42nd.
Sen. Seth Harp of the 29th took the well to urge support of SB 10 because it provides the parents of special needs children with more opportunity for individual choice.
From the Upper Chamber Wednesday, January 31 2007
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Sen. Thompson of the 33rd took the well to speak to SB 10, expressing some of his concerns about the legislation. He also introduced his Amendment 5.
The Secretary then read Amendment 5, which adds language to the bill that would limit the legislation to special needs students.
Majority Leader Williams took the well to urge support for SB 10, relaying a personal story to the Senate about his great niece Ava.
Sen. Fort took the well to speak against SB 10. He yielded to questions from Sens. Orrock and Joseph Carter of the 13th.
Sen. Chip Rogers of the 21st took the well in support of SB 10. He mentioned that the Scholarship program has been well received in the state of Florida. He yielded to questions from Sens. Jones and Hudgens.
Lt. Gov. Cagle then paused to announce breaking news that Delta Air Lines' creditors have officially rejected the US Airways hostile takeover bid.
Sen. Don Thomas of the 54th took the well to express his support of SB 10.
Sen. Bill Heath of the 31st took the well to also urge support of SB 10. He yielded to questions from Sen. Orrock.
The Secretary then read Amendment 6 by Sen. Gail Davenport of the 44th. The Amendment would alter language in the bill concerning participation in the program.
Sen. Johnson took the well to conclude his presentation of SB 10. He asked Senators to vote yes on the substitute to SB 10 and Amendment 1.
Sen. Horacena Tate of the 38th took the well to present Amendment 2, which would incorporate language concerning the amount of the scholarship. She yielded to questions from Sens. Fort, Preston Smith of the 52nd and Kasim Reed of the 35th.
Sen. Thomas of the 2nd took the well to present Amendment 3, which stipulates that students who enroll in the Georgia Special Needs Scholarship program would be provided with transportation to and from school. She yielded to questions from Sens. Smith, Meyer von Bremen and Fort.
Sen. Jones took the well to present Amendment 4, which changes language in the bill concerning the way local school systems are funded. He yielded to questions from Sen. John Wiles of the 37th, Smith and Hudgens.
Sen. Thompson of the 33rd took the well to present Amendment 5, which adds language to the bill that would limit the legislation to apply to special needs students only.
From the Upper Chamber Wednesday, January 31 2007
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Sen. Davenport took the well to present Amendment 6, which would alter language in the bill concerning participation in the program.
The Secretary read Amendment 2a, which changes provisions in the previous Amendment 2.
Sen. Johnson took the well once again to close the debate on SB 10. He urged support of the Committee Substitute to SB 10 and Amendment 1, and he asked the Senate to reject Amendments 2, 2a, 3, 4, 5 and 6
Amendment 1 was adopted by a vote of 44 to 1. Amendment 2a was lost by a vote of 20 to 32. Sen. Thomas of the 2nd moved for a yeas and nays vote on Amendment 2. Amendment 2 was lost by a vote of 21 to 33. Sen. Thomas of the 2nd moved for a yeas and nays vote on Amendment 3. Amendment 3 was lost by a vote of 21 to 33. Sen. Jones moved for a yeas and nays vote on the remaining Amendments. Amendment 4 was lost by a vote of 21 to 33. Amendment 5 was lost by a vote of 20 to 33. Amendment 6 was lost by a vote of 21 to 33. The Committee Substitute to SB 10 was adopted as amended by a vote of 36 to 4. SB 10 passed by substitute by a vote of 31 to 23. Following the announcements, Majority Leader Williams moved that the Senate stand adjourned until 10:00 a.m., Thursday, February 1.
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From the Upper Chamber Wednesday, January 31 2007
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