1-1732-4789 For Immediate Release:
Georgia House of Representatives Public Information Office
Room 131, State Capitol 30334 404-656-5082 1-800-282-5800
January 17, 2003
Lucas Tapped to Chair New Public Utilities and Telecommunications Committee Atlanta State Representative David Lucas, D-Macon, has been selected by Speaker Terry Coleman, D-Eastman, as Chairman of the new House Public Utilities and Telecommunications Committee.
The 180 member Georgia House is broken down into thirty-five standing committees which review, by subject area, thousands of bills and resolutions proposed each year aimed to amend Georgia statute. Without the committee system, lawmakers would become bogged down in the massive task of evaluating each bill presented for consideration. It therefore becomes the duty of the committee to sift through the mountain of proposals to find those most worthy of consideration by the full body of the House of Representatives.
Citing the state's tremendous growth over the last decade, and the concurrent growth in the Industry Committee's workload, Speaker Coleman decided to divide the Industry Committee into two separate standing committees. The House Public Utilities and Telecommunications Committee will now handle all legislation dealing with public utilities such as natural gas, and electricity as well as the state's diverse telecommunications industry.
"Rep. Lucas' past outstanding service as Chairman of the State Institutions and Property Committee made him an able and respected choice," said Speaker Coleman. "His demonstrated ability and leadership will contribute greatly to the effectiveness of this important new committee, as well as the House in general."
# # # For further information contact Rep. Lucas @ 404-656-5126