Legislative update: a briefing for faculty and staff of the University System of Georgia, No. 1 (Jan. 14, 2003)

LEGISLATIVE UPDATE
A Briefing for Faculty & Staff of the University System of Georgia
"Creating a More Educated Georgia"

No. 1, Jan. 14, 2003

Governor Sonny Perdue Inaugurated
Legislature Convenes, New Speaker Elected

The Georgia General Assembly convened Monday morning (Jan. 13) under the gold dome in Atlanta for its 2003 legislative session.
The first day was momentous, with Georgia's new Governor, Sonny Perdue, being sworn into office in the afternoon and the House electing its first new speaker in a quarter-century -- Terry Coleman of Eastman, Ga. -- shortly after the opening gavel sounded.
The inaugural events began Sunday afternoon with an open house at the Governor's Mansion. Early

Monday morning, Perdue, his family, friends and many legislators attended an ecumenical prayer service at the Church of the Apostles.
Perdue, Lt. Gov. Mark Taylor and several other state officials took the oath of office during a 2 p.m. ceremony at Phillips Arena attended by approximately 8,000 people. The inaugural festivities carried late into the night as Georgia singer Ray Charles headlined a party at the Georgia World Congress Center.
As the House and Senate get down to business, the budget is one of the chief agenda

items. Gov. Perdue plans to announce his spending proposals on Wednesday (Jan. 15).
Each year, Senior Vice Chancellor Thomas E. Daniel takes the lead in communicating the University System of Georgia's key messages and representing its interests at the Capitol during the legislative session. Although this is sure to be another tight budget year given the state's struggling economy, Daniel is optimistic that the University System's basic needs will be met.
"Education is critically important to Gov. Perdue, and I am cer-

tain that the University System of Georgia will be a strong partner in his plans to continue improving education at every level," Daniel said. "These are extremely tight times -- and we are mindful that the University System is competing with many other state agencies for limited state funds -- but our new Governor recognizes that investing in public higher education now will pay dividends over the long term, resulting in a stronger, healthier University System."

Many New Faces in Georgia's House and Senate

New Senate Members
The 2003 Georgia Senate has 56 members, 17 of which are new. Seven of the new senators are not new to the General Assembly, though, having held seats in

the House during the last term.
Georgia's new senators are: N Mary Squires,
Norcross
See "Senate," Page 2 ...

New House of Representatives Members

The 2003 Georgia House of Representatives has 180 members, 51 of which are new. Three of the new representatives

General Assembly.
Georgia's new House representatives are: N Jack White, Blue
Ridge

have previous exper-

ience in the state's

See "House," Page 2 ...

LEGISLATIVE UPDATE -- January 14, 2003, Issue No. 1

House
Continued from Page 1...

N Craig Brock, Chatsworth
N David Ralston, Blue Ridge
N Tom Graves, Ranger N Jack Murphy,
Cumming N Chip Rogers,
Woodstock N Calvin Hill,
Woodstock N Bill Heath, Bremen N Stacey Reece,
Gainesville N Chris Elrod,
Jefferson N Howard Maxwell,
Dallas N Matt Dollar,
Marietta N Alisha Thomas,
Austell

N Pat Dooley, Marietta N Doug Stoner,
Smyrna N Rob Teilhet, Atlanta N Charles Martin, Jr.,
Alpharetta N Jan Jones,
Alpharetta N Nick Moraitakis,
Atlanta N Mable Thomas,
Atlanta N John Noel, Atlanta N Roger Bruce,
Atlanta N Virgil Fludd,
Fairburn N Jill Chambers,
Atlanta N Mary Margaret
Oliver, Atlanta N Howard Mosby,
Atlanta

N Pam Stephenson, Lithonia
N Teresa GreeneJohnson, Lithonia
N Earnest Williams, Stone Mountain
N Billy Mitchell, Stone Mountain
N Pedro Marin, Duluth N David Casas, Lilburn N Curt Thompson,
Norcross N Hugh Floyd,
Norcross N John Heard,
Lawrenceville N Donna Sheldon,
Dacula N John Douglas,
Covington N Barry Fleming,
Harlem

N Victor Hill, College Park
N Mark Butler, Carrollton
N Chuck Harper, Carrollton
N Lee Howell, Griffin N Quincy Murphy,
Augusta N Pete Warren,
Augusta N Debbie Buckner,
Junction City N Bert Oliver,
Glennville N Edward Stephens,
Savannah N Al Williams, Midway N Jay Roberts, Ocilla N Ed Rynders, Albany;
and N Cecily Hill, Saint
Marys.

Senate
Continued from Page 1...
N Ginger Collins, Atlanta
N John Bulloch, Ochlocknee
N Ross Tolleson, Perry N Randy Hall, Augusta N Dan Moody,
Alpharetta

N Valencia Seay, College Park
N Kasim Reed, Atlanta N Sam Zamarripa,
Atlanta N Chuck Clay,
Marietta N Liane Levetan,
Atlanta N Steve Henson,
Tucker

N David Adelman, Decatur
N Renee Unterman, Loganville
N Brian Kemp, Athens N Ralph Hudgens,
Hull; and N Preston Smith,
Rome.

Coming Next Week:
Excerpts from Gov. Perdue's Inaugural Address; and Excerpts from Gov. Perdue's Budget Address.
-- 2 --