One month left in Georgia

I plan to start a new blog here: http://theworldwidewhat.blogspot.com/. But first, one final post to this long neglected blog.

As is obvious from my lack of posts in the past several months, this blog, like so many others, never picked up enough momentum to survive. Though I haven't been blogging lately, I have kept up the "blogging mindset." Namely, I have been reading, thinking, commentating, sorting, and synthesizing. And all along, taking notes, whether in my head, on a google document, or in cryptic emails to myself.

This summer I am finally feeling my interests and plans sealing together. Not that I have any definite specific plan, but at least I get a better feel for how my values, interests, and talents fit together. That is both an exciting and a daunting feeling. Once you begin to verbalize your ambitions and their implications to yourself--to make them palpable--then the prospect of disappointing yourself is also palpable.

My interests are not as Georgia-specific as when I started this blog, but my affection for Georgia has only grown. On July 20 I am leaving Atlanta to start a PhD in Economics at UC Berkeley, and though I have moved many times before, this is the first time I anticipate being homesick. This is my first attachment to a place. I have run so many times down its roads, admired the cityscape from every view at every time of day and year. Every idea, every trouble of the past four years, I have digested running through Atlanta. I know the streets and feel like they know me, having witnessed all my moods, trials, and triumphs.

I have seen (and contributed to) Georgia's quirkiness. I have also seen need personified. Here is the power of place attachment: desperation has a face and lives in Georgia. I used to know, conceptually, people are in need, and that, intellectually, motivated me. Now I know, my people need me! I know it sounds ridiculous here and now to talk about my people. But how else can I refer to the multitudes who share my Piedmont Park and Freedom Parkway, my downtown views and strips of shade, my incredulity at the weather?

In four years in Georgia, I have become intellectual, but not an intellectual. Georgia does not breed intellectuals. It breeds decency. Though my studies take me ever farther into abstraction, esoterism, academe, I stay grounded in the understanding that academia may be a means, but never an end.

I got to live in Georgia at a most marvelous age--young but not too. Some days you can positively feel the glow of being young, capable, and striving. It burns and glows so intensely that others older and younger than you can sense it. They look to you to surprise them. And you hope beyond hope to never stop surprising yourself.

Intro to the Georgia Senate

The best thing about the Georgia Senate is that they truthfully call themselves a "peoples' legislature." The 56 Senators are not professional legislators, but rather earn their living in trades ranging from farming to orthodontics. The modest stipend they receive is not enough to be the motivation for their service, and neither, for most, is the promise of future power. By and large, intentions are noble. We have a Senate of hardworking Georgians, working hard for hardworking Georgians.

Senators are required to be at least 25 years old, a US citizen, a two-year Georgia citizen, and a one-year resident of the district they represent. Presently, ages range from 31 to 78. They serve two-year terms with no term limits (that's pretty typical--only 20 states have term limits for state legislators). The party breakdown is 34 Republicans and 22 Democrats. The three month Legislative Session (usually just called Session) begins in January.

A list of Senate leadership is headed up with the President of the Senate, Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle, President Pro Tempore Tommie Williams, and Majority Leader Chip Rogers, all Republicans. The real leaders are the committee chairs, since most of the legislative work is done in committees. There are 30 committees, but here are some of the key ones and their chairs:

-Appropriations, Sen. Jack Hill. Holds budget hearings and approves Senate version of the state budget. This is a BIG task, so they have nine subcommittees. Sen. Hill is a very busy man during Session, and works closely with the Senate Budget Office. A grocer by trade, Sen. Hill has been in the Senate since 1990 and is exceedingly likable.

-Education and Youth, Sen. Dan Weber.

-Health and Human Services, Sen. Don Thomas.

-Higher Education, Sen. Seth Harp.

-Rules, Sen. Don Balfour. This committee places bills on the legislative calendar, thereby controlling the flow of legislative proceedings.

-Transportation, Sen. Jeff Mullis.

Empowering our People to Grow their own Hogs

Georgia's Governor Sonny Perdue delivered his eighth and final annual state-of-the-state address to the Georgia General Assembly on January 13, 2010. You can watch it here or read the text here.

The Governor typically uses the state-of-the-state address to present the year's legislative agenda and spending priorities to state Senators and Representatives. Gov. Perdue is now in the last year of his second term, which perhaps explains why this year's address favored ambitious rhetoric over specific details.

He quoted Alexis de Tocqueville, Thomas Paine, the Apostol Paul, Dr. Michael Guido, General Oglethorpe, and the prophet Micah. All of these are men (the small but growing role of women in Georgia government will be a future post). The only woman mentioned (but not quoted) was his wife, Mary, and this was admittedly sweet.

I want to recognize the one Earthly person who has stood out as my inspiration and guide throughout this journey. Mary, you are the person I hope to become. Your kindness and gentleness have not only comforted me, but changed me. Mary, you have been a constant reminder of our purpose in public office, and I thank you for all that you have done as my loving wife and as the First Lady of Georgia.

He made analogies to the American Revolution, the Great Depression, both World Wars as well as Korea and Vietnam, rugby, and hog farming.

Georgians didn’t elect us to see a rugby match with a scrum on every decision. When we don’t work together, our jerseys get so muddy the people can’t even distinguish which team we’re on. And we all come out with mud on our face.

These times demand that we worry less about bringing home the pork, and more about empowering our people to grow their own hogs.

And while he didn't go into much detail, the key statement was this:

If we fail to do the hard thing now, our government will be spread far too thin to ensure that Georgia is educated, healthy, safe and growing.

"The hard thing," mostly, is budget cuts. Education, health care, and criminal justice make up 75% of the state budget, and Georgia has its share of troubles even in typical years when state revenue grows four or five percent. This year, it is an understatement to say that Georgia must trim its budget. It is not likely to be pleasant, but guaranteed to be exciting. I'll be watching closely so I can share the highlights with you!

Welcome

Hello and welcome to Georgia State of State for Students! In this blog I will attempt to address a need for a central source of state news relevant to people my age. During a yearlong internship in state government, I fell in love with the exciting and quirky world of Georgia policy-making-- a world that is highly relevant to YOU! Here's why:

1. Entertainment: It's hard to beat Georgia for human interest stories. I'll keep you filled in on the quotes, humor, and characters that you just can't make up.

2. Education: Do you attend a public or private university, college, or technical college in Georgia? Did you go to K-12 here, or might your kids some day? It's worth keeping an eye on the decisions that affect student life and what you learn and pay.

3. Opportunities: Whether it's through an internship, volunteering, voting, or voicing an opinion, you can make a large impact at the state and local level. I'll try to keep this blog updated with details.

4. Lifestyle: Transportation, taxes, jobs, hospitals, libraries... Maybe they matter to you now, or maybe they will in the future.

I'll use the first few posts to fill you in on a basic who's who at the Gold Dome, recap of the governor's race so far, and some other overviews. Then I'll continue with other stories as they come up or as you suggest. Your comments and suggestions are welcome!