>>> WE ARE ANNOUNCING THAT QCELLS WHICH IS UP IN DALTON WILL DO A BIG EXPANSION, 2.5 TO BILLION DOLLARS.

MORE JOBS IN DALTON IN 2000 JOBS IN CARTERSVILLE.

>> THIS YEAR THE GEORGIA BUSINESS COMMUNITY LEARNS WHAT TO EXPECT FROM TOP POLITICAL LEADERS AT THE ANNUAL EGGS AND ISSUES BREAKFAST.

GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO LAWMAKERS ON THIS DAY TWO OF THE GEORGIA LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

I'M DONNA LOWERY IN ATLANTA.

WE HEAR MORE ABOUT THE BIG ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE CLEAN ENERGY JOB.

IS THE DIVERSITY.

IT'S LED BY CAUCUSES FORMING TO UNITE MEMBERS WHO HAVE BECOME AN INJECT.

WE HAVE FOUR LAWMAKERS ON THE SHOW REPRESENTING DIFFERENT CONSTITUTIONS TO TELL US ABOUT THEM AND THEIR GOALS.

LET'S GET TO THAT BIG NEWS FROM THIS MORNING AND FOR THAT JOINING US IN THE STORY STUDIO IS MICHELLE RITCHIE WHO IS OUR CAPITAL CORRESPONDENT.

>> VERY EXCITING DAY AT EGGS AND ISSUES AND TODAY WAS ALL ABOUT JOBS AS GOVERNOR BRIAN KEMP TALKED ABOUT EXPANDING HIS WORK DEVELOPMENT PLAN.

>> LADIES AND GENTLEMEN WELCOME.

GOVERNOR BRIAN KEMP.

>> Reporter: IT'S A STANDING OVATION FOR HER ELECTED GOVERNOR BRIAN KEMP AT THE ANNUAL EGGS AND ISSUES HELD AT THE GEORGIA WORLD CONGRESS CENTER.

GOVERNOR KEMP MAKING IT CLEAR THAT INCREASING GEORGE'S WORKFORCE IS NOT ONLY A CAMPAIGN PROMISE BUT AN INITIATIVE IS ALREADY UNDERWAY THANKS TO EXPANSION OF QCELLS, THE BIGGEST RENEWABLE ENERGY PROVIDER IN THE COUNTRY WHICH BELIEVES THAT SOLAR MODULE MAY INCREASE OPERATIONS.

>> THEY ARE ANNOUNCING TODAY THAT QCELLS IN DALTON WILL DO A $2.5 BILLION EXPANSION FOR SOLAR PANEL MANUFACTURING AND 500 MORE JOBS WILL BE THERE IN DALTON IN 2000 AND CARTERSVILLE.

>> Reporter: THE NUMBER OF GEORGIANS EMPLOYED BY QCELLS IS EXPECTED TO REACH 4000.

ONE OF THE ECONOMIC CHALLENGES FACING THE FUTURE JOB FORCE IS TOO MANY HOME OPENINGS IN AND NOT ENOUGH QUALIFIED PEOPLE TO FILL THEM.

>> BY 23 WE HAVE TWO 50,000 TO 350,000 JOBS UNFILLED IN OUR STATE.

>> Reporter: A SOLUTION OF A THREE PILLAR STRATEGY THAT FOCUSES ON ENGAGEMENT AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT.

WE HAVE TO CHANGE OUR CURRENT CAREER PATHWAYS OF STUDENTS UNDERSTAND WHAT JOBS ARE AVAILABLE IN THEIR CAREER SECTORS AND COMMUNITY.

>> WE WILL TAKE ANOTHER BILLION DOLLARS OF OUR RESERVES AND DO A ONE-TIME --THIS IS ONE TIME Y'ALL --ONE TIME PROPERTY TAX RELIEF GRANT THAT WILL HELP WORKING GEORGIA FAMILIES OFFSET THE PROPERTY TAX.

THAT WILL SAVE THE AVERAGE GEORGIAN ABOUT $500.

>> JON BURNS ALSO IN ATTENDANT IS ALREADY MAKING CHANGES IN THE HOUSE COMMITTEE STRUCTURE FOCUSING ON MENTAL HEALTH BY CREATING AN OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE TO ENSURE EFFORTS ON THE ISSUE REMAIN CONSTANT.

>> I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO OFFERING SOLUTIONS AND MOVING HEALTHCARE FORWARD AS WE WORK THROUGH THIS 2023 SESSION AND INTO 2024.

>> Reporter: THE MENTAL HEALTH PARITY ACT ENSURES A BOTH A PRIVATE AND PUBLIC HEALTH BEHAVIORAL HEALTH.

BACK HERE AT THE CAPITAL SHORT SESSIONS IN THE HOUSE AND SENATE AS RULES AND OTHER ADMINISTRATIVE DUTIES WERE COVERED.

SOME OF THE RULE CHANGES IN THE HOUSE INCLUDE RE-ESTABLISHING THE PAID PROGRAM AND ADDING AN EDUCATIONAL COMPONENT.

>> THE NUMBER OF PAGES WILL BE FIVE.

>> WHAT ABOUT THOSE OF US WHO HAVE MADE 10 PROMISES ALREADY NOT KNOWING IT WOULD BE REDUCED?

>> I WOULD SAY WE HAVE A PROBLEM.

>> Reporter: --WILL NOW ALLOW LEGISLATION WITHIN THE COMMITTEE, A CONCERN WITHIN.

>> DURING THIS SESSION THE MAJORITY A PARTY WILL NOT PASS LOCAL LEGISLATION THAT MAY BE OPPOSED BY THE MAJORITY OF THE LOCAL MEMBERS.

>> THE UPDATE TO RULE 18 ALLOWS FOR VETTING OF LEGISLATION WITHIN COMMUNITY WHICH I SUBMIT IS A REALLY GOOD THING.

LEGISLATIVE PROCESS IS SET UP TO ALLOW FOR WITNESSES AND DEBATE.

>> WHY DO MEMBERS NOT HAVE TIME?

WE WERE AT BREAKFAST UNTIL ABOUT 1030 AND I WANTED TO MAKE A MOTION.

>> THEY WERE ACTUALLY ON YOUR DESK LAST NIGHT FOR YOUR REVIEW.

>> SO FAR WE HAVE HAD A VERY ROBUST DISCUSSION THIS MORNING AND A VERY SORE THOROUGH EXPLANATION.

>> HOUSE RESOLUTION PASSED IN THE SENATE WAS ALL ABOUT CHANGING THE RULES THE SUMMER OPERATES BY.

IT WOULD CHANGE THE ROLE OF THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR FOR BEING PRESIDENT OF A BODY TUBING OLD LEGISLATIVE MEMBER.

THE RESOLUTION WOULD ALSO MANDATE THAT THE SAYS IT SENATE RESIDENT WOULD GIVE UP THAT POSITION IF THEY CHOOSE TO RUN FOR A DIFFERENT DAY OFFICE WHILE IN THEIR CURRENT SENATE SEAT.

ADOPTION OF LEGISLATIVE PRIVILEGE INTO --.

THEY SAY LEGISLATORS CANNOT BE HELD LIABLE FOR ANYTHING THEY SAY ABOUT LEGISLATION DURING THE SESSION.

THE RESOLUTION WOULD ADD THOSE PRODUCTIONS TO THE SENATE FLOOR.

DEMOCRATS OBJECTED SAYING IT BECAME CAN BECOME COMPLICATED IF THEY ARE CALLED TO TESTIFY IN A COURT CASE.

RATHER FACE LITIGATION OVER ELECTION FRAUD, CASES CURRENTLY BEING HEARD.

>> THERE IS NUMEROUS PEOPLE WHERE SOME MEMBERS ARE ACTUALLY WAVING LEGISLATIVE PRIVILEGE POTENTIALLY TO TESTIFY IN THOSE PARTICULAR ACTIONS.

THE QUESTION BECOMES DOES THIS IMPACT THAT AT ALL?

THE ANSWER MAY BE NO BUT THE ANSWER HAS NOT BEEN GIVEN SO WHEN YOU WAIVE THAT YOU CHANGE THAT LANGUAGE AND DOES IT IMPACT THE MEMBERS ABILITY TO BE ABLE TO TESTIFY IN THESE KINDS OF CASES?

AND QUITE FRANKLY ON BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE ON THE TYPES OF CASES THAT EXIST.

BECAUSE OF THE CONTEXT THAT EXISTS.

>> I THINK YOU ARE JUST CREATING PROBLEMS.

DO WE NOT ALREADY HAVE LEGISLATIVE IMMUNITY DURING SESSION?

IF I AM SPEEDING TO GET HERE THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH CANNOT STOP ME.

WE SHOULD HAVE THE ABILITY TO SPEAK FREELY WITH THIRD PARTIES ABOUT THE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS.

HOPEFULLY WE WILL NOT BECOME SO DIVIDED IN OUR SOCIETY AND IN OUR GOVERNMENT THAT I HAVE TO ONE DAY WORRY ABOUT A GOVERNOR SENDING AN EXECUTIVE BRANCH PROSECUTING ME OF SOMETHING I SAID TO A THIRD PARTY.

>> Reporter: TO THE OBJECTION THE RESOLUTION PASSED.

AND THE HOUSE WILL HOLD A BUDGET HEARING NEXT WEEK.

OF COURSE TOP OF MIND IS THE GOVERNOR'S INAUGURATION TOMORROW.

THAT IS MY CAPITAL REPORT.

DONNA?

>> AND WE ARE COVERING THAT LIFE.

TV.

WE WILL BE LIVE ON THE RADIO AND ON GPB.ORG.

TOMORROW AT 9:30 A.M.

TUNE IN.

THANK YOU.

WE WILL FOCUS THE REST OF THE SHOW ON ONE-WAY LAWMAKERS DETERMINED HIM OF THE PRIORITIES DURING THE SESSION.

THEY FORM CAULK ACES TO BAND TOGETHER TO ACHIEVE COMMON LEGISLATIVE OBJECT OF COURSE, THE DEMOCRATIC AND REPUBLICAN CAUCUSES HAVE BEEN AROUND FOR YEAR BUT THERE'S ALSO THE BIPARTISAN GEORGIA WOMEN'S CAUCUS WHICH FORMED AND ALSO IN 27 A BIPARTISAN GROUP OF THE YOUNGEST LEGISLATORS FORMED THE FUTURES CAUCUS.

THIS YEAR WE HAVE A COUPLE OF NEW CAUCUSES RAMPING UP AND ONE OF THEM IS THE BIPARTISAN -- REPUBLICAN SENATOR JASON -- FROM DALLAS WHO IS THE SILENT SENATE MAJORITY CAUCUS CHAIR AND HE'S ALSO CO-CHAIR OF THE EMERGING HISPANIC CAUCUS.

>> SO RAY MARTINEZ ANNOUNCED A COUPLE MONTHS AGO WE WILL FORM A -- COLLABORATIVELY HERE IN THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY BETWEEN THE SENATE AND THE HOUSE, REPUBLICAN AND DEMOCRAT TO HAVE A FORM TO TALK ABOUT ISSUES.

I BELIEVE FIRST WAS 20 YEARS AGO OR OVER 20 YEARS AGO SO THIS YEAR WITH US HAVING SEVERAL NUMBERS AND MANY OF US JUST FROM FAMILY MEMBERS OR DIRECTLY FROM PUERTO RICO WE FEEL LIKE THIS IS THE YEAR TO HAVE THIS KIND OF DIALOGUE SO WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO HAVING COLLABORATION AND FOR IT TO BE UP AND POSITIVE.

A LOT OF ISSUES WE MAY NOT AGREE ON AND THERE WILL BE SOME THINGS WE DO BUT AT LEAST WE CAN HAVE THIS CONVERSATION.

>> WHAT'S THE BENEFIT OF EVEN HAVING A CONTEST?

>> IT'S EDUCATION, IT'S HEALTHCARE, IT'S CRIME, IT'S PUBLIC SAFETY.

HOW DO I BECOME PROSPEROUS?

HOW DOES MY FAMILY BECOME PROSPEROUS.

I THINK A LOT OF FOLKS BELIEVE THAT HISPANIC, WHETHER IT'S LEADERS, ALL WE CARE ABOUT IS IMMIGRATION WHICH IS NOT TRUE AND AT THE SAME LEVEL WE HAVE NO CONTROL OVER IMMIGRATION.

I AM A REPUBLICAN THAT BELIEVES WE SHOULD HAVE BORDER SECURITY AND THOSE THINGS NEED TO HAPPEN AND I KNOW THE OTHER SIDE PROBABLY JUST DISAGREES BUT THESE ARE THINGS WE WILL TAKE UP AND TALK ABOUT FOR GEORGIA.

I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT SO WE CAN TALK BECAUSE IN THIS HYPERBOLIC ENVIRONMENT THAT WE ALL LIVE IN I THINK TO HAVE A PLACE WHERE WE CAN ALL SIT AROUND A TABLE AND HAVE A FRIENDLY DEBATE AND WALK AWAY FROM IT I THINK IT'S HEALTHY VERSUS US GETTING OUT ON THE SEND SENATE FLOOR AND BEATING EACH OTHER'S BRAINS AND OVER ISSUES THAT WE EITHER AGREE OR DISAGREE WITH.

SOME PEOPLE MAY NOT LIKE THAT.

I AM A PRETTY STRAIGHT SHOOTER.

I KNOW SOME OF THE MEMBERS OF THIS CAUCUS ARE THE SAME BUT TO TALK ABOUT THINGS --MY DAD WAS FROM PUERTO RICO, BORN AND RAISED HERE.

TO SHARE THOSE EXPERIENCES, I FAMILY MAY BE DIFFERENT, BUT I THINK IT'S A GOOD THING.

>> WHAT CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT THE HISPANIC POPULATION IN GEORGIA.

>> IT'S GROWN.

WE HAVE SEEN THE IMPACT IN STATEWIDE ELECTIONS WHERE A FEW THOUSAND CITIZENS CAN DETERMINE THE FUTURE OF GEORGIA AND ALSO THE FUTURE OF THE COUNTRY.

IT'S A NATIONAL PHENOMENON.

I THINK WE WILL CONTINUE TO SEE POPULATION GROWTH BUT I THINK WE NEED TO BE INTENTIONAL INCLUDING THE HISPANIC LEADERS AND BUSINESS LEADERS AND THE AVERAGE BLUE-COLLAR CITIZEN FOLKS WHO ARE WORKING CONSTRUCTION JOBS AND TRYING TO BRING MONEY HOME AND PUT MY TABLE AND I THINK THAT'S WHAT THIS IS ALL ABOUT.

>> PEOPLE WHO DON'T UNDERSTAND --AT ALL, HOW DOES THAT FOSTER --.

>> WE WILL FILE PAPERWORK IN THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE.

IT HAS TO BE APPROVED JUST LIKE IF YOU WERE FORMING A MUSIC OR SPORTSMAN CAUCUS OR BLACK CAUCUS OR ANY OTHERS AND THEN FROM THERE WE CAN GET TOGETHER AND TALK ABOUT BYLAWS AND OUR STRUCTURE AND GO FROM THERE.

AND I KNOW TALKING TO REPRESENTATIVE MORAN AND SOME OF THE OTHERS FOR THIS TO BE SUSTAINING WE WILL TRY TO BUILD IT IN A WAY WHICH IT CONTINUES TO BE BIPARTISAN.

>> CO-CHAIR OF THE NEW HISPANIC CAUCUS, SENATOR JASON.

NOW WE WILL TALK ABOUT A LONG TIME CAUCUS, THE GEORGIA LEGISLATIVE BLACK CAUCUS AND JOINING US IS THE CHAIRMAN OF THE DEMOCRATIC LEGISLATIVE BLACK CAUCUS, CARL BILLIARD OF SAVANNAH SO WE ARE HAPPY TO HAVE YOU HERE.

>> GLAD TO BE HERE.

WE HAVE THIS AS ONE OF THE LARGEST CAUCUSES IN THE NATION.

>> 1975 THERE WERE ABOUT 20 LEGISLATURES AND NOW WE ABOUT 65 SO WE ARE THE LARGEST BLACK CAUCUS IN THE NATION.

>> TALK ABOUT HOW IT'S DIFFERENT NOW AND ESPECIALLY WITH THE NEW DIVERSITY COMING IN.

>> THE CAUCUS HAS MOVED FROM THOSE INDIVIDUALS THAT WERE MEN AND WOMEN THAT WERE VERY DARING TO MAKE LEGISLATION THAT AFFECTED PEOPLE OF COLOR AND NOW THERE ARE PEOPLE OF COLOR ACROSS THE STATE OF GEORGIA.

THE BLACK CAUCUS IS AN ORGANIZATION OF YOUNG WOMEN WHO ARE LEGISLATORS THAT ARE TRYING TO MAKE A DIFFERENT ACROSS THE STREET.

>> LET'S TALK ABOUT PRIORITY.

YOU ALSO HAVE INTERNS WHO ARE DOWN AT THE CAPITAL DURING THIS LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

>> THERE ARE LEGS, THERE ARE ARMS, SOMETIMES THEY HAVE BETTER SUGGESTIONS THAN WE HAVE AND THEY ARE FAR MORE INNOVATIVE AND WE ARE BLESSED THAT WE HAVE INTERNS THAT CAN SERVE THE MEMBER OF THE CAUCUS SO IT'S A LEARNING EXPERIENCE.

I'VE HAD SO MANY THAT HAVE BEEN SUCCESSFUL.

YOUNG MEN AND YOUNG WOMEN.

>> WE DON'T KNOW WHETHER OF THEM HAVE BECOME LAWMAKERS.

>> WE HEARD FROM THE DEAN THAT HE BELIEVES, HE DOESN'T REMEMBER EXACTLY WHO BUT HE THINKS.

>> LET'S TALK ABOUT YOUR PRIORITIES THIS LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

>> WE WANT TO BE RELEVANT.

THIS IS A GROUP OF PEOPLE THAT ESTABLISH A PRINCIPAL IN COMMON MOVEMENT.

THE BLACK CAUCUS HAS A FOCUS OF AGL PC ROLLOUT.

YEARS AGO WHEN WE GIVE MILLIONS OF DOLLARS TO FARMERS IN TORNADO RAVAGED AREAS BLACK FARMERS DIDN'T BENEFIT FROM IT SO WE ARE TALKING ABOUT WHAT WE CAN DO WITH THE FARMERS EQUITY ACT THAT WE WILL RELEASE.

CREDIT DESERTS ALL ACROSS OUR STATE.

WE TALK ABOUT POVERTY BUT THERE ARE CREDIT DESERTS.

$29 MILLION IN A SMALL IS A POLITY BUT NO BANK.

SO WE RELEASE A ROLLOUT OF LEGISLATION THAT WILL AFFECT ALL PEOPLE.

>> THESE ARE THINGS THAT YOU REALLY FOUND OUT FROM YOUR CONSTITUENTS AS THINGS THAT THEY CARE ABOUT AND YOU CAN JOIN TOGETHER AND MAKE THESE DECISIONS ON WHAT YOU WANT TO REALLY FOCUS ON.

>> IT'S CALLED THE AT THE TABLE TOUR.

WE ARE GOING TO MEET THE PEOPLE WHERE THEY ARE.

WHILE WE ARE HERE IN THE CAPITAL WE WILL PROPOSE LEGISLATION.

YOU WON'T FIND ANOTHER MORE PROACTIVE CAUCUS AND WE ARE EXCITED THAT THIS MIGHT BE ONE OF THE GREATER CHALLENGES COMING OUT OF COVID.

A LOT OF PEOPLE TRYING TO GET ON THEIR FEET AND OUR FOCUS IS TO HELP.

YOU HAVE TO BRING EVERYONE TOGETHER AND TRY AND MEET THE NEEDS OF EVERYONE.

>> MY FOCUS IS TO GET THEM INVOLVED AND SO WE HAVE SOME GREAT LEADERS THAT WILL GET MORE ENGAGED.

>> WE ARE GLAD YOU ARE DOING IT AND WE ARE SURE WE WILL HEAR MORE.

THANK YOU FOR TELLING US ABOUT IT.

THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

COMING UP WE WILL LAUREN REIMER ABOUT A COUPLE OF CAUCUSES.

ONE JUST GETTING STARTED AND ONE CRATED LAST YEAR IN GEORGIA AND NINE OTHER LEGISLATIONS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY.

YOU ARE WATCHING LAWMAKERS ON GPB TV.

>> LAWMAKERS IS MADE POSSIBLE BY GEORGIA FARM EURO.

HELPING EVERYONE UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF AGRICULTURE IN OUR STATE.

AGRICULTURE IS GEORGIA'S NUMBER ONE INDUSTRY.

THE GEORGIA FARM EURO REPRESENT PRODUCERS ACROSS GEORGIA AND THE STATE CAPITAL DURING THE SESSION AND YEAR ROUND.

THE VOICE OF GEORGIA FARMERS.

>>> WELCOME BACK TO LAWMAKERS.

WE WILL CONTINUE GETTING TO KNOW A FEW OF THE CAUCUSES UNDER THE GOLD DOME.

THE FREEDOM CAUCUS LAUNCHED LAST YEAR IN GEORGIA.

EARLIER TODAY I SPOKE TO THE CHAIR OF THE GEORGIA READ HIM CAUCUS, REPUBLICAN REPRESENTATIVE, CHARLIE SPURRED >> MORE ULTRACONSERVATIVE OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY AND OUR MISSION IS TO --FREEDOM AND OF COURSE WE KNOW THAT OUR RIGHTS COME FROM GOD BUT IT IS GOVERNMENT THAT TAKES CARE OF US BUT IN VERY SMALL WAYS THAT ARE INSTITUTED BY THE CONSTITUTION.

WE BELIEVE IN FREEDOM AND LIBERTY AS WHAT WE WANT.

WE ALSO WILL BE GUIDED BY SOME PRINCIPLES.

WE CAN LESSEN THE TAX BURDEN.

PROMOTE PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY.

PROTECTING PERSONAL LIBERTIES AND THE MOST IMPORTANT AND THAT IS EXERCISING THE PROPER ROLE OF GOVERNMENT WHICH AS PRINCIPALS WE SHOULD ALL GOVERNED BY.

>> YOU GUYS ARE NOT NEW.

WHEN DID YOU COME ABOUT?

>> WE BECAME A CAUCUS LAST DECEMBER BEFORE WE STARTED SESSION IN 2022.

AND SO NOW THERE ARE 10 CAUCUSES, IT WAS STARTED FROM THE FREEDOM CAUCUS IN D.C. MEMBERS OF MARK MEADOWS, JIM JORDAN, JIM CEMENTS WERE ALL FREEDOM CAUCUS MEMBERS.

THEY HAVE NOW TAKEN THAT SAME FREEDOM TO OTHERS DATES AND SO WE ARE NOW GOING TO BE VERY STRONG IN 10 STATES SO THAT WE CAN TAKE CARE OF LIMITED GOVERNMENT.

>> WHAT CAN WE EXPECT FROM GEORGIA?

>> WE WILL CERTAINLY TALK ABOUT TAX REFORM AND TO CONTINUE TO BRING THAT TAX RETURN DOWN.

CERTAINLY AND HOPEFULLY WE WILL TALK ABOUT --.

OUR BUDGET FROM THE TIME I WAS HERE IN 2012 WAS ABOUT $16 BILLION AND NOW WE ARE ABOUT 34 DOLLARS SO WE CONTINUE TO BRING A LOT OF NEW REVENUE IN BUT IT NEEDS TO BE APPROPRIATED IN THE RIGHT PLACES.

PERSONALLY AS A FREEDOM CAUCUS MEMBER ALL OF THOSE NEW DOLLARS SHOULD BE RETURNED TO THE PEOPLE THEY BELONG TO AND THAT IS THE TAXPAYER.

>> WE DO HAVE A SURPLUS SO I KNOW THE GOVERNMENT HAS TALKED ABOUT THE --.

>> I AM IN FAVOR OF IT BUT TRUTHFULLY ALL OF IT SHOULD GO BACK TO TAXPAYERS BECAUSE IT IS OUR MONEY.

REMEMBER, THE GOVERNMENT HAS NO JOBS, THEY DON'T CREATE JOBS AND ALL THEY DO IS TAKE OUR MONEY ON WHAT WE ARE DOING ON OUR JOB.

>> [ INDISCERNIBLE ] SURE, ONE OF THEM IS VERY IMPORTANT TO ALL OF US.

AND THAT IS ALL OF THESE TRANSGENDER SURGERIES FOR YOUNG IF THOSE PEOPLE AFTER 18-YEAR- OLD MAKE A DECISION THAT THEY WANT TO HAVE SOME TYPE OF SURGERY, BUT TO MUTILATE OUR YOUNG CHILDREN IS CERTAINLY NOT SOMETHING THAT WE WANT TO HAVE HAPPEN IN OUR STATE OF GEORGIA.

>> ARE YOU LOOKING TO TRY TO MAKE GEORGIA'S ABORTION LAWS A STRICT?

>> THAT HAS YET TO BE DETERMINED.

I AM PRO-RIGHTS.

THERE ARE NO EXCEPTIONS.

I WOULD CERTAINLY LIKE TO SEE THAT HAPPEN ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

>> AND CURIOUS HOW THE CAUCUS WORK.

THERE'S 10 CAUCUSES ACROSS THE COUNTRY THAT YOU HAVE YOUR COMMON GOALS BUT THEN YOUR -- GOALS, RIGHT?

>> THAT IS CORRECT.

AS A CAUCUS WE WILL SIT DOWN AND WE HAVE A LONG DISCUSSION WITH OUR MEMBERS TO TALK ABOUT SPECIFIC ISSUES THAT WE WILL ALL FOCUS ON AND AS A CAUCUS MEMBER YOU MUST VOTE IN A PACK FOR THOSE PARTICULAR ISSUES.

NOW ON A LOT OF OTHER ISSUES YOU ARE GIVEN THE LATITUDE TO VOTE HOW YOUR --OR YOUR DISTRICT BUT WHEN WE SIT DOWN AND MAKE THOSE CHOICES OF VERY SPECIFIC ISSUES WE HAVE TO REMAIN VOTING TOGETHER AS A CAUCUS.

>> AND THAT GIVES YOU MORE POWER.

I THINK PEOPLE NEED TO UNDERSTAND THAT.

>> THAT IS CORRECT AND IT'S SO IMPORTANT.

IF YOU WATCH WHAT HAPPENED IN D.C. LAST WEEK FOR VOTER FOR THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE, CERTAINLY THE FREEDOM CAUCUS STOOD TOGETHER TO GET THAT PERSON, KEVIN McCARTHY, TO LAY OUT SOME NEW RULES THAT THEY WANTED TO HAPPEN IN THE HOUSE SO THAT'S WHAT WE PLAN TO DO.

NOTHING CONTROVERSIAL I HOPE BUT CERTAINLY WE ARE A CAUCUS THAT WANTS TO BE HEARD AND START LIMITING GOVERNMENT AND NOT EXPANDING GOVERNMENT THAT WE HAVE AND FOR ME AND FOR ALL OF US ON THE FREEDOM CAUCUS IT IS STILL WHAT IS THE PROPER ROLE OF GOVERNMENT?

WE HAVE GONE ABOVE AND BEYOND WHAT OUR CONSTITUTION STATES SO WE WANT TO GET BACK TO WHAT THOSE CONSTITUTIONS ARE AND CERTAINLY BRING DOWN THE SIZE OF GOVERNMENT.

>> REPUBLICAN REPRESENTATIVE SHIRLEY BURKE, CHAIR OF THE GEORGIA FREEDOM CAUCUS.

REPRESENTATIVE BYRD IS ALSO A MEMBER OF THE NEXT CAUCUS WE WILL DISCUSS, THE BIPARTISAN ASIAN AMERICAN PACIFIC ISLANDER CAUCUS AND JOINING US NOW IS DEMOCRATIC REPRESENTATIVE MICHELLE AOIL OF JOHNS CREEK.

WELCOME TO LAWMAKERS.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> WE LOVE HAVING YOU ON.

YOU ARE EXCITED BECAUSE I SAW ON TWITTER.

A PICTURE YOU HAVE OF THE FUTURE CAUCUS AND TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT THAT IS.

>> THE FUTURE CAUCUS IS A GROUP OF LAWMAKERS WHO REPRESENT THE INTERESTS OF YOUNGER GEORGIAN VOTERS AND MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN PRIORITIZE IN OUR LEGISLATIVE PACKAGE.

>> AND THE PICTURE WE HAVE UP NOW IS THE AACI CAUCUS.

>> I'M PROUD TO ANNOUNCE WE HAVE 11 ELECT DID LAWMAKERS WHO ARE ASIAN AMERICAN AND PACIFIC ISLANDER IN GEORGIA WHICH IS REALLY REMARKABLE WHEN YOU CONSIDER FIRST OF ALL THAT THIS IS A CAUCUS THAT'S REALLY LOVE THE LARGEST IN THE COUNTRY.

IT'S LARGER THAN THE CAUCUS IN NEW YORK AND CALIFORNIA WHICH ARE STATES THAT WE CLASSICALLY THINK OF AS HAVING A LOT OF ASIAN VOTERS AND ASIAN POPULATION.

THE OTHER IMPORTANT THING IS IT IS ACTUALLY DOUBLED INSIDE FROM LAST YEAR.

I THINK IT'S AN EXAMPLE OF THE WAY THAT GEORGIA IS CHANGING.

>> AND IT'S BIPARTISAN?

THING TO NOTE BECAUSE JUST LIKE ANY OTHER MINORITY CAUCUS NOT ALL ASIAN VOTERS VOTE THE SAME WAY OR COME FROM THE SAME BACKGROUND BUT I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO LOOK AT THAT PICTURE THE HOW MUCH DIVERSITY THERE IS EVEN WITHIN THE ASIAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY.

>> WHAT LED YOU TO FORM A CAUCUS?

>> THE KEY THING ABOUT A CAUCUS AS YOU NOTED IS THAT IT'S IMPORTANT FOR A GROUP TOGETHER AND SUPPORT OUR COMMON INTEREST IN GOALS BUT I THINK THE OTHER THING WE NEED TO NOTE IS THAT IT'S IMPORTANT AS A CAUCUS TO REPRESENT THE VOICES THAT MAYBE DON'T OFTEN GET SEEN OR HEARD OR BROUGHT UP INTO ROOMS LIKE AT THE STATE CAPITAL SO IT'S ONE OF OUR RESPONSIBILITY AS MEMBERS OF THIS COMMUNITY AND INFORMING THE CAUCUS TO MAKE SURE THOSE VOICES GET HEARD AS WELL.

>> WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR PRIORITIES.?

>> WE HAD OUR FIRST MEETING OF THAT ASIAN CAUCUS AND AS PART OF THAT MEETING WE DID DEFINE BECAUSE THIS IS A BIPARTISAN CAUCUS.

IT'S THINGS WE ALL OF AGREED ON AND I THINK THERE ARE A LOT OF THINGS WE AGREE ON.

THE FIRST IS THE IMPORTANCE OF GROWING THE ASIAN AMERICAN ELECTORATE.

WE SAW IN 2020 THAT THE ASIAN VOTING POPULATION WENT UP BY 20%.

IT CONTINUES TO GROW.

AS WE MOVE FORWARD AS A STATE THAT EVERY SINGLE CAMPAIGN HAS A PART OF THE PLAN ASKING WHAT IS YOUR API OUTREACH PLAN?

>> IN TERMS OF ANY LEGISLATION BEING PLANNED?

>> WE HAVE A COUPLE WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT BUT A LOT OF THE COMMON INTEREST WE HAVE HAVE TO DO IS SUPPORTING SOME OF OUR IMMIGRANT COMMUNITIES AND MAKING SURE THAT THERE IS ACCESS TO EDUCATION AND JOBS AND ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY.

ALSO LANGUAGE ACCESS IS A HUGE PART.

>> YOU DID HAVE A BILL A FEW YEARS AGO THAT DELTA MORE A LITTLE BIT WITH SOME OF THE LANGUAGE ACCESS ISSUES DEALING WITH MAYBE THE LAW ENFORCEMENT COMMUNITY AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

>> ONE OF THE THINGS I WANTED TO SHARE EARLIER WAS RIGHT AFTER THE SHOOTING ON THE 16th OF 2021 AFTER WHICH TIME THE INFORMAL ASIAN AMERICAN CAUCUS DROPPED A SLATE OF BILLS THAT HAD TO DO WITH ISSUES THAT WE HAVE BEEN HEARING FROM OUR COMMUNITY.

ONE OF THEM WAS A PUBLIC SAFETY BUILD THAT HAD TO DEAL WITH WAITING PERIODS FOR FIREARMS.

TWO OF THEM HAD TO DO WITH LANGUAGE ACCESS FOR INTERFACING WITH LAWN SMITH BECAUSE IN LOOKING AT ISSUES OF DISCRIMINATION AND HATE WE REALIZE THAT A LOT OF THESE ARE UNDERREPORTED BECAUSE OF ISSUES WITH PEOPLE BEING RELOCKED TO INTERFACE WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT BUT ALSO LANGUAGE BARRIERS TO NOT KNOW HOW TO REPORT THESE THINGS.

THAT WAS THE FOCUS THEN AND IT WILL CONTINUE TO BE.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING ON AND TALKING TO US.

I'M SURE WE WILL HAVE YOU BACK ON BECAUSE I KNOW THERE ARE OTHER ISSUES THAT YOU PERSONALLY WANT TO TALK ABOUT THAT MAY NOT BE RELATED TO THE CAUCUS.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> REPRESENTATIVE --SENATOR LAST TIME AND REPRESENTATIVE THIS TIME.

YOU ARE STILL WORKING FOR THE PEOPLE SO THAT'S GREAT.

THAT DOES IT FOR LAWMAKERS TODAY.

JOIN US TOMORROW FOR DAY THREE OF THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION, BUT BEFORE THEN TUNE IN TOMORROW MORNING AT 9:30 A.M. AT GPB TV, GPB RADIO, AND GPB.ORG FOR THE LIVE BROADCAST OF THE SECOND INAUGURATION.

SEE YOU THEN.