>>> THE PEOPLE OF GEORGIA MEAN THE MOST TO ME AND IT IS THANKS TO THEM THAT I GOT ALL THE SUCCESS THAT I DID.

GOD BLESS GEORGIA.

GEORGIA IS ALWAYS ON MY MIND, AND GOD BLESS THE USA.

THANK YOU ALL.

GEORGIA, GEORGIA, GEORGIA THE WHOLE DAY THROUGH.

JUST AN OLD SWEET SONG KEEPS GEORGIA ON MY MIND.

>> THE WINNER OF NBC'S VOICE THANKS GEORGIANS FOR SUPPORTING HIM DURING HIS CAREER JOURNEY.

GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO LAWMAKERS ON DAY 22 OF THE GEORGIA LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

I AM DONNA LOWRY IN ATLANTA.

THERE IS A FEELING THAT SOMETHING RELATED TO GAMBLING MIGHT PASS DURING THIS SESSION.

TONIGHT LEGISLATORS JOIN OUR SHOW FROM BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE TO TELL US MORE.

>>> ALSO ON THE SHOW, A LOOK AT THE CITY HOOD BILL WITH A LAWMAKER WHO CAN TELL US MORE AND WHAT IT MIGHT MEAN FOR ATLANTA PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

>>> WE WILL HEAR MORE ON SEVERAL BILLS DOING WITH TRANSGENDER ISSUES.

BUT FIRST LET'S GET RIGHT DOWN TO THE CAPITAL WHERE RACHELLE RITCHIE IS STANDING BY.

HI ROCHELLE.

>> Reporter: HI, DONNA.

THINGS ARE STARTING TO PICK UP UNDER THE GOLDEN DOME FOR THIS SESSION.

THE BIG NEWS OF THE DAY IS AN ANNOUNCEMENT FROM GOVERNOR EXPAND PEDIATRIC HEALTHCARE IN RURAL GEORGIA.

IN PARTNERSHIP WITH MERCER UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF MEDICINE AND CHILDREN'S HEALTHCARE OF ATLANTA, GOVERNOR BRIAN KEMP SAYS IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT THOSE IN RURAL COMMUNITIES IN GEORGIA RECEIVE THE CARE THEY NEED.

>> OVER HALF 1 MILLION GEORGIA CHILDREN LIVE IN RURAL COUNTIES, AND AT LEAST 24,000 BABIES ARE BORN EACH YEAR IN THOSE PLACES.

FEWER THAN 200 PEDIATRICIANS LIVE AND WORK IN THOSE SAME COUNTIES.

AS I SAID IN MY STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS LAST MONTH, 67 COUNTIES IN GEORGIA HAVE FEWER THAN 10 PHYSICIANS, AND EVEN MORE ALARMING, ROUGHLY 65 RURAL COUNTIES HAVE NO PEDIATRICIANS.

>> THIS EXPANSION WILL BE SUPPORTED BY AN ANNUAL FUND OF $200 MILLION.

THE ANNUAL FUND WILL ALSO SUPPORT 10 MEDICAL STUDENTS WHO COMMIT TO SERVE FOUR YEARS IN >> A CRITICAL COMPONENT OF THIS INITIATIVE IS WORKING WITH RURAL HOSPITALS TO MEET CRITERIA TO BE READY IN THE EMERGENCY ROOM.

THIS WILL BUILD ON OUR SPECIALIZED PEDIATRIC CARE EXPERTISE, BECAUSE WE ARE THE LARGEST PEDIATRIC CARE PROGRAM IN THE COUNTRY.

>> Reporter: ALSO, REPRESENTATIVES ADDRESSED A DISINFORMATION CAMPAIGN, AS THEY CALL IT, AGAINST THEIR ANTI-SEMITISM BILL.

>> THIS BILL COVERS ANTI- SEMITISM.

TO BE CLEAR, IT DOES NOT RESTRICT SPEECH!

THERE IS AN ONGOING CAMPAIGN OF MISINFORMATION TO SAY THAT THIS VIOLATES FREE SPEECH.

IT DOES NOT.

THE DEFINITION DOES NOT EVEN COME INTO PLAY UNTIL THERE IS AN UNLAWFUL ACT LIKE UNLAWFUL DISCRIMINATION OR A CRIME HAS ALREADY BEEN COMMITTED.

>> Reporter: THE BILL WAS PASSED THROUGH COMMITTEE YESTERDAY WITH THE ADDITION OF ONE AMENDMENT.

>> THE ADDITION OF AN ATTEMPT TO INTIMIDATE ANOTHER PERSON IS NOW GOING TO BE RECOGNIZED AS A TERRORIST ACT UNDER THE STATE CODE.

>> Reporter: THE AUTHORS EXPECT THE BILL TO BE PRESENTED ON THE STATEHOUSE FLOOR NEXT WEEK.

THREE CONGRESSIONAL REPRESENTATIVES VISITED THE SENATE TODAY.

MIKE COLLINS, BISHOP AND MARJORIE TAYLOR-GREENE ALL SPOKE PRAISING SENATORS FOR THEIR GOOD WORK, BUT GREENE ALSO CHOSE TO SPEAK ABOUT AN ISSUE, LIVING UP TO HER NO PUNCHES PULLED REPUTATION.

>> THERE HAS BEEN A GREAT DELUSION SPENT ON OUR COUNTRY AND IT IS ATTACKING OUR CHILDREN.

THAT IS THE LIE THAT CHILDREN CAN CHANGE THEIR GENDER.

GOD SPOKE THE TRUTH AND GOD CREATED ALL OF US AND HE CREATED US MAN AND WOMAN IN HIS IMAGE, AND THAT IS THE TRUTH AND THAT IS WHO WE ARE.

BUT TODAY CHILDREN ARE BEING TAUGHT A LIE THAT THEY CAN CHANGE THEIR GENDER, AND THIS IS A VERY BIG ISSUE.

IT IS A MULTIBILLION-DOLLAR MEDICAL INDUSTRY THAT IS GROWING ALL OVER THE COUNTRY.

IT IS ALSO A MAJOR ATTACK HAPPENING TO OUR YOUTH ON SOCIAL MEDIA.

LET'S PROTECT OUR KIDS HERE IN GEORGIA.

THIS ISN'T ABOUT ADULT CHOICES, WHAT PEOPLE CHOOSE TO DO WITH THEIR BODIES SEXUALLY AS ADULTS, BUT IT IS ABOUT WHAT CHILDREN NEED --THEY NEED TIME TO GROW UP.

>> Reporter: THEN THE SENATE VOTED ON THEIR FIRST HOUSE BILL TO BE PRESENTED THIS SESSION.

HB 52 WAS A MIXED BAG DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION BILL.

>> THE REQUIRED NOTIFICATION TO LEGISLATORS FOR A CALL FOR A BOARD OF ELECTIONS FOR G..

SECTION 2 PROPOSES REVISIONS.

SECTION 3 ALLOWS GDOT TO START THE BID PROCESS AND REVERT TO THE PROCESS WHICH IS CURRENTLY APPROVED UNDER LAW IF THE MAYOR COMES BACK WITH A RECOMMENDATION THAT WOULD RECOMMEND THAT.

SECTION 4 MAKES CHANGES TO TRANSPORTATION TO ALLOW A LENGTH OF 84 FEET WHICH IS AN INCREASE FROM 80 FEET.

SECTION 5 GRANTS FOR THEIR ABILITY OF COUNTY MEDICAL EXAMINERS TO DELEGATE THEIR AUTHORITY AT THE SITE OF AN ACCIDENT.

LASTLY, SECTION 6 ENSURES THAT NOBODY CAN USE THE OPEN RECORDS ACT TO GET PERSONAL INFORMATION ABOUT A DRIVER'S LOCATION AND TRAVEL HISTORY EITHER THROUGH THE STATE DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY THROUGH A DATA VENDOR.

>> Reporter: AND THE SENATE HAZING TRADITION CONTINUED AS THE SENATOR PRESENTED HER FIRST AROUND COMMERCIAL TRUCKING.

>> YOU JUST WON AN ELECTION BACK IN NOVEMBER, CORRECT?

YOU PROBABLY WENT OVER YOUR DISTRICT AND MET WITH CONSTITUENTS AND KNOCKED ON DOORS.

WAS THIS A NUMBER ONE ISSUE YOU WERE TRYING TO FIX ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL?

>> PUBLIC SAFETY IS ALWAYS A NUMBER ONE ISSUE FOR ME.

>> THAT IS A GREAT ANSWER, SENATOR.

WELL DONE.

>> INFO YOU HAVE ADVANCED KNOWLEDGE ABOUT THE SUBJECT MATTER?

SENATOR, IF YOU LOOK AT LINE 2, IT SAYS OPERATIONS OF MOTOR VEHICLES AND DRIVERS.

IS THAT NOT TRUE?

DO YOU WANT TO YIELD FOR ONE MORE QUESTION?

HAVE YOU EVER BEEN EASTBOUND AND DOWN DOING WHAT THEY SAID CAN'T BE DONE?

>> I DON'T KNOW HOW TO ANSWER THAT ONE!

>>> THERE ARE ABOUT A HALF- DOZEN BILLS SUPPORTING GAMBLING, AND WE WILL GET AN UPDATE FROM SPONSORS OF THESE BILLS.

JOINING US IS A REPRESENTATIVE FROM WATKINSVILLE AND STACY FROM ATLANTA.

WE WILL START WITH YOU.

TELL US ABOUT YOUR BILL.

IT IS CALLED THE GEORGIA LOTTERY GAME AND SPORTS BETTING ACT.

TELL US ABOUT IT.

>> WE ARE GOING TO PUT GEORGE BETTING UNDER THE GEORGIA LOTTERY.

THERE IS NO RETAIL VERSION OF IT.

THERE IS NO BRICK AND MORTAR.

WE FEEL LIKE THIS IS THE CLEANEST WAY TO DO THIS AND WE FEEL LIKE THE APPETITE IS THERE FOR THIS.

>> THERE IS NO MONEY INVOLVED, RIGHT?

BECAUSE THERE IS NO BRICK AND MORTAR?

>> ALL THE MONEY GOES DIRECTLY TO THE LOTTERY.

IT WILL BE DISBURSED.

>> WHY DID YOU JUMP ON THIS BILL?

>> MY BIGGEST MISSION IS TO GET MORE MONEY IN THE PIPELINE FOR EDUCATION, FOR HIGHER EDUCATION, FOR SCHOLARSHIPS AND TO BETTER FUND PRE-K PROGRAMS.

THIS ALLOWS THAT TO HAPPEN, AND IT ALLOWS IT TO HAPPEN THROUGH ACTIVITIES THAT GEORGIANS ARE ALREADY PARTICIPATING IN.

THEY ARE GOING TO OTHER STATES AND GOING ONLINE.

THERE GAMBLING ALREADY, BUT WE ARE NOT BENEFITING FROM THE REVENUE, SO OUR KIDS ARE LOSING OUT.

>> THIS BILL TO GO BEFORE THE HIGHER EDUCATION COMMITTEE.

WE WILL TALK MORE ABOUT THAT IN A MINUTE.

BUT IT USUALLY GOES UNDER REGULATED INDUSTRIES OR, YOU KNOW, THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND TOURISM INDUSTRY.

BUT WE SAW HIGHER EDUCATION HAD A HEARING ON IT.

HERE IS WHAT LAWMAKERS HEARD FROM OPPONENTS ON THE BILL.

>> THERE ARE INCREASED ISSUES WHEN YOU INCREASE GAMBLING.

MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES, DIVORCE RATES, FAMILY ISSUES, SUICIDE, CRIME, THEY ALL SKYROCKET WHEN YOU INCREASE GAMBLING IN OUR STATE.

THE FREEDOM COALITION IS OPPOSED TO HOUSE BILL 380.

>> TO EXPAND GAMBLING IN THIS WAY WILL LEAD TO MORE ADDICTION, MORE GAMBLING ADDICTION AND PROBLEM GAMBLING, MORE BANKRUPTCIES FOR GEORGIAN CITIZENS, AND OTHER NEGATIVE IMPACTS ON THE FAMILIES OF GEORGIA.

THAT IS WHY WE OPPOSE THIS LEGISLATION, BUT I ALSO WANT TO ADD THAT THE FALLOUT FROM THAT WILL NO DOUBT IMPACT THE PASTORS THAT I REPRESENT, AS THEY TRY TO HELP THESE FAMILIES THROUGH THESE DIFFICULT BANKRUPTCIES, BROKEN HOMES AND OTHER GAMBLING ADDICTION.

>> SO THESE ARE SOME OF THE THINGS WE HAVE HEARD YEAR AFTER YEAR FROM THE OPPONENTS.

SO TELL US YOUR REACTION TO IT.

IS THERE ANYTHING DIFFERENT THIS YEAR WHEN YOU TALK TO THEM?

>> IT IS NOT ANY DIFFERENT THAN WHAT WE HAVE HEARD BEFORE.

IT IS ALSO NOT ANY DIFFERENT FROM WHAT FOLKS WERE SAYING ABOUT THE GEORGIA LOTTERY WHEN IT WAS FIRST CREATED IN THE 1990S.

IT HAS DONE WONDERS FOR OUR STATE AND EDUCATION.

IT HELPED ME GET TO COLLEGE.

I OTHERWISE WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO GO.

BUT WE CERTAINLY RECOGNIZE THAT GAMBLING CAN BE A PROBLEM FOR SOME PEOPLE, SO THAT IS WHY THERE IS MONEY IN THE BILL TO ADD RESOURCES TO DEAL WITH THAT PROBLEM.

>> IT ALSO ADDS A LINE IN ADVERTISING, RIGHT?

ABOUT GAMBLING.

TALK ABOUT THAT A LITTLE BIT.

>> WE OBVIOUSLY WANT RESPONSIBLE GAMBLING.

THAT IS THE CRUX OF THIS WHOLE CONVERSATION.

IT IS REALLY INTENDED TO PROTECT GEORGIANS WHO ARE ALREADY ENGAGING IN THIS.

THIS WILL BRING IT OUT INTO THE LIGHT AND BE ABLE TO DO IT IN A SAFE MANNER AND BE ABLE TO PUT GUARDRAILS ON IT SO THAT IT DOESN'T HAVE PEOPLE DOING IT IRRESPONSIBLY.

>> WHEN YOU SEE THE AD THERE IS SOMETHING THAT SAYS, YOU KNOW, IT TELLS PEOPLE WHERE TO GO TO GET HELP FOR A GAMBLING ADDICTION.

>> WE WANT TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE RESOURCES THAT ARE THERE, AND THESE COMPANIES HAVE BEEN DOING IT FOR A LONG TIME.

THERE IS LANGUAGE IN THEIR SO THAT THESE COMPANIES SEE SOMEBODY THAT IS ACTING IN A VERY IRRESPONSIBLE WAY, THEY WILL FLAG.

THERE ARE SAFEGUARDS IN THERE TO PROTECT THEM.

>> FOR THE MONEY TO GO INTO WHERE IT IS GOING RIGHT NOW FROM THE GEORGIA LOTTERY , AND FOR THIS BILL IN PARTICULAR?

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

>> WE WILL TALK ABOUT SOME OTHER BILLS, BECAUSE REPRESENTATIVE EVANS, HE IS THE LEAD ON HR 210, WHICH YOU ARE ALSO SPONSORING.

THAT BILL DEALS WITH NOT ONLY SPORTS BETTING BUT ALSO PARI- MUTUEL BETTING .

YOU WANT THIS TO GO BEFORE THE VOTERS ON GAMBLING OVERALL.

TALK ABOUT THAT.

>> I THINK IT'S TIME THAT WE OPEN UP GAMBLING IN THE STATE OF GEORGIA, AGAIN, BECAUSE OUR CITIZENS ARE ALREADY DOING IT.

BILL WOULD REQUIRE A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT.

I THINK THAT THE SPORTS BETTING BILL IS A GREAT FIRST STEP FOR US TO TAKE AT THIS TIME.

IT IS A GOOD STEP FOR US TO TAKE BUT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE US GO FURTHER.

I THINK THE CITIZENS OF GEORGIA ALREADY.

I AM NOT QUITE SURE THAT WE HAVE THE VOTES FOR A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT IN THE HOUSE YET.

BUT I DO SUPPORT THAT MEASURE BECAUSE IT WILL OPEN UP A REVENUE SOURCE FOR US BUT ONLY IF WE GO THROUGH A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT, BUT WE CAN DESIGNATE WHERE THAT MONEY GOES TO PLACES WHERE IT DOESN'T GO RIGHT NOW.

IF WE DO THIS IN A BILL AND IT GOES THROUGH THE LOTTERY, IT GOES TO HELPING PRE-K.

IF WE OPEN UP GAMBLING THROUGH A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT WE CAN DESIGNATE OTHER AREAS, WHETHER THAT IS HEALTH CARE, MENTAL HEALTH, HOUSING.

WE HAVE MORE OPTIONS.

BUT AGAIN, THIS IS SPORTS BETTING BILL IS A STEP WE SHOULD TAKE RIGHT NOW.

>> I THINK YOU MIGHT HAVE THE BEST CHANCE WITH THAT.

I WILL MENTION THAT ON THE SENATE SIDE THERE ARE BILLS THERE IS SB 57, SR 140.

WHAT DO YOU THINK THE CHANCES ARE THIS YEAR?

EACH YEAR IT SEEMS LIKE THINGS GET CLOSER AND CLOSER TO GOING THROUGH.

>> I HAVE TRIED TO KEEP THIS BILL VERY TRANSPARENT, OFFERING ANY CHANGE UP TO ANYBODY WHO WANTS TO KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON.

I THINK WHAT HAS HAPPENED IN THE PAST IS THE PEOPLE HAVE GOTTEN UNCOMFORTABLE WITH WHAT MIGHT GET PUT IN.

I THINK THAT THIS IS, YOU KNOW, I AM NOT FOR HORSE RACING OR CASINOS.

I DO THINK THAT THIS IS THE MORE PALATABLE COURSE OF ACTION FOR WHAT GEORGIA WANTS RIGHT NOW.

SO I DO BELIEVE THAT THERE IS MOMENTUM BEHIND IT.

WE WILL SEE HOW IT GOES.

>> YEAH.

WE HEARD DURING THE SUPER BOWL THE PEOPLE WERE DOING, YOU KNOW, THE ARGUMENT FOR IT HAS BEEN THAT PEOPLE ARE DOING IT ANYHOW.

THAT IS HAPPENING, AND GEORGE IS NOT GETTING ANY OF THE REVENUE.

>> ALL THE REVENUE IS GOING OUT OF STATE.

THIS WOULD OBVIOUSLY CONTINUE >> A LOT OF THOSE, THE DIFFERENT PLACES THAT ARE IN THE OTHER STATES, THEY ARE VERY INTERESTED IN THIS BILL.

YOU ALSO HAVE ALL THE SPORTS FRANCHISES IN GEORGIA AND THE ATLANTA AREA IN PARTICULAR WHO ARE INTERESTED.

>> THAT ASPECT OF IT, I THINK SOME OF THE ARGUMENTS HAVE BEEN THAT IF WE JUST GIVE THESE LICENSES TO A BUNCH OF OUT-OF- STATE ORGANIZATIONS, THAT A LOT OF OUR TAX DOLLARS WILL LEAVE THE STATE.

BEING ABLE TO GIVE A NOD TO THE SPORTS TEAMS THAT ARE HERE IN GEORGIA, THAT IS GOING TO KEEP ADDITIONAL TAX DOLLARS IN.

>> OKAY.

YOU ARE FEELING THE SAME WAY ABOUT IT, THAT THIS ADDS MOMENTUM THIS YEAR.

>> COMPLETELY.

IT FEELS GOOD NOT ONLY BECAUSE WE ARE GOING TO OPEN UP SPORTS BETTING, WITH MORE MONEY FOR LOTTERY, MORE MONEY FOR PRE-K, BUT WE ALSO HAVE LANGUAGE IN THE BILL TO MAKE SURE THAT ALL THE EXTRA MONEY WE HAVE AND PILING UP IN THE LOTTERY RESERVE FUNDS STARTS TO GET SPENT.

RIGHT NOW WE HAVE BEEN PILING THOSE UP TO THE TUNE OF ALMOST $2 BILLION WHEN WE ONLY HAVE TO NOW.

THIS ALLOWS A MECHANISM FOR SOME OF THAT MONEY TO START SPILLING OUT AS WELL AND HELP OUR PRE-K CHILDREN.

>> REPRESENTATIVE BEVERLY TALKED ABOUT IT.

SHE TALKED ABOUT IT A LITTLE BIT, THAT THERE IS MONEY THAT HE FEELS DOESN'T NECESSARILY NEED THE MONEY TO DO, YOU KNOW, TO GO BACK TO THE INITIAL REASONS FOR HOPE, AND THAT WAS THAT EVERYBODY WOULD GET HELP WHO, MARRIOTT-BASED, BUT THAT EVEN FOR PRE-K AND ALL, THE MONEY SHOULD GO ELSEWHERE.

>> THIS YEAR FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 11 YEARS, THE HOPE SCHOLARSHIP AND THE HOPE GRANT WERE FULLY FUNDED AT TUITION LEVEL.

WE HAVEN'T DONE THAT SINCE THEN.

SO THAT'S EXCITING , AND THAT SHOULD CONTINUE.

WE HAVE THE FUNDS TO DO IT.

PRE-K IS NOT THERE YET.

NOT EVERY FOUR-YEAR-OLD WHO WANTS OR NEEDS PRE-K HAS IT, AND WE KNOW THAT IF WE INVEST THOSE DOLLARS IN EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION WE SAVE SO MUCH MONEY IN OUR K-12 SYSTEM.

I THINK IT IS FOR EVERY SIX OR SEVEN DOLLARS, FOR EVERY DOLLAR WE SPEND WE SAVE SIX OR SEVEN DOLLARS IN REMEDIATION.

SO YES, THERE ARE OTHER NEEDS IN THE STATE, AND THAT IS WHY I SUPPORT THE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT, BUT FOR THIS MONEY PRE-K STILL NEEDS OUR HELP.

THAT'S WHY I AM EXCITED ABOUT PASSING THE BILL AND GETTING THE SPORTS BETTING REVENUE BUT ALSO OPENING UP THE RESERVES.

>> CERTAINLY.

A LOT OF EYES ON THIS, SO WE WILL KEEP UP WITH IT.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING ON THE SHOW!

>>> COMING UP WE WILL HEAR ABOUT A BILL THAT WILL MAKE IT ILLEGAL FOR HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS TO HELP CHILDREN WITH GENDER IDENTITY PROBLEMS.

>>> AND A NEW MOVEMENT TO CREATE A CITY OF BUCKHEAD SEPARATE FROM THE CITY OF ATLANTA.

>> LAWMAKERS IS MADE POSSIBLE BY GEORGIA FARM BUREAU.

WITH OVER 100 YEARS OF HELPING PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF AGRICULTURE IN OUR STATE.

FOOD AND FIBER PRODUCTION REPRESENTS OVER $74 BILLION IN THE GEORGIA FARM BUREAU LEGISLATIVE TEAM WORKS TO REPRESENT PRODUCERS ACROSS GEORGIA AS THE STATE CAPITAL DURING THE SESSION AND YEAR- ROUND.

GEORGIA FARM BUREAU.

THE VOICE OF GEORGIA FARMERS.

>>> LAST WEEK WE HAD SENATOR KIM JACKSON ON LAWMAKERS TO TALK ABOUT SEVERAL BILLS RELATING TO TRANSGENDER ISSUES.

BECAUSE OF SCHEDULING WE WERE UNABLE TO GET INTERVIEWS FROM THE BILL SPONSORS.

EARLIER TODAY I SPOKE WITH CLINT DIXON ABOUT HIS BILL.

>> WHAT IT DOES IS IT PROHIBITS CHILDREN UNDER THE AGE OF 18 FROM HAVING CROSS-SEX ELECTIVE SURGERIES AND ALSO PREVENTING THEM FROM TAKING HORMONES AND PUBERTY BLOCKERS.

IT ALSO CALLS FOR ACTION AGAINST PHYSICIANS IF THEY PERFORM ONE OF THE SELECTED SURGERIES ON CHILDREN.

>> WHAT WORRIES YOU ABOUT WHAT'S TAKING PLACE RIGHT NOW?

>> WHAT WORRIES ME IS THAT THIS IS IRREVERSIBLE.

IF YOU HAVE ONE OF THESE SURGERIES, THERE IS NO COMING BACK FROM IT.

SAME THING WITH THE HORMONES.

WHETHER IT IS IRREVERSIBLE OR NOT, I HAVE HEARD ARGUMENTS ON BOTH SIDES DEALING WITH THE PUBERTY BLOCKER.

WHAT I AM AFRAID OF IS THAT NATURE ALWAYS FINDS A WAY.

IF YOU DUMP A BUCKET OF WATER ON TOP OF A MOUNTAIN AND YOU UP NATURE IS GOING TO FIND A WORKAROUND.

WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT WILL DO WITH CHILDREN IF THEY STOP PUBERTY AND STOP THE PROCESS OF LIFE AND WHAT SITUATIONS OR CONSEQUENCES THAT WOULD HAVE FOR THEM LATER ON IN LIFE.

WHAT WE HAVE FOUND, TOO, IS THAT STUDIES WHERE CHILDREN TAKE THESE BEFORE THEY ARE 18, A LOT OF TIMES ONCE THEY ARE AN ADULT THEY REGRET THEIR DECISION IN DOING THAT AT SUCH A YOUNG AGE.

>> SO WHY GO AFTER HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS?

>> THANK YOU FOR THAT QUESTION.

WHAT I SAY IS THAT I AM A REAL ESTATE GUY BY TRADE.

IF I BREAK REAL ESTATE LAW, THE REAL ESTATE COMMISSION CAN COME AFTER ME AND THEN IF IT IS SEVERE ENOUGH I COULD HAVE CIVIL OR CRIMINAL CHARGES BROUGHT TOWARDS ME.

THIS IS THE SAME WAY.

IF WE CREATE A LAW PROTECTING CHILDREN FROM THE SELECTED SURGERIES, WE NEED TO HAVE THAT LAW.

>> WHAT ABOUT THOSE WHO SAY THAT THIS IS A PARENT'S DECISION?

>> THAT IS A TOUGH ONE, BUT I WOULD SAY, AND I MET SOME PARENTS DEALING WITH SENATE BILL 88, I MET SOME PARENTS AFTER THAT HEARING.

WHAT I WOULD SAY TO YOU KNOW, WE HAVE LAWS IN PLACE WHETHER PARENTS AGREE WITH IT OR NOT WHERE CHILDREN CAN SMOKE BEFORE THEY ARE 18, THEY CAN'T DRINK ALCOHOL BEFORE THEY ARE 21 AND CAN'T JOIN THE ARMY UNTIL THEY ARE 18 AND CAN'T DRIVE A CAR UNTIL THEY ARE 16.

SO WE HAVE LAWS IN PLACE PROTECTING CHILDREN FROM THEMSELVES, ESSENTIALLY FROM THEIR PARENTS, AS MUCH AS I HATE TO SAY THAT, BUT I LOOK AT PROTECTING CHILDREN IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IN THIS SITUATION.

>> TO HEAR SENATOR JACKSON'S INTERVIEW, GO TO GBP.ORG.

WE ARE GOING TO SWITCH TOPICS NOW.

JOINING US IS FRESHMAN DEMOCRATIC SENATOR JASON ESTEVEZ OF ATLANTA.

WE ARE GOING TO TALK ABOUT SEVERAL ISSUES.

SO LET'S START WITH SR 114, THE BILL TO SEPARATE BUCKHEAD FROM THE CITY OF ATLANTA.

TELL US WHAT THIS BILL MEANS TO YOU.

>> IT MEANS SEVERAL THINGS.

AS THE STATE SENATOR THAT REPRESENTS MORE THAN HALF OF BUCKHEAD, AND MORE THAN HALF OF THE PROPOSED BUCKHEAD CITY, I CAN TELL YOU THAT REPRESENTS A DISTRACTION FROM THE REAL ISSUES.

I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT TO CALL OUT THIS AND MENTIONED THAT BUCKHEAD RESIDENTS HAVE REAL CONCERNS AROUND SAFETY AND PUBLIC SERVICE ISSUES, BUT THESE ARE ISSUES THAT SHOULD BE ADDRESSED BY THE CITY OF ATLANTA WORKING TOGETHER WITH CITIZENS AND LAWMAKERS TO MAKE THINGS RIGHT AND TO MAKE ATLANTA ONE OF THE SAFEST PLACES TO LIVE.

WHAT THIS BILL DOES IS IT DOES SOMETHING THAT HAS NEVER HAPPENED IN THE STATE OF GEORGIA, AND THAT IS TO DMX AND AREA FROM THE CITY.

THE CONSEQUENCES OF DOING THAT ARE UNKNOWN AND ARE EXPECTED TO BE DRAMATIC.

WHETHER IT IS THE FACT THAT YOU HAVE ABOUT 8000 CHILDREN WHO ATTEND PUBLIC SCHOOLS WHO WOULD HAVE THEIR EDUCATION DISRUPTED WOULD MOVE TO FULTON COUNTY SCHOOLS, OR THE FACT THAT YOU WOULD HAVE BOND MARKETS INTERRUPTED BY BONDS THAT WOULD BE IN QUESTION BECAUSE YOU WOULD HAVE 30% OF THE ATLANTA TAX BASE NO LONGER LIABLE FOR THOSE BONDS.

SO THERE ARE ALL KINDS OF CONSEQUENCES THAT COME FROM A DIVORCED, IS WHAT THIS IS COMPARED TO, THAT CANNOT BE COMPARED TO THE CREATION OF A NEW CITY.

THIS IS SOMETHING THAT IS UNPRECEDENTED AND SOMETHING THAT IS VERY CONCERNING TO ME AS A LAWMAKER, BUT TO ME AS A RESIDENT OF ATLANTA.

>> YOU TALKED ABOUT THOSE 8000 STUDENTS.

EVEN THOUGH YOU KNOW ABOUT THEM, IT IS STILL NOT CERTAIN HOW THAT WOULD WORK, RIGHT?

>> RIGHT.

SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE SEEN CONSISTENTLY IN THIS WHOLE DEBATE IS THE PROPONENTS OF THE BUCKHEAD CITY PROPOSAL HAVE NOT COME OUT WITH A CLEAR PLAN.

WHETHER IT IS A PROPOSED BUDGET FOR THE CITY, WHETHER IT IS A CLEAR PLAN ON HOW THEY WOULD HANDLE EDUCATION, IT IS CLEAR TO ME BASED ON THE CONVERSATIONS THAT I HAD WITH THEM THAT THEY HAVEN'T HAD CONVERSATIONS WITH ATLANTA PUBLIC SCHOOLS DIRECTLY.

THEY HAVEN'T HAD CONVERSATIONS WITH THE CITY OF ATLANTA GOVERNMENT.

THEY HAVEN'T HAD REAL CONVERSATIONS WITH THE FULTON COUNTY GOVERNMENT TO UNDERSTAND HOW THESE TRANSFERS OF PROPERTY, OF DEBT, WHAT ACTUALLY OCCURS.

MOST IMPORTANTLY WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE TWO BILLS THAT ARE FILED, AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE I MADE THAT CLEAR, THESE ARE TWO BILLS.

ONE IS TO DE-ANNEX THE CITY, THEN THERE IS ANOTHER ONE ABOUT THE TRANSFER OF ASSETS.

WHEN YOU LOOK AT THESE BILLS, THERE ARE HUGE GAPS THAT LEAVE A LOT OF QUESTIONS THAT ARE YET TO BE ANSWERED.

>> ANOTHER WAS A HEARING EARLIER TODAY.

WE HAD A HEARING EARLIER TODAY THAT PRIMARILY FOCUSED ON SENATE BILL 113, WHICH TALKS ABOUT HOW PROPERTY WOULD BE TRANSFERRED FROM THE CITY OF ATLANTA TO THE CITY OF BUCKHEAD CITY.

IT WAS INTERESTING BECAUSE THE SPONSOR WAS SAYING THAT THIS WAS SOMETHING THAT HAD BEEN DONE OVER THE COURSE OF 50 YEARS, IT IS BUSINESS AS USUAL.

WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE BILL, IT IS A REWRITE OF CURRENT LAW.

SO IT IS SOMETHING THAT IS BEING USED.

BUT WHAT IS INTERESTING ABOUT IT IS THAT IT DOESN'T ADDRESS REVENUE.

IF YOU LIVE IN THE CITY OF ATLANTA, YOU KNOW ABOUT THE BELTLINE AND THE DEBT THAT IS ASSOCIATED WITH THAT.

YOU KNOW ABOUT THE AIRPORT.

THERE IS ALWAYS DEBT ASSOCIATED WITH THE AIRPORT.

WITH ALL THE CONSTRUCTION DOWN THERE.

AND THEN WITH WHAT ATLANTANS PAY, WATER AND SEWER, OVER $1 BILLION IN WATER AND SEWER DEBT THAT IS UNACCOUNTED FOR IN THIS BILL.

THAT, THEY SAID THEY HAD TO GET BACK TO ME .

THAT WAS THE ANSWER.

>> OKAY.

WE WILL KEEP AN EYE ON THIS BILL.

IT HAS GARNERED A LOT OF ATTENTION, AND OTHER PARTS OF THE STATE ARE LOOKING AT IT TO SEE WHAT HAPPENS.

I WANT TO GET TO A COUPLE OF OTHER BILLS.

IN YOUR LEGISLATION YOU HAD SENATE RESOLUTION 144 THAT WOULD ALLOW FOR THE CREATION OF A SENATE STUDY COMMITTEE ON EXPANDING EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION.

I KNOW BECAUSE OF YOUR EDUCATION BACKGROUND THAT THIS IS NEAR AND DEAR TO YOU.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

I'M VERY PASSIONATE ABOUT THIS.

I HAVE A FOUR-YEAR-OLD AND A SEVEN-YEAR-OLD.

I CAN TELL YOU, DONNA, THAT BY INVESTING IN OUR YOUNGER CHILDREN AND INVESTING IN EARLY EDUCATION, WE WOULD SAVE MONEY ON THE BACK END.

DURING THE FIRST COUPLE OF WEEKS OF THE LEGISLATURE, I WAS LOOKING THROUGH THE APPROPRIATIONS HEARINGS, AND I HEARD STATE ECONOMISTS TALK ABOUT HOW FRUSTRATING IT WAS THAT EDUCATION WAS SO EXPENSIVE.

IT IS OVER 50% OF OUR BUDGET.

HE SAID IF ANYBODY KNOWS HOW TO MAKE EDUCATION CHEAPER, LET ME KNOW.

I WAS SCREAMING AT THE MONITOR BECAUSE I WAS LIKE, WE KNOW!

WHEN YOU INVEST EARLY, YOU SAVE MONEY ON THE BACK END.

THE CURRENT SYSTEM IS SET UP AROUND REMEDIATION.

TRYING TO TEACH THIRD-GRADERS AND HIGH SCHOOLERS HOW TO READ.

IF WE START EARLY SAVE THAT MONEY WE CAN FOCUS ON ACTUALLY EDUCATING CHILDREN ON SPECIFIC SUBJECTS VERSUS TEACHING THEM HOW TO READ.

WHEN YOU LOOK AT OUR STATEWIDE NUMBERS, 35% OF OUR STUDENTS ARE PROFICIENT IN READING AT GRADE LEVEL.

THAT MEANS THAT 65% OF OUR STUDENTS NEED REMEDIATION WHEN IT COMES TO READING.

SO THERE IS A LOT WE CAN DO BY INVESTING ON THE FRONT-END.

THAT STUDY COMMITTEE LOOKS AT HOW TO EXPAND EARLY LEARNING FOR THREE-YEAR-OLDS AND HOW TO OFFER EARLY LEARNING FOR EVERY FOUR-YEAR-OLD THAT ONCE IT , WHICH THE PROGRAM RIGHT NOW DOES NOT DO.

>> YOU THINK YOU HAVE THE SUPPORT FOR A STUDY COMMITTEE AT LEAST?

>> WE WILL SEE!

I HOPE SO!

IF THIS STATE IS SERIOUS ABOUT GOING FROM ONE OF THE LOWEST RANKINGS FOR EDUCATION TO HOPEFULLY BEING ONE OF THE TOP STATES TO GET PUBLIC EDUCATION, THEN WE SHOULD BE LOOKING AT EARLY LEARNING.

>> WE WILL KEEP AN EYE ON IT, AND I KNOW YOU HAVE OTHER BILLS, SO WE HOPE YOU CAN COME BACK!

FOR NOW BUT DOES IT FOR LAWMAKERS TODAY.

WE WILL BE BACK TOMORROW FOR LEGISLATIVE DAY 23.

GOOD NIGHT.