>>> WE COULD NOT HAVE ANTICPATED THE HISTORIC CHALLENGES AND THE TREMENDOUS HEADWINDS THE PEACH STATE WOULD FACE DURING MY FIRST TERM IN OFFICE.

BUT THANKS TO THE CARE FROM OUR PEOPLE AND THE DETERMINATION OF PUBLIC SERVANTS AND LOCAL HEROES, AT EVERY CORNER OF OUR STATE, I BELIEVE THAT NOW MORE THAN EVER, GEORGIA'S BEST DAYS ARE AHEAD OF US.

>> GPB OFFICIALLY BEGINS HIS SECOND TERM AS GEORGIA'S 83rd GOVERNOR.

DURING AN INAUGURATION CEREMONY INTRODUCED THIS MORNING.

GOOD EVENING, WELCOME TO "LAWMAKERS".

THIS IS ALSO PHASE THREE OF THE 2023 GEORGIA GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

THEY HELD A JOINT SESSION OF LEGISLATURE DURING THE INAUGURATION.

AMONG THE LEADERSHIP CELEBRATING THE GOVERNOR'S BIG DAY, GEORGIA'S FIRST FEMALE HOUSE SPEAKER, JAN JONES, SHE CAME TO THE POSITION AT A DIFFICULT TIME, FOLLOWING THE UNEXPECTED DEATH OF THE LONGTIME SPEAKER.

THIS WEEK, SHE BECAME HOUSE SPEAKER PRO TEM FOR THE 15th YEAR.

WE CAUGHT UP WITH HER AND WE WILL HEAR THAT INTERVIEW LATER IN THE SHOW.

20 BE IN THE STUDIO ARE TWO DEMOCRATIC LAWMAKERS WHO ALSO HAVE PLEDGED ON THE UPCOMING SESSION.

BUT AS ALWAYS, WE START WITH A LOOK AT THE DAY FROM OUR CAPITAL CORRESPONDENT, RACHELLE RITCHIE, WHO WAS AT THE INAUGURATION.

TELL US ABOUT IT?

>> VERY EXCITING DAY, DONNA.

MENTIONING, IT IS ALL ABOUT THE INAUGURATION OF GOVERNOR BRIAN KEMP, THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR, AND ALL ELECTED STATE OFFICIALS.

THE EXPANSION OF GEORGIA'S ECONOMY REMAINED A CENTRAL FOCUS FOR THE CAMP ADMINISTRATION.

>> Reporter: IT IS OFFICIAL, GOVERNOR BRIAN KEMP HAS OFFICIALLY BEGAN HIS SECOND TERM.

>> I, BRIAN KEMP -- >> DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR -- >> DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR -- >> Reporter: ACCOMPANIED BY HIS WIFE AND DAUGHTER, EXPLAINING HOW HIS FAMILY HAS BEEN THE FOUNDATION OF HIS LEADERSHIP.

INAUGURATION DAY BEGAN AT THE CATHEDRAL OF SAINT PHILLIPS WHERE A SHORT PRAYER SERVICE WAS HELD.

THE GOVERNOR AND NOW LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR MOTORCADE THEN HEADED TO GEORGIA STATE UNIVERSITY'S NEW CENTER, WHERE STATE SENATORS, REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE HOUSE, INCLUDING SPEAKER JOHN BURNS, ANDRE DICKENS, AND OTHER ELECTED OFFICIALS, FAMILY AND FRIENDS, WERE IN ATTENDANCE.

>> WE LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU, TO CONTINUE MOVING THE STATE FORWARD.

>> Reporter: AS KEMP AND HIS FAMILY MADE THEIR WAY DOWN THE AISLE, HIS WIFE AND DAUGHTER HAD JOYFUL TEARS.

KEMP MADE IT CLEAR HE WOULD BE FOCUSED ON FIGHTING CRIME, AND THE ECONOMY, MAKING THREE PROMISES ALREADY TO GEORGIANS.

>> THAT IS WHY MY BUDGET RECOMMENDATIONS WILL PROPOSE A $2000 PAY RAISE FOR ALL STATE EMPLOYEES, INCLUDING STATE LAW ENFORCEMENT, TEACHERS, PRE-K TEACHERS, AND CERTIFIED ESTATE K-12 PERSONNEL.

IN ADDITION TO FULLY FUNDING OUR SCHOOLS ONCE AGAIN, MY BUDGET WILL INCLUDE OVER $150 MILLION OF ONE-TIME GRANT OPPORTUNITIES FOR LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICTS TO ADDRESS SCHOOL SECURITY, LEARNING LOGS, AND HELP SOME OF OUR 9000 PARA-PROS TO BECOME FULLY CERTIFIED TEACHERS.

WE PUT ONE $.1 BILLION FOR A ONE-TIME HOMEOWNER PROPERTY TAX RELIEF GRANT.

>> Reporter: KEMP SWEARING IN, THE REASON FOR TODAY'S ACTIVITIES, BUT NOT THE ONLY CELEBRATION, AS BROOKE JONES WAS SWORN IN AS LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR.

>> THERE IS NO SUBSTITUTION FOR HARD WORK, WORKING ACROSS THE AISLE, OR ACROSS THE STREET, TO HELP THOSE AROUND YOU.

IN SMALLER COMMUNITIES LIKE FROM WHERE I AM FROM, THE CHALLENGES ARE VERY SIMILAR.

THINGS LIKE ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE, EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES, TRANSPORTATION NEEDS, GOOD PAYING JOBS, ALL ARE LIMITED.

THE NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY BECOME MORE IMPORTANT THAN THE NEEDS OF THE INDIVIDUAL.

>> Reporter: ALSO CELEBRATED BY THE GOVERNOR, BECOMING THE FIRST LATINO AMERICAN TO BE SWORN IN AS A STATE CONSTITUTIONAL OFFICER.

THE CELEBRATION CONTAINED OUTSIDE, WHERE THE GOVERNOR REVIEWED MEMBERS OF THE MILITARY, BEFORE WALKING WITH HIS FAMILY A QUARTER OF A MILE AWAY TO THE STATE CAPITAL.

KEMP MADE IT CLEAR THAT HE IS PROUD OF THE RECORD-BREAKING SUCCESS HE HAD DURING HIS FIRST TERM AND PLANS TO CONTINUE WORKING FOR AND WITH ALL GEORGIANS.

>> FOUR YEARS AGO, I MADE THIS PROMISE TO THE PEOPLE OF OUR GREAT STATE, WHETHER YOU VOTED FOR ME OR NOT, I WAS GOING TO WORK EVERY HARD EVERY DAY TO PUT YOU AND YOUR FAMILIES FIRST.

WHILE LOTS HAS CHANGED, A ONCE IN A LIFETIME EVENT HAS CHALLENGED ALL OF US, MY COMMITMENT TO THE PEOPLE OF THIS STATE HAS NOT WAVERED.

>> AND THE GOFFIN ARE ALSO SET A HEFTY GOAL OF MAKING GEORGIA THE LARGEST ELECTRIC MOBILITY CAPITAL IN THE COUNTRY.

THAT IS MY CAPITAL REPORT.

>> AND HE LOOKED WELL ON HIS WAY TO MAKING THAT HAPPEN.

THANKS SO MUCH, RACHELLE.

>>> WE ARE NOW GOING TO FOCUS ON THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY AND THE WOMAN WHO MADE GEORGIA HISTORY A FEW MONTHS AGO WHEN SHE GEORGIA HOUSE, A FIRST IN GEORGIA.

SADLY, SHE CAME INTO THE ROLE AFTER LOSING HER GOOD FRIEND, THE LATE SPEAKER, DAVID RALSTON, A MAN SHE CONSIDERED A BROTHER.

EARLIER THIS WEEK, THE BIPARTISAN WOMEN'S LEGISLATIVE CAUCUS HONORED JONES FOR "BREAKING BARRIERS FOR WOMEN AND GIRLS IN GEORGIA" AND HER LEADERSHIP.

I STARTED A CONVERSATION BY ASKING HER ABOUT THAT RECOGNITION.

>> WELL, IT MEANT A LOT.

NOT JUST TO ME.

BUT, THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF ME BRIEFLY BEING SPEAKER FOR TWO MONTHS WERE TRAGIC.

AND COMPLETELY UNEXPECTED, WHEN SPEAKER RALSTON, AFTER 13 YEARS AS SPEAKER, PASSED AWAY.

BUT, CERTAINLY, IT WAS IMPORTANT TO ME, ONCE I DECIDED THAT I WOULD NOT RUN TO BE SPEAKER WITH THE NEW TERM, WOULD REMAIN OR RUN FOR PRO TEM, THAT I DO ALL THAT I COULD TO MAKE IT A SMOOTH TRANSITION FOR THE MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE WHO REPRESENT ALL OF GEORGIA.

AND THE NEW SPEAKER, SPEAKER BURNS, WHO IS GOING TO DO AN AWESOME JOB.

BUT, THE WOMEN'S CAUCUS HAD A LOVELY CELEBRATION IN HONOR OF ME BEING --AND IT REALLY WAS MORE THAN AROUND ME.

IT IS ABOUT THE ROLE I TOOK ON AS BEING THE FIRST FEMALE SPEAKER.

FOUR WOMEN THAT SPOKE, TWO DEMOCRATS, TWO REPUBLICANS, ALL SHARED HOW IMPORTANT THIS IS FOR YOUNG GIRLS AND WOMEN TO REALIZE THAT ALL ROLES ARE OPEN TO THEIR ASPIRATIONS, OR, SHOULD BE OPEN TO THEM.

AND THAT THIS --IN SOME WAY, I HOPE --INSPIRES SOME OF THEM.

>> IT IS HISTORIC FOR GEORGIA.

WHAT FEELINGS DO YOU HAVE ABOUT THAT?

>> WELL I FELT THAT WAY, FRANKLY, WHEN I WAS ELECTED PRO TEM, 13 YEARS AGO.

THE FIRST WOMAN TO EVER PRESIDE.

THE PRO TEM PRESIDES FROM THE SPEAKER, WHEN THEY ARE UNABLE TO.

AND I CERTAINLY ASPIRED TO CONDUCT MYSELF IN A WAY THAT I WOULD REFLECT WELL ON OTHER WOMEN, AND FOR YOUNG GIRLS THAT ARE ASPIRING, WHETHER IT IS TO BE SPEAKER, OR CONGRESSWOMAN, OR CEO OF THEIR OWN COMPANY, OR A LARGE CORPORATION.

THAT I WOULD SERVE AS AN EXAMPLE FOR THEM, AS WELL.

>> YOU HAVE SEEN THE CHANGES OVER THE YEARS WITH MORE WOMEN COMING IN.

WHAT DIFFERENCE HAS THAT MADE HERE?

>> WELL, I THINK MORE THAN ANYTHING, IT COMMUNICATES TO GEORGIA THAT WE REALLY DO REFLECT THEM, IN EVERY SENSE OF THE WORD.

THE ONE THAT IS MOST OBVIOUS, IS GEOGRAPHIC.

BECAUSE SEPARATE FROM BEING A FEMALE, NONE OF US ARE NEIGHBORS, RIGHT NEXT DOOR TO EACH OTHER.

WE ALL LIVE WITHIN OUR OWN DISTRICT.

SO, MOST OF THE TIME, WITH MOST ISSUES, I FIND, ARE GEOGRAPHIC BASED.

NOW, WHAT DOES METRO ATLANTA NEED?

OR, SOUTHWEST GEORGIA?

AND ANOTHER LAYER ON THAT, THOUGH, IS, YOU KNOW, FEMALE, MALE, WE HAD A MORE DIVERSE GROWING STATE.

AND THAT IS CERTAINLY EVIDENT IN THOSE THAT ARE ELECTED.

AND THAT IS A GOOD THING, THAT WE DO, AND SHOULD, REFLECTS THE PEOPLE BACK HOME.

>> AND YOU HAVE ALWAYS FELT WELCOME AS A WOMAN?

>> YES, I REALLY HAVE.

I HAVE NEVER --YOU KNOW, I DO THINK YOU HAVE TO BE A STRONG WOMAN, YOU KNOW, TO GET THE FULL DROLL.

BUT, I THINK THAT IS TRUE DOWN HERE.

I HAVE NOT FELT HELD BACK.

BECAUSE I AM A FEMALE.

>> I WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE FACT THAT YOU CAME IN AT THE SAME TIME AS SPEAKER DAVID RALSTON.

HE WASN'T A SPEAKER AT THE TIME.

BUT OF COURSE, YOU BOTH CAME INTO THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY AT THE SAME TIME.

TALK ABOUT THAT JOURNEY FOR THE TWO OF YOU, AND THEN MOVING UP IN LEADERSHIP?

>> SO, WE WORKED TOGETHER FOR 20 YEARS AND CAME IN TOGETHER AFTER --I THINK IT WAS 2003?

AND AFTER --WELL, I GUESS IT WAS TWO YEARS, WHEN REPUBLICANS TOOK CONTROL, HE BECAME A CHAIRMAN, AND SO DID I.

WE WORKED TOGETHER AS EQUAL COLLEAGUES AND IN 2010, WHEN THERE WAS A CHANGE -- THE SPEAKER AND THE PRO TEM RETIRE HE RAN FOR SPEAKER, AND PREVAILED.

I RAN FOR PRO TEM, AND PREVAILED.

AND WE REALLY, YOU KNOW, KIND OF WORKED HAND IN HAND.

I THOUGHT OF HIM AS MY FRIEND, AND REALLY COME IN MANY RESPECTS, LIKE A BROTHER.

THAT WE CAME FROM DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE STATE, BUT I ALWAYS FELT THAT HE WELCOMED MY PERSPECTIVE, AND I APPRECIATED THAT.

>> THAT IS QUITE A JOURNEY FOR THE TWO OF YOU TOGETHER.

SO, I KNOW IT HAS BEEN PRETTY BITTERSWEET COMING INTO THIS BUILDING THIS WEEK.

>> IT HAS.

YOU HAVE TO MOVE ON, THOUGH.

AND I THINK THE LAST TWO DAYS HAVE SHOWN US THAT THERE IS A SMOOTH TRANSITION.

LET'S TALK ABOUT WHERE WE MOVE FROM NOW, FROM HERE, IN TERMS OF PRIORITIES?

WHAT ARE SOME OF THOSE THINGS?

>> WELL, YOU KNOW, SPEAKER BURNS WILL HAVE HIS PRIORITIES.

YOU KNOW, I AM STILL LOOKING HIS NEW ROLE.

HE WAS THE FIRST PERSON TO NOMINATE ME FOR SPEAKER PRO TEM, 13, I GUESS 14 SESSIONS AGO NOW.

SO, HE IS A GOOD MAN, HE IS GOING TO DO A GOOD JOB.

AND THAT IS WHY I WAS HAPPY TO SUPPORT HIM IN THIS ROLE, IN THE ELECTION.

I THINK, YOU KNOW, WE ARE GOING TO BUILD ON WHAT WE HAVE BEEN DOING.

YOU KNOW?

VERY SIMPLE.

CERTAINLY IN MY AREA AND ALL ACROSS THE STATE, PEOPLE CARE ABOUT GOOD SCHOOLS, GOOD EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES, THEY WANT GOOD JOBS, AND THEY WANT SAFE COMMUNITIES.

AND ALMOST EVERY ISSUE CAN BE FILTERED, OR CAN BE SORTED AND SIFTED INTO ONE OF THOSE THREE CATEGORIES.

GOOD SCHOOLS, I ANTICIPATE THAT WE WILL BUILD ON SOME OF THE MENTAL HEALTH ACHIEVEMENTS OF THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS WITH THE LEADERSHIP OF SPEAKER RALSTON.

AND YOU WILL SEE EVEN MORE SUPPORT FROM MORE COUNSELORS IN THE SCHOOLS.

MORE OPPORTUNITIES FOR STUDENTS WHO ARE AT RISK OF DROPPING OUT, SO THAT THEY HAVE MORE OPTIONS.

WHILE THEY ARE IN PUBLIC SCHOOL, TO COMPLETE AND GET THEIR HIGH SCHOOL DEGREE, AND BECOME A PART OF THIS WORKFORCE ISSUE THAT WE HAVE, WHERE, YOU KNOW, WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH TRAINED WORKFORCE.

AND SO, WE NEED TO -- IN FACT, WE HAVE ALWAYS DONE A GOOD JOB IN THAT CATEGORY, AND WE NEED TO ENHANCE THAT, BOOST IT UP, AND SOME OF US IN THE HOUSE ARE WORKING VERY DILIGENTLY ON THAT ISSUE.

WE WILL WORRY MORE ABOUT THAT IN THE NEXT WEEK.

BUT, WITH REGARD TO SAFE COMMUNITIES, WE HAVE CERTAINLY MADE PROGRESS THERE.

BUT, WE NEED TO DOUBLE DOWN ON SUPPORTING OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT, WITH ADDITIONAL JUDGES, MORE D.A.S, ASSISTANT D.A.S, BOOST THE CRIME LABS.

GIVE THEM THE TOOLS SO THAT THEY CAN KEEP OUR COMMUNITIES SAFE.

>> HOW SPEAKER PRO TEM, JAN JONES.

>>> COMING UP, SOME OF THE THOUGHTS ABOUT THE GOVERNOR'S INAUGURATION FROM TWO DEMOCRATS.

FROM ONE, WHO SPENT HER FIRST WEEK AS A NEW LEGISLATOR.

>> MADE POSSIBLE BY GEORGIA FARM BUREAU.

OVER 80 YEARS OF HELPING PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF AGRICULTURE IN OUR STATE.

AFTER ALL, THAT IS GEORGIA'S NUMBER ONE INDUSTRY.

FOOD AND FIBER REPRESENTS OVER 74 BILLION FOR GEORGIA'S ECONOMY.

WORKS TO REPRESENT PRODUCERS ACROSS GEORGIA, THE STATE CAPITAL, DURING THE SESSION AND YEAR-ROUND.

GEORGIA FARM BUREAU --THE VOICE OF GEORGIA FARMERS.

>>> WELCOME BACK TO "LAWMAKERS".

JOINING ME TO TALK ABOUT SEVERAL ISSUES ARE DEMOCRATIC STATE REPRESENTATIVE TERRY UNDERWOOD, FIRST ELECTED BY HER DISTRICT IN 2017.

AND DEMOCRATIC STATE SENATOR, OF LAWRENCEVILLE, WHO WAS BRAND- NEW TO THE GEORGIA ASSEMBLY.

WELCOME YOU BOTH, AS LAWMAKERS.

THIS IS A BUSY WEEK, AS PROMISED.

THIS IS THE EASY PART, THOUGH.

I WANT TO ASK YOU BOTH --YOU BOTH ATTENDED THE INAUGURATION TODAY AND I WOULD LIKE TO GET YOUR THOUGHTS.

I WILL START WITH YOU?

>> I WAS AT THE INAUGURATION FOUR YEARS AGO AND ONE THING I NOTICED ABOUT THIS INAUGURATION, IS THAT THIS WAS DEFINITELY A SECOND TERM INAUGURATION.

BY WHICH I MEAN, THE RHETORIC WAS OF UNITY -- WHAT I HEARD, WAS RHETORIC THAT WAS MUCH MORE GEARED TOWARD I THINK, UNITY AND MOVING FORWARD, ADDRESSING THE CHALLENGES THAT WE KNOW ARE GOING TO FACE GEORGIA.

BUT, IT WAS NOT AS DIVISIVE AS I FEEL LIKE IT WAS FOUR YEARS AGO, AND CERTAINLY NOT AS DIVISIVE AS IT WAS ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL.

>> I REMEMBER FOUR YEARS AGO, JUST COMING OFF --THE CAMPAIGN WITH STACEY ABRAMS, WHERE SHE STILL HADN'T TOTALLY CONCEITED.

SO, THINGS WERE A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT.

>> RIGHT, AND COMING IN HOT TO THAT SESSION.

THAT WAS THE SESSION WE HAD THE HB 41, THE HEARTBEAT BILL, WHICH NOBODY EXPECTED TO COME DURING THE FIRST YEAR OF THE FIRST TERM.

TO HEAR --AND IN THE NEXT FOUR YEARS --WE ARE GOING TO HEAR ABOUT MORE TALK ABOUT THE ECONOMY.

YOU KNOW, WE HAVE HEARD A LOT OF TALK ABOUT PUBLIC SAFETY, SPEAKER PRO TEM JONES TALKED ABOUT PUBLIC SAFETY, IT IS IMPORTANT TO KNOW THAT EVERYBODY WANTS TO LIVE IN A SAFE COMMUNITY.

AND THAT IS SOMEWHERE WHERE I THINK WE ARE GOING TO HAVE SOME REALLY GREAT DISCUSSIONS ABOUT BEST WAYS TO MOVE FORWARD.

BECAUSE EVERYBODY DOES WANT TO LIVE IN A SAFER COMMUNITY.

SO, I THINK THOSE ARE GOING TO BE SOME OF THE VERY BEST CONVERSATIONS THAT WE HAVE.

>> OKAY.

YOUR THOUGHTS ON WHAT YOU HEARD TODAY?

>> DEFINITELY.

SO, I WAS ATTENDING MY FIRST INAUGURATION CEREMONY FOR THE GOVERNOR, AND I ACTUALLY LIKED THE FACT THAT HE PUT REAL PEOPLE OVER POLITICS.

AND, YOU KNOW, YOUR FIRST TERM, I FEEL LIKE YOU ARE DUCKING TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU HAVE LEGISLATION THAT WILL HELP YOU DURING YOUR RE-ELECTION.

AND NOW THAT HE IS IN HIS SECOND TERM, I AM HOPING THAT HE LEADS INTO THAT AND ACTUALLY FOCUSES ON GOOD PAYING JOBS, AND FUNDING PUBLIC EDUCATION.

AND AS YOU HEARD, THE $2000 WORKERS, SO THAT WAS GREAT.

SO, YOU KNOW, I WAS PLEASED BY A LOT OF THINGS THAT HE SAID AND ALSO THE DIVERSITY THERE, AS WELL.

>> YEAH, SO, WE HAD THE FIRST ASIAN-AMERICAN JUSTICE, SUPREME COURT JUSTICE, SO, THAT WAS INTERESTING.

WHAT DIDN'T HE TALK ABOUT THAT YOU WISH HE HAD TOUCHED ON?

>> I AM A FORMER MUNICIPAL PERSON, I WAS ON THE CITY COUNCIL FOR 10 YEARS.

I WANT TO KNOW MORE ABOUT THE PROPERTY TAX REBATE.

HE WENT INTO EGGS AND ISSUES YESTERDAY, IT WAS MENTIONED SEVERAL TIMES ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL, PARTICULARLY TOWARD THE END OF THE CAMPAIGN.

AND I AM NOT OPPOSED AT ALL TO RETURNING TAXPAYER MONEY TO TAXPAYERS.

THERE ARE A LOT OF THINGS WE TALK ABOUT FUNDING, AND THAT WILL HAPPEN NEXT WEEK DURING BUDGET WEEK.

BUT I, AS A MUNICIPAL PERSON, I WANT TO KNOW HOW THE CITIES ARE GOING TO BE MADE WHOLE.

IS THERE GOING TO BE A FORMULA TO DETERMINE HOW PEOPLE WOULD GET THEIR SHARE OF PROPERTY TAXES THAT THEY WOULD NORMALLY USED TO PAY FOR PUBLIC SAFETY AND ALL OF THE THINGS THAT CITIES TEND TO DO?

SO, I WOULD LIKE MORE DETAILS ON WHAT EXACTLY THAT LEGISLATION IS GOING TO LOOK LIKE.

>> YEAH, $1.1 BILLION, HE SAID, IN PROPERTY TAXES.

>> RIGHT.

AND ONE CONCERN I HAVE IS THAT, THIS IS ONE TIME, ONE TIME DONE BY THE GOVERNOR AND GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

I WANT TO MAKE SURE THE MESSAGING OF THAT IS DONE IN A THOUGHTFUL WAY SO THAT A YEAR FROM THAT REBATE, YOU DON'T HAVE A LOT OF TAXPAYERS WHO ARE VERY ANGRY AT THEIR LOCAL ELECTED OFFICIALS, THEIR CITY COMMISSIONERS, CITY COUNSELORS, FOR RAISING THEIR TAXES.

JUST SO THEY UNDERSTAND WHERE IT CAME FROM.

>> EXACTLY.

SO, WHAT ABOUT FOR YOU?

I KNOW MEDICAID EXPANSION IS ONE OF YOUR AREAS.

AND WE WILL GET INTO THAT.

BUT, ANYTHING ELSE THAT YOU WANTED HIM TO SPEAK ON?

>> JUST GOING BACK TO MEDICAID EXPANSION, I THINK HEALTHCARE ACCESS IN THIS STATE IS DIRE.

WE ARE A HANDFUL OF STATES THAT ELECTED MEDICAID, I BELIEVE HEALTHCARE IS A HUMAN RIGHT.

I WOULD HAVE LOVE TO HEAR MORE ABOUT HOW HE IS GOING TO GET HEALTHCARE FOR US, THESE FOLKS IN THE STATES THAT HAVE BEEN LOCKED UP.

>> YES, HE DIDN'T TALK ABOUT HAIR CARE, AT ALL.

>> RIGHT, WHICH IS EXTREMELY PORTION POINT >> SO, YOUR PRIORITIES TELL US WHAT YOU ARE INTERESTED IN SEEING HAPPEN?

>> I WOULD LIKE TO SEE MORE OF A CONVERSATION ABOUT EXPANDING MEDICAID IN THE STATE.

BECAUSE I KNOW THERE ARE A LOT OF REPUBLICANS WHO ARE GETTING TIRED OF NOT EXPANDING MEDICAID AND BRINGING THESE DOLLARS THAT WE NEED TO TO THE STATE IN ORDER TO GIVE FOLKS HEALTHCARE ACCESS.

SO, THAT WOULD BE ABOUT 500,000 PEOPLE THAT WOULD BE ABLE TO SEE A DOCTOR, THAT OTHERWISE CANNOT RIGHT NOW.

ALSO, IT WOULD HELP WITH HOSPITAL FUNDING IN RURAL AREAS, WHICH WOULD KEEP HOSPITALS OPEN, AND JOBS, AS WELL.

SO, IT IS GOOD FOR THE ECONOMY, IT IS GOOD FOR PEOPLE'S HEALTH.

SO, IF I CAN EXPAND MEDICAID, WHY CAN'T BRIAN KEMP?

>> WE HEARD A LITTLE BIT FROM HIM IN THIS INAUGURATION SPEECH BUT THERE IS STILL THE STATE OF THE STATE, SO THERE ARE SOME ABOUT.

I KNOW HE TALKED ABOUT JOBS, BUT I KNOW A LITTLE BIT LAST YEAR, YOU WERE ABLE TO PASS A BILL --BIPARTISAN --THAT DEALT WITH JOBS IN A DIFFERENT WAY.

TALK ABOUT THAT A LITTLE BIT?

>> YES, SO, LAST YEAR, PASS LEGISLATION THAT EXPANDED SEXUAL-HARASSMENT PREZ DICTION FOR CITY AND COUNCIL WORKERS.

STATE EMPLOYEES ALREADY HAD THESE PROTECTIONS.

BUT NOW CITY AND COUNTY HAVE THESE PROTECTIONS FOR SEXUAL HARASSMENT.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT IS NOTABLE ABOUT THAT LEGISLATION IS THAT IS ACTUALLY THE FIRST TIME A DEFINITION OF SEXUAL HARASSMENT WAS PUT INTO THE GEORGIA CODE.

SO, THAT IS SOMETHING I AM VERY PROUD OF AND VERY GRATEFUL FOR, ALL OF THE SUPPORT THAT I HAD.

PARTICULARLY FROM THE CHAIRMAN OF THE LEGISLATION.

HE HAD WORKED WITH FORMER REPRESENTATIVE STEVE WYNN FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS, IN CRAFTING THAT THAT INFLATION.

SO, THE GOAL FOR THIS YEAR -- AND I'M STILL WORKING WITH ADVOCATES AND THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY --IT IS CRITICAL TO HAVE EVERY BOARD THAT THE LEGISLATORS WOULD HAVE HAD AT THE TABLE BECAUSE I THINK THAT IS PRAGMATICALLY THE BEST WAY TO MOVE LEGISLATION, ESPECIALLY WHEN WE ARE IN THE MINORITY PARTY IN GEORGIA.

BUT, WE ARE WORKING ON LEGISLATION THAT WOULD EXPAND MORE WORKPLACE HARASSMENT -- NOT JUST SEXUAL-HARASSMENT -- BUT A VARIETY OF WORKPLACE HARASSMENT PROTECTIONS TO WORKERS IN GEORGIA, IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR.

>> GIVE US AN EXAMPLE?

>> SO, FOR EXAMPLE, GENDER IDENTITY HARASSMENT, OR IF YOU ARE --PREGNANCY HARASSMENT IS SOMETHING THAT HAS BEEN PART OF THE LEGISLATION IN THE PAST.

I ACTUALLY HAVE A REPUBLICAN COLLEAGUE WHO TELLS A VERY COMPELLING STORY ABOUT HOW HIS MOTHER LOST HER JOB WHEN SHE WAS PREGNANT WITH HIM BECAUSE SHE WAS PREGNANT WITH HIM.

AND I KNOW THERE WILL BE A LOT OF LEGISLATION THAT TALKS ABOUT PROTECTIONS FOR PREGNANT WORKERS.

BUT WE ARE GOING TO BE TALKING ABOUT PROTECTIONS FOR WORKERS WHO ARE HARASSED BECAUSE OF THEIR RACE, FOR EXAMPLE.

AND THERE ARE FEDERAL PROTECTIONS THAT EXIST.

AND OFTEN PEOPLE SAY WE DO NOT NEED THESE FEDERAL PROTECTIONS, AND THAT IS TRUE, THEY ARE THERE.

IN GEORGIA, THE FEDERAL COURT OF GEORGIA, IT IS VERY, VERY DIFFICULT TO BRING A CASE FORWARD SO THAT YOU KNOW YOUR CASE IS ACTUALLY HEARD.

SO, YOU KNOW, I FEEL VERY STRONGLY --AND I KNOW I'M NOT ALONE IN THIS --GEORGIA IS GOING TO BE THE NUMBER ONE PLACE TO DO BUSINESS.

WE NEED TO MAKE SURE IT IS ALSO THE NUMBER ONE PLACE TO DO WORK.

>> SO, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT JOBS -- AND HE DID TODAY -- YOU TALKED ABOUT ANOTHER ISSUE, AND THAT IS RAISING THE MINIMUM WAGE.

TALK ABOUT THAT A LITTLE BIT?

>> I GREW UP IN A WORKING-CLASS FAMILY.

SO, I HAVE BEEN AROUND A LOT OF FOLKS WHO HAVE WORKED HOURLY ON THE JOB.

AND WE NEED TO INCREASE THE MINIMUM WAGE TO A LIVING WAGE.

BUT, NOT DOING SO, MANDATING PROPERTY.

WE WOULD BE MANDATING POVERTY BY NOT INCREASING IT.

I BELIEVE WE NEED TO INCREASE IT TO $15 PER HOUR, AND ADJUST IT WITH INFLATION, THEREAFTER.

OVER 60% OF WORKING PEOPLE IN THIS COUNTRY LIVE PAYCHECK TO PAYCHECK.

INCREASING, YOU KNOW WHAT IS NOT INCREASING?

OUR WAGES.

SO, I BELIEVE WE NEED TO INCREASE THE MINIMUM WAGE TO A LIVING WAGE, AND GET MONEY BACK IN THE POCKETS OF WORKING PEOPLE, WHICH WOULD ALSO STIMULATE THE LOCAL ECONOMY, AS WELL.

>> THE GOVERNOR TALKS ABOUT THIS $2000 FOR STATE WORKERS.

TALKING ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY ACTUALLY FOLLOWS THROUGH, ALSO, WITH THAT.

>> AND IT IS BENEFITS.

EVERYONE, FROM THE STATE OF GEORGIA, TO A FAST FOOD RESTAURANT, YOU KNOW, WHATEVER SECTOR YOU ARE IN, THERE ARE A LOT OF PROBLEMS THAT EMPLOYERS HAVE, ATTRACTING AND RETAINING EMPLOYEES.

AND THAT IS WHY THE GOVERNOR ANNOUNCED THOSE RACES TODAY FOR STATE EMPLOYEES.

RETENTION IS UNBELIEVABLY IMPORTANT.

THAT WILL ABSOLUTELY HELP, AND IT WILL HELP EMPLOYERS IN THE LONG RUN, BECAUSE TURNOVER IS VERY EXPENSIVE, FOR EXAMPLE.

>> IT IS ONE THING TO TALK ABOUT ALL OF THESE JOBS COMING IN, IT IS ANOTHER THING TO MAKE FEEL THEY DESERVE FOR THOSE JOBS.

>> THEY SHOULD BE PAID DIGNIFIED WAGES.

>> LET'S TALK ABOUT ANOTHER ISSUE ON THAT, AND HOW YOU FEEL ABOUT THIS.

RIGHT NOW, WE ARE -- YOU TELL US WHERE WE ARE, WITH DACA.

BECAUSE EVERY YEAR, WE TALK ABOUT THIS AT THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY, AND IT HASN'T REALLY MOVED ANYWHERE.

>> SO, I GREW UP IN GWINNETT COUNTY, AND I WENT TO SCHOOL WITH A LOT OF UNDOCUMENTED STUDENTS.

I WENT TO CENTRAL GWINNETT HIGH SCHOOL IN LAWRENCEVILLE.

AND THESE FOLKS ARE JUST AS MUCH ATLANTANS AS I AM.

WHEN I WOULD GRADUATE FROM HIGH SCHOOL, I WOULD SEE A LOT OF MY FRIENDS THAT WERE UNDOCUMENTED NOT BE ABLE TO GO TO COLLEGE.

RIGHT NOW, WE HAVE A DEFICIT OF WORKERS.

NOW, I THINK WE OUGHT TO EXTEND IN-STATE TUITION TO DACA, UNDOCUMENTED FOLKS IN THIS STATE, AND ALLOW THEM TO STAY AND ATTEND A PUBLIC UNIVERSITY.

I THINK THAT WOULD HELP RESOLVE A LOT OF OUR LACK OF FOLKS IN OUR WORKFORCE.

SO, I THINK THAT IS SOMETHING AND I THINK THE NUMBER ONE THING FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN THIS STATE THAT WE COULD BE DOING, IS INVESTING IN EDUCATION.

>> YES, SO ANOTHER WORKFORCE ISSUE, AND WE ARE TALKING ABOUT MORE JOBS COMING INTO THE STATE AND A LOW EMPLOYMENT RATE IN GEORGIA.

>> IN YESTERDAY, EVERYONE ON BEHALF OF THE GEORGIA CHAMBER WAS CLEAR THAT THE NUMBER ONE ISSUE IS WORKFORCE, AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT.

THE NUMBER ONE ISSUE WAS ANY OF THE CULTURAL ISSUES THAT YOU HEAR PEOPLE TALKING ABOUT.

THEY DIDN'T LIST ANY ISSUES THAT PEOPLE MIGHT SAY IS A BIG, DIVIDING ISSUES.

WORKFORCE, WORKFORCE, WORKFORCE.

AND MY REPUBLICAN COLLEAGUE IN THE HOUSE, CASEY CARPENTER, HAS BEEN AN OUTSPOKEN ADVOCATE FOR IN STATE TUITION FOR DACA STUDENTS.

AND I THINK WE WILL SEE MORE OF THAT.

I THINK THAT HE WILL CONTINUE WITH THAT IN THE HOUSE, AND I KNOW HE HAS A LOT OF ALLIES ON THE DEMOCRATIC SIDE OF THE AISLE.

>> YOU DIDN'T HEAR THE GOVERNOR TALK ABOUT CULTURAL ISSUES.

WE WON'T HEAR MUCH ABOUT IT.

BUT I AM CURIOUS ABOUT YOUR FIRST WEEK.

WHAT DID YOU THINK?

>> WELL, I AM TAKING IT ALL IN.

WE ARE ON OUR THIRD DAY, THERE IS LOTS TO CELEBRATE, RIGHT?

OVERALL, I HAVE JUST BEEN WATCHING, LEARNING, AND OBSERVING.

I ACTUALLY WAS AN AID IN 2011 FOR CHAIRMAN, DON PARSONS, ON THE HOUSE SIDE.

SO, IT IS NOT MY FIRST TIME.

I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO RETAIN A LOT OF THOSE FRIENDSHIPS FROM ALL OF THOSE YEARS AGO.

SO, IT HAS BEEN REALLY NICE TO SEE THOSE FACES.

AND ALSO, JUST TO GET TO WORK FOR THE MAGISTRATE.

>> AND FOR YOU, IS IT STILL DIFFERENT?

>> OH, YEAH.

I MEAN, IT IS -- THIS HAPPENS EVERY FOUR YEARS, THESE INAUGURAL YEARS ARE VERY DIFFERENT.

IN MY FIRST SESSION, I CAME IN MIDTERM, I WAS WORKING 2017 TO 2018, MY FIRST SESSION.

AND THAT KIND OF HIT THE GROUND RUNNING.

THIS IS MORE OF A HURRY UP AND YOU'RE GOING TO GO TO A LOT OF PARTIES.

>> LOTS OF PARTIES.

>> A LOT OF PARTIES.

WELL, YOU HAVE TO HEARING NEXT WEEK, TOO.

>> WE DO HAVE THE APPROPRIATIONS HEARING.

>> I AM SO GLAD YOU BOTH WERE HERE TO TALK TO ME TODAY, AND I HOPE YOU COME BACK.

GOOD LUCK ON THE SESSION.

THAT DOES IT FOR "LAWMAKERS" TODAY.

TOMORROW IS NOT A SESSION ON THE "LAWMAKERS" SHOW, BUT LOOK FOR THE "LAWMAKERS" CAPITAL REPORT AT THE END OF THE PBS NEWS HOUR.

NEXT WEEK IS GENERAL ASSEMBLY, LIKE WE SAID, NOT MEETING FORMALLY IN THE CHAMBERS, BUT WE WILL RETURN WITH "LAWMAKERS" ON MONDAY, JANUARY 23rd.

HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.