>>> MADAM DOOR KEEPER, PLEASE ALLOW THE GOVERNOR OF GEORGIA, HIS COMMITTEE OF ESCORTS AND DISTINGUISHED GUESTS ACCESS TO THE HOUSE CHAMBERS.

>> THAT IS SPEAKER DAVID RALSTON WELCOMING GOVERNOR BRIAN KEMP INTO THE CHAMBER TO DELIVER HIS FOURTH STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS.

GOOD EVENING, I'M DONNA LOWRY ALONG WITH BRENDA WATER.

WE'RE GOING TO SHOW YOU THAT ADDRESS.

AFTERWARDS WE'LL HAVE THE DEMOCRATIC RESPONSE AND LATER MY EXTENDED INTERVIEW WITH THE PRESIDENT AND CEO OF THE GEORGIA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

AND NOW GOVERNOR KEVIN WITH HIS 2022 STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS.

>> THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH.

I'M STILL HUNG UP ON WHAT THE SPEAKER TODAY ABOUT MARTY AND THE GIRLS.

LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR DUNCAN, SPEAKER RALSTON, PRESIDENT PRO TEM MILLER.

SPEAKER PRO TEM JONES, MEMBERS OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY, MEMBERS OF THE JUDICIARY AND MY FELLOW GEORGIANS.

THREE YEARS AGO WHEN I STOOD BEFORE THIS BODY AND THE PEOPLE OF OUR STATE FOR THE FIRST TIME AS YOUR GOVERNOR, I SAID I KNOW THERE WILL BE ADVERSITY, THOSE WHO WANT TO TEAR US DOWN.

THERE WILL BE DIFFICULT DAYS AND DARK NIGHTS, BUT TOGETHER WE WILL OVERCOME.

LIKE COACH HENDERSON SAID, IT CAN BE DONE.

STANDING BEFORE ALL OF YOU TODAY IN THE FINAL YEAR OF MY FIRST TERM IN OFFICE, I DIDN'T KNOW THEN HOW TRUE THESE WORDS WOULD BECOME.

BUT JUST LIKE I SAW ALL THOSE YEARS AGO UNDER THE FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS AT CLARK CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL.

HENDERSON WAS RIGHT AGAIN.

DESPITE THE DEVICE OF POLITICS, THE TOUGH OBSTACLES THAT STOOD IN OUR WAY, WE PULLED TOGETHER AND LENT A HELPING HAND TO OUR FELLOW GEORGIANS AND PROVED IT COULD BE DONE.

IN PSALM 16:8 SAID I'VE SET THE LORD ALWAYS BEFORE ME BECAUSE HE IS AT MY RIGHT HAND AND I SHALL NOT BE SHAKEN.

OVER THE LAST THREE YEARS, WE BUILT GEORGIA'S HOUSE ON A FIRM FOUNDATION.

THE CONCRETE, THE FRAME AND THE ROOF WITHSTOOD THE STORMS AND WE EMERGED RESILIENT.

WE BOLDLY SEIZE THE OPPORTUNITY TO PLANT SEEDS FOR THE FUTURE IN GOOD SOIL.

SO A BOUNTIFULLY HARVEST WOULD BRING OUR STATE MORE BRIGHTER DAYS AHEAD.

THANKS TO THAT APPROACH AND OUR WORK TOGETHER, OUR STATE HAS CELEBRATED UNPRECEDENTED BY KEEPING OUR STATE OPEN FOR BUSINESS, BRINGING RECORD LEVELS OF JOBS AND INVESTMENT AND PUTTING -- AND FIGHTING TO PUT HARD WORK AND GEORGIANS FIRST, WE NOW HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO BUILD A SAFER, STRONGER GEORGIA FOR ALL WHO CALL THE PEACH STATE HOME.

IN SEPTEMBER OF 2018, I UNVEILED MY PLAN TO RAISE TEACHER PAY IN OUR STATE BY $5,000.

AT THAT TIME GEORGIA RANKED 23rd IN THE COUNTRY IN ANNUAL SALARY FOR OUR EDUCATORS.

AND A STATE-WIDE SURVEY SHOWED THAT 44% OF HARD-WORKING GEORGIANS LEADING OUR CLASSROOMS WOULD LEAVE THE PROFESSION WITHIN THE FIRST FIVE YEARS.

TODAY, THREE YEARS AFTER WE CAME TOGETHER AND PASSED A $3,000 DOWNPAYMENT ON THAT PROMISE, EDUCATORS AND STUDENTS FACE A CHALLENGING FUTURE.

PARENTS, TEACHERS, AND ADMINISTRATORS ACROSS OUR STATE ARE DOING THEIR BEST TO HELP DUE TO THE PANDEMIC.

STUDENTS FROM ALL WALKS OF LIFE ARE CONFRONTED WITH MENTAL HEALTH STRUGGLINGS.

TEACHERS ARE ASKED TO DO MORE AND MORE EVERY YEAR.

AND THE NEED FOR A WORLD-CLASS K-12 EDUCATION TO PREPARE OUR CHILDREN FOR THE EVER-CHANGING WORK FORCE HAS NEVER BEEN GREATER.

THROUGHOUT MY FIRST TERM, I'VE HAD THE HONOR OF ATTENDING TEACHER LISTENING SESSIONS AND REGULAR MEETINGS WITH GROUPS OF SUPERINTENDENTS AND SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS FROM ACROSS THE STATE.

IN THOSE DISCUSSIONS I'VE GOTTEN TO KNOW AND ALSO UNDERSTAND THE STRUGGLES, THE SUCCESSES, AND THE NEEDS OF DIFFERENT SCHOOL DISTRICTS IN EVERY CORNER OF GEORGIA.

THE HARD WORK IN GEORGIANS IN OUR SCHOOLS, THE SCHOOL STAFF, ADMINISTRATORS, BUS DRIVERS, CAFETERIA WORKERS AND TEACHERS, ALL DO A TERRIFIC JOB OF KEEPING OUR KIDS SAFE AND INVESTING IN THEIR FUTURES.

TO SUPPORT THEIR HEROIC EFFORTS DAY IN AND DAY OUT, I BELIEVE THAT WE, AS STATE LEADERS, MUST CONTINUE TO DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO ENSURE THEY HAVE THE RESOURCES NECESSARY TO FULFILL THEIR MISSION AND PREPARE THE NEXT GENERATION OF LEADERS FOR SUCCESSFUL LIVES AND CAREERS.

THAT'S WHY MY FISCAL 2023 BUDGET WILL INCLUDE THE FINAL INSTALLMENT, A TOTAL OF $5,000 SINCE 2019.

[ APPLAUSE ] THIS $2,000 RAISE WILL IMPACT K-12 TEACHERS, ASSISTANT TEACHERS WHO I THINK WE CAN ALL AGREE WITH GONE ABOVE AND BEYOND FOR THEIR STUDENTS THROUGHOUT THE PANDEMIC.

IN ADDITION, MY AMENDED FISCAL YEAR 2022 BUDGET WILL INCLUDE $2,000 FOR FULL-TIME STATE-FUNDED INSTRUCTIONAL STAFF, SCHOOL SUPPORT STAFF, AND SCHOOL ADMINISTRATION.

AND A $1,000, ONE-TIME SUPPLEMENT FOR SCHOOL BUS DRIVERS, NURSES, NUTRITION WORKERS AND PART-TIME EMPLOYEES.

LET'S ALL TAKE A MOMENT TO THANK THEM FOR ALL THAT THEY HAVE DONE FOR OUR STUDENTS AND OUR STATE.

[ APPLAUSE ] ADDITIONALLY, A PRIORITY FOR CONSERVATIVE LEADERS UNDER THE DOME, INCLUDING MYSELF FOR MANY YEARS, HAS BEEN TO APPROPRIATELY FUND THE STATE SCHOOL FUNDING FORMULA.

THESE DOLLARS ARE SENT DIRECTLY TO SCHOOLS IN EVERY CORNER OF GEORGIA, TO HIRE MORE TEACHERS, REDUCE CLASS SIZE, AND ENSURE EVERY CHILD RECEIVES A QUALITY EDUCATION.

MY FISCAL YEAR 2023 BUDGET PROPOSAL WILL RECOMMEND ADDING $425 MILLION TO FULLY FUND OUR SCHOOLS.

AND COMPLETELY RESTORE ALL CUTS TO EDUCATION FUNDING IN OUR STATE THAT WERE MADE DURING THE PANDEMIC.

THIS KEY PRIORITY WILL COLLECTIVELY PROVIDE AN ADDITIONAL $1.4 BILLION IN DIRECT FUNDING THROUGH OUR K-12 SCHOOLS AND INVEST MORE PER K-12 STUDENT THAN EVER BEFORE.

WHEN IT COMES TO EDUCATION IN OUR STATE, IT'S A LOT MORE THAN JUST MONEY AND RESOURCES.

AS THE PARENTS OF THREE DAUGHTERS, ONE OF WHO IS A PUBLIC SCHOOLTEACHER.

MARTY AND I ARE ALSO CONCERNED ABOUT WHAT WE'RE SEEING ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

FIELD, THERE ARE THOSE WHO WANT TO DIVIDE OUR KIDS ALONG POLITICAL LINES, PUSH PARTISAN AGENDAS AND INDOCTRINATE STUDENTS FROM ALL WALKS OF LIFE.

THIS IS WRONG.

IT'S DANGEROUS, AND AS LONG AS I'M GOVERNOR, IT WILL NOT TAKE ROOT IN OUR STATE.

[ APPLAUSE ] THAT'S WHY I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO WORKING WITH THE MEMBERS OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY IN THIS LEGISLATIVE SESSION TO PROTECT OUR STUDENTS FROM DIVISIVE IDEOLOGIES LIKE CRITICAL RACE THEORY THAT PIT KIDS AGAINST EACH OTHER.

I ALSO LOOK FORWARD TO PASS AND SIGN A BILL OF RIGHTS IN OUR EDUCATION SYSTEM AND OTHER PIECES OF LEGISLATION THAT I STRONGLY SUPPORT TO ENSURE FAIRNESS IN SCHOOL SPORTS AND ADDRESS OF MATERIALS ONLINE AND IN OUR SCHOOL LIBRARIES.

I BELIEVE -- [ APPLAUSE ] I BELIEVE BY WORKING TOGETHER, THIS LEGISLATIVE SESSION WILL BE A HISTORIC ONE FOR EDUCATION IN OUR STATE BECAUSE BUILDING A SAFER, STRONGER GEORGIA STARTS WITH PUTTING PARENTS AND STUDENTS FIRST.

DURING MY CAMPAIGN FOR GOVERNOR, I TOLD GEORGIANS I WOULD FOCUS ON BRING AN INNOVATIVE SOLUTION TO OUR MANY HEALTHCARE CHALLENGES, NOT JUST TO EXPAND A ONE-SIZE-FITS-ALL BROKEN GOVERNMENT PROGRAM.

THAT'S WHY I WORKED AS LONG AS MEMBERS OF THIS BODY TO CRAFT GEORGIA-CENTRIC SOLUTIONS THAT WOULD INCREASE ACCESS TO COVERAGE FOR OUR MOST VULNERABLE.

WHILE ALSO LOWERING COSTS FOR MILLIONS OF GEORGIANS.

TODAY WE'RE SEEING THE BENEFITS OF THAT PLAN ACROSS THE STATE.

WHEN I SIGNED THE BIPARTISAN PATIENCE FIRST ACT IN 2019, GEORGIA HAD ONLY FOUR HEALTH INSURANCE CARRIERS OFFERING PLANS IN THE INDIVIDUAL MARKET.

TODAY WE'VE NEARLY TRIPLED THAT NUMBER, WITH 11 CARRIERS OFFERING PLANS FOR 2022.

IN 2019, ONLY 26% OF GEORGIA COUNTIES HAD MORE THAN ONE CARRIER OFFERING INSURANCE ON THE INDIVIDUAL MARKET.

NOW IN 2022, 98% OF ALL COUNTIES HAVE MORE THAN ONE CARRIER, WHICH MEANS EXPANDED CHOICE AND LOWERED COST FOR HARD-WORKING GEORGIANS.

OVERALL, THE STATE'S $139 MILLION INVESTMENT IN GEORGIA ACCESS INCLUDED IN MY BUDGET PROPOSAL THIS YEAR, HAS HELPED REDUCED PREMIUMS BY A STATE WIDE AVERAGE OF 12%.

THAT'S $850 IN ANNUAL SAVINGS FOR GEORGIANS ON THE MARKETPLACE TODAY.

AND IN RURAL COUNTIES, WHERE PREMIUM PRICES WERE HIGHEST, CHOICES IN COVERAGE WERE FEW, AND OPTIONS FOR CARE WERE HAS CONTRIBUTED TO PREMIUM REDUCTIONS FROM 25% TO OVER 30% IN SOME COUNTIES.

FOR A 50-YEAR-OLD GEORGIAN BUYING A SILVER PLAN ON THE MARKETPLACE THAT TRANSLATES INTO ANNUAL SAVINGS FROM 2500 TO OVER $4300 A YEAR.

I'D LIKE TO THANK INSURANCE COMMISSIONER JOHN KING FOR HIS WORK AS LONG AS MY OFFICE TO IMPLEMENT THESE REFORMS AND TO DELIVER RESULTS FOR GEORGIA FAMILIES.

AND WHILE THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION PLAYS POLITICS, IN GEORGIA, WE'RE MAKING HEALTHCARE MORE AFFORDABLE FOR MILLIONS OF OUR CITIZENS.

[ APPLAUSE ] AS WE LOWER INSURANCE PREMIUMS, IT'S ALSO VITAL THAT WE HAVE MORE DOCTORS FOR GEORGIA TO SEE FOR CARE.

PHYSICIANS AND NURSES ARE IN SHORT SUPPLY ACROSS THE COUNTRY, BUT ESPECIALLY IN RURAL GEORGIA.

THAT'S WHY MY BUDGET PROPOSAL INCLUDES AN INITIAL $1 BILLION FOR THE UNIVERSITY SYSTEM OF GEORGIA TO EXPAND NURSING PROGRAMS UP TO 500 STUDENTS ANNUALLY OVER FIVE YEARS.

LE AND FUNDING FOR OUR TECHNICAL COLLEGE SYSTEM TO GROW THEIR PARTNERSHIP WITH ALLIED HEALTH TO SERVE UP TO 700 ADDITIONAL STUDENTS ANNUALLY.

MY PROPOSAL ALSO INVESTS $2.5 MILLION FOR 136 RESIDENCY SLOTS AND ALLOCATE $1 MILLION TO MERCER UNIVERSITY TO ADDRESS RURAL PHYSICIAN SHORTAGES.

WITH THESE KEY INVESTMENTS, WE HOPE TO ADD 1300 ADDITIONAL HEALTHCARE PRACTITIONERS IN OUR STATE.

BEFORE I GO ON, LET'S PAUSE AND TAKE A MOMENT TO THANK ALL OF OUR HEALTHCARE HEROES IN GEORGIA FOR THEIR TIRELESS DEDICATION AND HARD WORK OVER THESE LAST TWO YEARS.

[ APPLAUSE ] IN FISCAL YEAR 2021, MY OFFICE WORKED AS LONG AS THE MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE, ON AN IMPORTANT PRIORITY OF THEIRS TO EXPAND MEDICAID COVERAGE FOR NEW MONTHS TO SIX MONTHS.

BUILDING ON THAT SUCCESS, MY BUDGET PROPOSAL INCLUDES A PRIORITY OF MEMBERS OF THE SENATE TO EXTEND THAT COVERAGE TO A FULL YEAR, TO ENSURE THESE NEW MOMS ARE ABLE TO RECEIVE MEDICAL CARE FOR THEIR HEALTH AND LONGTIME WELL-BEING.

[ APPLAUSE ] AND TO CONTINUE GEORGIA'S LIFE AT ALL STAGES, I BELIEVE IT'S VITALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE CONTINUE TO WORK TOGETHER TO STRENGTHEN OUR STATE'S FOSTER CARE AND ADOPTION SYSTEMS.

MY BUDGET PROPOSAL WILL INCLUDE NEARLY $28 MILLION TO ALLOCATE A 10% PROVIDER RATE INCREASE FOR ALL FOSTER PARENTS, RELATIVE CAREGIVERS, CHILD CARE INSTITUTIONS, AND CHILD MACHINE PLACING AGENCIES.

THIS HAS BEEN ONE OF THE MOST REWARDING ISSUES AND I WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT AND THANK THE MEMBERS HERE TODAY AND THOSE WHO ARE NO LONGER SERVING FOR THEIR BIPARTISAN EFFORTS TO PUT GEORGIA'S CHILDREN FIRST.

THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH.

[ APPLAUSE ] TO BUILD A SAFER, STRONGER GEORGIA, WE MUST ENSURE EVERY GEORGIAN FEELS SAFE AND SECURE IN THEIR COMMUNITIES.

AS I ANNOUNCED LAST WEEK, I BELIEVE THAT STARTS WITH FULLY RECOGNIZING THE CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS GRANTED TO LAW-ABIDING GEORGIANS IN OUR FOUNDING DOCUMENTS AND I LOOK FORWARD TO SUPPORTING CONSTITUTIONAL LEGISLATION THIS SESSION.

TOGETHER, WE MADE WISE INVESTMENTS IN PUBLIC SAFETY OVER THE LAST THREE YEARS.

BY CREATING ANTI-GANG TASK FORCE WITHIN THE GBI, PASSING BIPARTISAN HUMAN TRAFFICKING LEGISLATION TO HOLD CRIMINALS ACCOUNTABLE AND SUPPORT VICTIMS, AND FUNDING THE CRIME SUPPRESSION UNIT.

WE HAVE SHOWN OUR STATE'S COMMITMENT TO REDUCING CRIME AND RIDING OUR STREETS OF GANGS.

THE ANTI-GANG TASK FORCE IN PARTICULAR HAS BEEN HARD AT WORK.

AND I'M VERY PROUD OF THE BRAVE MEN AND WOMEN OF THE GBI AND ALL THEY HAVE ACCOMPLISHED UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF DIRECTOR VICK REYNOLDS.

BUT IN TOO MANY JURISDICTIONS ACROSS OUR STATE, CRIME LOCAL GOVERNMENTS AND PROSECUTORS HAS BEEN UNWILLING TO JOIN THE FIGHT TO RID THEIR COMMUNITIES OF THESE CRIMINAL NETWORKS.

COUNTIES FACING ALARMING LEVELS OF VIOLENT CRIME, WE HAVE THE RESPONSIBILITY TO ACT, TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL ASSISTANCE FOR G BI'S EFFORTS TO DISMANTLE CRIMINAL STREET GANGS, MY BUDGET PROPOSAL WILL INCLUDE FUNDING FOR AN ANTI-GANG UNIT IN THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE, WHICH WILL ALLOW THE ATTORNEY GENERAL TO DIRECT MORE RESOURCES IN PROSECUTING GANGS STATE-WIDE.

AND MY OFFICE WILL BE SUPPORTING ENABLING LEGISLATION THAT GIVES THE ATTORNEY GENERAL THE AUTHORITY TO PARTNER WITH THE GBI AND LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS IN INVESTIGATING AND PROSECUTING THESE DANGEROUS CRIMINALS.

TO STREAMLINE CASE BACKLOGS DUE TO THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC AND ENSURE PROSECUTIONS CAN OBTAIN EVIDENCE AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE, MY PROPOSALS WILL RECOMMEND OVER $7 MILLION TO UPGRADE GBI CRIME LAB WOMEN, BEGIN IMPROVEMENTS TO ADDITIONAL 32 STAFF IN THE CRIME LAB AND MEDICAL EXAMINER'S OFFICE TO ADDRESS THEIR INCREASED VOLUME.

THIS INVESTMENT FOLLOWS $10 MILLION IN FEDERAL FUNDS BACK IN OCTOBER OF THIS YEAR TO SWIFTLY ADDRESS DELAYED CASES.

JUSTICE DELAYED IS JUSTICE DENIED AND WE WILL PROVIDE EVERY RESOURCE NECESSARY TO ENSURE THE COURTS AND PROSECUTORS HAVE THE INFORMATION THAT THEY NEED BECAUSE SAFER COMMUNITIES LEAD TO STRONGER COMMUNITIES, AND TOGETHER, I KNOW WE CAN BUILD ON OUR SIGNIFICANT PROGRESS OVER THE LAST THREE YEARS.

ON THE FRONTLINES OF OUR MISSION TO BUILD A SAFER, STRONGER GEORGIA AS IS THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY AND OUR BRAVE MEN AND WOMEN IN BLUE AND GRAY.

ONE OF THE GREATEST HONORS IS SEEING THESE HEROES WORK EACH DAY TO PROTECT OUR COMMUNITIES AND PATROL OUR ROADWAYS.

FROM ENSURING PEACEFUL PROTESTERS WERE KEPT SAFE AND RESTORING ORDER TO THE CAPITOL CITY IN THE SUMMER OF 2020 TO HUNKERING DOWN THROUGH A GLOBAL PANDEMIC IN OUR CRIME SUPPRESSION EFFORTS, THE DEPARTMENT WENT ABOVE AND BEYOND THE CALL OF DUTY EVERY TIME.

TO BOLSTER THEIR IMPORTANT EFFORTS, MY BUDGET PROPOSAL WILL INCLUDE $3 MILLION TO SUPPORT AN ADDITIONAL TROOPER SCHOOL CLASS OF 75 CADETS THIS COMING YEAR.

I'D LIKE TO THANK COLONEL WRIGHT AND HIS TEAM FOR ALL THAT THEY CONTINUE TO DO FOR OUR STATE.

[ APPLAUSE ] I THINK MOST OF YOU IN THIS CHAMBER WOULD AGREE, IT HAS NEVER BEEN HARDER TO WEAR THE UNIFORM.

UNFORTUNATELY IN THE FACE OF SOME LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND ACTIVIST OPPOSITION OF LAW ENFORCEMENT ACROSS THE COUNTRY, I BELIEVE SOME HARD-WORKING GEORGIANS MAY BE HESITANT AT THE END OF THE WORK FORCE WEARING BLUE.

TO ENSURE WE RECRUIT GEORGIA'S FINEST TO PROTECT OUR COMMUNITIES, MY OFFICE HAS ASKED THE COMMISSIONER AND THE TECHNICAL COLLEGE SYSTEM OF GEORGIA TO ADD LAW ENFORCEMENT AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE DEGREES TO OUR HIGH DEMAND CAREER INITIATIVES.

THIS AIMS TO PROVIDE A FREE TUITION TO OVER 1,000 GEORGIANS LOOKING TO OBTAIN THOSE DEGREES AT OUR TECHNICAL COLLEGES.

AS YOU ALL KNOW, AT THE END OF LAST YEAR, I WAS PROUD TO JOIN MANY OF YOU IN ALLOCATING $1,000 BONUS TO OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT AND FIRST RESPONDERS ACROSS THE STATE.

AS MY OFFICE RELEASED LAST WEEK I'M PROUD TO SAY THAT MY BUDGET PROPOSAL WILL INCLUDE A $5,000 RAISE FOR STATE LAW ENFORCEMENT AND OTHER STATE EMPLOYEES.

THESE BRAVE MEN AND WOMEN HAVE BEEN ON THE FRONT LINES OF A TRULY UNPRECEDENTED TIME IN OUR STATE'S HISTORY.

FROM CIVIL UNREST TO A GLOBAL PANDEMIC, AND WE COULD NOT BE MORE APPRECIATIVE OF ALL THAT THEY DO TO KEEP OUR FAMILIES AND OUR COMMUNITIES SAFE.

AND I WANT EVERYONE TO KNOW AS LONG AS I'M GOVERNOR, I WILL ALWAYS BACK THE BLUE.

I HOPE YOU ALL AGAIN WILL HELP ME RECOGNIZE ALL THESE HARD-WORKING MEN AND WOMEN ACROSS OUR STATE FOR THEIR EFFORTS.

[ APPLAUSE ] NO ISSUE TO IMPROVE THE SAFETY AND WELL-BEING OF GEORGIANS HAS HAD MORE BIPARTISAN SUPPORT THAN THE TOP PRIORITY OF OUR FIRST LADY.

WOULD YOU ALL JOIN ME IN THANKING MARTY, THE GIRLS AND THE GRACE COMMISSION FOG THEIR GREAT WORK TO END HUMAN TRAFFICKING IN OUR STATE.

[ APPLAUSE ] UNDER MARTY'S LEADERSHIP, AS LONG AS CO-CHAIR PRO TEM JONES AND DIRECTOR REYNOLDS, THE GRACE COMMISSION HAS CHANGED THE CONVERSATION AROUND HUMAN TRAFFICKING.

BY REMINDING GEORGIANS THAT MEN AND WOMEN TRAPPED IN THIS EVIL INDUSTRY NEED OUR HELP AND OUR COMPASSION.

NOT ANOTHER BLIND EYE TURNED.

WITH THE STRONG SUPPORT OF THE MEMBERS OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY, IN STATE LAW ENFORCEMENT, INCLUDING ATTORNEY GENERAL CHRIS CARR, THEY HAVE CHAMPIONED REFORMS THAT NOW GIVE SURVIVORS A FIGHTING CHANCE, A PLACE TO SHELTER, AND A PATH BACK TO THE LIFE THEY WISH TO LEAD.

THE GRACE COMMISSION HAS PUSHED FOR TOUGHER PENALTIES ON THOSE WHO BREAK OUR LAWS AND ENSLAVE OTHERS INTO A LIFE IN THE SHADOWS.

I'D LIKE TO THANK EVERY MEMBER, REPUBLICAN AND DEMOCRAT, FOR THEIR VOTES IN SUPPORT OF THESE NEW LAWS.

HOWEVER, OUR WORK HERE IS NOT YET FINISHED.

UNFORTUNATELY, MANY CRIMINALS MAKING THEIR LIVING DESTROYING THE LIVES OF OTHERS ARE ABLE TO QUICKLY GET BACK OUT ONTO THE STREETS AND BEGIN PREYING UPON YOUNG WOMEN AND MEN WITHIN HOURS OF THEIR INITIAL ARREST.

THAT'S WHY OUR FIRST LADY AND THE GRACE COMMISSION WILL BE BRINGING FORWARD LEGISLATION TO ADD HUMAN TRAFFICKING TO THE LIST OF SERIOUS VIOLENT AND SEXUAL OFFENSE THAT'S REQUIRE A SUPERIOR COURT JUDGE TO GRANT BAIL.

BY ADDING THIS TO OUR SYSTEM TO PROTECT OUR MOST VULNERABLE IS YET ANOTHER WAY WE CAN WORK TOGETHER TO BUILD A SAFER, STRONGER STATE FOR GENERATIONS TO COME.

NEARLY TWO YEARS AFTER THE FIRST CASE OF COVID-19 WAS DETECTED IN GEORGIA, MILLIONS ARE VACCINATED, AND OUR ECONOMY IS ROARING BACK FASTER AND STRONGER THAN OTHER STATES ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

IN FACT, THE PEACH STATE IS LEADING THE NATION IN ECONOMIC RECOVERY, BECAUSE GEORGIA PROTECTED BOTH LIVES AND LIVELIHOODS, OUR BEST AND MOST PROSPEROUS DAYS ARE AHEAD.

OUR OWN EMPLOYMENT RATE -- [ APPLAUSE ] THANK YOU.

OUR UNEMPLOYMENT RATE IS AT RECORD LOWS.

OUTPACING MOST OF THE COUNTRY, INCLUDING OUR FELLOW STATES IN THE SOUTHEAST.

JOBS AND INVESTMENT NUMBERS ARE THROUGH THE ROOF, COMPANIES FROM AROUND THE WORLD HAVE GEORGIA ON THEIR MINDS.

SMALL BUSINESSES ARE BOUNCING BACK, AND WE JUST CELEBRATED THE LARGEST SINGLE ECONOMIC HISTORY.

THESE ACHIEVEMENTS DID NOT HAPPEN BY ACCIDENT.

GEORGIA'S ON THE MOVE BECAUSE WE CHOSE FREEDOM OVER GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWNS.

WE TRUSTED OUR CITIZENS TO BE PART OF THE SOLUTION INSTEAD OF PART OF THE PROBLEM.

WE CONTINUED TO FIGHT MANDATES THAT FORCE HARD-WORKING GEORGIANS TO CHOOSE BETWEEN THEIR LIVELIHOODS FOR A COVID VACCINE.

WE STOOD UP FOR OUR JOB CREATORS AND EMPLOYEES AND IGNORED THE PARTISAN ATTACKS FROM THE LEFT, THE NATIONAL MEDIA AND THOSE THAT SEEK TO DIVIDE US FOR FINANCIAL OR POLITICAL GAIN.

WE MADE THE TOUGH DECISIONS BECAUSE THEY WERE THE RIGHT ONES.

WE PUT HARD-WORKING GEORGIANS AND THEIR FAMILIES FIRST BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT WE ALL WERE ELECTED TO DO.

NEARLY FIVE YEARS AGO WHEN I ANNOUNCED MY CAMPAIGN FOR GOVERNOR, I MADE THIS PROMISE.

THAT I WOULD RUN ON THE AGENDA THAT WOULD PUT THEM FIRST.

I WOULD TELL VOTERS WHAT I WANTED TO DO AS THEIR GOVERNOR, AND IF THEY CHOSE ME AND MY FAMILY TO SERVE THEM FOR YOUR FOUR YEARS, WE WOULD GO TO WORK FOR THEM EVERY DAY AND DO EXACTLY THAT.

MARTY, THE GIRLS AND I ARE DEEPLY HONORED BY THE TRUST, THE RECORD NUMBER OF GEORGIANS PLACED IN US BACK IN NOVEMBER OF 2018.

WITH THE LORD BEFORE US, WE SET OUT TO DO THE JOB THAT YOU ALL TIRED HIRED US TO DO.

AND WHETHER YOU VOTED FOR ME OR NOT, I HAVE FOUGHT HARD TO LIVE UP TO THE COMMITMENTS THAT I MADE ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL AND ULTIMATELY DO THE RIGHT THING EVEN WHEN NO ONE WAS WATCHING.

[ APPLAUSE ] THE BULK OF THE AGENDA I'VE OUTLINED OVER THE LAST FEW DAYS PRIORITIZES EDUCATION, HEALTHCARE, AND PUBLIC SAFETY.

IT INVESTS HISTORIC LEVELS OF EDUCATORS.

KEEPS POLITICS OUT OF THE CLASSROOM AND ENSURES PARENTS HAVE THE FINAL SAY IF THEIR KIDS' EDUCATION.

IT REDUCES THE COST OF HEALTH INSURANCE FOR GEORGIA FAMILIES, RECRUITS 1300 NEW NURSES AND DOCTORS IN THE COMMUNITIES WHERE THEY'RE NEEDED THE MOST, AND GIVES NEW MOTHERS EXPANDED ACCESS TO MEDICAL CARE.

IT INCENTIVIZES MORE GEORGIANS TO ENTER A CAREER IN LAW ENFORCEMENT, REDOUBLES OUR EFFORTS TO DISMANTLE VIOLENT GANGS AND COMBAT HUMAN TRAFFICKING, AND STRENGTHENS GEORGIANS' CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS TO PROTECT THEMSELVES AND THEIR FAMILIES.

IT TURNS PROMISES MADE INTO PROMISES KEPT.

THE PLAN FOR A SAFER, STRONGER GEORGIA PUTS HARD-WORKING GEORGIANS FIRST.

AND ENSURES OUR STATE WILL CONTINUE TO BE THE BEST PLACE TO LIVE, WORK, AND RAISE A FAMILY FOR GENERATIONS TO COME.

OVER THE LAST THREE YEARS, WE'VE SHOWN WHAT THIS TEAM CAN HAVE STOOD IN OUR WAY.

BY WORKING TOGETHER LOUT THIS LEGISLATIVE SESSION, I KNOW IT CAN BE DONE.

AGAIN, SO THANK YOU, MAY GOD CONTINUE TO BLESS YOU, AND BLESS THIS GREAT STATE THAT WE ARE HONORED TO LIVE, WORK, AND RAISE OUR FAMILIES IN.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

[ APPLAUSE ] >> GOVERNOR BRIAN CONCERN AND THE STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS.

BRENDA.

WHAT STOOD OUT FOR YOU?

>> I WAS THINKING THE ENTIRE TIME ABOUT THE OPRAH WINFREY SHOW YEARS AGO.

TODAY THE GOVERNOR WAS SAYING YOU GET A RAISE.

HE MADE A LOT OF PROMISES AND RAISES AND TEACHERS RAISES.

ALSO HIRING MORE LAW ENFORCEMENT.

THAT'S ALL VERY GOOD.

AND STATE POLICE.

THAT WAS ALL GOOD.

MADE A LOT OF PROMISES ABOUT BE ELECTED AGAIN.

SO OBVIOUSLY, IT'S AN ELECTION YEAR, AND DON'T KNOW IF THOSE PROMISES ARE GOING TO COME TO -- >> WE DO HAVE THE SURPLUS IN THE BUDGET AND THAT THAT MONEY WILL GO TO GOOD USE.

FACT THAT THERE WAS MONEY THAT CAME IN FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT DURING THE PANDEMIC ALLOWS THE STATE TO HAVE THE NICE SURPLUS.

SO THE MONEY IS OUT THERE.

HE WANTED TO MAKE SURE HE WAS ABLE TO SHORE UP.

>> HE ALSO PROMISED THAT HE'D LIKE TO HAVE MORE LAW ENFORCEMENT AND WANTS TO HIRE MORE POLICE OFFICERS AND HE'S GIVING THE ONES WHO ARE ALREADY ON THE FORCE PAY RAISES AS WELL.

AND THEN ALSO, HE WANTS -- LIKE I SAID, HE WANTS TO ADD MORE STATE TROOPERS.

A LOT OF PROMISES DURING THIS CAMPAIGN.

>> WE'RE GOING TO LISTEN TO WHAT HAPPENS COMING UP.

THOSE ARE HIS PRIORITIES, BUT WE'RE GOING TO FIND OUT A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT THE DEMOCRATS SO COMING UP, WE HEARD FROM THE GOVERNOR.

NEXT OUR LAWMAKERS WILL HAVE THE DEMOCRATIC RESPONSE FROM THE HOUSE MINORITY LEADER.

♪♪ >> WELCOME BACK TO "LAWMAKERS".

I'M DONNA LOWRY.

WE NOW BRING YOU THE DEMOCRATIC RESPONSE TO THE GOVERNOR'S STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS.

>> MY FELLOW GEORGIANS.

I'M DR. JAMES BEVERLY FROM MACON.

I SERVED AS A DEMOCRATIC LEADER IN THE GEORGIA HOUSE AND I'M HONORED TO OFFER THE DEMOCRATIC RESPONSE TO THE GOVERNOR'S STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS TODAY.

I'D LIKE TO TAKE A MOMENT TO REMEMBER THOSE WHO HAVE LOST THEIR LIVES TO COVID-19.

AT ONE TIME A FEAR TOUCHED NEARLY EVERYONE AROUND US.

OVER 35,000 LOVED ONES ARE NO LONGER WITH US.

PARENTS, UNCLES, AUNTS, BELOVED NEIGHBORS, LONGTIME FRIENDS, YES, EVEN SOME OF OUR CHILDREN.

I KNOW MANY YOU KNOW GRIEF.

TIME STOPS.

EVERYTHING FAILS.

SEEMS ALL?

INCONSEQUENTIAL.

FOR EVERY GEORGIAN WHO WAS TOUCHED BY COVID LOSSES IN THIS PANDEMIC, WE FEEL YOUR PAIN AND WE'RE SORRY FOR YOUR LOSS.

BUT FOR FAR TOO MANY OF US IT DIDN'T HAVE TO BE.

PEOPLE FAILED TO GET THE CARE THEY NEEDED.

AND THEY SUFFERED FOR IT.

BUT THE CRITICAL FLAW ISN'T JUST IN OUR INABILITY TO CATCH UP WITH THE NEEDS OF FOLK WHO HAVE COVID.

OUR STATE LEADERSHIP HAS NOT TAKEN THE BASIC STEPS THAT WILL PREVENT COVID IN OUR HOMES, OUR WORKPLACES, AND OUR SCHOOLS.

NOR HAS THE GOVERNOR OFFERED HEALTHCARE TO OUR MOST VULNERABLE CITIZENS.

WHAT DID WE HEAR ABOUT TODAY?

MORE FIREARMS ON OUR STREETS, EVEN NOW THE GOVERNOR SEEMS TO BE MORE INTERESTED IN GETTING GUNS IN HANDS THAN SHOTS IN ARMS.

PROMISED BUT NOT WHAT HE DELIVERED.

AS A MAN OF FAITH, FIRST AND FOREMOST AS A PERSON WITH A HEART, I BELIEVE THAT WE SHOULD CARE FOR THE SICK AMONG US.

WE ALL DESERVE HEALTHCARE THAT ALLOWS US TO SEE A DOCTOR AND GET PRESCRIPTIONS FILLED WHEN WE NEED IT.

IT'S THAT SIMPLE.

RIGHT NOW THE FUNDING IS ON THE TABLE TO EXPAND HEALTHCARE TO 500,000 GEORGIANS AND IT'S BEEN THERE FOR YEARS.

UNLESS THE GOVERNOR ACTS TO EXPAND MEDICAID, GEORGIA WILL ONCE AGAIN DECLINE $3 BILLION OF FEDERAL FUNDING.

LAST YEAR GOVERNOR KEMP OFFERED A PROPOSAL THAT WOULD HAVE COVERED FEWER GEORGIANS AT A HIGHER COST.

ITS REQUIREMENTS FELL SO SHORT OUTSIDE OF THE INTENT OF THE LAW THAT THEY WERE DENIED BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

YET AGAIN, THE GOVERNOR WOULD RATHER PLAY POLITICS THAN SEE GEORGIANS GET THE HEALTHCARE THEY NEED.

I DON'T THINK I'VE EVER SEEN A SELF-PROCLAIMED BUSINESSMAN LEAVE SO MUCH MONEY ON THE TABLE.

FREEDOM OVER GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN IS A DECENT CAMPAIGN RHETORIC, BUT IT'S NOT A SOLUTION.

THOSE GEORGIANS FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO AVOID THE COVID-19 VIRUS HAVE STILL SEEN ITS UNPRECEDENTED IMPACT ON OUR ECONOMY.

HARD-WORKING PEOPLE WHO LOST THEIR JOBS THROUGH NO FAULT OF THEIR OWN WERE ABANDONED BY GOVERNOR KEMP AND LABOR COMMISSIONER MARK BUTLER.

AS UNEMPLOYMENT CHECKS CONTINUED TO GET LOST IN A FAILED SYSTEM.

A SYSTEM CREATED BY THE KEMP ADMINISTRATION.

AS GEORGIANS, WE'RE UNABLE TO REENTER THE WORK FORCE IN THE EARLY STAGES OF OF THIS PANDEMIC, OUR GOVERNOR ADVOCATED FOR AN END TO ENHANCE UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS, FORCING COUNTLESS PEOPLE INTO AN IMPOSSIBLE CHOICE.

THE GOVERNOR SAID THIS MORNING THAT OUR ECONOMY IS STRONGER.

LET'S BE CLEAR.

OUR ECONOMY IS STRONG, THANKS TO COVID RELIEF FUNDS.

WARNOCK TO THANK FOR OUR CURRENT BUDGET SURPLUS.

ONE OF MY COLLEAGUES IN THE HOUSE SAYS IT BEST.

THE NUMBER ONE QUESTION I HEAR FROM MY CONSTITUENTS, CAN YOU HELP ME GET A JOB?

WHEN GEORGIANS COULDN'T FIND WORK, OUR LEADERS FAILED TO HAVE THEIR BACK.

ONCE AGAIN, THE SELF-PROCLAIMED BUSINESSMAN GOVERNOR KEVIN LEFT OUR STATE'S MOST VALUABLE RESOURCE BEHIND.

EVEN AS HOSPITALS ACROSS OUR STATE ARE FILLING UP AND OUR CHILDREN ARE BATTLING COVID, OUR CURRENT GOVERNOR IS A MAN WITHOUT A PLAN.

FOR YEARS, GEORGIA'S EDUCATION SYSTEM HAS FAILED STUDENTS.

I THINK THE CURRENT LEADERSHIP IS READY FOR ITS REPORT CARD.

ADEQUATE FUNDING FOR OUR SCHOOLS, F. SUPPORTING OUR TEACHERS, F. TUITION COSTS, F. REPUBLICANS HAVE CUT OVER $1 BILLION IN PUBLIC EDUCATION FUNDING OVER THE LAST TEN YEARS.

EVEN AT FULL FUNDING, THE FORMULA BY WHICH WE ASSESS THE FUNDING HAS NOT BEEN UPDATED IN WELL OVER A DECADE.

WE APPRECIATE THE GOVERNOR'S WILLINGNESS TO FINALLY DELIVER TEACHERS A MUCH NEEDED PAY RAISE IN AN ELECTION YEAR.

DEMOCRATS HAS BEEN ADVOCATING FOR TEACHER PAY RAISES FOR YEARS.

BUT THE WORK CANNOT STOP THERE.

AT A MINIMUM, WE HAVE TO FUNDAMENTALLY REVAMP OUR QBE FORMULA TO ADEQUATELY FUND PUBLIC EDUCATION AND GIVE TEACHERS THE SUPPORT THEY DESERVE.

IT'S CLEAR THAT THE GOVERNOR'S EDUCATION PROGRAM HAS FAILED US AND CHANGE IS NEEDED NOW.

BUT INSTEAD OF TALKING AND TAKING ON THESE ISSUES, THE MAJORITY PARTY HAS CHOSEN TO FOCUS ON BANNING BOOKS AND CENSORING TEACHERS?

LET'S GET SERIOUS, FOLKS.

WE CAN'T AFFORD TO FALL SHORT FOR ANOTHER SESSION.

COLLEGE COSTS, TOO, HAVE CONTINUED TO RISE OVER THE LAST DECADE.

INCREASING THE BARRIERS TO A HIGHER EDUCATION, AS WE FAIL TO FULLY FUND AND PRESERVE THE EXISTENCE OF HOPE AND ADDITIONAL NEEDS-BASED SCHOLARSHIPS.

THIS MORNING, THE GOVERNOR TOUTED THE EXPECTED 2 TO $3 BILLION SURPLUS WE'RE LIKELY TO FIND WHEN WE BEGIN TO WRITE THIS YEAR'S BUDGET.

THIS EXTRA FUNDING PRESENTS A SPECIFIC CHOICE.

DO WE CONTINUE TO PRETEND THAT GEORGIA DOESN'T HAVE THE RESOURCES TO TAKE CARE OF ITS MOST VULNERABLE, OR DO WE STAND UP AND SAY ENOUGH IS ENOUGH?

NO MORE SCHOOLS WITHOUT -- OUTDATED TEXTBOOKS?

NO MORE CHOOSING BETWEEN A MEAL ON THE TABLE AND PRESCRIPTIONS TO STAY ALIVE.

WE HAVE THE RESOURCES TO BE BETTER.

IT'S TIME TO ACT.

THIS YEAR, THE LEGISLATURE CAN FULLY EXPAND MEDICAID, MULTIPLY INVESTMENT IN BROADBAND 10-FOLD.

DOUBLE THE TAX CREDIT FOR THIS YEAR AND DOUBLE OUR INVESTMENT IN SICKLE CELL RESEARCH AND FUND TUITION-FREE TECHNICAL COLLEGE FOR FIVE YEARS.

AND FOR LESS THAN HALF OF THE $1.6 BILLION THAT THE GOVERNMENT WOULD RATHER NOT SPEND, NOT TO MENTION OUR OVERFLOWING RAINY DAY FUND, WHICH COULD BE PUT TOWARDS RETHINKING HOW WE FUND OUR SCHOOLS.

INSTEAD OF STOCKPILING GEORGIA'S TAX DOLLARS IN AN ACCOUNT THEY'LL NEVER SEE BENEFITS FROM.

EVEN BEYOND THE SURPRISE SURGE IN FUNDS, THE BUDGET IS ALREADY THERE TO DO A LOT OF GOOD.

MILLIONS OF DOLLARS ALLOCATED FOR RENTAL ASSISTANCE AND RURAL BROADBAND SIMPLY NEED TO BE DEPLOYED.

THANKS TO THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION, WE HAVE MUCH NEEDED RELIEF 1/2 INFRASTRUCTURE, INVESTMENT, AND JOBS ACT.

A HUGE OPPORTUNITY TO PUT GEORGIANS TO WORK AND STIMULATE THE COMMUNITY AND LOCAL GEORGIA'S MINORITY BUSINESS COMMUNITY IS AT THE TABLE AND THAT'S A FULL PLATE IN THE IMPLEMENTATION.

IT IS CLEAR THAT WE HAVE MUCH TO DO AS ELECTED LEADERS OF THIS GREAT STATE.

THE ISSUE FACING GEORGIANS TODAY ARE NOT SMALL.

THEY REQUIRE STRONG LEADERSHIP.

AND THIS MORNING, YOU HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO HEAR FROM OUR CURRENT GOVERNOR.

PUTTING EVEN MORE FIREARMS ON THE STREET WITH NO OVERSIGHT, PASSING EVEN MORE TAX CUTS THAT ONLY BENEFIT THE WELL OFF AND WASTING TIME IN THE COURTS IN FRIVOLOUS LAWSUITS AGAINST THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION?

THAT'S OUR GOVERNOR'S VISION FOR GEORGIA.

A RACE TO THE RIGHT TO KICK OFF HIS CAMPAIGN WHILE EVERYDAY GEORGIANS NEED SOLUTIONS.

OUR REPUBLICAN COLLEAGUES IN THE STATE LEGISLATURE ARE FOLLOWING RIGHT ALONG WITH BILLS THAT BAN BOOKS FROM SCHOOLS, LIBRARIES, AND RESTRICT WHAT TEACHERS CAN DISCUSS IN A CLASSROOM.

ALL BASED ON DEEP-SEATED FEARS OF OUR UGLY PAST.

NOT TO MENTION, THE MAJORITY'S RECENTLY PASSED MAPS THAT UNDERMINE THE REPRESENTATION OF GEORGIA VOTERS EVERYWHERE.

FOR THOSE THAT WILL FOLLOW ALONG WITH OUR LEGISLATIVE SESSION FROM MOMENT KNOW THIS.

WHILE REPUBLICANS CONTINUE TO PROPOSE LEGISLATION FOR A CHANCE TO APPEAR ON TV, DEMOCRATS ARE THE GROWNUPS IN THE ROOM.

GEORGIA DEMOCRATS ARE ENSURING ON OPPORTUNITY FOR ALL GEORGIANS.

THAT'S WHY DEMOCRATS ARE PUTTING FORWARD SOLUTIONS ON ISSUES THAT ALL GEORGIANS CAN AGREE UPON.

TUITION-FREE TECHNICAL COLLEGE, COMMON SENSE GUN LAWS, INVESTING IN STUDENTS AT RECORD LEVELS, AND WORKING TOWARD THE LESS DIVIDED FUTURE.

THAT'S WHAT A ONE-GEORGIA AGENDA LOOKS LIKE.

AS WE ENTER A NEW YEAR, I HAVE GREAT HOPE FOR WHAT LIES AHEAD.

THERE IS FAR MORE THAT UNITS US THAN DIVIDES US.

I HEAR FROM MY NEIGHBORS IN MIDDLE GEORGIA ALL THE TIME.

FARMERS, BANKERS, GIG WORKERS, PEOPLE REALLY DON'T CARE WHAT PARTY YOU'RE IN.

THEY WANT TO SEE HOW YOU CAN DELIVER FOR THEM.

WHILE WE ARE STUCK ON OLD FIGHTS OF THE PAST, WHEN WE COULD BE LOOKING TO THE ECONOMY OF OUR FUTURE?

AND LISTEN, ATTRACTING ELECTRIC CAR MANUFACTURING IS A GREAT START, BUT IT'S JUST A BEGINNING AND IT NEEDS TO BE.

GEORGIA COULD BE THE GLOBAL HUB FOR CRYPTOCURRENCY, FOR DOWS, FOR GROWTH OF THE WEB 3.0.

OUR STATE NEEDS TO BE LOOKING AHEAD, NOT BEHIND.

BUT THE GOVERNOR HAS LED US BACKWARDS WITH YEARS OF TIMID LEADERSHIP, UNABLE TO TAKE ON THE BIG CHALLENGES WE FACE.

THE POLITICAL TIDES ARE CHANGING.

THE 2022 CAMPAIGN SEASON WILL REMIND US OF THE WORK IT WILL TAKE TO BRING US TOGETHER.

BUT WE CANNOT AFFORD TO CONTINUE TO PROPOSE MORE OF THE SAME.

THE CHALLENGES I HAVE LAID OUT FOR YOU DON'T COME WITH EASY SOLUTIONS.

BUT THAT DOES NOT MEAN THEY ARE NOT WORTH SOLVING.

THIS IS HOW WE BUILD A STRONGER GEORGIA.

WITH BOLD LEADERSHIP THAT STARES THIS MOMENT IN THE EYE AND REFUSES TO FLINCH.

THIS IS HOW WE WORK TOWARDS ONE GEORGIA.

THANK YOU AND GOD BLESS OUR GREAT STATE OF GEORGIA.

>> HOUSE MINORITY LEADER JAMES BEVERLY WITH THE DEMOCRATIC RESPONSE TO THE STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS.

AND BRENDA, CERTAINLY A DIFFERENT SET OF PRIORITIES.

AND WE FOCUS ON HEALTHCARE AND WE KNOW THAT THERE WAS A JOINT PRESS CONFERENCE OF THE DEMOCRATIC RIGHT AFTER THE SPEECH AND YOU WERE THERE.

>> I WAS THERE.

AND YOU KNOW THE GOVERNOR ALSO TALKED ABOUT ALLOTTING MONEY TO MERCER UNIVERSITY FOR NURSING PROGRAMS.

WELL, THE FOLKS WHO MET AFTER HIS SPEECH, THE DEMOCRATIC CAUCUS SAID THAT ISN'T HELPING FOLKS NOW.

THAT'S LATER.

I GUESS PROBABLY FOUR YEARS.

AND PEOPLE NEED HELP NOW.

AS A MATTER OF FACT, SENATOR GLORIA BUTLER SAID TO ME SHE HEARD A SPEECH THAT WAS ALL ABOUT POLITICS AND VERY LITTLE ABOUT HELPING PEOPLE NOW.

AND IN TERMS OF THE SURPLUS MONIES THAT THE GOVERNOR HAS AND HE WANTS TO USE TO GIVE RAISES AND GIVE TAX REFUNDS TO FOLKS AND SHE SAID I CAN THINK OF A BILLION REASONS WHERE THAT COULD BE USED AND SHE SAID AT THE TOP HER LIST WOULD BE EXPANDING MEDICAID BECAUSE COVID TAUGHT US THAT PEOPLE DON'T HAVE MEDICAL CARE.

PEOPLE WERE DYING.

THEY COULDN'T PAY THEIR MEDICAL BILLS.

SO THAT IS WHAT SHE WOULD LIKE TO SEE DONE WITH THAT SURPLUS MONEY.

>> SO THE DEMOCRATS HAVE BEEN ASKING FOR THE STATE TO FULLY FUND MEDICAID FOR A WHILE AND THE GOVERNOR HAS HAD WAIVERS.

THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION HAS KIND OF PUT THOSE WAIVERS ARE IN LIMBO RIGHT NOW AND SO WE KNOW THAT GEORGIA IS JUST ONE OF 12 STATES THAT HASN'T FULLY FUNDED MEDICAID AND THAT'S GOING TO BE SOMETHING THAT DEMOCRATS ARE GOING TO PUSH.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

THEY'RE PUSHING IT NOW, AND THEY'RE HITTING HOME WITH A LOT OF FOLKS.

PEOPLE HAVE LOST NEIGHBORS AND FAMILY MEMBERS.

AS REPRESENTATIVE BEVERLY SAID SO THEY'RE FEELING THE BRUNT OF THIS BY NOT HAVING MEDICAL INSURANCE AND MED INDICATED.

THEY'RE SUFFERING BECAUSE OF COVID.

AND THEY WERE PROBABLY SUFFERING PRIOR TO COVID THREE YEARS AGO.

>> OKAY, SO THE DEMOCRATS FOCUS ON HEALTHCARE.

ANOTHER THING WAS JOBS AND WHERE PEOPLE ARE IN TERMS OF UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE IN PARTICULAR.

>> AFTER THE PRESS CONFERENCE SAID THE REPRESENTATIVE CAME UP TO ME AND SAID NO ONE REALLY ADDRESSED UNEMPLOYMENT.

THE GOVERNOR SAID THAT OUR UNEMPLOYMENT WAS VERY LOW.

BUT PEOPLE ARE STILL WAITING FOR THEIR UNEMPLOYMENT CHECKS.

AND SHE SAID SOME FOLKS ARE WAITING FOR EIGHT OR $9,000.

THE OFFICE IS STILL CLOSED.

YOU CAN'T GET THROUGH ON THE LINES.

SO NO ONE IS GETTING THEIR MONEY.

PEOPLE HAVE LOST THEIR HOMES AND EVERYTHING BECAUSE THEY CAN'T GET THIS MONEY THAT IS THEIRS.

>> WE'RE TALKING ABOUT JOBS, AND WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT THAT A LITTLE BIT MORE.

JOBS CERTAINLY IMPORTANT.

SOMETHING THAT THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE CARES ABOUT.

SO WE KNOW WHAT HAPPENS WITH BUSINESS IN THE COMMUNITY REVERBERATES ACROSS THE STATE WITH JOBS, PUBLIC SAFETY, EDUCATION.

AND I HAD AN EXTENDED INTERVIEW WITH THE PRESIDENT AND CEO OF THE GEORGIA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE ABOUT EVERYTHING FROM SUPPLY CHAIN AND WORK FORCE ISSUES TO THE STRUGGLES THAT SMALL BUSINESSES FACE AND I STARTED OUT BY ASKING HIM ABOUT THE CHAMBER'S LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES.

>> ISSUES AND LAID OUT KIND OF THREE PRIORITY AREAS FOR US.

ONE IS CONTINUED ECONOMIC DIVERSIFICATION AND WORKING ON ISSUES TO HELP MINORITY SMALL BUSINESS S AND HELP REGULATORY SAND BOXES FOR MORE COMPANIES AND HOW WE PROTECT LARGER COMPANIES AND ONE THOSE IS DEALING WITH FRIVOLOUS LAWSUITS AND LEGISLATION AND OUR SECOND AREA IS ON INFRASTRUCTURE.

YOU HAVE TO HAVE INFRASTRUCTURE OF THE FUTURE SO WORKING WITH THE FREEDOM LOGISTICS COMMISSION THAT'S BEEN WORKING FOR THREE YEARS.

MOBILITY AND WHAT THAT'S GOING TO LOOK LIKE.

FINISHING PLANT VOGLE AND THE THIRD AREA IS THE ONE THAT'S THE MOST IMPORTANT OUR MEMBERS AND THAT'S WINNING THE WAR FOR TALENT.

WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO TO BRING MORE PEOPLE TO ADDRESS THESE LABOR SHORTAGES?

AND THOSE ARE KIND OF THREE CRITICAL BUCKETS FOR THIS YEAR AND WE'LL BE INVOLVED IN OTHER LEGISLATION AS WELL.

>> YEAH.

LET'S DIG INTO THOSE A LITTLE BIT BEGINNING IN TERMS OF INFRASTRUCTURE IN PARTICULAR DEALING WITH THE SUPPLY CHAIN ISSUES RIGHT NOW.

I KNOW THAT HAS TO BE A BIG CONCERN FOR YOU.

>> I WANT TO GIVE CREDIT TO THE CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION AND THE GOVERNOR WHO VEST INVEST ABOUT $8 MILLION.

AT ONE POINT WE HAD ALMOST 15 SHIPS ANCHORED OFF THE PORT OF SAVANNAH TRYING TO GET IN.

WE'RE DOWN TO ABOUT SIX OR SEVEN SHIPS NOW AND WE DO FEEL BETTER ABOUT THE SUPPLY CHAIN, BUT I THINK IT'S A POINT OF A CRITICAL ISSUE FOR US THAT LONG TERM DOESN'T HAVE TO MAKE SENSE TO HAVE CHAINS.

ERE GOING TO CONTINUE TO HAVE A SHORTAGE OF LABOR FOR TRUCK DRIVERS.

SO WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO THERE?

AND SO ALL OF THOSE CONVERSATIONS ARE ONGOING, BUT THIS TASK FORCE THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY HAVE LOOKED AT THE FAST FACT THAT WITHIN SIX MONTHS OF COVID WE AU E-COMMERCE GROW BY 10 YEARS WORTH OF GROWTH.

I HAD SOMEONE THE ANOTHER DAY TOLD ME IT'S THE CURBIFICATION OF THE ECONOMY.

WE'RE GOING TO HAVE MORE THINGS DELIVERED TO OUR HOUSE AND WHAT DOES THE INFRASTRUCTURE LOOK LIKE?

WE KNOW IN GEORGIA WE'RE GOING TO NEED ABOUT $1 BILLION A YEAR JUST TO FIX THE RAILS, FIC THE PORTS, ADD SOME MORE ROAD CAPACITY.

I DON'T KNOW THAT THAT BILL WILL COME UP THIS YEAR, BUT WE'RE GOING TO DO A LOT OF WORK TO HAVE THAT DISCUSSION AND TO START THAT DIALOGUE THIS YEAR.

>> AND PART OF THAT IS HURTING YOU WHEN IT COMES TO NEW BUSINESSES STARTING, RIGHT?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

I MEAN, ONE OF THE THINGS I WORK FOR PURDUE YEARS AGO AND REFERRED TO GEORGIA AS THE CORNER STORE.

WE WERE LOCATED DIRECTLY SOUTH OF CHICAGO WITH THE PORTS OF SAVANNAH AND HARTSVILLE.

IT'S ONE OF THE REASONS SO MANY BUSINESSES WANT TO COME HERE.

BUT THOSE BUSINESSES WANT TO KNOW THAT WE HAVE A PLAN.

THEY WANT TO KNOW YES, WE'VE GOT THIS ISSUE BUT WE'RE GOING TO DEAL WITH IT AND WE'RE NOT SEEING OTHER STATES DO THIS.

SO I'M PROUD THAT WE SAW THE ISSUE AHEAD OF TIME AND LUCKILY BRUNSWICK ARE SO INNOVATIVE AND THEY ANNOUNCED YESTERDAY A POTENTIAL NEW INLAND PORT IN GEORGIA SO THAT WHOLE STRUCTURE IS CRITICAL FOR THE LONG TERM ECONOMIC PROSPERITY OF THE STATE.

>> JUST FINDING PEOPLE TO WORK IS A PROBLEM AND WE'VE HAD THE GREAT RESIGNATION.

SO WHAT ARE SOME OF THE THINGS YOU CAN DO?

>> WE RELEASE AID REPORT CARD WINNING THE WORLD FOR TALENT.

IN GEORGIA WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A PLAN TO ADDRESS IT.

THIS ISN'T A SHORT TERM ISSUE.

PRE-COVID WE KNEW THAT FOR EVERY THREE JOB OPENINGS IN GEORGIA, THERE WAS ONLY ONE PERSON LOOKING FOR WORK.

AS WE CAME OUT OF THE FOURTH QUARTER OF 2021, WE WERE BACK TO THOSE SAME NUMBERS.

331,000 JOB OPENINGS IN GEORGIA BUT ONLY 118,000 PEOPLE ON YES, THERE ARE SHORT TERM THINGS THAT WE CAN DO.

BUSINESSES ARE RAISING WAGES AND BENEFITS AND IMPROVING SCHEDULES.

BUT LONG TERM, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO HAVE A MULTI-PRONG ADD APPROACH AND RECOMMENDATIONS FOR BUSINESS, RECOMMENDATIONS FOR COMMUNITIES, RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

SOME OF THOSE WE CAN DO TODAY.

SOME OF THEM ARE GOING TO TAKE SOMETIME YOU MENTIONED THE ONES WITH THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY IN PARTICULAR.

>> WE'VE GOT TO GET RID OF SOME OF THE BARRIERS TO HELP MEN AND WOMEN GET BACK IN THE WORK FORCE, PARTICULARLY THOSE PREVIOUSLY INCARCERATED.

WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT EXPUNGEMENT AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM.

38 OF GEORGIANS HAVE A CRIMINAL BACKGROUND.

NOT ALL FELONIES BUT THEY HAVE A RECORD.

MAYBE IT'S A SPEEDING TICKET AND WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THOSE MEN AND WOMEN KNOW WE WANT YOU IN THE WORK FORCE.

DISABILITIES.

THEIR TRAINING, OBVIOUSLY, THERE MIGHT BE ADDITIONAL CONCERNS THERE, BUT WE THINK THAT'S A WORK FORCE.

AND THEN WE ARE VERY SUPPORTIVE OF SPEAKER RALSTON'S EFFORTS TO DEAL WITH MENTAL HEALTH.

53% OF ALL WOMEN IN THE WORKPLACE IDENTIFIED ISSUES POST COVID AND 46% OF ALL MEN.

WE CAN DO A BETTER JOB OF HELPING THOSE WOMEN AND MEN STAY IN THE WORK FORCE.

THOSE ISSUES, I THINK ARE MORE SHORT TERM AND IMMEDIATE.

WE ALSO NEED TO LOOK AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL.

WE'VE GOT FARMERS WITH CROPS IN THE FIELD BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE THE REGULAR IMMIGRANT VISA TEAMS THAT COME THROUGH.

WE HAVE 3 MILLION FEWER IMMIGRANTS WORKING IN AMERICA POST COVID BUT ALMOST 3 MILLION IN THE SYSTEM IN WASHINGTON THAT CAN'T GET THE PAPERWORK THAT THEY NEED AND THAT'S IMPACTING THAT'S A FEDERAL ISSUE THAT WE'RE WORKING WITH OUR PARTNERS THERE.

AND LASTLY, I THINK MORE LONG TERM WE'VE GOT TO DO A BETTER JOB OF AF LINING OUR CAREER PATHWAYS WITH WHAT THE ACTUAL JOBS OF THE FUTURE ARE.

IF YOU'VE GT A YOUNG AMERICAN THAT'S IN A RURAL COMMUNITY AND NOBODY TELLS THEM ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITIES IN THEIR COMMUNITY, THEY'RE GOING TO DO SOMETHING ELSE AND MISS THE OPPORTUNITIES TO LIVE, WORK, PLAY, AND PRAY WHERE THEY GREW UP AND THAT'S PART OF THE BRAIN DRAIN ISSUE WE ARE DEALING WITH THIS GEORGIA.

>> AND THE SCHOOL SYSTEMS IN TERMS OF THE TECHNICAL COLLEGE, SHORING THOSE UP A LITTLE MORE, TOO,?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

I THINK THAT'S PART OF THE SECRET SAUCE AND THE WEAPON IN GEORGIA OUR TECHNICAL COLLEGES AND HAVING PEOPLE PREPARED SO QUICKLY WHEN A NEW COMPANY COMES TO TOWN.

THERE ARE NEW SKILLS.

HIGH SCHOOLS WILL HAVE TO CHANGE HOW WE DELIVER SKILLS.

IT USED TO BE WHEN I GRADUATED COLLEGE IT'S LIKE OH, YOU GOT THIS MASTER'S DEGREE.

LIFE.

YOU'RE AS SMART AS YOU'RE EVER GOING TO BE.

THEN WE GOT TO THE POINT YOU NEED TO UPDATE YOUR SKILL EVERY SEVEN YEARS.

WE NEED TO UPDATE YOUR SKILLS EVERY SIX MONTHS AND OUR SYSTEM'S NOT BUILT FOR THAT.

I'VE GOT FAITH IN OUR COLLEGES TO GET THERE BUT THAT'S GOING TO TAKE A LONG DIALOGUE IN THE STATE.

>> LET'S TALK ABOUT SMALL BUSINESSES IN TERMS ANY ISSUES THAT THE LEGISLATURE CAN DEAL WITH TO HELP THEM CAUSE THEY'RE REALLY SUFFERING?

>> OUR ECONOMIES COME BACK STRONG AND RESILIENT.

GEORGIA'S NUMBER TWO IN THE NATION FOR WOMEN-OWNED BUSINESS START-UPS.

HISPANIC BUSINESSES LAST YEAR IN GEORGIA GREW 73%.

AFRICAN AMERICANS BY 42%.

IF YOU LOOK AT THE SMALL BUSINESS INFRASTRUCTURE IN GEORGIA, IT'S ROBUST.

THE SAME MINORITY COMPANIES HAVE A HIGHER FAILURE RATE.

AND WHAT WE'VE IDENTIFIED THROUGH LOTS OF WORK AND RESEARCH IS A LOT OF IT COMES DOWN TO FINANCIAL SUPPORT AND CAPITAL.

AND SO HOW DO WE HELP GET BETTER GRANT FUNDING AND HELP GET THOSE MINIMUM BANKS AND WE DO HAVE A LOT OF OUR BANKS THAT ARE TRYING TO ENGAGE THERE.

WHAT'S THE SOCIAL CAPITAL?

HOW TO CONNECT THEM TO BIGGER NETWORKS?

WE THINK THAT THERE ARE SOME OPPORTUNITIES THERE AT THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

AND LASTLY, IS THIS IDEA OF IMPROVING INTELLECTUAL CAPITAL.

IF 50% OF OUR WORK FORCE ARE GOING TO BE GIG WORKERS OR ENTREPRENEURS, WE NEED TO GIVE THEM DIFFERENT TRAINING AND HIGH SCHOOL IN COLLEGE THAN TODAY.

EVERY ONE OF OUR UNIVERSITIES IN GEORGIA OUGHT TO BE TRAINING EVERY STUDENT ON HOW TO BE THEIR OWN BOSS ONE DAY.

AND WE'RE NOT THERE YET.

AND SO I THINK THAT'S A HUGE OPPORTUNITY AND I THINK THAT'S WHERE THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY COULD REALLY MOVE THE NEEDLE LONG TERM.

NEW BUSINESSES TO GEORGIA.

I WANT OUR GUYS STARTING THEIR NEW MICROSOFT AND AMAZON AND HOME DEPOT.

THOSE YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN HERE.

WE JUST NEED TO GIVE THEM THE INFRASTRUCTURE TO DO THAT.

>> CHRIS CLARK.

AND BRENDA, HE TALKED ABOUT JOBS AND THE FACT THAT A LOT OF BUSINESSES ARE STILL STRUGGLING TO FILL THOSE WORK FORCE ISSUES.

THEY'RE STILL HAVING THE PROBLEM.

THE GOVERNOR DIDN'T DEAL WITH THAT, BUT THE DEMOCRATS DID, RIGHT?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

SENATOR GLORIA BUTLER SAID SOME OF THAT SURPLUS MONEY COULD BE USED TO RAISE THE MINIMUM WAGE HERE IN GEORGIA SHE SAID TO $15 AND WE WERE JUST DOING THE DURING THE BREAK THAT THE MINIMUM WAGE IS $5.15.

THAT'S HAVE SMALL BUSINESSES ARE STRUGGLING.

THEY CAN'T GET ANYONE TO COME IN FOR $5.15.

BUT THERE IS THE OTHER SIDE OF THE COIN WHERE THEY PROBABLY COULD NOT AFFORD TO PAY $15 AN HOUR TO GET SOMEONE TO COME IN TO WORK FOR THEM.

>> AND IT LOOKS LIKE THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE HOPES THAT SOMEBODY WILL COME UP WITH SOME LEGISLATIVE DURING THE SESSION THAT MIGHT ADDRESS SOME OF THOSE ISSUES.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

AND TRY TO GET MORE PEOPLE INTO THE WORK FORCE.

OKAY.

SO ANYTHING ELSE THAT -- THIS IS YOUR SECOND STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS.

WHAT DID YOU THINK?

>> I THINK I WAS MORE IMPRESSED LAST YEAR THAN THIS YEAR.

THIS YEAR IT SEEMED LIKE A CAMPAIGN, KIND OF A CAMPAIGN SPEECH FOR THE GOVERNOR.

AND I GUESS IN ESSENCE IT WAS.

HE IS RUNNING FOR RE-ELECTION.

SO IT SEEMED MORE LIKE A CAMPAIGN SPEECH FOR ME SO.

>> WE'RE GOING TO SEE A LOT OF THAT COMING UP THE NEXT FEW MONTHS.

ABSOLUTELY.

THANK YOU, BRENDA, FOR BEING HERE.

IT'S NICE NOT TO TALK TO YOU FROM FAR AWAY.

AND THANK YOU FOR JOINING US FOR "LAWMAKERS" TONIGHT.

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY RETURNS TOMORROW FOR DAY FOUR OF THE OFF FOR BUDGET HEARINGS.

SO LOOK FOR "LAWMAKERS" IN A CAPITAL REPORT TOMORROW AT THE END OF THE PBS NEWSHOUR WITH JUDY WOODRUFF AND YOU CAN JOIN THE CONVERSATION BY GOING TO GPB NEWS AND YOU CAN FEED YOUR POLITICAL APPETITE ON OUR POLITICS PAGE GPB.ORG/POLITICS.

TUNE IN TO OUR POLITICAL REWIND TOMORROW MORNING AT 9:00 A.M. HAVE A GOOD EVENING.