>> I JUST SAW AN ARTICLE OUT OF NORTH CAROLINA LAST WEEK SAYING THEY WERE RATING A NEW INCENTIVES AND POLICIES FROM NORTH CAROLINA SO THEY CAN COMPETE WITH GEORGIA.

THERE'S ALWAYS SOMEONE IN MY REAR-VIEW MIRROR AND WE CAN FOCUS ON THE COMPETITIVES.

>> LEADERS LEARN MORE ABOUT THE STATE'S FUTURE ABOUT THE FUTURE AT MERCEDES BENZ STADIUM THIS MORNING.

>> GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO "LAWMAKERS" ON THIS DAY THREE OF THE GEORGIA LTHSIVE SESSION.

I'M DONNA LOWERY IN ATLANTA.

WE'LL HAVE MORE ABOUT ISSUES IN A MOMENT.

AS THE SESSION BEGINS, THE GEORGIA DEMOCRATIC CAUCUS IS PUTTINGING A STRONG FOCUS ON MORTALITY.

EACH DAY THEY'RE OFFERING STATISTICS HOW GEORGIA IS ONE OF THE WORST STATES FOR PREGNANCY-RELATED DEATHS AND HOW GEORGIA IS FAILING IN THIS AREA AND POINT TO POSSIBLE SOLUTIONSES.

ALSO WE'LL LEARN HOW THE GEORGIA CHAMBER UNVEILED A REPORT ON THE NEW GEORGIA ECONOMY.

WHAT THAT MEANS AND THE EFFORTS TO TRAIN THE STATE'S WORKFORCE.

I DID AN EXPANSIVE INTERVIEW WITH THE PRESIDENT AND CEO OF THE GEORGIA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE CHRIS CLARK.

ALL RIGHT, THOUGH.

FIRST, LET'S KICK OFF THE SHOW WITH THE LATEST FROM THE GOLD DOME WITH OUR CAPITOL CORRESPONDENT, SARAH KALAS.

>>> HI, DONNA.

LAWMAKERS STARTED THEIR DAY BRIGHT AND EARLY AT THE GEORGIA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE WHERE POLICY GOALS WERE ON THE MENU.

LEADERS FROM ACROSS THE STATE TALKED ABOUT THE ISSUES THEY THINK ARE MOST IMPORTANT THIS YEAR.

GOVERNOR BRIAN KEMP ALSO LAID OUT HIS PRIORITIES INCLUDING FUNDING FOR GEORGIA SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY AND A MEDICAL SCHOOL AT THE UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA.

>> WITH THESE NEW ASSETS ON THE WAY, WE WILL FURTHER ADDRESS THE GROWING NEED FOR HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONALS IN OUR STATE AND ENSURE THAT WE ARE DOING EVERYTHING THAT WE CAN TO ADDRESS THE CHALLENGES ACROSS THE HEALTH CARE SPECTRUM.

>> IN ADDITION, CAP ANNOUNCED SIGNIFICANT INFRASTRUCTURE FUNDING.

>> THIS YEAR I'LL BE PROPOSING AN ADDITIONAL $50 MILLION IN THE AMENDED '24 BUDGET AND $6 MILLION IN THE BASE FUNDING FOR FISCAL YEAR '25 THAT WILL GO TO THIS FUND ENSURING THESE TYPE OF STRATEGIC INVESTMENTS CONTINUE.

>> HE IS EXPECTED TO DETAIL HIS GOALS MORE IN TOMORROW'S STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS.

>> SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE JOHN BURNS ALSO DISCUSSED HIS PRIORITIES TODAY IN A PRESS CONFERENCE.

HE WANTS TO FOCUS ON WHAT HE CALLS KITCHEN TABLE ISSUES THIS SESSION.

>> ONE OF THE ISSUES AFFECTING HEALTH CARE, CERTIFICATES OF NEED.

THIS IS PART OF THE PROCESS TO CREATE A NEW HOSPITAL OR MEDICAL FACILITY IN THE AREA.

>> WE WANT TO LEAVE NO STONE UNTURNED WHEN IT COMES TO FROM SERVING GEORGIA.

WE WILL LOOK FURTHER BECAUSE THERE'S NO DISCUSSION THAT THE HOUSE CAN'T HAVE.

WE WILL LOOK AT WHAT IT MEANS TO EXPAND HEALTH CARE OPPORTUNITIES IN THE STATE.

>> BURNS SAID THE HOUSE IS LOOKING FOR OTHER WAYS MEDICAL COVERAGE CAN BE EXPANDED FOR GEORGIANS.

THE 2024 ELECTIONS WERE ALSO ON BURNS' MIND.

BURNS SAID HE WANTS TO GIVE THE OFFICE OF ELECTIONS AUTONOMY FROM THE SECRETARY OF STATE'S OFFICE.

IN THE HOUSE, STATE REPRESENTATIVE BARRY FLEMING SAID GOOD-BYE TO THE CHAMBER.

>> THE BARB OF OLD SAID PARTING IS SUCH SWEET SORROW.

IS IT NOT?

THANK YOU ALL FOR ALLOWING ME TO SERVE WITH YOU.

GOD BLESS ALL OF YOU AND GOD BLESS THIS GREAT STATE OF GEORGIA.

THANK YOU.

>> HE WAS TAPPED BY GOVERNOR BRIAN KEMP TO SERVE AS A SUPERIOR COURT JUDGE IN COLUMBIA COUNTY.

TOMORROW ON LEGISLATIVE DAY FOUR, LEGISLATORS WILL HOST GOVERNOR BRIAN KEMP IN A JOINT SESSION OF THE HOUSE AND SENATE AS HE DELIVERS HIS STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS.

DEMOCRATS WILL ALSO GIVE THEIR RESPONSE.

THAT'S MY CAPITOL REPORT.

DONNA, BACK TO YOU.

>> THANKS TO SARAH KALAS FOR THAT REPORT.

>> GEORGIA IS ONE OF THE WORST STATES WHEN IT COMES TO WOMEN DYING IN CHILD BIRTH.

30 PREGNANCY-RELATED DEATHS PER 100,000 LIVE BIRTHS BETWEEN 2018 AND 2020.

MORE THAN HALF WERE NON-HISPANIC BLACK WOMEN AND 38 WERE NON-HISPANIC WHITE OR LATINO.

60% OF THE PATIENTS WERE INSURED BY MEDICAID.

BIAS AND DISCRIMINATION ACCOUNTED FOR 15% OF THE DEATHS AND 89% OF THE DEATHS COULD HAVE BEEN PREVENTED.

JOINING ME ARE TWO REPRESENTATIVES WHO HAVE A LOT OF KNOWLEDGE ON THIS TOPIC, REPUBLICAN REPRESENTATIVE SHARON COOPER OF MARRIETTA IS CHAIR OF THE HOUSE PUBLIC HEALTH COMMITTEE AND DEMOCRATIC REPRESENTATIVE PAUL CANON IS REPRESENTATIVE OF ATLANTA.

>> REPRESENTATIVE CANON, YOU PRESIDED OVER A GEORGIA HOUSE, DEMOCRATIC CAUCUS STATEWIDE PUBLIC HEARING LAST WEEK.

>> YES.

>> TELL US WHAT THAT WAS ALL ABOUT.

>> WELL, WE REALLY WANTED TO START THE YEAR OFF VERY CLEAR THAT AS WE WALKED INTO THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY ON MONDAY, THAT'S NOT THE START OF IT.

WE SHOULD BE STARTING BEFOREHAND, AND WE SHOULD BE HEARING FROM THE PEOPLE SO WE HOSTED A HEARING.

WE HEARD FROM 25 DIFFERENT GEORGIANS.

FOR EXAMPLE, THE CHAIR AND FOUNDER OF THE MATERNAL MORTALITY REVIEW COMMITTEE THAT REVIEWS THE DEATHS WAS A SPEAKER AND WE ALSO HAD SOME OTHER NON-PROFITS, DOCTORS AND PEOPLE THEMSELVES WHO ALMOST PASSED AWAY WHICH YOU CALL A NEAR-MISS MATERNAL EXPERIENCE OR SOMEONE WHO IN THEIR FAMILY HAS PASSED AWAY, AND NOW IT'S REALLY MOVING TO REALIZE THAT WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE THESE NEXT 36 DAYS AND WRITE SOME POLICIES THAT WILL MAKE IT BETTER.

>> WE'LL TALK PORE ABOUT THAT.

I WANT TO TURN TO CHAIR COOPER BECAUSE IN 2019 YOU CO-CHAIRED A HOUSE STUDY COMMITTEE ON MATERNAL MORTALITY, AND SO I WANT YOU TO TALK ABOUT THOSE FINDINGS.

>> WE DID.

TO PUT INTO PERSPECTIVE THAT THE GENERAL PUBLIC CAN UNDERSTAND, THERE IS ABOUT AN AVERAGE OF 120,000 DELIVERIES EVERY YEAR IN GEORGIA.

SOMETIMES 110,000 DELIVERIES AND SOMETIMES 130.

AND WE HAVE ABOUT 30 TO 35 DEATHS EACH YEAR.

NOW I'D LIKE TO MAKE CLEAR.

ONE DEATH OF A MOTHER IS TOO MUCH FOR ME.

MY MOTHER DIED WHEN I WAS 12.

I CAN'T IMAGINE NEVER KNOWING MY MOTHER, BUT THERE ARE SOME DEATHS THAT ARE NOT PREVENTABLE, AND THE AMERICAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION, I DO NOT THINK IT TAKES INTO ACCOUNT THAT STATES ON HOW WE MEASURE MATERNAL MORTALITY.

SOME STATES ONLY MEASURE 60 DAYS AFTER A DELIVERY.

WE GO A WHOLE YEAR AND INCLUDED IN THAT YEAR ARE DEATHS BY CAR.

THEY HAVE ADDED DEATHS BY DRUG OVERDOSES, BY HOMICIDES AND IT'S VERY HARD TO RELATE THOSE BACK TO DELIVERY.

THEY ARE A PROBLEM.

THERE ARE MENTAL HEALTH PROBLEMS OR, YOU KNOW, A HOMICIDE PROBLEM, BUT SHOULDN'T BE RELATED TO MATERNAL MORTALITY AND WHAT I'M AFRAID OF AS WE DO THIS PUSH AND WE TALK ABOUT IT BEING EMERGENCY IS THAT WE'RE SCARING BLACK AND BROWN MOTHERS TO DEATH THINKING THAT THERE'S HUNDREDS OF MOTHERS DYING IN OUR HOSPITALS EVERY YEAR AND IT'S JUST NOT TRUE, AND NOW SOME OF THOSE MORGUES ARE SCARED TO GO TO HOSPITALS AND TO DOCTORS AND ARE CHOOSING ALTERNATIVE METHODS THAT ARE NOT AS SAFE AS THE HOSPITAL.

TODAY AND IN THIS AGE WITH PEOPLE BEING OVERWEIGHT, HAVING BABIES EARLIER AND YOU KNOW DIABETES IS RAMPANT, I WOULD SAY THERE'S NO SUCH THING AS A NORMAL DELIVERY, AND YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN, AND SO I DON'T WANT GEORGIA MOTHERS, NO MATTER THEIR RACE, TO BE SCARED TO DEATH TO SEEK MEDICAL CARE.

>> I APPRECIATE YOUR POSITION ON THAT.

ANYTHING THAT YOU WANTED TO ADD TO THAT?

THE FACT ARE RIGHT HERE IN THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH REPORT WHICH THEY'RE A STATE AGENCY AND THEY SAID THERE WERE 270 DEATHS OVER THOSE TWO-YEAR PERIODS.

SO FOR US TO SAY THAT IT IS NOT EVEN OVER 100 IS SIMPLY NOT FACTUAL AND THAT'S WHY IT'S IMPORTANT TO TAKE A LOOK AT THEIR REPORTS AND AS YOU KNOW, I'M A LABOR DUL AWAITING ON A BABY RIGHT NOW, AND I'M VERY EXCITED TO BE WORKING IN THE HOSPITALS AND TO BE, WOING IN THE COMMUNITY AND THE TRUTH IS THE REASON PEOPLE ARE FIGURING OUT OTHER OPTIONS FOR EARLY LABOR CARE IS BECAUSE SOMETIMES THE RACIAL BIAS AND THE THINGS THAT HAPPEN IN HOSPITAL SYSTEMS ARE MAKING PEOPLE'S LABOR STALL AND SOME OF THESE PROVIDERS, TOO, ARE REALIZING AND AGREEING THAT THE ROOMS ARE SO FULL IF SOMEONE CAN EARLY LABOR AT HOME AND THERE ARE ABSOLUTELY NORMAL BIRTHS STILL TAKING PLACE IN GEORGIA THAT THEY MIGHT JUST -- SHOULD DO THAT.

>> WHAT DO YOU SAY TO HER -- WITH WHAT CHAIR KEEPER WAS TALKING ABOUT WHEN IT COMES TO SCARING PEOPLE THAT SOMETIMES JUST PUTTING THAT INFORMATION OUT THAT THEY'LL SCARE PEOPLE AND ABOUT EVEN GOING TO A HOSPITAL.

CONSENT AND PEOPLE SHOULD KNOW WHAT HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS, AS IT RELATES TO STATISTICS ON THEIR CARE.

SO IF THERE ARE CERTAIN HOSPITALS, THAT HAVE HIGH C-SECTION RATES.

>> FOR PEOPLE TO KNOW THAT, HEY, IED SAY HEY, YOU KNOW, AND THEY CAN PREPARE WITH HER PARTNER, BUT HE ACTUALLY IS THERE HAVING A CONVERSATION WITH THE PROVIDER AND I GET WHERE WE ARE IN THE PREGNANCY PROCESS.

>> AND YOUR RESPONSE?

>> I WOULD AGREE WITH HER, BUT IT'S THE CONSTANT BEATING THAT WE HAVE THIS MEDICAL EMERGENCY AND THE PRESS AND ALL AND CALLING IT AN EMERGENCY WHICH WE DON'T HAVE IN GEORGIA, AND I THINK IT WAS THE THREE-YEAR PERIOD TO CORRECT YOU, PARK, ON WHAT YOU LOOKED AT AND YOU ASKED ME A SPECIFIC TIME ON THAT AND I WENT TO THAT.

I WILL SAY THE STATE IS DOING A LOT OF THING.

IT TAKES TIME TO MAKE THE DIFFERENCES.

WE HAVE DONE A GREAT DEAL TO PREVENT HEMORRHAGES WHICH IS THE LEADING CAUSE OF DEATH IN PREPARING HOSPITALS ACROSS THE STATE ON HOW TO HAVE THESE PACKAGES AND PEOPLE TRAINED.

I WAS ABLE TO GET $20 MILLION IN THE BUDGET A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO.

UNTIL THAT TIME, WE ONLY COVERED MOTHERS UP TO 60 DAYS AFTER THEY DELIVERED.

WE NOW COVERED THOSE MOTHERS AND KEEP THEM ON MEDICAID FOR A YEAR.

SO NOT ONLY CAN WE WORK WITH THEM ON THE PREGNANCY THEY HAD, BUT ALSO ABOUT PLANNING IF THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE OTHER CHILDREN SO THAT THEY WAIT A TIME BETWEEN IT SO THAT THEY WORK ON LOSING WEIGHT OR GETTING DIEBETTIES UNDER CONTROL.

NOW WE HAVE PILOT PROJECTS ACROSS THE STATE TO WORK WITH NURSES, SO THE STATE IS DOING A LOT.

WE HAVE A NEW NURSERY PROGRAM AND THIS IS WHERE RNs GO BACK AND GET MASTERS DEGREESES AND THEY CAN WORK WITH FGDZS GETTING PRENATAL CARE.

SO THE TATE IS MOVING AND WE'RE NOT -- WE PUT INTO PERSPECTIVE SO WE DO NOT SCARE WOMEN TO DEATH ABOUT PREGNANCY AND DELIVERY.

THAT'S WHERE I DISAGREE WITH WHAT'S LOT THAT'S BEING SAID.

>> THERE'S A LOT OF INFORMATION THAT THE HOUSE IS GIVEN OUT.

SOMEONE FROM THE DEMOCRATIC CAUCUS HAS GONE TO THE HOUSE FLOOR TO TALK ABOUT MATERNAL MORTALITY AND TODAY SARA DRAPER TALKED ABOUT HER PERSONAL EXPERIENCE DURING CHILD BOTH.

>> I HAD A HARROWING EXPERIENCE THE FIRST TIME I GAVE BIRTH.

IF MY GOOD FRIEND WHO HAPPENED TO BE AN O.B.

NURSE HADN'T ADVOCATED FOR ME, I DON'T KNOW WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED AND MY GUESS IS THAT EVERY ONE OF US IN THIS CHAMBER HAS EARTH HAD SUCH AN EXPERIENCE PERSONAL OR KNOWS SOMEONE WHO HAS HAD SUCH AN EXPERIENCE HER HAS LOST SOMEONE THEY LOVED DURING CHILD BIRTH BECAUSE EVEN THOUGH HAVING A CHILD IS A NATURAL THING, IT IS ALSO AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS THING.

>> SO LET'S TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THIS.

YOU GUYS WILL CONTINUE THIS THE ENTIRE SESSION EACH DAY?

>> OH, YEAH.

36 DAYS LEFT AND RIGHT NOW WE'RE WEARING PURPETTEL AND SHE SAID SHE LIKE THE COLOR PURPOSE 8 AND YOU KNOW HOW MANIES THERE WERE IN THAT FILM AND IT PULLS OUT THE STRENGTH WOE NEED ON THE HOUSE FLOOR WHEN PEOPLE TELLING US THAT BLACK WOMEN DYING IS NOT AN EMERGENCY.

>> THEY'LL BE FLANKED WITH THESE LITTLE BITS AND WE'RE TRAYING TO MAKE IT CLEAR, IT MIGHT FEEL A LITTLE MESSY TALKING ABOUT THIS ISSUE, BUT WE CAN DO IT.

WE CAN DO IT.

>> YOUR RESPONSE?

>> WELL, HERE AGAIN, AND YOU KNOW ME, DONNA, I JUST TELL IT LIKE IT IS.

>> YOU DO.

>> THIS IS AN ELECTION YEAR AND THIS IS AN ELECTION TOPIC AND THE DEMOCRATS THINK THAT THEY CAN MAKE THIS ISSUE.

IT'S AN ELECTION YEAR AND I'M NOT SAYING REPUBLICANS DON'T.

MY BIGGEST BEEF IS THAT THEY TALK ABOUT THE PEOPLE THEY BROUGHT IN.

PEOPLE ON THE OTHER SIDE, EXPERTS THAT DO NOT AGREE WITH THIS REPORT.

IT IS A REPORT DONE BY THEM, AND I WILL TELL YOU THAT THE COMMISSIONER OF PUBLIC HEALTH DOESN'T AGREE WITH ALL OF IT AND MERCER AND THE MEDICAL SCHOOL HERE IN ATLANTA HAVE DIFFERENCES OF OPINION, AND MY THING AGAIN I WILL SAY OVER AND OVER AGAIN, DON'T SCARE PEOPLE.

DON'T TWIST IT, SAYING THAT ALMOST EVERY WOMAN IN GEORGIA KNOWS SOMEBODY THAT DIED IN CHILD BIRTH OR THEY KNOW SOMEBODY.

THAT IS AN EXAGGERATION.

I THINK PEOPLE WILL TELL YOU THEY'VE HEARD ABOUT IT OR MAYBE IT'S HAPPENED.

THEY'VE HEARD IT ON THE TELEVISION BECAUSE IT'S BEEN SUCH A PUSH.

WE ARE WORKING ON THIS.

IF I CAN MAKE IT EVERY MOTHER AND MAKE EVERY DELIVERY A WONDERFUL EXPERIENCE I WOULD, AND THAT WE ARE WORKING TOWARD THAT, I HAVE A MASTERS IN NURSING.

I'VE TAUGHT O.B.

NURSING.

YOU KNOW, I KNOW OF WHAT I SPEAK, AND LIKE I SAID I'M GOING TO TELL IT STRAIGHT LIKE IT IS AND WE ARE WORKING ON THIS ISSUE, GEORGIA IS MOVING FORWARD.

THERE'S A LOT OF, YOU KNOW, POLICY THINGS HAPPENING AROUND THIS, AND I WISH EVERY MOTHER OUT THERE HAS A SAFE DELIVERY.

>> I DO WANT TO ASK ONE MORE QUESTION FOR YOU.

ANY LEGISLATION COMING OUT OF THIS?

>> WE DO.

WE'VE NOT YET PUBLISHED A REPORT SO I DON'T KNOW HOW ANYONE CAN BE IN OPPOSITION TO THE REPORT.

IT LIVES ON A GOOGLE DRIVE.

I'LL SEND ONE TO THE COMMISSIONER AND I'LL MAKE SURE THAT I SEND ONE TO THE TWO SCHOOLS THAT YOU SAY ARE OPPOSED TO IT, BECAUSE THEY HAVE NOT SEEN IT.

AS FAR AS SIGH SOLUTIONSES AND THEY HAVE IN THE REPORT AS BELL AS SOME NEW THINGS LIKE CREATING A CARDIO, META BELL ON SICK UNIT AND LOOK AT HOW WE DO POSTPARTUM SCREENINGS AND SO THERE ARE SOME NEW AND SOME OLD.

>> I'M SURE WE'LL HEAR PORE ABOUT THIS ON A REGULAR BASES DURING THIS SESSION.

I DO WANT TO GET IN A COUPLE OF OTHER THINGS AND YOU'VE GOT SOMETHING WITH DEALING -- SOMETHING DEALING WITH NARCAN.

UPDATING THINGS RELATED TO OVERDOSES.

>> A FEW YEARS AGO WE WERE REALLY TALKING ABOUT THE FACT OF THE ADDICTION WITH OPIOIDS BECAUSE WE WERE HAVING KIDS DOING DRUGS, COLLEGE KIDS AND SOMEONE WOULD GET IN DIRE MEDICAL DANGER AND PEOPLE, THE REST OF THEIR FRIENDS WOULD BE DOING DRUGS AND THEY WOULD ABANDON THAT PERSON.

WE HAD KIDS LEFT TO DIE AND THEN DUMPED ON THEIR MOTHER'S FRONT YARD AND WE PASSED ONE SAYING THAT IF ONE PERSON WOULD CALL 911, STAY WITH THE INDIVIDUAL IN TROUBLE THAT EVEN WHEN HELP CAME IF THAT PERSON THAT CALLED WE WOULD NOT CHRJ THAT PERSON EVEN THOUGH THEY WERE DOING DRUGS, UNLESS THEY WERE THE DEALER.

THAT DIDN'T COUNT AND SO THAT'S THE BEGINNING OF NARCAN, AND IT HAD HOW WE CAN USE NARCAN.

NOW THERE ARE NEW DRUGS THAT WORK MORE EFFECTIVELY AZNAR CAN OR AS EFFECTIVELY.

THEY NO LONGER HAVE HALF LIVES WHICH MEANS ONE OF THE PROBLEMS WITH OVERDOSES THAT THE DRUGS ARE SO STRONG AND LACED WITH FENTANYL THAT THE PATIENT RECOVERS AND THE NARCAN WEARS OFF AND THEN THEY RELAPSE AGAIN AND CAN DIE, AND SO THERE ARE SOME OF THE NEW DRUGS THAT ARE LONGER AND EMORY WANTS TO PUT NARCAN AND OTHER DRUGS, OPIOID AND THE OTHER THEY WANT TO PUT IN DISPENSING MACHINES.

>> THAT'S THE LAW.

>> AND ALSO THE STANDING ORDER THAT THE PUBLIC HEALTH COMMISSIONER HAS HAD ON THE BOOK.

SHE HAS TO CHANGE THAT TO INCLUDE THESE OTHER NEW DRUGS.

SO YOU KNOW, YOU PASS BILLS AND THEN THE SOMETIMES CHANGE AND YOU NEED TO UPDATE THEM AND THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE DOING.

>> WE'LL KEEP AN EYE ON THAT AND YOU'LL CERTAINLY KEEP AN EYE ON MATERNAL MORTALITY AND KEEP UP WITH THE DEBATE AND LET OUR VIEWERS KNOW ABOUT IT.

>> OH, DON'T WORRY.

WE WILL.

>> THANK YOU BOTH FOR BEING HERE.

COMING UP, I TALKED TO THE HEAD OF THE GEORGIA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE ABOUT A NEW REPORT ON THE NEW GEORGIA ECONOMY AND WHAT IT MEANS FOR THE STATE'S JOB MARKET.

"LAWMAKERS" IS MADE POSSIBLE BY GEORGIA FARM BUREAU.

HELPING EVERYONE UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF AGRICULTURE IN OUR STATE.

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

FOOD AND FIBER PRODUCTION HAS $74 BILLION IN GEORGIA'S ECONOMY.

AND WORKS TO REPRESENT PRODUCERS ACROSS GEORGIA AT THE STATE CAPITOL, DURING THE SESSION AND YEAR ROUND.

GEORGIA FARM BUREAU, THE VOICE OF GEORGIA FARMERS.

>>> PEOPLE PUT THEIR FAITH IN PBS BECAUSE THEY KNOW THAT IT IS CONSTANTLY DELIVERING QUALITY.

IT COVERS THE WHOLE OF THE UNITED STATES.

IT'S A PRE AND INDEPENDENT MEDIA.

>> WE GO WHERE THE VIEWERS ARE.

WHAT ARE THE CONVERSATIONS THAT ARE HAPPENING RATE NOW?

WE HEAR THAT CIVIL DISCOURSE IS A CIVIC RESPONSIBILITY.

WHAT WE HEAR IS REPORTING WITH PEOPLE THEY CAN TRUST.

>> YOU CAN HEAR VOICES ON ALL SIDES OF AN ISSUE AND THIS IS THE PLACE THAT PEOPLE TURN TO FOR STORIES THAT MATTER AND THEY KNOW THAT WHEN THEY WALK AWAY THEY WOULD HAVE LEARNED SOMETHING ABOUT THE WORLD AROUND THEM.

THAT'S WHY IT MAKES PBS IMPORTANT IN TAILY LIFE AND THE WORLD.

>> THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

♪♪DAILY LIFE AND THE WORLD.

>> THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

♪♪ >> AT GPB WE AIM TO PROVIDE YOU WITH THE TOOLS TO BE ABLE TO DO LIFE TOGETHER WELL AND IT INSPIRES EVERYTHING FROM OUR WIDE RANGE OF PROGRAMMING TO OUR STIMULATING RADIO CONVERSATIONS TO OUR FUN IN-PERSON EVENTS.

WE'VE GOT SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE.

VISIT GPB.ORG/COMMUNITY TO LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR UPCOMING EVENTS.

WELCOME BACK TO LAWMAKERS, I'M DONNA LAWRY.

IT SERVED AS ONE OF THE HIGHLIGHTS OF THE FIRST WEEK OF THE GEORGIA GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

MORE THAN 3,000 PEOPLE ATTENDED AND THEY RECEIVED THE RED BOOK 2024 AND IT'S A REPORT ON ECONOMIC COMPETITIVENESS IN THE STATE.

WHAT'S THAT ALL ABOUT?

BEFORE EVERYONE ARRIVED THIS MORNING I HAD A CHANCE TO ASK THAT QUESTION AND MORE OF THE PRESIDENT AND CEO OF THE GEORGIA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE CHRIS CLARK.

MY FIRST QUESTION TO HIM WAS, WITH GEORGIA RANKED AS THE NUMBER ONE STATE FOR BUSINESS FOR TEN YEARS IN A ROW, HOW DO YOU KEEP UP THE MOMENTUM?

>> WE ARE EXCITED TODAY WE ARE ANNOUNCING THE WORKFORCE FOR TALENT PREPAREDNESS TO HELP HIGH SCHOOLS AND THE BUSINESSES IN THEIR COMMUNITY AND WE'RE ANNOUNCING A GRANT WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TO FUND RULES AND INTERNSHIPS AND APPRENTICESHIPS AND ENTREPRENEUR PROGRAMS AND THAT WILL BE A BIG FOCUS FOR THIS YEAR AND NEXT YEAR.

>> ALSO IN THIS SESSION, WE WILL FOCUS ON OCCUPATIONAL REFORM.

IT'S HARD SOMETIMES FOR MILITARY SPOUSES OR PEOPLE LOOKING FOR A SECOND CHANCE, SO WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH THE SECRETARY OF STATE AND THE STATE SENATE ALL YEAR TO LOWER THOSE BARRIERS.

OTHER THING FROM A WORKFORCE STANDPOINT THAT WOULD HELP MOVE THE NEEDLE IN THIS SESSION IS DEALING WITH WORKFORCE HOUSING AND IT IS DOWN FROM 64% AND MY SON'S GENERATION AND THE GENERATION Z, EXPERTS TELL US THEY'LL BE 45 YEARS OLD BEFORE THEY CAN AFFORD THEIR OWN HOME.

THAT'S NOT GOOD ENOUGH AND NOT THE AMERICAN DREAM.

WE HOPE TO DO THAT IN THIS SESSION.

>> THE WORKFORCE HOUSING DEALS WITH THE NUMBER OF COMPANIES THAT ARE COMING IN.

WHAT A BOOM FOR GEORGIA, BUT FINDING PLACES FOR PEOPLE TO LIVE IN THOSE COMMUNITIES.

>> THE COMMUNITIES WHERE THEY'RE SERVING.

IF I'M A TEACHER AND A POLICE OFFICER I WANT TO LIVE WHERE I SERVE AND RIGHT NOW WE DON'T MAKE THAT EASY FOR A LOT OF FOLKS.

>> LET'S TALK ABOUT THE INFRASTRUCTURE FOR A MOMENT, WHAT'S THE INFRASTRUCTURE YOU TALKED ABOUT.

>> THAT IS JUST A REMARKABLE NUMBER AND WE'LL ADD A MILLION MORE CARS TO THE ROAD AND WE'LL ADD 91% ADDITIONAL CONTAINER TRACK.

NOW THAT'S ALL GREAT AND THAT CREATES JOBS AND IT CREATES ISSUES FOR US AND THE D.O.T.

TELLS US THAT WE NEED TO SPEND $84 BILLION OVER THE NEXT 20 YEARS TO BUILD ALTERNATIVE ROUTES TO FIX BRIDGES, AIRPORTS AND MOVE GOODS AROUND SAFELY AND 70% OF GEORGIANS SUPPORT THAT, AND WE LOOK FORWARD WITH THE GOVERNOR ABOUT HOW WE MAKE A DOWN PAYMENT ON THE LONG TERM.

EVERY TIME YOU TALK ABOUT ROADS AND BRIDGES YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT A 20-YEAR PROJECT AND IT'S NOT LIKE IT'S SOMETHING YOU CAN FIX LIKE A BRIDGE IN A COUPLE OF WEEKS AND FINISHING UNIT FOUR AND BUILDING OUT MORE NATURAL GAS DISTRIBUTION AND MORE SOLAR.

WE'LL NEED MORE ENERGY IN THE LONG TERM, SAFE, AFFORDABLE AND CLEAN.

WE CAN DO ALL OF THAT AND WE HAVE THE RIGHT UTILITY PROVIDERS AND THE RIGHT PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION AND WE HAVE TO PLUG IN THE ELECTRIC VEHICLES IN GEORGIA, AND WE HAVE TO MAKE AS A LEADER WHEN IT COMES TO AN INTERACTIVE.

>> AND IT'S EXPANDED NOW, KIA NOW PLD THE EV-9 AND YOU HAVE ELECTRIC BUSSES WITH BLOOI BIRD AND YOU HAVE THE BAT ROO MRAFRT WITH Q SELL, OTT THIS NEXT GENERATION OF TROILGZ AND ALL OF THE COURTS -- SO WE'RE IN THE MIDDLE OF A REVOLUTION AND I KEMP FOR LAYING THE FOUNDATION FOR ROLLING OUT THE RED CARPET AND BRINGING THOSE FOLKS HERE.

>> HOW DO WE REMAIN COMPETITIVE IN THE STATE?

>> THAT'S THE THIRD LEG OF THE STORY.

NORTH CAROLINA SAID WE'RE TARGETING GEORGIA.

ALABAMA'S GOVERNOR SAID WE HAVE TO DO BETTER TO COMPETE WITH GEORGIA.

TEXAS PASSED NEW ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENTS.

WE'LL BE ADVOCATING WHAT THE GOVERNOR ANNOUNCED WHICH IS LOWERING THE STATE INCOME TAX AND KEEPING THE INCENTIVES THAT WE'VE GOT MAKING THEM MORE TRANSPARENT AND COMPETITIVE AND DOING MORE TO CUT RED TAPE WITH THE COMMISSION THAT WE'RE A PART OF.

SO ALL OF THOSE THINGS JUST WITH THIS MINDSET OF HOW DO WE CONTINUE TO BE A LITTLE BIT BETTER AND THE BIG ISSUE THAT THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY HAS CONTINUED TO DEAL WITH IS THE LAWSUIT ABUSE.

WHETHER YOU'RE A FARMER, A DOCTOR, HOSPITAL, SMALL BUSINESS OWNER, IT'S NOT FOCUSED ON JACKPOTS AND NOT JUSTICE.

WE WANT TO LEVEL THE PLAYING FIELD WITH A COUPLE OF BILLS THIS YEAR.

>> TORT REFORM.

>> TORT REFORM, YEAH.

>> BIG ON THE GOVERNOR'S LIST.

WHAT OTHER THINGS WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE HAPPEN DURING THIS LEGISLATIVE SESSION?

>> THIS WILL BE A BUSY SESSION.

WE'LL PLAY A LOT OF OFFENSE ON THESE ISSUES AND OBVIOUSLY, AND I DON'T THINK PEOPLE REALLY THINK OF PUBLIC SAFETY AS A WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT ISSUE, BUT IT ABSOLUTELY IS.

IF YOUR EMPLOYEES AREN'T SAFE AND DON'T FEEL COMFORTABLE COMING TO WORK THEY'LL FIND SOMEWHERE ELSE.

SUPPORTING WHAT THE ATTORNEY GENERAL HAS DONE RELATED TO GANG ACTIVITY AND RELATED TO TRAFFICKING AND THE ORGANIZED RETAIL CRIME.

THIS IS A $3 BILLION AIARY HIT TO THE STATE'S ECONOMY.

SO WE'LL CONTINUE TO LOOK FOR OPPORTUNITIES TO ADDRESS THE ISSUES, AS WELL.

>> HOW ABOUT THE AREA OF HEALTH CARE.

YOUR NEW CHAIRMAN IS WITHIN THE HEALTH CARE INDUSTRY.

>> THE OUTGOING CHAIRMAN.

>> SORRY.

>> ONE IS OBVIOUSLY ACCESS AND PARTICULARLY IN THE RURAL COMMUNITIES AND NOW IN THE URBAN AREAS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE ACCESS, QUALITY ACCESS FOR FOLKS, BUT THE BIGGEST ISSUE WITH HEALTHCARE RIGHT NOW, DONNA, IS MAKING SURE THAT WE HAVE THE WORKFORCE THAT WE NEED.

THINK ABOUT THESE STATISTICS FOR A MINUTE.

RIGHT NOW THERE ARE 47 HEALTH CARE JOB OPENINGS AND BY 2030, 101,000 HEALTH CARE JOB OPENINGS IN GEORGIA.

SO MORE NURSING PROGRAMS, MORE DOCTOR PROGRAMS AND MORE CLINICIANS AND ANYTHING THAT YOU CAN THINK OF IN THE HEALTH CARE SPACE WE'LL FIND WAYS TO GET YOUNG PEOPLE IN THE PATHWAYS AND TO MAKE SURE OUR COLLEGES AND THE TECHNICAL COLLEGES HAVE THE RESOURCES THEY NEED TO GIVE THEM THE SKILL SETS AS WE GET OLDER.

WE'VE SPENT YEARS, WOING WITH THE CHAIRMAN AND WORKING ABOUT TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY AND WE NEED TO LOOK FOR WAYS TO TWEAK AND IMPROVE.

WE'VE MADE RECOMMENDATIONS ABOUT HOW TO MAKE THEM MORE IMPACTFUL AND UPDATED AND WHAT WE NEED TO REMEMBER IS WE'VE HAD MANY OF THESE INCENTIVES IN PLACE FOR 20 YEARS AND THEY WORKED INCREDIBLY WELL AND THE SITE SELECTORS COUNT ON THEM AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR TOOL BOX THAT ECONOMIC DWELLERS HAVE, AND THESE ARE AREN'T GIVING UP.

THESE ARE LEVELING THE PLAYING FIELD WITH OTHER STATES, YOU LOOK AT ANY INIS NOTTIVE, IT'S BASED THAT IN ANOTHER STATE THERE'S COMPANIES WHO ARE SEEING EXACT CREDITS EVERY SINGLE DAY.

>> A GREAT CONVERSATION.

HE TALKED ABOUT THREE MAJOR THINGS AND I'LL RECAP THAT, TALENT AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT IN GEORGIA, INFRASTRUCTURE FOR THE FUTURE AND ALSO COMPETITIVENESS.

THESE ARE THINGS YOU'LL BE HEARING ABOUT IN THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY AND DURING THIS LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

MY HUGE THANKS TO CHRIS CLARK FOR TAKING THE TIME TO CHAT WITH US TODAY ABOUT THAT, AND THAT DOES IT FOR "LAWMAKERS" TODAY.

WE'LL BE BACK TOMORROW FOR LEGISLATIVE DAY FOUR AND IT IS AN HOUR SHOW, AN EXTENDED LOOK AT THE GOVERNOR'S STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS, PLUS WE'LL HAVE THE DEMOCRATIC RESPONSE.

SO WE HOPE YOU WILL JOIN US.

WE'LL HAVE SOME ANALYSTS HERE, TOO, TO TALK ABOUT IT.

HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.

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