>>> WE ARE LOOKING AT AN INTEREST OF GROWING THE ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY FOR GEORGIANS ACROSS THE STATE.

WE WANT TO BUILD A STRONG WORKFORCE TO MAKE SURE THAT EFFORT IS RECORDED.

MAKING SURE IT'S A SAFE, AND HEALTHY PLACE FOR ALL OF US TO WORK.

>>> GOOD EVENING, AND WELCOME TO LAWMAKERS.

COUPLE OF SENATE COMMITTEES ARE LOOKING AT THE CHALLENGES FACED BY THE GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF FAMILY AND CHILDREN SERVICES WHEN IT COMES TO FOSTER CHILDREN WHO HAVE BEHAVIORAL PROBLEMS.

THE CHILDREN ARE OFTEN PLACED IN FOSTER HOMES.

WE HAVE TWO GUESTS ON THIS SHOW TO TALK ABOUT THIS ISSUE.

INCLUDING THE CHAIR OF THE SENATE COMMITTEE ON FAMILIES.

>>> MY CONVERSATION WITH THE PRESIDENT, AND CEO WITH THE GEORGIA CHAMBER.

>>> ALSO, LATE TODAY.

GOVERNOR BRIAN KEMP MADE A PREEMPTIVE MOVE BY DECLARING A STATE OF EMERGENCY TO PREPARE FOR THE POSSIBILITY OF ARREST WHEN OFFICIALS RELEASED A VIDEO OF A DEADLY ENCOUNTER BETWEEN POLICE AND THE MEMPHIS MAN.

LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY HAVE BEEN PUT ON HIGH ALERT.

EVEN THE POWER TO CALL IN THE NATIONAL GUARD TO ASSIST THE LOCAL ENFORCEMENT.

>>> FIRST, LET'S GET RIGHT DOWN TO THE GOLD DOME.

MICHELLE.

>> Reporter: HI.

A RELATIVELY QUIET DAY AT THE CAPITAL.

HOWEVER, DEMOCRATS HAVE FILED TWO NEW GUN AND THOSE THAT WILL REQUIRE A BACKGROUND CHECK, AND A THREE DAY WAITING PERIOD FOR UNLICENSED PERSON-TO-PERSON GUN SALE AND TRANSFER.

THE BIG NEWS OF THE DAY COMES FROM SENATE REPUBLICANS WHO LAID OUT THEIR PRIORITIES FOR THIS SESSION.

WHICH INCLUDES EFFORTS TO LOWER THE STATE INCOME TAX.

IMPROVING LITERACY RATES, AND PREPARING FOR THE FUTURE OF ELECTRIC VEHICLES.

SENATE REPUBLICANS ACCOMPANIED BY LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR BERT JONES ARE SAYING THEY ARE READY TO GET TO WORK FOR GEORGIA.

>> I'M JUST HERE TO SHOW MY SUPPORT OF THIS BODY, AND IT'S BEEN GREAT WORKING WITH THE MAJORITY LEADER.

JOHN KENNEDY.

>> Reporter: IN A BRIEF PRESS CONFERENCE THE MAJORITY HASN'T LAID OUT ITS PRIORITIES FOR THE 2023 LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

WHICH INCLUDES TAX RELIEF PROGRAMS.

>> IN THE SAME VEIN WITH HIGH INFLATION, AND RAPIDLY RISING HOME VALUES.

TAXPAYERS, AND HOMEOWNER RELIEF INITIATIVES BEING PROPOSED BY GOVERNOR KEMP ARE ALSO IMPORTANT TO THE SENATE BODY.

IT IS PRUDENT WE TAKE INTO ACCOUNT HOW THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THESE NEW PROGRAMS WILL AFFECT OUR NEW GOAL OF LONG- TERM TAX REFORMS.

LOWERING THE INCOME TAX WHICH IS A BIG PRIORITY OF LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR JONES ALONG WITH THE REPUBLICAN SENATE.

THEY PUT AS THE INFLUX OF ELECTRIC VEHICLES PROVES IMMINENT.

SENATE REPUBLICANS ARE EXCITED ABOUT THE JOB OPPORTUNITIES FOR INDUSTRY PRESENTS.

BUT, ARE ALREADY EXPLORING WHAT IT COULD MEAN FOR FIELD TAX >> THAT'S 12 YEARS AWAY.

IF WE ARE GOING TO GET RID OF THE COMBUSTIBLE ENGINE THAT IS THE FUEL TANK THAT FEEDS THE ROADS AND BRIDGEWORK ABOUT THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION.

WHICH IS OVER $2 BILLION A YEAR OF REVENUE.

IT'S NOT IMPOSSIBLE TO THINK THAT IN THE FUTURE IT MAY BE 20 OR 30 YARDS OUT THAT WE WOULD LOSE A SIGNIFICANT PART OF THAT MOTOR FIELD TAX.

ULTIMATELY WE COULD END UP LOSING IT ALL.

THE POINT KNOCKED THE VERY VOCAL ABOUT RECRUITING THE BEST EDUCATED PEOPLE FOR GEORGIA'S WORKFORCE.

WHILE GRADUATION NUMBERS HAVE IMPROVED ADDRESSING LITERACY RATES REMAINS A SIMPLE FOCUS.

>>'S EFFORTS RELATED IN THE STATE OF GEORGIA IN 2021 -- READING AT A THIRD-GRADE LEVEL FOR THE WHOLE STATE OF GEORGIA.

THAT MEANS YOU WOULD NORMALLY -- WE DON'T HAVE A DISTRICT IN THE STATE OF GEORGIA THAT THE THIRD GRADE CHILDREN READ ON A THIRD- GRADE LEVEL IS MORE THAN 10%.

WE CAN'T EVER DEVELOP A WORKFORCE.

ALL THE JOBS THIS GREAT BODY HAS PUT IN PLACE FOR THE STATE OF GEORGIA WITHOUT CHILDREN THAT CAN READ.

>> Reporter: MUCH LIKE GOVERNOR KEMP THEIR AGENDA INCLUDES A PLEDGE FOR PENALTIES RELATED TO GANG ACTIVITY, AND REFORM OF THE BELL SYSTEM.

>> WE HAD ALREADY ESTABLISHED COMMON GROUND ON ISSUES WE BELIEVE WILL LEAD TO SAFER COMMUNITIES IN OUR STATE.

IN THE RURAL AND URBAN AREAS.

THIS INCLUDES SERIOUS PENALTIES FOR THE RECRUITMENT OF MINORS FOR GANG ACTIVITY.

BOTH MENTIONED AS PRIORITIES OF THE GOVERNOR, AND LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR.

AGGRESSIVE BELLA BOND REFORM FOR VIOLENT OFFENSES.

ALSO, A PRIORITY OF THE GOVERNOR AND LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR.

JUST AS IMPORTANT FROM A SAFETY PERSPECTIVE IF WE WILL BE HAVING IN SCHOOL SAFETY LEGISLATIONS.

>> Reporter: LASTLY, SENATE REPUBLICANS ADDED THAT SENATE BILL THREE WILL LOOK AT A COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW FOR STATE EMPLOYEES, AND A TAX AUDIT REVIEW WHICH THEY WILL LOOK AT WITH 200 TAX CREDITS ON THE BOOKS.

THAT IS EXPECTED TO BE COMPLETED BY DECEMBER 1st.

SENATE DEMOCRATS HAVE SAID THEY ARE ABLE TO INCREASE THE MINIMUM WAGE TO $15 AN HOUR.

THAT IS MY CAPITAL REPORT.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>>> WE ARE GOING TO DEVOTE TIME TO A PROBLEM INVOLVING CHILDREN IN CRISIS.

HER HEARTBREAKING ACCOUNTS OF THE CHILDREN.

THE STATE IS UNABLE TO PLACE IN FOSTER HOMES.

MANY HAVE SEVERE BEHAVIORAL PROBLEMS.

THIS ISSUE OUR REPUBLICAN STATE SENATOR PATRICK OF MARIETTA WHO IS THE CHAIR OF THE SENATE COMMITTEE.

AND JOURNALIST ANDY MILLER WITH KAISER HEALTH WHO HAVE SPENT SOME TIME LOOKING INTO THIS ISSUE.

THANK YOU BOTH FOR COMING ON THIS SHOW.

I WANT TO START BY PLAYING SNIPPETS OF THE STORIES OF TWO FOSTER CHILDREN.

THEY HAD TO PLACE THEM IN HOTELS MULTIPLE TIMES.

YOU WILL HEAR ABOUT A 12-YEAR- OLD BOY.

BUT FIRST YOU WILL HEAR ABOUT AN 11-YEAR-OLD GIRL WHO SUFFERED TRAUMA IN HER HOME LIFE, AND ENDED UP IN THE SYSTEM.

>> SHE WAS IN A HOTEL FOR A MONTH AS WE LOOKED FOR PLACES.

THEN SHE WENT BACK TO CFE FROM OCTOBER 29th TO NOVEMBER 14th.

THEN SHE SPENT ONE NIGHT IN A FOSTER HOME WHERE SHE WAS BANGING HER HEAD ON THE WALL.

HITTING HERSELF IN THE FACE.

TRY TO ELECTROCUTE HERSELF.

I RAN INTO A POND TO TRY TO DROWN HERSELF, AND THEN WE SENT A CASE MANAGER TO PICK THE CHILD UP WHO WAS TOO VIOLENT, AND TOO AGGRESSIVE FOR THIS FACILITY.

FROM APRIL TO AUGUST SHE WAS IN A HOTEL.

AT A COST OF OVER $86,000.

DESTROYING MULTIPLE HOTEL ROOMS.

HE WAS EXPOSING HIMSELF.

BREAKING MIRRORS.

THREATENING TO KILL PEOPLE.

DAMAGED CARS.

BUSTED WINDOWS, AND WAS TAKEN TO THE E.R.

THREE TIMES.

RELEASED, BECAUSE NOW CSU WOULD ACCEPT HIM.

ON JULY 31st HE WAS DETAINED.

AFTER HOURS OF DESTRUCTION OF PROPERTY.

MULTIPLE LAW ENFORCEMENT CALLED.

AND HE WAS CUTTING, AND THREATENED TO STAB PEOPLE.

THOSE FOUR CASES LEAVE YOUR HEART HAPPY, AND I'M SURE IT DOES.

I HAVE 453 MORE TO TELL YOU.

THAT IS THE NUMBER OF YOUTH IN FOSTER CARE WE'VE HAD TWO HOTELS SO FAR THIS PHYSICAL YEAR.

>> THOSE STORIES ARE CERTAINLY HARD TO HEAR.

WE ONLY HAD TWO OF THE FOUR SHE TALKED ABOUT.

AND THERE ARE SO MANY MORE.

LET'S TALK ABOUT WHO THESE CHILDREN ARE.

WHAT KIND OF BEHAVIORAL ISSUES WE ARE TALKING ABOUT, AND WHAT HOTEL AND IS ALL ABOUT.

>> THE CHILDREN THAT WERE DISCUSSED IN THE HEARING THAT WE HAD YESTERDAY ARE SORT OF EXTREME CASES.

THEY HAVE KIND OF RUN OUT OF OPTIONS, AND THEIR PLACEMENT IS NONEXISTENT REALLY FOR KIDS LIKE THAT.

"HOTELING" BASICALLY IS IF THERE IS NOT A PLACE IN A TREATMENT FACILITY WHERE THEY HAVE ALREADY BEEN THROUGH A TREATMENT FACILITY.

THEY MAY OR MAY NOT HAVE BEEN INVOLVED WITH THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM, AND THEY CAN'T GO BACK TO THEIR HOME BECAUSE OF THE DANGEROUS BEHAVIOR.

THERE AREN'T A LOT OF CHOICES IN GEORGIA RIGHT NOW.

THAT IS ONE OF THE THINGS WE ARE GOING TO WORK ON.

IT REQUIRES A LOT OF RESOURCES TO HAVE A CHILD IN A HOTEL.

YOU CAN'T JUST LEAVE THEM THERE.

YOU HAVE TO HAVE PEOPLE THAT ARE TRAINED WHO CAN WATCH THEM, AND MANAGE THEIR BEHAVIOR.

AND IT'S EXTREMELY EXPENSIVE COMPARED TO OTHER OPTIONS THAT ARE IN PLACE.

>> SO, THERE ARE PEOPLE WITH THEM THE WHOLE TIME?

AND THAT MUST BE DIFFICULT TOO.

I'M SURE THOSE KIDS ARE NOT HAPPY ABOUT WHERE THEY ARE.

>> RIGHT.

SOMETIMES THEY NEED ONE PERSON WITH THEM.

SOMETIMES THEY NEED MORE THAN ONE PERSON.

ONE OF THE CASES YOU MENTIONED THERE WERE THREE PEOPLE THAT WERE NEEDED TO HANDLE THIS KID.

AND I THINK THE COST THAT WAS QUOTED TO US WAS ABOUT $1500 A NIGHT, AND COMMISSIONER REALLY SHE GAVE HER PRESENTATION TO THE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE.

IT REALLY OPENED A LOT OF EYES.

>> I KNOW A LOT OF PEOPLE HAD A LOT OF CONVERSATION AROUND THIS WHEN THIS CAME OUT LAST WEEK.

YOU'VE BEEN LOOKING INTO IT.

IT'S ONE OF THOSE THINGS WHERE THERE ARE NO EASY ANSWERS.

RIGHT?

>> THERE ARE NOT.

GEORGIA IS NOT ALONE IN HAVING A "HOTELING" PROBLEM.

WE DO KNOW ANY GIVEN NIGHT THERE COULD BE DOZENS OF THESE CHILDREN AND YOUTH WHO ARE IN HOTELS.

THEY HAVE FALLEN THROUGH THE CRACKS, AND THESE KIDS HAD SUFFERED TRAUMA TO BEGIN WITH BECAUSE OF WHERE THEY ARE.

THEY ARE FOSTER KIDS OR THEY HAVE JUST BEEN ADOPTED OUT OF SOMETIMES REALLY BAD SITUATIONS.

THIS IS A PROBLEM, AND I THINK THE LEGISLATURE IS RIGHT.

THEY'VE DONE SOME GOOD THINGS IN TERMS OF FOCUSING ON THIS ISSUE.

>> I WANT TO HEAR FROM SOMEBODY LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT ONE OF THE PROBLEMS IN THE SYSTEM.

THIS IS SOME OF THE TESTIMONIES FROM A BEHAVIORAL PEDIATRICIAN.

>> INSTEAD OF HAVING TO DO A PRIOR AUTHORIZATION BEFORE YOU CAN GET SERVICES, THERE IS A PRIOR AUTHORIZATION AFTER THE SERVICES.

THEY ARE NOT MEDICALLY NECESSARY THEN.

BUT WHEN YOU GO TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM, AND YOU NEED EMERGENCY SURGERY THERE IS NO PRIOR AUTHORIZATION THAT HAS TO BE DONE BEFORE HAND.

IT'S ALL DONE AFTER THE SERVICES ARE PROVIDED.

>> CAN YOU TALK ABOUT THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN MENTAL BEHAVIORAL HEALTH TYPE ISSUES, AND PHYSICAL HEALTH, AND THE PROBLEMS THAT EXIST?

>> WE ADDRESSED THAT LAST YEAR WITH MENTAL HEALTH PARITY.

WHICH MEANS THE INSURANCE COMPANIES ARE REQUIRED TO TREAT MENTAL HEALTH DISORDERS THE SAME THAT THEY DO PHYSICAL CONDITIONS.

BUT, PRIOR AUTHORIZATION IS A THORN ON THE SIDE OF ALL HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS.

IT MEANS THAT BASICALLY WANTS TO STUDY TREATMENT PLAN YOU HAVE TO HAVE PERMISSION TO GET THAT APPROVED BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY.

AND WE HAVE DONE SOME LEGISLATION ON THAT OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS.

ONE OF THE THINGS IT IS NOT REQUIRED IN EMERGENCY CASES.

SO, MEDICAID IS A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT.

FOSTER KIDS ARE UNDER MEDICAID, BECAUSE THEY HAVE FEDERAL GUIDELINES.

AND THEY ARE MANAGED BY A CONTRACT.

SO, I THINK SHE HAD A GREAT POINT THAT WOULD BE REALLY GOOD IF YOU DIDN'T HAVE TO JUMP THROUGH HOOPS.

>> IN THE MEANTIME THE KIDS ARE SUFFERING.

I WANT TO GO TO A NUMBER PIECE OF SOUND FROM YESTERDAY.

THIS IS FROM SOMEONE DESCRIBING THE SCOPE OF THE PROBLEM.

>> WAS USED TO PROVIDE MEDICAL TREATMENT FOR THE APPROXIMATE 11,000 FOSTER CHILDREN IS NOT MEETING THE NEEDS OF THE MOST BONOBO CITIZENS.

THESE CHILDREN USE CURRENT ACCESS TO MEDICAL TREATMENTS.

ROUTINE, SPECIALIZED, OR FEDERALLY MANDATED IS FALLING FAR SHORT OF OUR OBLIGATION TO THESE CHILDREN.

>> WHAT HAVE YOU FOUND OUT YOU'D LOOKED INTO THIS ISSUE?

>> IT'S NOT JUST FOSTER KIDS WERE IN HOTELS.

IT'S ACROSS THE SYSTEM.

MANY OF THEM ARE JUST NOT GETTING THE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES OR THE PHYSICAL HEALTH SERVICES.

THEY TALKED TO A WOMAN WHO HAS ADOPTED SEVERAL KIDS, AND SHE HAS TO WAIT A MONTH TO GET AN APPOINTMENT WITH A PHYSICIAN SPECIALIST.

SO, IT'S BROAD.

BUT, THE ISSUES ARE THERE IS A CONTRACTOR, AND THE STATE HAS FINALLY LOOK AT THIS PROBLEM.

BUT, MANY OF THESE KIDS HAVE AUTISM OR BEHAVIORAL PROBLEMS.

AND THEY JUST HAVEN'T GOTTEN THE SERVICES OR THE DIAGNOSIS, AND THE EVALUATION THAT THEY NEED.

>> ONE OF THESE THINGS AS A WORKFORCE ISSUE TOO.

GETTING PEOPLE TO WANT TO WORK WITH THESE CHILDREN.

>> A LOT OF THEM ARE NOT GETTING PAID ENOUGH FOR WHAT THEY HAVE TO DO.

>> THAT IS EXACTLY RIGHT.

THE REIMBURSEMENT FOR PROVIDERS COULD BE A LOT BETTER, AND COULD ATTRACT SOME MORE PEOPLE TO ACCEPT THIS TYPE OF INSURANCE SITUATION.

AND THERE IS SOME TWEAKING OF CODING THAT COULD BE DONE AS WELL.

YOU ARE RIGHT.

IT'S HARD UNDER THE BEST OF CIRCUMSTANCES EVEN IF YOU DO HAVE COMMERCIAL INSURANCE TO FIND PROVIDERS TO TAKE CARE OF YOU WITH NO HEALTH CONDITIONS.

AND WE KNOW THAT THERE IS A LARGE PERCENT OF KIDS IN THE FOSTER SYSTEM WOULD SOMETIMES SITUATIONS WHO DO HAVE AUTISM.

AND ONE OF THE THINGS DR. Z AND I TALKED ABOUT YESTERDAY WAS EARLY DIAGNOSIS.

THAT IS SO IMPORTANT, BECAUSE WE NEED TO BE LOOKING UPSTREAM AT THIS PROBLEM, AND TRYING TO PREVENT PEOPLE FROM ENDING UP IN THESE SITUATIONS.

>> WHAT CAN YOUR COMMITTEE DO?

AND IT'S A JOINT COMMITTEE.

>> AFTER DR. WATSON, AND I HEARD COMMISSIONERS PRESENTATION WE BOTH AGREED THAT WE NEEDED TO GATHER MORE INFORMATION, AND MAKE IT MORE PUBLIC.

THAT IS HAVE A JOINT HEARING CAME ABOUT.

THE TWO COMMITTEES ARE STILL SEPARATE, BUT LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR JONES PRIORITIZED THIS CHILDREN OF FAMILIES COMMITTEE.

THAT IS A BRAND-NEW COMMITTEE.

IF NEVER EXISTED BEFORE WITH THE IDEA OF ADDRESSING PROBLEMS LIKE FOSTER CARE, ADOPTION, AND SO ON.

WE'VE GOT A LOT OF WORK TO DO.

WE GET A LOT OF GOOD IDEAS OUT I DON'T THINK IT IS SOMETHING WE CAN FIX OVERNIGHT, BUT I THINK WE CAN MAKE SOME PROGRESS THIS YEAR.

THERE ARE SHORT-TERM, AND LONG- TERM SOLUTIONS THAT WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO WORK TOGETHER ON.

>> UNFORTUNATELY, WE ARE OUT OF TIME TODAY.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING ON.

>>> COMING UP MY INTERVIEW WITH THE CEO OF THE GEORGIA CHAMBER ON THE STATE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT BOOM WITH NEW DEVELOPMENT COMING IN.

>>> LAWMAKERS IS MADE POSSIBLE BY GEORGIA FARM BUREAU.

AFTER ALL OUR DISCHARGES NUMBER ONE EXTREME.

FOOD, AND FIBER PRODUCTION REPRESENTS OVER 74 BILLION OF AN OUTPUT OF GEORGIA'S ECONOMY.

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

>>> WELCOME BACK TO LAWMAKERS.

I'M DONNA LOWRY.

SOME OF THE EARLY SCENES IN THIS LEGISLATIVE INVOLVED WORK ISSUES.

PUTTING PLANTS IN GEORGIA, AND THOUSANDS OF NEW WORKERS.

BUT, THERE ARE CONCERNS.

THE STATE NEEDS HELP TO STORE UP INFRASTRUCTURE FOR THE WORKFORCE.

I SPOKE WITH THE PRESIDENT CEO OF THE GEORGIA CHAMBER.

I ASKED HIM WHAT THE INCOMING ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT WILL MEAN FOR THE STATES?

>> THESE ANNOUNCEMENTS COME AT A VERY UNIQUE TIME.

WE'VE HAD FOUR YEARS IN THE ROLE OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ANNOUNCEMENT.

THESE FOUR PROJECTS PARTICULARLY BUILD A PIPELINE OF CONSTRUCTION, JOB TRAINING , SUPPLIER NETWORKS THAT WILL BE COMING INTO THE STATE OVER THE NEXT FIVE YEARS.

RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF WHAT EVERYBODY ASSUMES IS GOING TO BE A GLOBAL ECONOMIC DOWNTURN.

ANYWAY WE BELIEVE THIS IS KIND OF PATTING IT FOR GEORGIA.

WE ARE VERY OPTIMISTIC FOR RIGHT NOW.

IT'S GOING TO MOVE US TO THE NEXT 18 MONTHS OF POLITICAL QUESTIONABLE TIMES, AND REALLY SOLIDIFY GEORGIA AS KIND OF A LEADER OF THE BATTERY BELT IF YOU WOULD.

AS ALL THESE NEW ELECTRIC VEHICLES, BATTERIES, SOLAR.

ALL THESE PROJECTS.

BENEFITS OF THESE NEXT 50 TO 100 YEARS.

>> TALK ABOUT THAT BATTERY STUFF A LITTLE BIT MORE.

FOR PEOPLE WHO DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT THAT MEANS.

AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT THAT COMES WITH THESE MAJOR ANNOUNCEMENTS.

>> FOR THE LAST FIVE YEARS SINCE --MADE THE ANNOUNCEMENT THEY WERE COMING TO GEORGIA.

HE HAD SEEN MANUFACTURERS, SUPPLIERS, AS WELL AS OTHER BATTERY PLANTS.

ESSENTIALLY HAVE NORTH CAROLINA.

A LITTLE BIT OF SOUTH CAROLINA.

TENNESSEE, AND GEORGIA INTO ALABAMA.

AND A LITTLE BIT INTO MISSISSIPPI.

THE REGION OF THE SOUTH HAS ATTRACTED ALL OF THIS INVESTMENT FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD.

WHEN WE SEE PROJECTS OF THIS MAGNITUDE.

THIS IS UNBELIEVABLE.

I'LL PUT IT IN PERSPECTIVE.

I DID A TWO-YEAR DEAL IN 2005, 2006.

IT WAS THE BIGGEST PROJECT IN THE HISTORY OF THE STATE AT THE TIME.

SO, THE RIPPLE EFFECT OF THAT IS INCREDIBLE.

THEY WILL BRING SUPPLIERS.

THEY WILL BRING THE NEED FOR HOUSING.

OPPORTUNITIES DOWNTOWN.

YOU ARE GOING TO THE COMMUNITIES LIFTED UP.

THESE ARE GAME CHANGING ECONOMIC CHANGES THAT WILL CREATE ECONOMIC GROWTH, AND PROSPERITY.

AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR GEORGIANS LITERARY GENERATIONS TO COME.

IT'S IMPRESSIVE AT ANY LEVEL YOU LOOK AT.

WHAT'S EVEN MORE IMPRESSIVE.

IF YOU LOOK AROUND THE COUNTRY.

WHICHEVER STATES ARE GETTING THESE ANNOUNCEMENTS.

THEY ARE NOT.

NORTH CAROLINA HAD A SMALL ANNOUNCEMENT.

TENNESSEE HAS HAD A COUPLE.

BUT NO ONE HAS.

SO, IT REALLY IS GAME CHANGING FOR OUR STATE.

>> WE TALKED ABOUT THE WORKFORCE TRYING WHERE ARE WE IN GEORGIA WHEN IT COMES TO THAT?

>> HONESTLY, I THINK THAT'S THE 800 POUND GORILLA WE HAVE TO DEAL WITH.

WE ARE EXACTLY WHERE WE WERE PRE-COVID.

NOW, IN COVID WE GOT DOWN TO TWO 21.

NOW WE AVERAGED BACK OUT.

I THINK WE SHOULD EXPECT TO SEE THAT THE NEXT 10 TO 20 YEARS.

BABY BOOMERS ARE MOVING OUT.

WE HAVE 23 MILLION BABY BOOMERS RETIRED BY 2030.

ANOTHER THING THAT HAS HAPPENED IS WE ARE NOT REPLACING THEM.

WE HAVE HAD DEMOGRAPHIC DECLINE STARTING TO HAPPEN IN THE LAST RECESSION.

IT KIND OF ADDED TO IT DURING COVID.

WE ACTUALLY HAD THE SMALLEST GENERATION OF HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS, AND COLLEGE STUDENTS THAT WE'VE SEEN IN THREE OR FOUR GENERATIONS.

WE'VE GOT ABOUT ISSUES THAT'S HAPPENING, AND WE'VE ALSO GOT WERE WORKING 20 YEARS AGO.

WE'VE SEEN A 10% DECLINE LABOR PARTICIPATION IN GEORGIA, AND NATIONWIDE OVER THE LAST 20 YEARS.

WE HAVE TO HAVE A PLAN TO RECRUIT MORE PEOPLE TO GEORGIA.

GET PEOPLE THAT HAVE NOT BEEN TRADITIONALLY WORKING.

MAYBE PEOPLE WHO ARE READY FOR A SECOND CHANCE.

OR, MAYBE PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES BACK INTO THE WORKFORCE.

WE'VE GOT TO FOCUS ON THE PIPELINE, AND MAKE SURE THAT LONG-TERM WE HAVE AND MEN, AND WOMEN THAT CAN CONNECT WITH THOSE SOLAR COMPANIES, AND MANUFACTURERS ARE INNOVATIVE, CREATIVE.

THAT IS GOING TO TAKE A PARTNERSHIP IN EARLY CHILDHOOD K-12.

TECHNICAL COLLEGES, AND UNIVERSITIES.

>> SOME WOULD PREFER TO HAVE THE HOUSING CRISIS LIMITED WHEN IT COMES TO THESE JOBS.

>> THE FIRST THING THEY SAY IS WE ARE MOST CONCERNED ABOUT GETTING AS MANY WORKERS AS WE NEED.

ALTHOUGH, WE ARE CONFIDENT WE WHERE WILL THOSE MEN, AND WOMEN LIVE?

I TALKED TO A BUSINESS LEADER YESTERDAY.

HIS SON WENT HOME, AND GOT MARRIED.

THERE IS NO HOUSE IN OUR WHOLE TOWN FOR UNDER $600,000.

WHERE IN THE WORLD ARE YOUNG COUPLES SUPPOSED TO LIVE?

SO, WE DO HAVE A CRISIS.

I THINK THERE'S THREE THINGS WE SHOULD ALL BE LOOKING AT.

HOW DO YOU HELP YOUNG MEN, AND WOMEN SAVE?

SOME STATES ARE DOING SOME INNOVATIVE THINGS THERE.

HOW CAN WE HELP YOUNG MEN, AND WOMEN?

NUMBER TWO IS HOW YOU REDUCE THE REGULAR WORKFORCE.

I APPRECIATE WHAT GOVERNOR KEMP SAID.

FINDING READINESS AND COMMUNITIES HAVE THESE PROJECTS.

THE OTHER PART OF THE STROKE, AND QUITE FRANKLY IT'S ON ME AND YOU.

I ONLY WANT A THREE-ACRE HOUSE BUILT IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD KIND OF GOLF COURSE.

IT'S UNREALISTIC FOR YOUNG MEN, AND WOMEN.

IN A WAY THERE IS AN ECONOMIC PLACE TO BE MADE.

WOMEN, AND WOMEN CAN BUY THEIR OWN HOMES.

THEY CAN HAVE GENERATIONAL PROSPERITY.

BUT, IF WE SOCKET AGAINST THEM, AND THERE IS NO AVAILABLE WORK FORCE HOUSING THERE WE ARE SHOOTING OURSELVES IN THE FOOT, AND HURTING THE NEXT GENERATION.

I HEARD AN ARTICLE LAST WEEK THAT CALLED MILLENNIAL'S ROOMMATE GENERATION.

THEY ARE WORRIED THEY WILL NEVER BE ABLE TO MOVE OUT OF THEIR PARENTS BASEMENT OR NEVER BE ABLE TO LIVE ON THEIR OWN.

WE SHOULDN'T BE SATISFIED WITH THAT.

WE ARE WORKING WITH CHAIRMAN WASHBURN.

SO WE CAN DEVELOP WAYS, AND IDEAS.

AND HOPEFULLY HAVE STRONG POLICIES TO JUMPSTART THIS.

WE ARE NOT GOING TO SOLVE IT IN A YEAR.

WE HAVE THESE CRITICAL AREAS.

WE HAVE TO START NOW SO WE CAN BE READY TO GO.

PARTICULARLY WHERE THESE PLANTS ARE GOING TO BE BUILT OUT.

>> LET'S TALK ABOUT WHAT ELSE YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE COME OUT OF THIS LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

>> YEAH.

I THINK FATHER REALLY BIG ISSUE THAT WE'VE GOT TO DEAL WITH.

OBVIOUSLY, PEOPLE ARE MOVING TO THE STATE.

WE HAVE TO CONTINUE TO INVEST OUR ROAD, BRIDGE, INFRASTRUCTURE.

THE RESEARCH THAT WE HAVE DONE.

RIGHT NOW THE AVERAGE TRAINING GEORGIA IS A MILE LONG.

IF WE DON'T DO THAT SOMETHING IN THE NEXT THREE YEARS IT'LL BE THREE MILES LONG.

SO, IMPROVING THAT SYSTEM LONG- TERM SO THAT WE CAN MOVE GOODS, AND SUPPLIES SAFELY AROUND THE SAME STATE.

IT'S TIME TO MAKE THAT TYPE OF INFRASTRUCTURE AGAIN.

THAT IS GOING TO BE A VERY BIG ISSUE FOR US.

LOOKING AT WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT.

AND OBVIOUSLY ANYTHING WE CAN DO TO IMPROVE THE HEALTHCARE SYSTEM IN GEORGIA.

>> LEGAL REFORM.

TELL ME WHAT YOU'RE THINKING ABOUT ALONG THOSE LINES.

>> WE REALLY LOVE BACK ABOUT HOW GEORGIA RANKS NUMBER ONE IN ALL THESE DIFFERENT CATEGORIES.

NATIONAL GROUP CANNOT INSTEAD GEORGIA RANKS 50 OUT OF 50 IN CIVIL JUSTICE REFORM.

BASICALLY, THESE NUCLEAR VERDICTS THAT ARE IMPACTING LARGE COMPANIES ARE REALLY THE COMING OF PROBLEMS FOR OUR COMPANY.

WE JUST WANT A FAIR COMMAND BALANCED PLAYGROUND.

WE WANT TO MAKE SURE JERRY GETS ALL THE DATA THAT THEY NEED.

THAT YOU DON'T BANKRUPT THE COMPANY WHEN YOU GO THROUGH THESE FIRINGS.

A LOT OF DIFFERENT PARTNERS CAPITOL HILL.

>> I WANT TO THINK GEORGIA CHAMBER PRESIDENT FOR THIS INTERVIEW.

THAT DOES IT FOR LAWMAKERS TODAY.

WE WILL BE BACK ON MONDAY FOR LEGISLATIVE BASE NINE.

IN THE MEANTIME GET YOUR POLITICAL FIX ON POLITICAL REWIND WITH DAVE AFTER 9:00.

LOOK FOR THE LATEST STATEWIDE KNEES ON GPB.ORG.

GOOD NIGHT.