>>> THE GOAL IS TO RESTORE FAITH IN THE PROCESS AND FAITH IN THE BALLOT BOX.

THAT'S THE BOTTOM LINE RIGHT THERE.

>> SENATE PRESIDENT PRO TEM BUTCH MILLER TALKS ABOUT WHY HE AND OTHER STATES' GOP LEADERS INTRODUCED A SLATE OF BILLS ON ELECTION REFORM.

GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO DAY TEN OF THE GEORGIA LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

I'M DONNA LOWRY IN ATLANTA.

WE'LL HAVE MORE ON THE ELECTIONS BILLS AND THE REACTION TO THEM COMING UP.

>>> ALSO TODAY, GOVERNOR BRIAN KEMP UNVEILED A SERIES OF BILLS TO HELP RECRUIT AND RETAIN TEACHERS.

HE ALSO WANTS TO ATTRACT MORE PEOPLE INTO TEACHING INCLUDING MILITARY VETERANS.

THE PANDEMIC SHOWED SEVERE GAPS IN GEORGIA'S INTERNET ACCESS AND THE STATE PLANS TO SPEND MILLIONS TO IMPROVE THINGS.

WE'LL TALK ABOUT THAT WITH TWO LAWMAKERS AND WE'LL ALSO TALK ABOUT A PROPOSAL TO MAKE IT EASIER FOR DREAMERS TO PAY IN-STATE TUITION.

>>> FIRST AS ALWAYS WE START WITH OUR CAPITOL REPORT WITH CAPITOL CORRESPONDENT BRENDA WATERS AND THE SLATE OF ELECTION BILLS REALLY FIRED UP SOME THERE AT THE CAPITOL TODAY, DIDN'T IT?

>> INDEED, DONNA, BUSY DAY ON THE SENATE FLOOR AND SEVERAL BILLS DROPPED HAVE CREATED QUITE A STIR BUT THE ONE THAT HAS EVERYONE TALKING IS SENATE BILL 67.

SENATE BILL 67 IS SPONSORED BY SENATOR LARRY WALKER III.

BASICALLY WHAT IT SAYS IS DURING ELECTIONS VOTERS USING ABSENTEE BALLOTS MUST PROVIDE A PHOTO I.D.

>> WE'VE BEEN THROUGH A TOUGH ELECTION CYCLE AND THERE WAS A LOT OF QUESTIONS ABOUT VALIDITY OF BALLOTS.

THIS JUST MAKES IT UNIFORM SO PEOPLE REQUESTING AN ABSENTEE BALLOT THROUGH THE MAIL WILL HAVE TO INCLUDE THEIR DRIVER'S LICENSE, STATE ISSUED I.D.

NUMBER OR COPY OF SEVERAL ALTERNATIVE I.D.s.

>> SENATOR NIKKI MERITT SAYS SB 67 BRINGS BACK MEMORIES OF THE DAYS OF JIM CROW WHEN WERE GRANDMOTHER WAS TURNED AWAY FROM THE POLLS BECAUSE SHE COULD NOT COUNT JELLY BEANS IN A JAR.

>> AFTER THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT, SHE NEVER MISSED AN OPPORTUNITY TO VOTE.

RIGHT UP UNTIL THE DAY SHE DIED AT 96.

NOW WE HAVE THE 2021 REBOOT OF COUNTING JELLY BEANS.

WHEN I SEE THE SLATE OF VOTE LIMITING ATTACKS RELEASED YESTERDAY I THINK OF ELDERLY VOTERS LIKE MY GRANDMOTHER.

>> SENATOR WALKER SEES IT AS LEVELING THE PLAYING FIELD.

>> I JUST THINK THIS IS A MATTER OF FAIRNESS AND SECURITY AND, AGAIN, GETTING THE POLL WORKERS OUT OF THE BUSINESS OF BEING REQUIRED TO TRY TO VERIFY A SIGNATURE WHEN THEY'RE NOT TRAINED AS SIGNATURE EXPERTS.

>> SENATE MINORITY LEADER GLORIA BUTLER SAYS THE BILL WILL NOT ONLY SERVE TO MAKE IT MORE DIFFICULT FOR VOTERS AND IN SOME CASES THEY MAY NOT EVEN VOTE BECAUSE OF IT.

>> MY VOTE IS A NO VOTE.

>> IS A NO VOTE.

>> EXACTLY.

>> DO YOU THINK IT WILL PASS?

WHAT'S YOUR GUT FEELING?

>> MY GUT FEELING IS THE BILLS WILL PASS BECAUSE WE'RE IN A MINORITY, THEY'RE IN THE MAJORITY.

EVEN IF SOME OF THEIR MEMBERS DON'T AGREE, THEY'LL STILL VOTE FOR THE BILL.

>> Reporter: OTHER SENATE GOP ELECTION BILLS FILED THIS WEEK, SB 62 DEALS WITH THE CHAIN OF CUSTODY OF BALLOTS.

SB 68 BANS ABSENTEE BALLOT DROP BOXES.

SB 69 ENDS AUTOMATIC VOTER REGISTRATION WHEN GETTING A DRIVER'S LICENSE.

SB 71 EFFECTIVELY ENDS NO EXCUSE ABSENTEE BALLOTING.

SB 72, COUNTY REGISTRARS GET MONTHLY UPDATES FROM CORONERS AND FUNERAL HOMES.

SB 73 LIMITS WHO CAN SEND AN ABSENTEE BALLOT APPLICATION TO VOTERS.

SB 74 DEALS WITH POLL WATCHER ACCESS.

>> SENATE MAJORITY LEADER MIKE ZUGAN TELLS GPB "LAWMAKERS" HE'LL BE FILING AN ELECTION PACKAGE THIS WEEK ON BEHALF OF THE GEORGIA SENATE REPUBLICAN CAUCUS.

NOW, THIS IS IN ADDITION TO THE OTHER BILLS I JUST MENTIONED.

>>> WELL, DRIVING IS THE FOCUS OF REPRESENTATIVE DON CARSON.

TODAY HE TOLD REPORTERS TRAFFIC FATALITIES IN GEORGIA HAVE DECREASED SINCE THE HOUSE FIRST ADDRESSED DISTRACTED DRIVING.

THIS WAS BACK IN 2017.

ADDING THE PASSING OF THE HANDS-FREE LAW IN 2018 MASS PLAYED A ROLE IN REDUCING THE NUMBER OF TRAFFIC FATALITIES AS WELL.

>> I INTRODUCED A BILL TODAY, HAVE SEVERAL SIGNERS.

TO GET RID AND APPEAL THE FIRST TIME WAIVER.

THE LAW HAS 98%, 99% AWARENESS AMONG GEORGIA DRIVERS AS OF TWO YEARS AGO.

IT IS TIME TO CLOSE THIS LOOPHOLE.

AND IT'S TIME TO SAVE LIVES.

>> BY THE WAY, THAT WAS HB 247.

REPRESENTATIVE CARSON ALSO PLANS TO REMOVE LANGUAGE FROM THE STATE LAW TO PREVENT DISTRACTED DRIVER OFFENDERS FROM AVOIDING PENALTIES.

>>> GOVERNOR BRIAN KEMP ANNOUNCED LEGISLATION TO HELP BOLSTER EDUCATION IN GEORGIA.

THE PACKAGE FOCUSES ON RETAINING AND RECRUITING TEACHERS BUT ALSO WORKS TO MAKE SURE ASPIRING TEACHERS GET ADDITIONAL HELP WHILE THEY ARE STILL IN COLLEGE.

>> EACH YEAR WE GRADUATE NEW COHORTS OF TEACHERS READY TO ENTER THE CLASSROOM AND WE SHOULD DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO ENSURE THEIR TRAINING EQUIPS THEM WITH THE STRATEGIES TO REACH ALL STUDENTS AT VARYING INSTRUCTION LEVELS.

>> THE GOVERNOR'S PACKAGE HELPS FUTURE TEACHERS BETTER PREPARE FOR WORKING WITH STUDENTS.

IT ALSO HELPS RETIRED TEACHERS RETURN TO THE CLASSROOM WHERE THERE IS A HIGH NEED.

IT SUPPORTS MILITARY VETERANS BY PROVIDING A PATHWAY FOR THEM TO BECOME CERTIFIED TEACHERS.

IT ENSURES NEW TEACHERS RECEIVE MUCH-NEEDED HELP FROM MENTORS.

AND IT ENHANCES TEACHER PREPARATION PROGRAMS AT GEORGIA'S HISTORICALLY BLACK COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES.

THE LEGISLATIVE DIRECTOR OF GEORGIA'S LARGEST TEACHERS GROUP HAD HIGH PRAISE FOR THE GOVERNOR'S EFFORT.

>> IT'S A TOUGH TIME FOR EDUCATORS OUT THERE IN GEORGIA AND ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

WE'VE NEVER ASKED MORE AND THEY'VE NEVER DELIVERED MORE THAN THEY HAVE IN THE CURRENT PANDEMIC ENVIRONMENT.

WE ARE AFRAID BASED ON OUR SURVEY DATA THAT WE ARE GOING TO LOSE MORE TEACHERS AFTER THE HARDSHIP OF THIS YEAR SO I THING IT'S VERY APPROPRIATE FOR STATE LEADERS TO FOCUS ON BOLSTERING THE TEACHER PIPELINE.

>> EVEN BEFORE THE PANDEMIC ABOUT HALF OF ALL TEACHERS LEAVE THE PROFESSION IN THE FIRST FIVE YEARS.

THAT'S MY CAPITAL REPORT.

DONNA, BACK TO YOU.

>> THANK YOU, BRENDA.

I APPRECIATE THAT.

LOTS GOING ON THERE.

GOVERNOR BRIAN KEMP ANNOUNCED LEGISLATION TO BOLSTER EDUCATION IN GEORGIA.

THE PACKAGE FOCUSES ON OBTAINING AND RECRUITING TEACHERS.

BRENDA TALKED ABOUT THAT.

I'M GOING TO TALK ABOUT A GOOD INTERNET CONNECTION.

IT'S SOMETHING MILLIONS OF GEORGIAENS TAKE FOR GRANTED BUT THERE'S MILLIONS MORE IN THE PEACH STATE WHO STRUGGLE WITH IT ESPECIALLY IN RURAL GEORGIA.

JOINING US TO TALK ABOUT THAT AND WHERE WE STAND NOW ARE TWO LAWMAKERS.

WE APPRECIATE YOU COMING IN TODAY.

REPUBLICAN STATE SENATOR STEVE GOOCH, WE'RE SO GLAD YOU'RE HERE.

AND DEMOCRATIC STATE REPRESENTATIVE MACK JACKSON OF SANDERSVILLE.

THANKS FOR BEING HERE.

SO LET'S START WITH UNDERSTANDING THE PROBLEM.

HERE IS A MAP FROM THE GEORGIA BROADBAND DEPLOYMENT INITIATIVE.

THE ORANGE AREAS ARE CONSIDERED SERVED WITH AT LEAST 25 MEGABITS PER SECOND DOWNLOAD AND 3 UPLOAD.

THE YELLOW AREAS ARE CONSIDERED UNDERSERVED WHICH MEANS THEY'RE ONLY COVERING ABOUT 30% OF RURAL GEORGIA.

NOW, SENATOR GOOCH IN 2018, YOU WERE THE LEAD SPONSOR ON SENATE BILL 402, PARTIALLY RESPONSIBLE FOR THAT MAP SO WE COULD FULLY UNDERSTAND EVERYTHING.

DO YOU THINK THAT LAWMAKERS NOW UNDERSTAND A LITTLE BIT BETTER ESPECIALLY WITH THE PANDEMIC WHERE THE NEEDS ARE?

>> SURE, I DO, DONNA.

THANK YOU FOR THAT QUESTION.

WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON THIS ISSUE FOR MORE THAN FOUR YEARS.

THE MAP YOU JUST SHOWED YOUR VIEWERS WAS A MAP GEORGIANS PAID FOR LAST YEAR THROUGH THE GENERAL FUND TAX, OR BUDGET.

PREVIOUS TO THAT, WE RELIED ON AN FCC MAP WHICH WAS TOTALLY OVERSTATED AS FAR AS THE COVERAGE IN THE STATE.

SO WE WERE ABLE TO PROVE WITH THE DEPLOYMENT OF THIS NEW MAP JUST HOW SEVERE THE PROBLEM REALLY WAS.

>> LET'S TALK ABOUT IT, WE TALKED ABOUT 25 MEGABITS PER SECOND DOWNLOAD AND 3 UPLOAD.

WHAT WOULD SOMEBODY IN MAYBE METRO ATLANTA WHO HAS A REALLY GOOD SERVICE HAVE?

>> YOU'RE SEEING FIBER TO THE HOME TODAY IN MOST BIG NEIGHBORHOODS, SUBURBAN ATLANTA, DOWNTOWN ATLANTA, SO GIGABIT SERVICE TO THE HOME IS COMMON DOWN HERE IN THE BIG CITIES.

BACK HOME IN RURAL GEORGIA, SOUTH GEORGIA, NORTH GEORGIA, WHAT HAVE YOU, YOU'RE LUCKY TO GET 5 MEGABITS PER SECOND DOWN SPEED AND 1 UP.

WHEN WE TALK ABOUT 25/3, THAT'S THE GOAL WE'RE TRYING TO ACHIEVE, WE WANT TO TRY TO GET EVERYONE UP TO AT LEAST 25/3.

WE WOULD LOVE TO BE AT 100 MEGABITS OR 200 OR EVEN A GIGABIT.

SOMEDAY WE HOPE TO HAVE THAT.

IT'S GOING TO TAKE YEARS TO HAPPEN.

>> YOU SAID THAT'S ALMOST DSL LEVEL, A LITTLE ABOVE DSL LEVEL, WHAT SOME OF THE STATE HAS.

>> THAT'S CORRECT.

DSL OPERATES PRIMARILY ON YOUR OLD COPPER PLAN.

>> YEAH.

>> IF YOU REMEMBER AS A CHILD, SOME OF US ARE OLD ENOUGH TO REMEMBE A PARTY LINE TELEPHONE SYSTEM OUT IN THE COUNTRY.

THOSE TELEPHONE LINES ARE STILL BEING USED TODAY FOR INTERNET SERVICE THROUGH A DSL MODEM THAT WE USED BACK 50 YEARS AGO FOR A PARTY LINE SYSTEM.

AND IT'S VERY ANTIQUATED TECHNOLOGY.

>> THAT'S AMAZING.

WELL, REPRESENTATIVE JACKSON, IN HANCOCK COUNTY, WE'RE HEARING 98% UNDERSERVED WHEN IT COMES TO THIS SO WHAT ARE THE CHALLENGES IN YOUR DISTRICT?

>> WELL, AS YOU KNOW, THE PANDEMIC EXPOSED A LOT OF THINGS ABOUT INTERNET SERVICE.

HANCOCK COUNTY, THE SCHOOL SYSTEM HAS GONE COMPLETELY VIRTUAL.

I'VE TALKED TO THE SUPERINTENDENT AND TALKED TO SOME TEACHERS AND THEY SAID IT IS HORRIBLE.

WE NEED BROADBAND IN RURAL AMERICA.

NOT JUST GEORGIA BUT IT'S A RURAL AMERICA PROBLEM ALL OVER.

ESPECIALLY IN OUR COUNTIES LIKE HANCOCK COUNTY, GLASSCO COUNTY WHICH I SERVE AND REPRESENT, WARREN COUNTY, WASHINGTON COUNTY.

JOHNSON COUNTY.

AND McDUFFIE COUNTY.

JEFFERSON COUNTY.

THOSE ARE RURAL COUNTIES THAT I REPRESENT AND WE'RE SEEING THE PROBLEM BECAUSE OF THE COVID AND CHILDREN NOT BEING ABLE TO GO BACK TO SCHOOL AND HAVING TO LEARN VIRTUALLY.

IT'S A BIG PROBLEM.

WE'RE SO GLAD THAT WE SEE SOMETHING BEING DONE NOW.

>> YEAH.

SO THAT'S WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.

IT'S A BIPARTISAN EFFORT.

>> IT'S A BIPARTISAN EFFORT.

>> WHO WOULD DISAGREE WITH THAT?

IT STILL COMES DOWN TO MONEY.

SENATOR GOOCH, IT STILL COMES DOWN -- AND YOU'RE BOTH ON YOUR RESPECTIVE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEES.

SO WE CAN TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT.

GOVERNOR BRIAN KEMP IS PROPOSING $20 MILLION IN THE CURRENT BUDGET AND THEN ANOTHER $10 MILLION IN THE NEXT BUDGET.

SO WHAT IS YOUR UNDERSTANDING WHAT THESE GRANTS ARE?

BECAUSE THEY'RE IN THE FORM OF GRANTS.

>> THEY ARE.

$20 MILLION IS A GOOD START.

I HAVE TO SAY THAT THIS PROBLEM IS GOING TO TAKE YEARS TO RESOLVE.

THIS IS A MARATHON, NOT A SPRINT.

SO $20 MILLION IS A GOOD START THIS YEAR.

HONESTLY, I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE IN EXCESS OF $1 BILLION TO SOLVE THE RURAL DIVIDE THAT WE HAVE.

NOT ONLY IN GEORGIA BUT ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

THERE'S HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS OF FEDERAL GRANTS THAT ARE AVAILABLE TODAY.

AND WE'RE USING SOME OF THOSE IN SOME OF THE RURAL AREAS WITH THE EMCs AND WE'LL TALK ABOUT THAT SHORTLY, I'M SURE.

BUT THE $20 MILLION WILL BE DISPERSED THROUGH A GRANT PROCESS, THROUGH THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS, AND SO ANY APPLICANT, AN APPLICANT BEING A TELEPHONE COMPANY OR AN INTERNET SERVICE PROVIDER, THEY WOULD HAVE TO COME TO THE STATE AND THEY WOULD HAVE TO MAKE A CASE FOR WHY THEY SHOULD BE ABLE TO UTILIZE SOME OF THESE STATE FUNDS TO BE ABLE TO GO OUT AND DEPLOY THE INTERNET SERVICE TO THESE RURAL UNDERSERVED AREAS.

>> YEAH.

I'M SURE, REPRESENTATIVE JACKSON, YOUR AREA IS VERY INTERESTED IN THIS.

>> WE'RE VERY INTERESTED.

AS A MATTER OF FACT, WE'RE EXCITED WHEN THE GOVERNOR GAVE HIS STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS AND ANNOUNCED HE WAS PUTTING $20 MILLION IN TO THE AMENDED BUDGET AND ANOTHER $10 MILLION GOING FORWARD.

WE WERE VERY EXCITED.

>> YEAH.

SO, SENATOR GOOCH, YOU INTRODUCED -- OR YOU HAD LEGISLATION, A NEW BILL FILED TODAY, SENATE BILL 65.

WHAT'S THAT ALL ABOUT?

AS PART OF THIS BUT A LITTLE DIFFERENT.

>> WELL, IF YOU'RE SITTING AT HOME TONIGHT WATCHING THIS SHOW, PULL OUT YOUR TELEPHONE BILL.

IF YOU STILL HAVE A LANDLINE PHONE AT YOUR HOME, YOU'LL SEE A LOT OF FEES AND CHARGES, SURCHARGES, FCC SURCHARGES.

WHAT YOU'LL ALSO SEE ON THERE IS A FEDERAL UNIVERSAL ACCESS FUND FEE AND A GEORGIA ACCESS FUND FEE.

THE ACCESS FUNDS ARE COLLECTED AND DISTRIBUTED BY THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION.

ONE OF THOSE FEES WILL SUNSET JUNE 30th OF THIS YEAR WHICH MEANS IT WILL NO LONGER BE COLLECTED ON THOSE TELEPHONE BILLS.

WE WOULD LIKE TO LOOK AT USING THAT MONEY GOING GUARD FOR THE NEXT TEN YEARS TO CONTINUE TO COLLECT THAT FEE BUT ALSO USE THAT MONEY TO GET THE BROADBAND DEPLOYED QUICKER AND, YOU KNOW, IN ADDITION TO WHAT THE GOVERNOR'S OFFERING FOR THIS YEAR IN $20 MILLION, WE COULD USE AN ADDITIONAL $20 MILLION OR $30 MILLION FROM THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION EVERY YEAR FOR THE NEXT TEN YEARS.

NOW WE'RE TALKING ABOUT SIGNIFICANT MONEY OVER TEN YEARS, YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT $600 MILLION.

WE COULD REALLY GO A LONG WAYS IN RESOLVING THE PROBLEM WITH THAT KIND OF MONEY.

>> ONLY ON LANDLINES, NOT ON CELL PHONE.

>> IT WOULD NOT BE APPIED TO CELL PHONES, CORRECT.

>> AND YOUR PEOPLE ARE USING THE LANDLINES, THOUGH.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

>> HAVE TO FIGURE OUT SOMETHING ELSE WHEN IT COMES TO THAT.

I WANT TO GET INTO IT WITH YOU, REPRESENTATIVE JACKSON, A LITTLE BIT.

YOU MENTIONED HOW SERIOUS THE PROBLEM IS WHEN IT COMES TO EDUCATION FOR YOUR -- THE PEOPLE IN YOUR AREA.

>> UH-HUH.

>> HOW WORRIED ARE YOU ABOUT THE FACT THAT THEY HAVEN'T HAD INTERNET ACCESS AND THEY HAVEN'T HAD A CHANCE TO GO INTO THE CLASSROOM, EITHER?

>> WELL, WE'RE VERY CONCERNED ABOUT IT BECAUSE WE TALK ABOUT EDUCATION BUT ALSO TELEMEDICINE IS VERY IMPORTANT.

WHEN WE TALK ABOUT BROADBAND.

TELEMEDICINE DEPENDS ON BROADBAND IN OUR RURAL AREAS.

I GOT RURAL COMMUNITIES THAT DON'T EVEN HAVE A HOSPITAL, SO WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT A COMMUNITY THAT DOESN'T HAVE A HOSPITAL AND YOU WANT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, IT'S ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO PROVIDE -- TO TRACK ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN YOUR COMMUNITY.

AND THEN IF THEY DO COME IN AND SOMEBODY GETS HURT, THEN THERE'S A LIABILITY BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE MEDICAL -- ANY MEDICAL HELP THERE.

THEY HAVE TO DRIVE SOMETIMES 25, 30, MILES JUST TO GET TO A HOSPITAL.

SO WE'RE VERY CONCERNED ABOUT BROADBAND.

I WAS LISTENING TO SENATOR GOOCH TALK ABOUT SENATE BILL 65 THAT HE INTRODUCED TODAY.

I WANT TO COMMEND HIM ON THAT BECAUSE THAT'S A GREAT START.

FOR FUNDS FOR BROADBAND BECAUSE WE'VE GOT TO SOLVE THIS PROBLEM IN GEORGIA AND NOT ONLY IN GEORGIA BUT IN THE UNITED STATES.

>> YEAH.

I'M GLAD YOU BROUGHT UP THE ECONOMIC BENEFITS TO HAVING INTERNET.

SENATOR GOOCH, YOU MENTIONED EMCs BEFORE.

EMCs ARE ELECTRIC MEMBERSHIP COOPERATIVE.

AND I -- YOU JUST INFORMED ME THEY'RE BIGGER IN GEORGIA THAN WE THOUGHT.

THEY'RE MEMBER OWNED, NOT-FOR-PROFIT UTILITIES.

HOW WILL THAT HELP SPREAD INTERNET?

>> WELL, IF YOU GO BACK TO WHEN THE EMCs WERE ORIGINALLY CREATED, THEY WERE CREATED TO DELIVER POWER TO PARTS OF THE COUNTRY WHERE BIG CORPORATIONS LIKE GEORGIA POWER AND OTHERS WOULD NOT PROVIDE ELECTRICITY SO THEY WERE -- THE SAME BUSINESS MODEL EXISTS TODAY WITH THE INTERNET AS WE HAD BACK IN THE EARLY PART OF THE 19th CENTURY TO WHERE -- 20th CENTURIES, WHERE PEOPLE LITERALLY WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO AFFORD TO SEND THOSE POWER LINES OUT INTO THE RURAL AREAS.

THE SAME ARGUMENT TODAY EXISTS.

PRIVATE INTERNET PROVIDERS SAY THAT THERE'S NO RETURN ON THE INVESTMENT FOR THEM TO GO SPEND HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS.

AND I GET THAT.

I'M A CAPITALIST.

SO THE EMCs, THE ELECTRIC MEMBERSHIP CO-OPS, THERE'S 41 AROUND THE STATE.

THEY REPRESENT ABOUT HALF OF THE POPULATION.

HALF OF GEORGIA'S POPULATION GETS THEIR ELECTRICITY FROM THE EMCs.

SOME OF THE EMCs ARE WILLING TO GO INTO THE BROADBAND BUSINESS NOT FOR A PROFIT, NOT FOR A RETURN ON THE INVESTMENT, BUT TO DELIVER THE SERVICE TO THEIR CUSTOMERS AND WE BELIEVE THAT'S A GOOD MODEL.

IT'S WORKED WELL IN TENNESSEE AND ARKANSAS AND OTHER STATES AROUND THE COUNTRY.

AND WE'VE ALREADY STARTED THAT.

SENATE BILL 2 PASSED TWO YEARS AGO.

WENT INTO EFFECT LAST YEAR.

AND WE'VE ALREADY SEEN FOUR EMCs TO APPLY AND GET CERTIFICATION TO DEPLOY THE BROADBAND.

AND SO WE ARE VERY FORTUNATE TO HAVE THOSE EMCs INTERESTED IN GETTING INTO INTERNET PROVIDER BUSINESS.

>> SO WE'RE SEEING MOVEMENT, BUT THIS IS GOING TO TAKE A WHILE.

SO ANYBODY WHO THINKS, YOU KNOW, THE GOVERNOR SAID HERE'S THE MONEY, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE INTERNET SOON, THEY'VE GOT TO BE PATIENT.

>> WE HAVE TO BE PATIENT.

BUT WE HAVE TO BE PERSISTENT.

WE HAVE TO KEEP FIGHTING.

I'VE BEEN ON THIS JOURNEY FOR FOUR YEARS AND AS LONG AS I'M IN THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY IN THE STATE SENATE, I'M GOING TO CONTINUE TO FIGHT UNTIL EVERY GEORGIAN HAS INTERNET SERVICE IN THEIR HOME.

>> YEAH, SOUNDS LIKE YOU FEEL THE SAME WAY.

>> I FEEL THE SAME WAY, TOO.

>> YEAH.

>> I FEEL THE VERY SAME WAY.

>> YOU'RE TELLING PEOPLE BE PATIENT, RIGHT?

>> BE PATIENT.

>> ALL RIGHTY.

THANK YOU, BOTH, FOR BEING HERE TODAY AND HELPING US UNDERSTAND THIS MORE, AND WE'LL CONTINUE TO FOLLOW THIS AND LET PEOPLE KNOW ABOUT IT.

>> THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU, DONNA.

>>> COMING UP ON "LAWMAKERS," A LOOK AT LEGISLATION TO HELP DREAMERS, IMMIGRANTS GRANTED A TEMPORARY REPRIEVE FROM DEPORTATION.

THEY'RE GETTING THE CHANCE, POSSIBLY, TO PAY IN-STATE TUITION FOR COLLEGE.

WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK.

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

WITH OVER 80 YEARS OF HELPING EVERYONE UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF AGRICULTURE IN OUR STATE, AFTER ALL, AG IS GEORGIA'S NUMBER ONE INDUSTRY.

FOOD AND FIBER PRODUCTION REPRESENTS OVER $74 BILLION IN OUTPUT OF GEORGIA'S STRONG ECONOMY.

THE GEORGIA FARM BUREAU LEGISLATIVE TEAM WORKS TO REPRESENT PRODUCERS ACROSS GEORGIA AT THE STATE CAPITOL DURING THE SESSION AND YEAR ROUND.

GEORGIA FARM BUREAU, THE VOICE OF GEORGIA FARMERS.

>>> WE'RE ALL IN THIS FIGHT ALL THE WAY FROM THE 7,000 CIGNA CLINICIANS SUPPORTING FRONT LINE DOCTORS AND NURSES TO EVERYONE STAYING HOME TO PROTECT OTHERS.

FIND ANSWERS TO YOUR MOST PRESSING QUESTIONS AT CIGNA.COM/COVID-19.

>>> GEORGIA HUMANITIES, CONNECTING PEOPLE AND COMMUNITIES ACROSS GEORGIA, TO ENCOURAGE CONVERSATION, EDUCATION, AND UNDERSTANDING.

FIND OUT MORE AT WWW.GEORGIAHUMANITIES.ORG.

>>> JOIN GPB AS WE CELEBRATE AMERICAN PORTRAITS.

>> I HAVE A GREAT TRADITION IN MY FAMILY.

WE GO TO "STAR WARS" MOVIES EVERY YEAR WHEN THEY COME OUT.

>> I'M A HALF AFRICAN-AMERICAN AND HALF SOUTH ASIAN EDUCATED INDIVIDUAL.

I SPENT QUITE A BIT OF TIME RETHINKING MY CHOICE TO CELEBRATE THIS HOLIDAY.

WHEN THIS IS ALL OVER, I HOPE TO GO BACK TO SOME SENSE OF NORMALCY.

>> SHARE YOUR STORY AT GPB.ORG/AMERICANPORTRAITS.

>>> WELCOME BACK TO "LAWMAKERS" ON GPB.

I'M DONNA LOWRY.

THERE ARE AT LEAST 21,000 DACA RESIDENTS, RECIPIENTS, I SHOULD SAY, LIVING IN GEORGIA.

DACA IS THE DEFERRED ACTION FOR CHILDHOOD ARRIVALS, A FEDERAL PROGRAM THAT PROTECTS DREAMERS, IMMIGRANTS BROUGHT TO THE UNITED STATES AS CHILDREN.

THE STUDENTS GET THE SAME PUBLIC EDUCATION AS ANY OTHER CHILD UNTIL THE 12th GRADE, BUT WHEN THEY GET TO COLLEGE, THAT CHANGES.

DACA STUDENTS MUST PAY OUT OF STATE TUITION.

SOME LAWMAKERS WANT DREAMERS CHARGED THE SAME TUITION RATE AS OTHER STUDENTS IN GEORGIA AND TO CHANGE THAT THERE'S A BILL TO INTRODUCE THAT IN THE HOUSE.

HERE TO TALK ABOUT THAT ARE REPUBLICAN STATE REPRESENTATIVE CASEY CARPENTER OF DALTON AND REPORTER ROSS WILLIAMS FROM THE "GEORGIA RECORDER."

THANK YOU, BOTH, FOR BEING HERE.

SO YOU INTRODUCED THE BILL, REPRESENTATIVE CARPENTER, AND IT IS HB 120 TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE.

TELL US ABOUT IT.

>> YEAH.

I THINK IT'S A GREAT BILL.

I DROPPED IT LATE LAST YEAR AS WELL AND IT'S JUST SOMETHING THAT'S NEAR AND DEAR TO MY HEART.

WHITFIELD COUNTY HAS UPWARDS OF 6,000 DACA RECIPIENTS SO WE'VE SEEN -- THESE ARE KIDS I'VE GONE TO CHURCH WITH, THESE ARE KIDS THAT I'VE COACHED IN FOOTBALL, KIDS THAT WORK IN RESTAURANTS.

SO IT'S JUST SOMETHING THAT'S BEEN REALLY, REALLY ON MY HEART FOR A REALLY LONG TIME.

I THINK IT'S A GREAT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TOOL.

>> YEAH.

LET'S TALK ABOUT THAT A LITTLE BIT MORE IN TERMS OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

YOU FEEL THAT IF THEY GO ON TO COLLEGE, THEY BECOME PART OF THE WORKFORCE.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

SO, SO WHAT WE HAVE IS A SCENARIO WHERE WE GOT A WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT ISSUE AROUND THE STATE AND THIS IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY.

YOU GOT A LOT OF EAGER INDIVIDUALS THAT WANT TO CONTINUE THEIR EDUCATION AND SO WHILE WOULD THE STATE NOT CONTINUE TO INVEST IN THESE KIDS SO THEY COULD BE HIGHER TAXPAYERS?

THEY HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO DOUBLE THEIR INCOME.

IT'S PROVEN THAT IF YOU GRADUATE FROM COLLEGE, YOU'LL MAKE TWICE AS MUCH AS GRADUATING FROM HIGH SCHOOL.

THAT'S MORE IN TAXES AND TO ME THAT'S A REPUBLICAN IDEA.

YOU PAY MORE IN TAXES, IT GIVES MORE GIVERS TO SOCIETY THAN TAKERS.

IT'S JUST -- IT'S A GREAT THING, I THINK.

>> OKAY.

WE'LL TALK A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THAT IN A MOMENT, ROSS.

I WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE FACT THAT YOU COVERED THESE ISSUES BEFORE FOR THE "GEORGIA RECORDER" AND WHAT WE KNOW IS THIS IS PART -- THIS ISSUE WAS PART OF PRESIDENT OBAMA'S EFFORT WITH THE DACA AND THAT THERE WAS A FEELING DURING THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION TO KIND OF -- TO CHANGE THAT.

AND SO THE PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT IN FAVOR OF THIS BASICALLY FEEL, WHAT?

>> WE'RE HEARING A LOT OF THE SAME THINGS THAT WE DID HEAR DURING THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION AND IN THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION.

BIG ARGUMENT IS THAT IF THESE STUDENTS ARE ALLOWED TO PAY THE LOWER TUITION RATES THAT WILL TAKE THE SPOT AWAY FROM A NATURALIZED CITIZEN.

SOMEONE WHO WAS BORN IN GEORGIA, BORN IN THE UNITED STATES.

THERE'S A LOT OF TALK ABOUT SCHOLARSHIPS AS WELL.

YOU KNOW, THERE'S A LIMITED AMOUNT OF MONEY AND SOME PEOPLE ARE ARGUING, YOU KNOW, SHOULDN'T THAT MONEY GO TO SOMEBODY WHO WAS NATURALIZED IN THE UNITED STATES.

LOT OF PEOPLE BRING UP THE IDEA THAT SOMEBODY FROM THE PLACE LIKE TENNESSEE, NEBRASKA, MAINE, TUITION THAN SOMEBODY WHO WAS BORN IN ANOTHER COUNTRY, BROUGHT HERE AS A YOUNG CHILD, AND STUDIED IN GEORGIA ALL THEIR LIFE BUT SOME PEOPLE FIND A PROBLEM WITH THAT.

>> HOW DO YOU RESPOND TO THAT?

>> SO, I GUESS MY FIRST RESPONSE IS, WE ALLOW KIDS FROM BORDER STATES RIGHT NOW TO COME TO GEORGIA, CERTAIN GEORGIA COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES AND PAY AN IN-STATE TUITION RATE.

WE SEE IT ALL OVER THE STATE.

AND THIS BILL IS NARROWLY TAILORED SO IT WOULD ONLY ALLOW THOSE KIDS TO ATTEND SCHOOLS THAT ARE NOT AT FULL ENROLLMENT.

SO THEY'RE NOT -- THE ARGUMENT THAT THEY'RE GOING TO BE TAKING SOMEBODY ELSE'S SEAT IN A CLASSROOM IS JUST NOT TRUE.

THEY ARE LITERALLY GOING TO A SCHOOL THAT HAS CAPACITY AND IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY TO, YOU KNOW, INCREASE ENROLLMENT AT ALL OUR SMALLER SCHOOLS AROUND THE STATE OF GEORGIA AND DEVELOP A WORKFORCE BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'VE SEEN THE STUDIES BUT KIDS THAT STUDY AT STATE COLLEGES, 8 O% OF THEM STAY IN GEORGIA SO IT'S A HUGE WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT ISSUE.

AND I THINK IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY AS A STATE.

>> WHAT ABOUT THE ISSUE OF SCHOLARSHIPS?

THAT THEY MAY BE TAKING SCHOLARSHIPS FROM DOCUMENTED -- >> I MEAN, THIS BILL -- THIS BILL HERE DOESN'T TALK MUCH ABOUT SCHOLARSHIPS AT ALL.

THEY'RE NOT ABLE TO GET H.O.P.E.

SCHOLARSHIP OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.

IT'S LITERALLY, SO JUST A SCENARIO BECAUSE I'M FROM DALTON, WE HAVE DALTON STATE.

SO A DACA STUDENT AT DALTON STATE WOULD PAY $17,000 TO GO TO DALTON STATE.

ANOTHER TAXPAYER'S KID FROM GEORGIA WOULD PAY $5,000.

OH, AND BY THE WAY, KIDS FROM CHATTANOOGA PAY $5,000.

JUST TO ME IT'S ABOUT FAIRNESS AND OPPORTUNITY FOR THESE KIDS THAT WANT TO BE PRODUCTIVE AND DO GREAT THINGS IN GEORGIA.

>> AND SOME OF THESE ARE STUDENTS WHO'VE BEEN IN THE GEORGIA EDUCATION SYSTEM FROM KINDERGARTEN ALL THE WAY THROUGH.

>> YES.

THAT'S RIGHT.

KINDERGARTEN ALL THE WAY THROUGH.

THEY'VE ALL BEEN -- THIS BILL SAYS THEY ALL HAVE TO HAVE BEEN IN GEORGIA SINCE 2013, SO, I MEAN, IT'S JUST -- IT'S A NO-BRAINER IDEA.

>> YEAH.

DESPITE -- THERE WERE SOME CRITICAL VICTORIES WHEN IT COMES TO DACA IN THE LAST FEW YEARS.

BUT THERE'S -- THERE'S SOMETHING GOING ON IN TEXAS RIGHT NOW.

ARE YOU FAMILIAR WITH IT WHERE IT MIGHT STOP WHAT'S GOING ON AND SO PEOPLE ARE KIND OF WAITING TO SEE ABOUT SOME LEGAL ACTION IN TEXAS.

ARE YOU FAMILIAR WITH THAT?

>> I'M NOT REALLY CONFIDENT ABOUT TALKING ABOUT THINGS OUTSIDE GEORGIA.

>> OKAY.

WELL, THERE IS SOME INTEREST -- I MEAN, YOU MAY BE FAMILIAR WITH IT.

>> SURE.

SO, I MEAN, TEXAS HAS THIS BILL.

>> YEAH.

>> FLORIDA HAS THIS BILL.

OKLAHOMA HAS THIS BILL.

REPUBLICAN STATES AROUND THE NATION HAVE THIS BILL.

SO GEORGIA, I THINK GEORGIA CAN DO THIS AS WELL.

>> ALL RIGHT.

YEAH.

WHAT THEY'RE SAYING, A FEDERAL JUDGE IN TEXAS WHO HAD -- HE'S LOOKING TO TERMINATE THE WHOLE DACA PROGRAM AND SO THERE'S -- SOME PEOPLE ARE WORRIED ABOUT THAT.

>> SURE.

I UNDERSTAND.

I MEAN, UNFORTUNATELY, THESE FOLKS HAVE BEEN USED AS A BARGAINING CHIP THROUGHOUT FEDERAL POLITICS FOR A LONG TIME AND AT SOME POINT THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE TO MAKE A DECISION.

THE FEDERAL IMMIGRATION POLICY, INABILITY TO SECURE THE BORDERS, WE'RE JUST TRYING TO SOLVE A PROBLEM THAT THEY WON'T SOLVE.

AND SO WHAT I TELL PEOPLE IS THIS IS MAKING LEMONADE OUT OF LEMONS.

THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAS GIVEN US LEMONS.

WE'RE TRYING TO DO THE BEST WE CAN WITH IT.

THESE KIDS ARE CAUGHT IN LIMBO BECAUSE OF IT.

>> SURE.

YOU'VE DONE SOME INTERVIEWS WITH SOME OF THE STUDENTS.

TALK ABOUT WHAT THEY'VE TOLD YOU.

>> REALLY KIND OF BREAKS YOUR HEART HEARING ABOUT SOME OF THE KIDS THAT WANT TO BECOME A DOCTOR, LAWYER, BUT A LOT OF THEM ARE JUST ABLE TO TAKE MAYBE ONE OR TWO CLASSES PER SEMESTER AND THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE TO GO WORK FOR A SEMESTER OR TWO TO PAY OFF THE REST OF IT.

IT'S A TOUGH SITUATION THAT THEY'RE IN.

>> YEAH.

>> LIKE I SAID, THEY GREW UP IN GEORGIA.

A LOT OF THE SAME CLASSMATES ARE PAYING SIGNIFICANTLY LESS, GRADUATING ON TIME AND THEY'RE FALLING BEHIND, HAVING TO, YOU KNOW, WORK SOMETIMES MENIAL JOBS SOMETIMES.

>> YEAH.

REPRESENTATIVE CARPENTER, THE OTHER ARGUMENT IS THAT MORE PEOPLE WILL BE ENCOURAGED TO CROSS THE BORDER AND BRING THEIR KIDS.

>> RIGHT.

SO, I MEAN, THIS BILL -- THE WAY THIS BILL IS DRAWN UP, WE'VE ALREADY ADDRESSED THAT ISSUE.

IT WOULD LITERALLY ONLY APPLY TO GEORGIA DACA RECIPIENTS.

YOU COULDN'T COME INTO GEORGIA NOW BECAUSE YOU'VE HAD TO HAVE BEEN IN GEORGIA SINCE YOU GOT YOUR DACA CERTIFICATION.

AND YOU CAN'T -- AND IT WOULDN'T IMPLY -- CUT IT OFF AT 2013, SO THIS WOULD INVITE MORE PEOPLE INTO THE STATE.

THIS IS LITERALLY US TAKING CARE OF THE KIDS THAT ARE ALREADY HERE BECAUSE WE WANT TO GIVE THEM AN OPPORTUNITY TO BE SUCCESSFUL IN LIFE AND BE SUCCESSFUL TAXPAYERS.

>> AND I REMEMBER LAST YEAR YOU MENTIONED YOU DID HAVE THE BILL.

HOW DOES THIS DIFFER FROM THE ONE YOU INTRODUCED -- >> IT'S CURRENTLY THE EXACT SAME BILL.

WE HAD A GREAT COMMITTEE HEARING IN HIGHER ED LAST YEAR.

A REAL EMOTIONAL HEARING BECAUSE I BROUGHT A KID FROM MY AREA UP AND HE TALKED ABOUT THE STRUGGLES AND IT WAS HEARTBREAKING.

I MEAN, IT LITERALLY RIPS YOUR HEART OUT WHEN YOU HEAR THESE KIDS, ALL THEY WANT TO DO IS BE SUCCESSFUL.

I MEAN, THESE ARE KIDS THAT ROOT FOR THE GEORGIA BULLDOGS, ROOT FOR THE ATLANTA FALCONS.

THEY'RE GEORGIANS.

THEY DON'T KNOW THE MEXICO THEY GOT TAKEN FROM WHEN THEY WERE KIDS.

THIS IS ALL THEY KNOW IS HOME.

AND I THINK WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO SHOW THOSE FOLKS THAT WE CARE ABOUT THEM AND WE WANT TO HELP THEM BE SUCCESSFUL SO THEY CAN BE SUCCESSFUL CITIZENS.

>> YEAH.

YOU SAID, I REMEMBER WHEN I INTERVIEWED YOU LAST YEAR, YOU SAID YOU KNOW SOME OF THESE -- >> OH, ABSOLUTELY.

>> YOU GO TO CHURCH WITH THEM.

THAT YOU -- YOU COACH THEM.

I DON'T KNOW, ARE YOU COACHING THEM?

>> YEAH, I'VE COACHED YOUTH SPORTS FOR A REALLY LONG TIME.

ABSOLUTELY.

LIKE YOU SAID, THESE ARE KIDS -- WHEN YOU HAVE 6,000 IN A COUNTY OF 100,000, YOU'RE RUBBING ELBOWS WITH THESE KIDS -- ALL THEY WANT TO DO IS BE SUCCESSFUL.

>> SO WHAT REACTION YOU GETTING?

>> YOU KNOW, IT'S MIXED.

IT'S TOUGH.

I MEAN, IT'S TOUGH SLEDDING.

BUT I THINK, YOU KNOW, IF I CAN SIT DOWN AND EXPLAIN, IF PEOPLE GIVE ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO EXPLAIN THE PARAMETERS WE HAVE AROUND THIS BILL AND THE PROTECTIONS WE HAVE, I THINK IT'S SOMETHING THEY CAN UNDERSTAND.

YOU KNOW, THERE'S ALWAYS GOING TO BE SOME PEOPLE THAT, YOU KNOW, IMMIGRATION IS IMMIGRATION AND THEY'RE ALWAYS GOING TO VOTE AGAINST IT.

BUT THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO TRY SOLVE A PROBLEM THAT, UNFORTUNATELY, THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAS NOT DONE.

>> YOU DIDN'T MAKE IT OUT OF COMMITTEE LAST YEAR.

YOU THINKING THAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN?

>> I HOPE SO.

CHUCK MARTIN, I LOVE YOU.

LET ME KNOW HOW WE CAN WORK ON THIS.

>> OKAY.

YOU SAID IT RIGHT HERE.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING ON TODAY.

THANK YOU, ROSS, FOR BEING HERE.

I'M SURE WE'RE GOING TO KEEP UP WITH THIS AND LET PEOPLE KNOW IN THE NEXT, WHAT, 30 DAYS LEFT WE HAVE OF THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

SO, AND WE ALSO WANT TO THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US TONIGHT FOR "LAWMAKERS."

BE SURE TO JOIN US TOMORROW FOR A LEGISLATIVE DAY 11.

YOU CAN TRACK US ON FACEBOOK AND TWITTER @GPBNEWS.

USE #GPBLAWMAKERS TO JOIN THE CONVERSATION AND FEED YOUR POLITICAL APPETITE THROUGHOUT THE DAY ON OUR POLITICS PAGE, GPB.ORG/POLITICS.

TUNE IN TOMORROW MORNING TO "POLITICAL REWIND" HOSTED BY BILL.

IT'S AT 9:00.

THANKS FOR JOINING US.

HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.