♪ ♪ >>> REGARDLESS OF THE TRUTH, I HAVE ALREADY BEEN FALSELY LABELED AND I LOST MY JOB.

A JOB I LOVED.

I WORKED WITH SOME OF THE BEST PEOPLE IN MY CAREER.

>> SENATOR JOHN ALBERS CALLS IT ECONOMIC TERRORISM.

WELCOME TO "LAWMAKERS."

WE'LL HAVE MORE ON SENATOR ALBERS IN A MOMENT.

PLUS, THE GOVERNOR SIGNS TWO TAX BILLS, INCLUDING ONE THAT WILL DIRECTLY AFFECT YOUR WALLET.

>>> A BIG STEP FOR THE STATE BUDGET TODAY AS IT MAKES ITS WAY TOWARD ANOTHER KEY VOTE.

WE'LL TALK TO A SENATOR BEHIND A COUPLE OF CONTROVERSIAL BILLS, TIGHTENING UP A PROCESS FOR HOLDING A PROTEST AND RECEIVING TRAINING ON HOW TO ACT WHEN YOU'RE STOPPED BY THE POLICE.

>>> BUT FIRST, A RUN DOWN OF THE NEWS AT THE CAPITOL TODAY FROM BRENDA WATERS.

HEY, BRENDA.

>> Reporter: HEY, RAUL.

GOVERNOR BRIAN KEMP SIGNED TWO BILLS INTO LAW THIS MORNING.

SURROUNDED BY THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR AND THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE AND OTHER LEGISLATORS.

>> A YEAR AGO, IT COULD HAVE SEEMED FAR FETCH THAT GEORGIA WOULD BE ABLE TO CUT TAXES IN THE MIDDLE OF A ONCE-IN-A-LIFETIME GLOBAL PANDEMIC.

TODAY, UNDER THIS GOLD DOME, I WILL SIGN TWO BILLS THAT REDUCE THE TAX BURDEN PLACED ON HARDWORKING GEORGIANS AND THE PARENTS OF FOSTER CHILDREN ACROSS OUR STATE.

>> Reporter: WANT THAT, TWO BILLS BECAME LAW.

>> HB-593 PROVIDES A TAX CUT FOR HARDWORKING GEORGIANS WHEN THEY NEED IT.

SINGLE TAXPAYERS AND THE HEADS OF HOUSEHOLD WILL GET AN INCREASE IN THEIR STANDARD DEDUCTION FROM $4600 TO $5400.

MARRIED TAXPAYERS FILING SEPARATELY WILL GET AN ADDITIONAL INCREASE -- OR AN INCREASE FROM $3,000 TO $3550, AND MARE YESTERDAY TAXPAYERS FILING JOINTLY WILL GET AN INCREASE FROM $6,000 TO $7100.

HB-114 TRIPLES GEORGIA'S ADOPTION TAX CREDIT TO $6,000 PER YEAR FOR FIVE YEARS.

>>> SENATOR JOHN ALBERS BROKE DOWN IN TEARS THIS MORNING AFTER HE SAYS HE WAS ATTACKED BY THE LINCOLN PROJECT IN A SERIES OF TWEETS.

THE LINCOLN PROJECT IS A POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE THAT WAS FORMED IN LATE 2019.

>> AND I LOST MY JOB.

A JOB I LOVED.

I WORKED WITH SOME OF THE BEST PEOPLE IN MY CAREER.

>> SENATOR JOHN ALBERS SAYS HE WAS THE TARGET OF THE LINCOLN PROJECT.

HE SPOKE TO ME LATER THIS AFTERNOON.

>> I WAS MALICIOUSLY AND VICIOUSLY ATTACKED BASED ON A LIE FROM A GROUP CALLED THE LINCOLN PROJECT, WHICH HAS CAUSED GREAT HARM.

I'VE LITERALLY LOST MY JOB, MY FAMILY THREATENED AND ALL BASED ON A LIE FROM A DISCREDITED ORGANIZATION.

THE LIE THAT THEY TOLD ON TWITTER, WHICH THEY NOW HAVE DELETED, SAID I SPONSORED A BILL THAT WAS SUPPRESSING VOTERS AND PEOPLE AND JUST ALL SORTS OF NASTY THINGS.

THE BILL WAS SENATE BILL 62.

THAT BILL WAS AN UNCONTROVERSIAL BILL THAT SAID OUR BALLOTS SHOULD HAVE WATER MARKS AND A SEAL AND PRECINCT NUMBER ON THEM.

IN FACT, IT PASSED BIPARTISAN THROUGH THE SENATE.

AND KANLDI HAVE BEEN A CHAMPION VOTERS MY ENTIRE CAREER AND I TOOK A LOT OF HEAT BECAUSE I WOULD NOT REMOVE NO EXCUSE ABSENTEE BALLOTING.

>> SENATOR ALBERS TOLD ME HE WAS THE CHIEF INFORMATION OFFICER FOR A LARGE FIRM BASED HERE IN ATLANTA WITH A NATIONWIDE FOOT PRINT.

HE SAYS HE'S EXPLORING ALL OPTIONS AGAINST THE LINCOLN PROJECT, INCLUDING LEGAL ACTION.

>>> ALSO IN HOT WATER, REPRESENTATIVE CASEY CARPENTER FOR A COMMENT HE MADE ON THE HOUSE FLOOR ABOUT RAPPER CARDI B.

'S PLASTIC SURGERY.

TODAY, THE CHAIRMAN OF THE HOUSE ETHICS COMMITTEE LAID DOWN THE LAW.

>> LAST WEEK THERE WAS A COMMENT MADE BY A MEMBER OF THIS BODY THAT CAUSED SEVERAL MEMBERS TO FILE AN ETHICS COMPLAINT.

THE COMMENT WAS CRUDE, HAD A SEXUAL CONNOTATION, AND VERY INAPPROPRIATE.

>> INAPPROPRIATE JOKE, ABSOLUTELY.

SEXUAL HARASSMENT, NO.

IT WASN'T DIRECTED TOWARD ANY PERSON.

I APOLOGIZED TO EACH ONE OF THEM, SO I'M GETTING THERE TO GET THROUGH IT, BUT THEY KNOW ME.

THEY KNOW I'M KIDDING AROUND.

>> REPRESENTATIVE CARPENTER SAYS HE BELIEVES THE COMPLAINT WILL BE DROPPED EVENTUALLY.

>>> THE SENATE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE MET TODAY TO REVIEW THE FISCAL YEAR 2022 BUDGET.

SENATE APPROPRIATIONS CHAIRMAN BLAKE TILLERY SAYS THE STATE'S FINANCES HAVE OUTPERFORMED PANDEMIC EXPECTATIONS.

>> WE KNOW THAT FEDERAL FUNDS, WHILE THEY'RE COMING IN NOW AND RECOGNIZED ON MANY LINES IN THE BUDGET, WE DO NOT EXPECT THEM TO CONTINUE FOREVER.

THEY'RE ONE-TIME FUNDS.

AND ALSO CHANGES IN POLICY WILL AFFECT THE REVENUES WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO PULL IN SO FAR.

SO WHILE I TELL YOU, YES, YOU'RE ABSOLUTELY CORRECT, OUR STATE FINANCES HAVE OUTPERFORMED WHERE WE THOUGHT WE WOULD BE LAST YEAR.

I'M NOT AT A POINT TO TELL YOU ALL IS GOOD AND WE'RE IN THE CLEAR.

>> THE FISCAL YEAR '22 BUDGET WILL BE ON THE SENATE FLOOR TOMORROW.

>>> AND ON THE SENATE FLOOR, SENATORS AGREED TO THE HOUSE SUBSTITUTE TO SENATE BILL 9.

THAT IS THE BILL THAT WOULD CREATE A NEW JUDICIAL CIRCUIT FOR THE STATE OF GEORGIA, ALLOWING COLUMBIA COUNTY TO LEAVE THE AUGUSTA JUDICIAL CIRCUIT.

SENATE BILL 9 NOW HEADS TO THE GOVERNOR.

>>> PERHAPS MY FAVORITE BILL ON THE SENATE FLOOR, THAT WOULD BE HOUSE BILL 410, WHICH WOULD CHANGE HOW BINGO, YES, BINGO, IS REGULATED.

>> WE FEEL THAT IT WOULD BEST BE MOVED FROM THE LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY OVER INTO THE SECRETARY OF STATE'S OFFICE, BECAUSE THEY HAVE THE PERSONNEL AND THE SKILL SET TO BETTER MANAGE THESE TYPES OF REGULATED PROGRAMS.

IT'S NOT CONDUCIVE WITH THE TRAINING, AND THE RESPONSIBILITIES THAT CURRENTLY EXIST WITHIN THE GEORGIA BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION.

>> THE SENATE TAPS THE BILL 49-1.

THAT'S WHAT I CALL BINGO.

RAUL, BACK TO YOU.

>> BINGO HERE TOO, BRENDA.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THAT REPORT.

>>> WE'RE GOING TO SPEND SOME TIME TALKING ABOUT A FEW BILLS DEALING WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT AND ELECTIONS.

EARLIER THIS AFTERNOON, HOST DONNA LOWERY SPOKE WITH A RETIRED LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER FROM THE COLUMBUS AREA.

HE WANTS TO REQUIRE A PERMIT FOR ANY PROTEST.

DONNA ASKS HOW THIS WOULD CHANGE THE LOCAL PROTESTS.

>> PROTESTS WOULDN'T BE DIFFERENT AT ALL.

IT JUST PUTS UP GUARD RAILS ON UNLAWFUL ASSEMBLIES, WHICH THE U.S. SUPREME COURT HAS MADE VERY CLEAR DEFINITIONS OF EACH.

YOU KNOW, SOMETHING THAT IS -- OUR COUNTRY IS FOUNDED ON IS THE ABILITY TO PROTEST, ESPECIALLY AGAINST THE GOVERNMENT OR ANY OTHER ACTIONS.

I WOULD SAY SAY I AM PROBABLY ONE ELECTED OFFICIAL, DEFINITELY IN THE SENATE, THAT HAS PARTICIPATED IN MORE DEMONSTRATIONS THAN ANYBODY.

I'VE HAD TO GO THROUGH THE PERMITTING PROCESS AND EVERYTHING ELSE, AND SO ALL I WANT TO DO IS TRY TO LIMIT THE UNLAWFUL ASSEMBLIES THAT LEAD TO THE DAMAGE THAT WE SAW, TO THE INJURIES, TO THE DEATHS, TO THE BLOCKINGS OF THE ROADS AND HIGHWAYS AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE.

SO ALL MY BILL IS TRYING TO DO IS JUST GIVE PEOPLE A SAFER PLACE TO DEMONSTRATE AND PROTEST WHATEVER THEIR ISSUE IS.

IF YOU WERE GOING TO USE LIBERTY PARTS ACROSS THE STREET, I THINK THE GEORGIA VOTING AUTHORITY HAS THEIR OWN SET OF RULES, AND FI TIME YOU GET ON PUBLIC PROPERTY, IT'S MUCH DIFFERENT BECAUSE PRIVATE PROPERTY, WE HAVE NO AUTHORITY OVER.

SO IF YOU OWNED A LARGE PIECE OF PROPERTY DOWN HERE, A COMMERCIAL BUILDING, IT WOULD BE UP TO YOU AS THE PROPERTY OWNER TO DETERMINE WHO YOU WANTED TO ALLOW ON THE PROPERTY.

>> SO WALKING ON THE STREETS WOULD BE OKAY IF YOU WANTED TO MARCH THROUGH THE STREETS?

>> IF YOU HAVE PERMITS, BECAUSE THAT'S PUBLICLY OWNED.

>> WHAT WOULD THAT PROCESS INVOLVE?

GOING TO THE LOCAL AUTHORITIES -- >> YOU APPLY FOR A PERMIT.

AND THOSE TYPING OF THINGS HAVE BEEN UPHELD BY THE U.S. SUPREME COURT SINCE THE EARLY 1900s.

>> I DO HAVE TO ASK YOU ABOUT SB-115, WHICH DEALS WITH TRYING TO EDUCATE PEOPLE ON HOW TO INTERACT WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT.

>> YES.

>> TELL US ABOUT THAT.

>> WELL, I DON'T THINK IT'S A SURPRISE TO ANYBODY WHEN THEY READ THE NEWS THAT ONE OF THE BIGGEST STRESSORS IN ANYBODY'S LIFE, MINE INCLUDED, EVEN THOUGH I RETIRED AFTER OVER 30 YEARS ON THE JOB, ANY TIME YOU LOOK UP IN THE REAR-VIEW MIRROR AND SEE BLUE LIGHTS, YOUR HEART RATE GOES UP.

I HAVE A WIFE, A FAMILY, A SON AND DAUGHTER WHO BOTH DRIVE.

EVERYBODY HAS BEEN PULLED OVER.

AND THE LAST TIME I WAS STOPPED IN A SMALL TOWN, IT WAS MORE JUST THEY WERE LOOKING FOR A PARTICULAR VEHICLE, AND MINE SOMEWHAT FIT THE DESCRIPTION.

AND SO IT WAS EARLY IN THE MORNING, SO I PULLED TO THE SIDE, TURNED MY VEHICLE OFF AFTER LETTING ALL THE WINDOWS DOWN, TURNED MY DOME LIGHTS ON, PUT MY HANDS ON THE STEERING WHEEL AND SAT IN MY VEHICLE WAITING FOR THE OFFICER TO APPROACH.

SO WHEN THE OFFICER APPROACHED, WE HAD A CONVERSATION.

HE REALIZED I WAS NOT THE INDIVIDUAL.

AND SO AFTER LEAVING, I THOUGHT, YOU KNOW, I KNEW WHAT TO DO.

MY SON AND DAUGHTER AT 3:00 IN THE MORNING WOULD NOT HAVE NECESSARILY KNOWN WHAT TO DO.

AND THE NERVES THAT THE DRIVER HAS, AND ALSO THE NERVES THE OFFICER HAS, BECAUSE HE OR SHE DOESN'T KNOW WHAT THEY'RE WALKING UP TO, ESPECIALLY IF THERE'S FOUR OR FIVE INDIVIDUALS IN THE VEHICLE, YOU WOULDN'T NECESSARILY KNOW IF THEY WERE LEAVING A CRIME OR IF THEY WERE JUST OUT PLAYING AND JOYRIDING.

SO WHAT I WANT TO DO, AND THE INTENT OF IT IS TO REQUIRE THE STATE TO BUILD AN VERY DETAILED CURRICULUM THAT SHOWS PROPER BEHAVIOR BY THE INDIVIDUAL OPERATING THE VEHICLE AND THE LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER, AND IMPROPER BEHAVIOR BY THE INDIVIDUAL DRIVING THE VEHICLE AND THE LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER.

SO EACH CITIZEN WOULD BE ABLE TO RECOGNIZE WHAT A PROPER STOP WAS LIKE, AND WHAT THE EXPECTATIONS OF THEM, ACCORDING TO GEORGIA LAW AS FAR AS, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF PEOPLE IN THE STATE OF GEORGIA BECAUSE OF SOME OF OUR GAIN LAWS HAPPEN TO CARRY FIREARMS IN THE STATE.

SO I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND DON'T MOVE AROUND THE COMPARTMENT A WHOLE LOT.

PEOPLE START OPENING UP CONSOLES AND GLOVE BOXES TO GRAB IDENTIFICATION.

SO JUST SLOW EVERYTHING DOWN.

>> NOW, LET'S CONTINUE THIS CONVERSATION ON LAW ENFORCEMENT BILLS, ALONG WITH ELECTIONS BILL.

JOINING ME NOW IS SENATOR ELENA.

>> GLAD TO BE HERE.

>> LET'S START WITH ONE OF THE BILLS THAT SENATOR ROBERTSON WAS TALKING ABOUT.

THAT HAS TO DO WITH PROTESTS, AND HOW THAT'S HANDLED.

THERE'S ALL THIS ATTENTION ON WHAT HAPPENED BOTH AT THE U.S. CAPITOL, WHAT HAPPENED AT THE STATE CAPITOL WITH PROTESTS.

YOUR THOUGHTS ON THAT BILL?

>> WELL, THAT BILL HAS ACTUALLY A -- IT'S A LENGTHY BILL.

IT HAS SEVERAL PRETTY DRACONIAN PROVISIONS IN IT.

IT PROVIDES FOR TWO NEW CAUSES OF ACTION TO SUE LOCAL GOVERNMENTS.

ONE WOULD BE IF THEY CREATE -- IF THEY NEGLIGENTLY ALLOW THE COMMISSION OF VIOLENCE AGAINST PEOPLE OF PROPERTY.

AND THE OTHER WOULD BE IF THEY OBSTRUCT OR INTERFERE WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT.

IT ALSO MAKES THESE ASSEMBLIES THAT REQUIRE ALL THESE EXPANSIVE RULES ANY ASSEMBLY OF TWO OR MORE INDIVIDUALS.

THEN WHEN YOU COMBINE ALLOWING LAWSUITS AGAINST THE LOCAL AUTHORITIES FOR NOT PLANNING APPROPRIATELY, AS IT RELATES TO PROPERTY OR PROPERTY DAMAGE, WHILE AT THE SAME TIME MAKING IT ANY GATHERING OF TWO OR MORE PEOPLE, HOW WOULD THEY NECESSARILY KNOW THERE'S GOING TO BE A GATHERING OF TWO OR MORE PEOPLE?

>> ARE YOUR CONCERNS FIRST AMENDMENT OR SMALLER GOVERNMENTS LIKE A SMALLER CITY DEALING WITH THE PROTESTS?

>> I THINK BOTH OF THOSE THINGS ARE CONCERNS.

I'M GLAD YOU BROUGHT UP THE FIRST AMENDMENT.

THAT'S ONE OF THE ISSUES WITH THE PERMITTING PIECE WITHIN THE LEGISLATION, IS THAT THERE ARE FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHTS AND PROTECTIONS AFFORDED TO PEOPLE EXERCISING THEIR FREE SPEECH AND PROTESTING.

WHEN YOU GET INTO THINGS LIKE EVERY TIME TWO PEOPLE ARE GOING TO GATHER, YOU HAVE TO HAVE A PERMIT.

THAT'S REALLY, YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY NOT REALISTIC.

AND WHEN YOU PILE LAWSUITS ON TOP OF IT, I THINK A LOT OF THOSE ARE VERY CONCERNING.

BUT A VERY CONCERNING PART OF THAT SECTION OF THAT BILL, BASICALLY GIVES A LICENSE TO INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE SORT OF -- FIND THEMSELVES IN THE MIDST OH OF A PROTEST, AND FEAR THAT THEMSELVES OR THEIR PROPERTY COULD BE DAMAGED IN THE PROTEST, IT GIVES THEM AN AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE.

IF THEY MOW SOMEONE OVER AND KILL THEM.

SO THEY COULD SAY I WAS AFRAID THAT INDIVIDUAL WAS GOING TO HIT MY TRUCK, SO I JUST REVVED THE ENGINE AND MOWED THEM DOWN, SO THAT'S MY DEFENSE IN MY CHARGE FOR MURDER.

I KNOW WE RECALL THERE WAS THE MURDER OF A YOUNG WOMAN, HEATHER HIRE IN CHARLOTTESVILLE, VIRGINIA.

HE WAS MOWED OVER AND KILLED BY SOMEBODY AS SHE WAS COUNTERPROTESTING.

SO THE BILL IS ESSENTIALLY WRITTEN TO MAKE EXCUSES AND MUCH LIGHTER PENALTIES, IF ANY PENALTIES AT ALL FOR SOMEONE THAT BEHAVES RECKLESSLY WHILE IN A PROTEST.

>> LET'S CHANGE GEARS TO A TOPIC THAT YOU HAVE TAKEN TO THE WELL A NUMBER OF TIMES, ELECTIONS.

SENATE BILL 202, THE NEW COMPREHENSIVE ELECTIONS AND VOTING BILL THAT IS NOW MOVING, HAS MOVED OUT OF THE HOUSE COMMITTEE OF ELECTION INTEGRITY.

IT HAS THE SUPPORT OF THE SPEAKER.

IT EXPANDS SOME VOTING ACCESS BUT LIMITS DROP BOXES AND ALLOWS THE TAKEOVER OF LOCAL ELECTIONS.

JUST YOUR GENERAL THOUGHTS THAT PASSED OUT OF COMMITTEE TODAY.

>> THANK YOU FOR ASKING ABOUT THAT.

I FIRST OF ALL, IT'S GOOD THAT SOME OF THE RESTRICTIONS ON EARLY VOTING THAT WERE CAUSING SO MUCH CONSTERNATION AS FAR AS LIMITING SUNDAY VOTING FOR BIG COUNTIES, ET CETERA, SEEM TO HAVE BEEN WATERED DOWN SOMEWHAT.

BUT THERE ARE STILL A LOT OF CONCERNING AND UNNECESSARY RESTRICTIONS IN THIS LEGISLATION, SUCH AS UTILIZATION OF DROP BOXES COULD ONLY BE IN THE LOCATIONS OF EARLY VOTING CENTERS THEMSELVES, DURING THE HOUS HOURS THAT THEY'RE OPEN.

PART OF THE REASON FOR THE DROP BOXES IS FOR EASE OF ACCESS, AND THE FOCUS IS QUITE STRANGE.

BECAUSE THEY ARE SECURE, AND MONITORED.

WHEREAS, YOU KNOW, IF YOU OR I SENT OUR BALLOT BACK BY U.S. MAIL, IT IS NOT SECURE OR MONITORED.

SO LIMITING ACCESS TO THEM IS REALLY NONSENSICAL.

>> WHAT'S THE GOAL OF DEMOCRATS?

WE'VE SEEN THAT NO EXCUSE ABSENTEE VOTING IS GOING TO BE -- THE MAIL-IN VOTING IS GOING TO BE PRETTY MUCH LEFT ALONE.

IT SEEMS LIKE WEEKEND VOTING IS GOING TO BE LEFT IN PLACE, ESPECIALLY FOR THE BIGGER COUNTIES.

WHAT ARE THE GOALS OH OF THE DEMOCRATS OF WHAT YOU'RE HOPING TO CHANGE, WHAT IT'S 202 OR HOUSE BILL 531, WHAT IS THE GOAL AT THIS POINT FOR DEMOCRATS?

>> WELL, RAUL, AS YOU KNOW, WE CERTAINLY NEVER TAKE OUR EYE OFF THE BALL OR REST UNTIL WE HAVE GAVELED OUT, BECAUSE ANYTHING CAN BE REINSERTED AND ANYTHING CAN GO HAYWIRE ANY TIME.

SO I WILL BE APPROACHING ALL OF THESE PIECES OF LEGISLATION WITH AN EAGLE EYE AS TO EVERY DRAFT.

BUT THE LARGER GOAL OF SENATE DEMOCRATS IS TO PROTECT AND REALLY EXPAND THE RIGHT TO VOTE.

AND BY EXPAND, I MEAN MODERNIZING OUR ELECTIONS SO THAT THEY FALL MORE IN LINE WITH THE WAY GEORGIANS AND AMERICANS ARE VOTING THESE DAYS.

YOU KNOW, IN THE LAST FEW DECADES, IN-PERSON DAY-OF ELECTION DAY VOTING HAS DECLINED 30% WITH COMMENSURATE INCREASES IN EARLY VOTING.

IN GEORGIA IN THE PRESIDENTIAL, WE HAD 80% OF VOTERS, 4 MILLION VOTE BEFORE ELECTION DAY.

WE NEED TO REVISE OUR LAWS WITH AN EYE TO THAT TO MAKE IT MORE ACCESSIBLE TO VOTE EARLY.

>> I WANT TO SWITCH GEARS ONE MORE TIME.

FOR WHAT WE'RE GOING TO BE VOTING ON, I WANT TO SUCK ABOUT SR 20, WHICH DEALS WITH REDIRECTING.

WE'RE GOING TO VOTE ON NEW DISTRICTS -- >> VERY DEAR TO MY HEART.

>> TALK ABOUT THAT.

>> THANK YOU FOR ASKING ABOUT THAT.

I WORKED FOR ALMOST TEN YEARS NOW FOR A FAIR REDIRECTING PROCESS.

I HAVE TWO BILLS.

ONE THAT WOULD PROVIDE FOR AN INDEPENDENT REDIRECTING COMMISSION AND THE OTHER THAT WOULD PROVIDE TRANSPARENCY AROUND THAT PROCESS.

GEORGIANS WANT FAIR DISTRICTS THAT REPRESENT THEM AND ARE NOT POWER GRABS BY THE PEOPLE IN CHARGE, WHICH EVER SIDE OF THE AISLE THEY MAY BE FROM.

PEOPLE WANT THEIR VOTE TO COUNT, AND NO VOTER OF EITHER PARTY OR ANY PARTY LIKES FEELING THAT THEY DON'T HAVE AN ACTUAL VOICE AT THE BALLOT BOX.

SO I ENCOURAGE THOSE TO PASS THOSE PIECES OF LEGISLATION.

>> THANK YOU FOR COMING ON "LAWMAKERS."

WHEN WE COME BACK, WE'LL TALK ABOUT ONE OF THE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS YOU VOTED FOR LAST FALL AND WE'LL TALK MORE ABOUT TRANSPORTATION WHEN WE RETURN.

YOU'RE WATCHING "LAWMAKERS" ON GPB.

♪ ♪ >> "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 $40 BILLION IN GEORGIA'S ECONOMY.

THE FARM BUREAU LEGISLATIVE TEAM REPRESENTS PRODUCERS ACROSS GEORGIA AT THE STATE CAPITAL DURING THE SESSION AND YEAR AROUND.

GEORGIA FARM BUREAU, THE VOICE OF GEORGIA FARMERS.

♪ ♪ ON GPB.

WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT TRANSPORTATION ISSUING WITH THE CHAIR OF THE HOUSE TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE, AND A MEMBER OF THAT COMMITTEE.

JOINING ME NOW, A REPUBLICAN RICK JASPER, AND REPRESENTATIVE TERRY ANULIWICZ.

WELCOME TO "LAWMAKERS," BOTH OF YOU.

>> GLAD TO BE HERE.

>> LET'S START WITH HOW THE PANDEMIC HAS AFFECTED TRANSIT AND TRANSPORTATION.

>> I'LL TELL YOU, IT'S AFFECTED IT GREATLY.

YOU KNOW, WHEN WE WERE THINKING ABOUT IT, AND WHEN I FIRST GOT THIS JOB AS TRANSPORTATION CHAIRMAN, YOU KNOW, I GUESS I THOUGHT ABOUT IT IN A KIND OF DIFFERENT WAY, YOU KNOW.

THE TRANSPORTATION DURING THE PANDEMIC TURNED INTO THE BOX.

THE BOX THAT MIGHT HAVE BROUGHT YOU TOILET PAPER, THAT MIGHT HAVE BROUGHT YOU YOUR DRUGS, FOOD, WHATEVER.

AND HOW TRANSPORTATION, ALL THOSE HARD WORKERS THAT WORKED THROUGHOUT THE PANDEMIC MADE IT HAPPEN.

AND MADE THAT -- ALL THOSE PRODUCTS GET TO YOU, TO MATTER WHAT.

AND THEY DID A FANTASTIC JOB DOING THAT.

>> NOW, REPRESENTATIVE, YOU HAVE CCT IN YOUR DISTRICT.

TALK ABOUT WHAT THEY'VE SEEN.

HAVE THEY SEEN KIND OF THE SAME DROPOFF IN NUMBERS?

>> THEY HAVE.

CCT, WHICH IS COBB TRANSIT, THEY HAVE SEEN SIMILAR DROP OFFS.

AND THEY'RE STARTING TO SEE A STEADY INCREASE, BUT IT'S A SLOW INCREASE.

WE DON'T KNOW WHAT IT'S GOING TO END UP LOOKING LIKE.

THERE HAVE BEEN OPPORTUNITIES TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF, TO DETERMINE MORE EFFICIENCIES, MORE EFFICIENCIES WITH ROOTS, HOW THEY WANT TO DO ROOT PLANTING IN THE FUTURE.

BUT I ANTICIPATE THAT RIDERSHIP IS GOING TO CONTINUE TO INCREASE.

I DON'T KNOW HOW LONG IT'S GOING TO BE, LIKE WITH MERTA BEFORE IT GETS TO PREPANDEMIC LEVELS.

THAT'S THE BIG THING WE'RE ALL GOING TO TRY TO FIGURE OUT.

BUT PLANNING IS STILL GOING AHEAD FOR INFRASTRUCTURE, FOR IMPROVEMENTS, AND FOR EFFICIENCY IMPROVEMENTS.

>> CHAIRMAN, WE SAW THE GOVERNOR ANNOUNCE ABOUT $227 MILLION USING KIND OF FEDERAL FUNDS TO ACCELERATE SOME PROJECTS.

441 FOR EXAMPLE.

TO YOU SEE MORE FEDERAL FUNDS GOING INTO -- AND FOR BOTH OF YOU, INTO ROAD PROJECTS WITH THIS LATEE FEDERAL STIMULUS?

>> THERE'S NOT ANY TO MY UNDERSTANDING.

THE GOVERNOR CAN DO WHAT HE WANTS TO WITH IT TO ADDRESS THE PANDEMIC AND ALL THAT, BUT YOU KNOW, WE'VE DONE GREAT IN GEORGIA FUNDING ROAD PROJECTS AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO DOING MORE.

THAT'S ONE THING THAT THE TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE HAS WORKED ON A LOT THIS YEAR IS FREIGHT AND LOGISTICS.

MAKING SURE THAT LITTLE BOX CAN GET TO YOU SAFELY AND EFFECTIVELY AND ON TIME.

AND THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS WE WORKED HARD ON.

WE HAVE THREE BILLS IN OUR COMMITTEE TO GET THAT DONE THIS YEAR.

>> WE'LL TALK MORE ABOUT FREIGHT AND LOGISTICS IN A MOMENT.

JUST A FINAL QUESTION ON PUBLIC TRANSIT AND TRNGS IN GENERAL.

DO YOU THINK WHETHER CCT, AUGUSTA TRANSIT, WHATEVER IT IS, ARE THEY GOING TO NEED MORE MONEY FROM THE STATE?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

MRTA HAS HAD A BALANCED BUDGET FOR NINE YEARS.

PART OF THE REASON IS BECAUSE OF C.A.R.E.S.

ACT FUNDING.

I KNOW THE NEW ACT HAS I THINK $5 MILLION GOING TO DIFFERENT TRANSIT PROGRAMS AROUND THE COUNTRY.

I BELIEVE MRTA WILL RECEIVE $40 MILLION OF THAT.

SO THAT FUNDING WILL BE CRITICAL.

>> YOU MENTIONED LOGISTICS AND FREIGHT JUST IN GENERAL.

HOW DO YOU GET STUFF OUT OF THE PORT OF SAVANNAH TO ATLANTA WITHOUT PUTTING IT ON TRACTOR TRAILERS AND NOT PUTTING IT ON THE 441?

IN THE END FOR PEOPLE, WHAT DOES IMPROVED FREIGHT AND LOGISTICS LOOK LIKE FOR GEORGIANS?

>> JUST LIKE YOU SAID, IT REDUCES THE NUMBER OF TRUCKS ON THE ROAD.

IN THE COUNTIES WHERE MY DISTRICT, IS WE HAVE AN INLAND PORT THAT'S DIRECT LINE FROM THE PORT OF SAVANNAH TO CHATSWORTH, GEORGIA.

AND ALL THAT'S GOING ON BETWEEN THERE REDUCES THE NUMBER OF TRUCKS.

WE'LL BUILD A PORT SOON IN THE GAINESVILLE GEORGIA.

BUT IT MAKES SURE WE CAN GET ALL THE STUFF, THE LITTLE BROWN BOXES WE ORDER THE QUICKEST WE CAN.

WE'RE LOOKING AT HOW WE CAN DO BET WE ARE RAIL, CAN WE HAVE BETTER SIDING SO PEOPLE DON'T BLOCK ROADS.

WE'RE LOOKING AT DOUBLING TRAIN SIZE, ALL SORTS OF THINGS.

THAT'S WHAT THE FREIGHTS LOGISTICS COMMISSION DID.

FOR A YEAR, IT LOOKED AT ALL THE OPTIONS AND THEY GAVE AUS GREAT REPORT.

IT'S LIKE 60 PAGES LONG.

VERY DETAILED.

BUT NOW WE'RE TRYING TO TURN THE CORNER ON THAT, HOW DO WE FUND THAT?

HOW DO WE DO ALL THE THINGS THEY SAID NEEDED TO BE DONE, LIKE RAILS AND CHUCK PARKING AND JUST ALL THE LITTLE THINGS THAT WILL MAKE IT SAFER FOR GEORGIANS?

>> WHAT DOES FREIGHT LOGISTICS LOOK LIKE FOR AN URBAN AREA LIKE COBB?

>> ALL OF THE BOXES THAT HE'S TALKING ABOUT COMING IN FROM THE PORT OF SAVANNAH GOING TO CHATSWORTH, THEY GO THROUGH HD-42 IN COBB COUNTY.

ONE OF THE BORDERS OF MY DISTRICT IS INTERSTATE 75.

I'VE GOT ONE OF THE BUSIEST RAIL CORRIDORS IN THE SOUTHEAST THAT CUTS RIGHT THROUGH THE MIDDLE OF MY DISTRICT.

I HEAR THOSE TRAINS DOZENS OF TIMES A DAY.

SO ANYTHING THAT'S HAPPENING IN THE PORT OF SAVANNAH AND TINLAND PORT, ALL OF THOSE GOODS GETTING FROM POINT A TO POINT B THAT IMPACTS HOW WE MOVE AND IN ATLANTA.

>> HB-577 HAS A HOST OF TRANSPORTATION ISSUES.

YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT THAT REAL QUICK?

>> SORRY, I APOLOGIZE FOR THAT.

LET'S SWITCH TOPICS TO THAT, CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT ONE, WHICH IT WAS CHANGING ALL THE FEES.

WHAT DO WE DO WITH THE TIRE FEE, WHAT DO WE DO WITH, YOU KNOW, THE UBER TAX AND FUND?

TALK ABOUT THAT, DOES THAT CHANGE HOW YOU GUYS ARE GOING TO DO THINGS IN THE TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE?

>> THAT BILL, THAT WAS ONE OF THE MOST REWARDING AMENDMENTS WE HAD EVER DONE.

BECAUSE WE REALLY TOOK FEES WE PROMISED PEOPLE WE WERE GOING TO USE AND USED THEM APPROPRIATELY.

FOR TRANSPORTATION.

THAT MEANS ALL THE 170 MONEY, ALL THE TAXES FROM FUEL AND DIFFERENT THINGS ARE GOING TO GO DIRECTLY TO WHAT THEIR USE IS.

JUST LIKE THE TIRE FEE WHEN WE PAY $1 FOR A TIRE.

IT'S GOING TO DO TO WHAT IT'S SUPPOSED TO.

IT'S GOING INTO A TRUST FUND THAT WILL GO FOR THAT ONLY REASON.

>> I THINK THAT BILL IS TERRIFIC.

I SUPPORT THAT BILL.

WHEN IT WAS FIRST DROPPED, I HAD A FEW QUESTIONS.

IT MIGHT MEAN THAT MONEY MIGHT BE USED FOR THINGS OTHER THAN WHAT IT WAS INTENDED FOR.

THESE TRUST FUNDS ARE PUT IN PLACE FOR LIKE THE HB-170 MONEY.

IT REALLY PUTS IN PLACE A GOOD -- I THINK A SYSTEM OF TRANSPARENCY THAT IS GOING TO BE IMPORTANT AS WE MOVE FORWARD WITH TRANSIT PLANNING AND TRANSPORTATION PLANNING IN GEORGIA.

>> THAT WAS A CONVERSATION I HAD A FEW TIMES WITH THE LATE JAY POWELL IN A CERTAIN CORNER OF THE STATE CAPITOL.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> SO THAT WAS SOMETHING THAT WAS A PASSION OF HIS.

I WANT TO JUST TALK ABOUT -- WE'RE GOING TO SWITCH GEARS HERE.

HOUSE BILL 588, TALK ABOUT THAT BILL REAL QUICK.

>> THAT'S OUR BIG TRANSPORTATION BILL FOR THIS YEAR.

IT'S REALLY LOOKING AT THE CROATIAN AND MAKING THE OPTION OR THE AVAILABILITY OF PUBLIC/PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS MORE EFFECTIVE.

I THINK THAT'S THE WAY WE'VE GOT TO GO.

MOST OF US DO THINKING THAT IF WE CAN USE PUBLIC MAYBE LAND AND PRIVATE MONEY, WE CAN CREATE BIGGER AND BETTER PROJECTS.

PROJECTS NOW ARE EXPENSIVE.

YOU KNOW, WE'RE LIMITED THROUGH ALL OF OUR TAX MONEYS ON WHAT WE CAN DO, BUT WE SEE THE EXPANSION THROUGH PUBLIC/PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS.

>> PART OF THE OTHER CONVERSATION WE HEAR IS WHAT ABOUT REVENUES?

ANY THOUGHTS WHERE REVENUES COME FROM?

>> ONE THING I'M EXCITED ABOUT IS THE RIDE SHARE FEE.

AND THAT'S BEEN APPROPRIATED, I KNOW IN THE HOUSE VERSION OF THE BUDGET, WE HAD FUNDING GOING -- AGAIN, THAT'S -- THE NUMBERS WERE A LITTLE BIT DOWN BECAUSE OF THE PANDEMIC, SO PEOPLE WEREN'T TAKING RIDE SHARES AS OFF.

BUT THERE WAS MONEY THAT STILL CAME IN.

NOW WE'RE TALKING ABOUT MONEY GOING TO REHAB THE MRTA STATION.

IT'S EXCITING TO SEE THOSE NEW FUNDING AVENUES COMING ON LINE.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US TONIGHT FOR "LAWMAKERS."

PLEASE JOIN US TOMORROW FOR LEGISLATIVE DAY 37.

GOOD NIGHT.

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