Kyle Jackson discuses new faces in the Georgia legislature.
Dear NFIB/Georgia Member,
Though 2015 isn’t an election year, expect many new faces and some in new roles in the Georgia House of Representatives next year. With 6 total vacancies, a shakeup in membership and some committees was sure to happen.
New committee chairs were recently named. Committee chairs are a key part of the legislative process as they control the flow of legislation through their respective committees. Committee chairs play an important role in deciding what bills do or do not pass.
New committee chairs in the Georgia House include:
Industry & Labor Committee: Rep. Jason Shaw (Lakeland) NFIB member
Small Business Development Committee: Rep. Bubber Epps (Dry Branch)
Transportation Committee: Rep. Christian Coomer (Cartersville)
Game, Fish & Parks Committee: Rep. David Knight (Griffin)
Special Rules: Rep. Rick Jasperse (Jasper)
Code Revision: Rep. Gerald Greene (Cuthbert)
Appropriations Subcommittee – Public Safety: Rep. Andy Welch (McDonough)
MARTOC: Rep. Tom Taylor (Dunwoody)
In particular, the House Industry & Labor Committee is of great importance to small business. NFIB member Rep. Jason Shaw will head that committee which weighs in on a number of bills related to workers’ compensation, unemployment insurance and a variety of labor issues like the minimum wage and paid sick leave. It is important to have a strong advocate and supporter of small business as the chairman and Rep. Shaw is both.
Elections were held in the following districts:
House District 24 – Forsyth County (Strong Republican)
House District 48 – Fulton County (Strong Republican)
House District 55 – Fulton County (Strong Democrat)
House District 80 – DeKalb County (Swing Republican)
House District 146 – Houston County (Strong Republican)
House District 155 – Irwin, Ben Hill, Coffee, Tift & Turner Counties (Strong Republican)
NFIB looks forward to working with the new chairmen as well as the candidates who prevail in the 6 open seats in 2016.
Regards,
Kyle Jackson
NFIB/Georgia State Director
