Coverage of the 2019-2020 session by the Savannah Morning News
Georgia House Rep. Carl Gilliard joins the latest episode of the Commute podcast to discuss film incentives, the Savannah Convention Center, port expansions and other Georgia legislative issues.
All too often when people hear about our government, the first thing that comes to mind is dissention, posturing, and a great divide between our political parties. But in recent weeks, state legislators on both sides of the aisle came together in a united front on the issue of offshore drilling, with strong support from Gov. Brian Kemp.
We stood together at the Georgia Capitol, legislators representing both coastal and inland Georgia, from all walks of life and sometimes differing political views, joined together on this important issue. During this show of support, we sent a message to Washington: we do not want offshore drilling in Georgia. We will not risk our beautiful, vibrant coastline with its saltmarshes that lead to a thriving ocean, a coastline that supports more than 20,000 jobs and contributes more than a billion dollars to the economy. This issue is clearly a priority for our state.
Emboldened with the belief that our waterways are worth keeping safe from potential drilling accidents like the one that devastated more than 600 miles of the Gulf of Mexico in 2010, on Jan. 28 I introduced House Resolution 48, The Resolution to Oppose Offshore Oil & Gas Exploration, which discourages seismic testing and oil and gas drilling off Georgia’s coast. The bill has been assigned to the House Natural Resources and the Environment Committee and I believe this is one of our defining moments as we strive to protect Georgia’s environment and the thousands of jobs that come from our waterways.
I believe we should be just as opposed to seismic testing and other energy exploration. Experts say sound waves used to find oil have such negative effects on fish and other marine mammals that they can become displaced from their habitats or even injured.
I’m urging every citizen of Georgia to call your legislator and ask them to stand with Georgia against offshore drilling and seismic testing. Standing against offshore drilling means you stand with the many businesses and people who work in jobs supported by our coastline. You’re standing with the restaurants that serve our delicious local seafood, the dolphin tour operator, the fisherman and the hotel owner on Tybee Island, among many others. To stand against offshore drilling means you stand against the possibility of an accident that can dump millions of barrels of oil into our life-giving wetlands. Standing against offshore drilling means you care not only about the natural beauty of our coastline but all the benefits that we reap from it. The 2010 BP oil spill affected beaches and wetlands from Texas all the way to Florida, and these communities are still feeling devastating economic and environmental consequences today.
I urge you to stand with a bipartisan group of legislators who value our environment and the economic benefits that we enjoy from it. Join us by opposing offshore drilling and make your voice known today. Please support HR 48 and together we can move Georgia forward.
Rep. Carl Gilliard is a Democrat who represents District 162, which includes Garden City. He is in his third term in the Georgia House of Representatives.
ATLANTA – State Representative Carl Gilliard (D- Garden City) was recently named Chairman of the House Economic Development & Tourism Subcommittee on International Trade and Commerce by State Representative Ron Stephens (R-Savanah), Chairman of the Economic Development & Tourism Committee.
“I am humbled and thankful to serve in this capacity and hope that we will be able to build new relationships to foster new economic development for the State of Georgia,” said Rep. Gilliard.
Other members of the subcommittee include: Rep. Dwayne Hill (R-Ringgold); Rep. Doreen Carter (D-Lithonia); Rep. Karen Mathiak (R- Griffin); Rep. Derrick Jackson (D-Tyrone); Rep. Brenda Lopez (D-Norcross); and Rep. Sam Park (D-Lawrenceville)
Rep. Carl Gilliard (D-Garden City) named chair of a Georgia House subcommittee focused on international trade and commerce. Great for Savannah to have a local legislator leading this group given the importance of the port. Big credit to Gilliard, who is of the minority party.
— Savannah Morning News Opinion (@SavannahOpinion) January 31, 2019
For more information on the House Economic Development & Tourism Committee, please click here.
ATLANTA – Speaker David Ralston (R-Blue Ridge) today announced the members of the House Working Group on Creative Arts & Entertainment.
“I am proud to ask these members to serve our citizens by focusing on the creative arts and entertainment industries,” said Speaker Ralston. “We will redouble our efforts to support the growth of these industries throughout our state and ensure that our workforce is ready for the jobs they create. We are committed to Georgia remaining a leader in the creative economy.”
The members of the working group are:
The House Working Group on Creative Arts & Entertainment will work with state agencies and stakeholders to bolster investment and job creation in Georgia by the film, television, music and video game production industries among other creative industries. Combined, these industries employ 200,000 Georgians and generate more than $60 billion of economic activity in the state each year.
The House Working Group on Creative Arts & Entertainment is constituted pursuant to the authority granted to the Speaker by House Rules. The working group is authorized for the entirety of the 2019-2020 legislative term.
Lieutenant Governor Geoff Duncan and House Speaker David Ralston will welcome the 236 legislators as they begin approximately three months of work. Duncan will preside over the Senate, the first time in 12 years someone other than Casey Cagle had that role. Ralston, meanwhile, enters his ninth year leading the House.
Legislators, including our eight-member local delegation, will address a range of issues facing the state, with bills and resolutions that pass both chambers moving on to new Gov. Brian Kemp to be signed into law. Kemp is expected to present his agenda, including his first budget, during the session’s opening week.
Pressing matters for the legislature include school safety, the state’s voting system, healthcare coverage for the uninsured and support for rural hospitals, education funding and spending, gaming and gambling, gun rights, immigration reform and rural development initiatives.
Our local delegation will be among the leaders at the Capitol. Chairmanships won’t officially be awarded until the session begins, but both our local senators, Lester Jackson and Ben Watson, are expected to lead committees, and Jackson is the head of the Democratic Black Caucus.
On the House side, Reps. Ron Stephens and Bill Hitchens expected to head committees while Reps. Carl Gilliard and Jesse Petrea are considered strong candidates.
The local legislative priorities include continued support for the Savannah Harbor Expansion Project, funding for a Savannah Convention Center expansion, extension of a historic preservation tax incentive, dollars for funding for facilities and programs at our area public colleges and universities, and pushing for a study on replacing or elevating the Talmadge Bridge.
“All I’ve ever seen in my time in the Georgia General Assembly is a delegation that works together and for the most part a legislature working together,” Rep. Jesse Petrea said. “I’m sure that will continue.”