Your Voice Matters
3/21/2009


With the many problems facing our state and nation, many people I talk to are very cynical about our government. When I see some of the shenanigans going on in Washington, I can certainly understand. However, I want to tell you how much your voice matters to the State Senate.

During a hearing recently on my bill allowing victim impact statements to be made by videotape, we had over an hour of testimony. It was an emotional, gut wrenching afternoon, but I was struck by the obvious effect the testimony was having on the committee members. It was an important reminder that concerned citizens must stay involved. We can't allow our democracy to be hijacked by special interest groups and activists. I can assure you that a handful of thoughtful calls or emails have an enormous impact on me and my fellow members. So stay involved, and remember that your voice matters.

As always, I thank you for the opportunity to serve our state.

Sincerely,

John Wiles




Wiles Legislation Moving Through State House



Important legislation authored by Sen. Wiles has begun moving through the State House. SB 104, to license cosmetic laser practitioners, passed the House Health and Human Services Committee this week. SB 151, to allow victim impact statements to be made by videotape, is expected to be heard by the House Judiciary Non-Civil Committee this week. SB 213, a tort reform measure, passed the House Judiciary Committee this week.


Senate Sends Nation's Toughest Food Safety Bill to Governor

This week the Senate agreed to House amendments to Senate Bill 80, which imposes stricter guidelines on food testing for processing plants in response to the nationwide salmonella outbreak that was linked to a South Georgia peanut butter plant. If signed by the Governor, it would give Georgia the toughest food safety regulations in the country.

The legislation requires that food processing facilities report suspicions of contaminated food, food testing and retention of testing results to the Department of Agriculture. This bill provides the Department access to any food processor's testing records for the presence of contaminants.

The Commissioner of Agriculture is also directed to establish requirements for regular food testing. Processors are to report positive finds of contaminates within one business day of the discovery directly to the state. The bill also gives the Commissioner the right to test any food if there are reasonable grounds to suspect contamination.
The bill now goes to the Governor for his signature.


2009 Budget Signed by Governor, 2010 Budget Passes State House


Governor Perdue signed the amended 2009 budget last week, allowing the House and Senate to turn their full attention to the 2010 budget.

On Thursday, the House voted 123-49 to pass HB 119, the budget for 2010. The $18.6 billion budget includes further cuts from the amended 2009 budget, as legislators continue to deal with the national economic downturn. Even as the budget passed, there were warnings that the state is not done with the crises. Speaker Glenn Richardson took the well to warn his colleagues of further cuts to come.

"People aren't making any money, they aren't paying any taxes, and they don't have any more money to pay taxes with," the Speaker said. "It's getting worse by the day. The cuts you see today are the tip of the iceberg.

The budget now moves to the Senate Appropriations committee, of which Sen. Wiles is a member. He will be working with other leaders in the Senate to ensure Georgia balances its budget without increasing taxes during this recession.