Week 4 In Review

We are officially a quarter of the way through the session, but we have come to a abrupt (and surprising) halt. We started the week with a hearing in the Interstate Cooperation committee and ended it attending House Appropriation meetings, as we still work to iron out the State's $28B budget.

Under The Gold Dome

Interstate Cooperation

On Monday we had our first meeting of the Interstate Cooperation Committee, where we voted on HB 818. This bill would extend the deadline to join onto an already existing Article V Convention compact from 2021 to 2031. I voted no because, though the compact designates that this Article V Convention would be restrained to a “Balanced Budget Amendment," there is no reason to believe this is how it would work in practice. I fear that any such convention could be used to totally reform the constitution to the desires of the most influential and to the detriment of the majority of people.

The bill passed out of Committee 8-5.

Tech for All

Rep. Dar'shun Kendrick hosted Tech for All Day this week, with a focus on cyber security and protecting Georgia citizens from cyber security crimes. We were joined by Mr. Roy Hadley, a cyber security attorney who serves as outside counsel to the City of Atlanta and was called in to help the city respond to the 2018 massive security breach. Also , as a part of Tech for All Day, legislators got a chance to hear from a Facebook representative on how to best use the platform to reach our constituents.

GLBC Legislative Agenda and Heritage Dinner

In a press conference this week the Georgia Legislative Black Caucus met to discuss our legislative priorities and the State budget. Chairwoman Rep. Karen Bennett said it best when she said, “We must join our colleagues across both parties to address these concerns and work to find solutions to balance our budget without jeopardizing [these] critical services. The press conference concluded with an invitation to the 2020 Heritage Dinner, to be held on February 27th.

House Appropriations Health Subcommittee

Thursday afternoon I attended the hearing for House Appropriations Subcommittee on Health. There we heard from organizations and agencies about the effects the budget would have in areas such as mental health, preventative care, early detection, maternal mortality and more. After hearing from each agency, I addressed the committee on how important it is to invest in prevention and early detection as it will not only save the State money, but will also save lives and give us a little more time with our friends and family.

This week we had Parkview student, Rebekah Lee, come and page at the Capitol.

At the GLBC press conference, where Chairwoman Karen Bennett laid out the caucus’s legislative agenda

This week we celebrated Go Red for Heart Health Day at the Capitol! This initiative highlights the importance of knowing your numbers, maintaining a healthy lifestyle, and paying attention to your body.

Thursday was 4H Day at the Capitol. Even though we didn't have session, and the weather was less than ideal, 4Hers still made their way downtown to visit with legislators. I got a chance to meet with some 4H students from Gwinnett County, including one that was a part of the lunch presentation.

4H is an amazing organization that promotes youth engagement, skills, and charity.

In The Community

Constituent Meetings

On occasion I have the opportunity to meet with constituents to discuss issue they are passionate about. It is very important to me that I make sure that I meet with every single one of you who reach out. I met with a few constituents this week and look forward to meeting with more of you! To set up a one on one meeting at the Capitol or in the district, please contact my administrative assistant, Ivey McCraney.

Rigged

Last Saturday I was able to address a packed room as a panelist at Kennesaw State University, as the Rho Zeta Omega chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha hosted a film screening and panel discussion of “Rigged”, a documentary about the ways the vote is being suppressed in communities just like ours all around the country. It was timely conversation, with thought-provoking questions and concerns about modernized voter suppression tactics. As we head this pivotal election season, it was my honor and pleasure to address this crowd on this important subject.

Rho Zeta Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha hosted a screening of Rigged.

What’s Next

In an unexpected turn of event, we abruptly adjourned on Wednesday, and will not resume legislative days until February 18th. As stated by the Speaker of the House, David Ralston, this break in session is necessary to continue to work on the State's budget. Most committee hearings have been postponed, with the exception of the House Appropriations committee and subcommittees.

While we are not be in the chamber, I will be at the Capitol each day next week to meet with constituents, participate in events, and attend Appropriations meetings.