Gov. Kemp Provides Overview of Federal Guidance to Mitigate COVID-19 in Nursing Homes
Press Release, State & National April 3, 2020
Atlanta, GA – Today Governor Brian P. Kemp provided an overview of the recommendations President Trump and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued, in consultation with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), to help mitigate the spread of COVID-19 in nursing homes.
Nursing homes, also known as skilled nursing facilities, nursing facilities, or long-term care facilities, have become an accelerator for COVID-19. This is because residents, who are generally comprised of a vulnerable population, are even more vulnerable to the complications of the virus in enclosed environments like nursing homes.
The recommendations are as follows:
- Nursing homes should immediately ensure that they are complying with all CMS and CDC guidance related to infection control.
- As nursing homes are a critical part of the healthcare system, and because of the ease of spread in long-term care facilities and the severity of illness that occurs in residents with COVID-19, CMS/CDC urge state and local leaders to consider the needs of long-term care facilities with respect to supplies of PPE and COVID-19 tests.
- The facilities should immediately implement symptom screening for all staff, residents, and visitors, including temperature checks.
- All staff must use appropriate PPE when they are interacting with patients and residents, to the extent PPE is available and per CDC guidance on conservation of PPE.
To avoid transmission, facilities should use separate staffing teams for residents to the best of their ability, and as President Trump announced at the White House on April 2, 2020, the administration urges nursing homes to work with state and local leaders to designate separate facilities or units within a facility to separate COVID-19 negative residents from COVID-19 positive residents and individuals with unknown COVID-19 status.
These recommendations will help long-term care facilities as they consider how to best prevent or mitigate the spread of COVID-19 in their facilities. For more information on CMS actions, please visit cms.gov.
Gov. Kemp issues guidance for retailers, consumers amid COVID-19
Press Release, State & National April 5, 2020
Atlanta, GA – Today Governor Brian P. Kemp joined the American Transaction Processors Coalition, Georgia Retail Association, and Georgia Food Industry Association in issuing guidance regarding the use of PIN numbers and other best practices at points of purchase as Georgia continues to fight the spread of COVID-19.
Consumer Tips:
If a contactless payment option is available (e.g., Apple Pay, or tap and pay), use it.
Clean your payment cards using soap, hand sanitizer, or alcohol after each use.
Maintain control of your card, whenever possible, rather than handing it to the merchant.
If asked for a signature, PIN, or other information at the payment terminal, use your own pen (for signing) or personal stylus (for touchscreens) if you can.
If using home delivery services, pay in advance through a website, app, or telephone.
Merchant and ATM Owner Tips:
Merchants and ATM owners are encouraged to clean and disinfect terminals frequently and implement some changes to the payment process to reduce consumer interaction with equipment.
Follow manufacturer guidelines to protect and care for payment terminals.
Use 60% or higher alcohol-based hand sanitizer, card reader cleaners, alcohol-based disinfectant wipes (NO BLEACH), or glass cleaner.
Clean checkout and payment terminal area frequently (or after each transaction, if possible). Consider all checkout touchpoints (e.g., payment terminal including PIN pad, check lane counter and merchandise dividers, self-checkout lanes).
When cleaning the terminal, do not clean the electrical connections and plugs.
Never spray any product directly onto the terminal. Use a cloth or wipe that has been sprayed instead.
Governor Kemp’s shelter in place order allows for the suspension of the use of PIN pads, PIN entry devices, electronic capture signature, and any other credit card receipt signature requirements if it is permitted by underlying credit card agency and company agreements. Retailers should ensure EBT card users can continue to access PIN pads to enter this information during transactions.
Public school buildings closed for remainder of academic year
Board of Education, State & National April 2, 2020
ATLANTA, Ga – Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp signed Executive Order 04.01.20.01 to close all public-school facilities through the end of the school year.
Kemp announced the order on April 1, along with his decision to implement a shelter in place directive until April 13. He first closed public K-12 schools on March 31 and had since extended the order until April 24.
The order applies to all elementary, secondary, and post-secondary public education facilities in order to stop the spread of COVID-19 in Georgia communities. As of April 1, the week of April 23 is predicted to be the tipping point in the Georgia outbreak.
Online learning will continue, and local school districts can determine the final day of classes. Also, faculty and staff can return to their classrooms once school districts determine it is safe for employees to enter the campus.
Georgia Department of Public Health and Department of Education are taking measures to ensure the nutrition and safety needs of students are being met during this time.
A testing waiver for public schools was approved earlier in the year. No student will take Georgia Milestones.
This order does not apply to the University System of Georgia or the Technical College System of Georgia. The Chancellor of the University System and Commissioner of the Technical College System reserve the right to make decisions about their respective campuses across Georgia.
Georgia DPH adjusts COVID-19 models to include asymptomatic transmission
News, Police & Government, State & National April 1, 2020
BLAIRSVILLE, Ga – As of April 1, Georgia had 4,748 cases and 20,328 completed COVID-19 tests, but Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH) has only tested symptomatic and high-risk patients. As a result, some cases have gone undiagnosed across Georgia.
Currently, DPH is following CDC guidelines, which still states online that not everyone needs to be tested for COVID-19. Most people who contract the virus will recover and can care for themselves at home. CDC gave healthcare workers four priority categories to help decide who receives tests.
Asymptomatic individuals were ranked last, and those exhibiting mild symptoms or subjected to potential community spread should only be tested if resources are available.
White County Public Safety Director David Murphy went on record about the issue.
“Some people take care of themselves at home and never go to a doctor, especially those who have minor symptoms,” he explained. Murphy added that White County first responders have encountered a dozen or more patients with coronavirus symptoms in the last two weeks.
DPH guidance for healthcare facilities when it comes to testing lower priority potential cases is as follows:
Patients with mild illness who do not require medical care or who are not a DIRECT contact of a confirmed COVID-19 case (meaning the person has NOT been within 6 feet of a confirmed case for greater than 10 minutes, will not meet criteria to be tested at GPHL but can be tested at commercial labs—see below:
These patients should self-isolate at home until symptoms resolve. If respiratory symptoms worsen, they may need to be re-evaluated. Guidance for safe home care can be found at https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/hcp/guidance-homecare.html.
If you want to test these patients for COVID-19, commercial laboratory testing is the best option. Commercial laboratories are expected to conduct a substantial number of COVID-19 tests going forward. Currently, the primary source of testing is LabCorp, but we expect other laboratories will be testing in the near future as well, including Quest and ARUP. Neither LabCorp nor Quest will collect specimens at their facilities. Providers should contact LabCorp or Quest regarding supplies needed for testing.
DPH Commissioner Kathleen Toomey addressed that asymptomatic individuals in Georgia aren’t being tested but could be transmitting the virus to numerous Georgians. The state and DPH now believe the time is now appropriate to take “very aggressive measures.”
“We have not been testing everybody. We have only been testing those who have symptoms and those who are the most ill. And now, we recognize a game-changer, in how our strategy to fight COVID has unfolded. We realize now that individuals may be spreading the virus and not even realize they have an infection. As many as 1 in 4 people with coronavirus don’t realize they have the infection because they have no symptoms whatsoever,” explained Toomey.
“Finding out that this virus is now transmitting before they see signs,” remarked Gov. Brian Kemp. “Those individuals could have been infecting people before they ever felt bad.”
Kemp is expected to sign a shelter in place order on Thursday, April 2 to prevent people from ignoring self-quarantine recommendations. The details on the order are yet to be released.
Toomey further voiced that they knew asymptomatic community spread was possible due to the cruise ship cases. As of March 4, the CDC website also stated that asymptomatic spread is possible, but not as common as among individuals who are visibly sick.
Until the past 24-hours, all the DPH models relied on data solely from patients with symptoms.
“I think it’s a combination of recognizing not only that there are probably a large number of people out there who are infected who are asymptomatic, who never would have been recognized under our old models, but also seeing the community transmission that we’re seeing and now is the time to stop that transmission before the hospitals are overrun,” said Toomey.
How can Georgians prevent exposure/slow the spread?
Follow the CDC guidelines:
- Wash hands for at least 20 seconds – wash often
- Regularly clean and disinfect surfaces
- Avoid social contact and stay home
- Social distance if in public – stay six feet apart from each other
- Avoid touching the face – mouth, nose, eyes
- If sick, stay home
- Cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue and throw it away
- Wear a facemask if sick
By following these guidelines and Kemp’s shelter-in-place order, Georgian’s should be able to flatten the curve and hopefully protect themselves and loved ones.
Kemp, Williams: Officials Will Enforce Social Distancing at Parks, Lakes
Featured Stories, News, State & National March 29, 2020
Atlanta, GA – Today Governor Brian P. Kemp joined Department of Natural Resources Commissioner Mark Williams to issue the following joint statement:
“Across Georgia, there is a mandatory shelter in place order for medically fragile individuals, and gatherings of more than ten people are banned unless there is at least six feet between each person at all times. This order applies to all 159 counties.
“Fortunately, many Georgians are heeding these directives and following the advice of public health officials to stay safe and healthy. However, as we deal with the effects of coronavirus with school and business closures, people are eager for a change in scenery after days at home. They are traveling to nearby counties, heading outdoors for fresh air, and maximizing family time. Some are going to vacation homes, and others are hitting the lake, hiking trails, or campgrounds. We, too, enjoy exploring Georgia, but we urge people to stay mindful of social distancing, follow best practices, and avoid large crowds.
“The Department of Natural Resources will enforce the executive order limiting large gatherings with officials patrolling bodies of water and campgrounds. They are monitoring coves where people tend to congregate and, if necessary, using bullhorns to tell people to comply with the order. Officials will approach people in violation of the order and demand compliance for the well-being of our citizens and state. Local officials are also working hard to ensure compliance with local directives, which vary by city and county across our state.
“Please stay safe, enjoy your time outdoors, and follow our directives to mitigate the spread of COVID-19. Together, we can flatten the curve and stop the spread of coronavirus.”
Schools to remain closed through April 24
News March 26, 2020
Brian Kemp
ATLANTA — In an effort to reduce the spread of the new coronavirus, Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp issued an executive order today, (Mar. 26) that mandates all public elementary and secondary schools remain closed for in-person instruction through April 24.
Kemp said Thursday that students may be able to return to school on Monday, April 27.
“I am deeply grateful to State School Superintendent Richard Woods, the Georgia Department of Education, superintendents, and parents for keeping us informed and helping us make the right decision for our students,” Kemp said.
“Throughout this process, we will continue to seek the advice of public health officials, school leaders and families to ensure the health and safety of the educational community. As we approach April 24, 2020, we ask for continued patience and flexibility since circumstances may change, but we encourage families to stay strong and follow the guidance of federal, state and local leaders in the weeks ahead.”
As of Thursday, there were more than 1,500 COVID-19 cases reported in the state, according to the Georgia Department of Public Health.
Georgia Receives SBA Statewide Disaster Declaration
News, State & National March 19, 2020
Atlanta, GA – On March 18, Governor Brian P. Kemp announced that Georgia has received an official statewide disaster declaration from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). This declaration will provide assistance in the form of SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loans to impacted small businesses in all 159 counties in Georgia.
“This is great news for Georgia small business owners,” said Governor Kemp. “As we continue to navigate the impact of COVID-19 on our economy, small business owners can apply for much-needed funding to continue operation and pay their employees. My thanks to the Trump Administration for their swift action to protect small business owners throughout the country.”
The application is now live, and Georgia small business owners can go directly to the SBA for assistance. Small business owners should visit www.disasterloan.sba.gov for information and the application.
Loans are available for small business and non-profit organizations. While terms will be established on a case-by-case basis, many will have a thirty-year repayment term with first payments not due for up to twelve months. Businesses should expect to provide a tax transcript, financial statements, and a profit and loss statement. Interest rates will range from 2.75% to 3.75%.
For more information, concerning Kemp’s action’s during COVID-19, click here.
Public K-12 and Secondary Schools closed March 18 to 31
Announcements, State & National March 16, 2020
Atlanta, GA – In accordance with newly issued federal guidance, Governor Brian P. Kemp signed Executive Order 3.16.20.01 closing all public elementary, secondary, and post-secondary public schools in Georgia from March 18, 2020, to March 31, 2020.
“To keep our students, teachers, and administrators safe and mitigate the spread of COVID-19, I am ordering the closure of all public elementary, secondary, and post-secondary schools in Georgia from March 18, 2020, to March 31, 2020,” said Governor Kemp. “This measure is critical to reducing local transmission in communities across our state, and I ask Georgians to continue to follow best practices – washing their hands regularly, isolating the elderly and chronically ill, and avoiding large events if possible – in the days and weeks ahead.”
For updates on COVID-19, follow @GeorgiaEMA, @GaDPH and @GovKemp on Twitter and @GEMA.OHS, @GaDPH and @GovKemp on Facebook. For more information, visit the DPH’s coronavirus webpage at https://dph.georgia.gov/
Dawson Co. Schools will close for one week beginning March 16
News March 13, 2020
DAWSON COUNTY, Ga. – Dawson County Schools will be closed beginning on Monday, March 16 and will remain closed until Monday, Mar. 20 in light of Gov. Brian Kemp’s call to action regarding the COVID-19 virus. The school district will monitor the situation closely to see if an extended closing is necessary.
DPH confirms additional cases of COVID 19 in Georgia
News March 11, 2020
PRESS RELEASE
ATLANTA – There have been further developments overnight regarding COVID-19 in Georgia. Governor Kemp and the Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH) remind all Georgians that the overall risk of COVID-19 to the general public remains low and there is no evidence of community spread of COVID-19 in Georgia at this time.
Overnight Developments
DPH and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have confirmed three additional cases of COVID-19 in Georgia.
One individual is from Cobb County after recently returning from Italy and is isolated at home. The second individual is from Fulton County and is hospitalized. The source of this individual’s exposure is unclear at this time. Testing for these two cases was done solely by the CDC, prior to the Georgia Public Health Laboratory (GPHL) having the capacity to test for COVID-19.
CDC testing has confirmed the presumptive positive test for COVID-19 in a resident of Floyd County. The original testing was done by GPHL on March 5. The individual is hospitalized.
Additionally, DPH is awaiting confirmatory testing on a presumptive positive test for COVID-19 in a resident of Gwinnett County. The initial testing was completed by GPHL on March 6. The individual recently returned from Italy and was self-monitoring at home, and is now isolated at home.
“Federal and state officials continue to work closely together to conduct testing and determine the extent of exposure for confirmed cases of COVID-19. The risk to Georgians remains low. We ask Georgians to stay vigilant, utilize best practices to mitigate health risk, and remain calm,” said Governor Kemp.
“DPH is prepared to mitigate the spread of this virus in our state, and we are aggressively working to identify anyone who may have had contact with these individuals,” said Kathleen E. Toomey, MD, MPH, DPH Commissioner.
“Despite these new cases, the overall risk of COVID-19 to the general public remains low; but each new case of COVID-19 in Georgia reinforces the fact that we should all be practicing basic prevention measures that are extremely effective in limiting the spread of COVID-19 and all respiratory illnesses.”
Basic Prevention
All Georgians should follow basic prevention measures:
▪ Wash your hands often with soap and warm water for at least twenty seconds.
▪ If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
▪ Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands.
▪ Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
▪ Stay home when you are sick.
▪ Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
▪ Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.
If you have recently traveled to areas where there are ongoing outbreaks of COVID-19 and you develop fever with cough and shortness of breath within fourteen days of your travel, or if you have had contact with someone who is suspected to have COVID-19, stay home and call your health care provider or local health department right away. Be sure to call before going to a doctor’s office, emergency room, or urgent care center and tell them about your recent travel and symptoms.
For information about COVID-19, visit dph.georgia.gov/novelcoronavirus or cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/about/index.html.
Fetch Your News is a hyper local news outlet that covers Dawson, Lumpkin, White, Fannin, Gilmer, Pickens, Union, Towns and Murray counties as well as Cherokee County in N.C. FYN attracts 300,000+ page views per month, 3.5 million impressions per month and approximately 15,000 viewers per week on FYNTV.com and up to 60,000 Facebook page reach. If you would like to follow up-to-date local events in any of those counties, please visit us at FetchYourNews.com
Wade expected to join race for state representative
News February 3, 2020
DAWSON COUNTY, Ga. — Longtime Dawson County Board of Education member Will Wade said he is finalizing plans to run for District 9 State Representative. He is expected to make an official announcement this week.
Wade is senior vice president and marketing executive at Southern Bank & Trust and a member of the school board since 2004. He earned his undergraduate degree in business administration from the University of North Georgia and a master’s degree in banking and business from the University of Georgia. Later this year, he will earn a second graduate degree in banking from Wharton Business School.
Wade has devoted many years to public service and, in 2017, was named to Georgia Trend’s 40 Under 40. He was appointed by Gov. Sonny Perdue to serve on the Georgia Mountains Regional Commission in 2010. He was selected vice chairman of Georgia Mountains Workforce Development in 2012, president of the Georgia School Board Association in 2017 and, last year, Gov. Brian Kemp appointed him to the Georgia Student Finance Commission in the 9th district.
Wade is married to Dr. Jennifer Sheffield-Wade, a career educator. The couple has two children, Jenna and Walker.
Zack Tumlin
Zack Tumlin
Zack Tumlin is an attorney with law offices in Dahlonega and Dawsonville. He earned a Political Science degree at North Georgia College and State University and law degrees from Mississippi College and the University of Georgia.
He is chairman of Governmental Affairs for Dahlonega-Lumpkin County Chamber of Commerce. He serves on the Foundation Board for Northeast Georgia Health Systems and previously served on the Board of Directors for the South Enotah Child Advocacy Center.
He and wife Laura have two daughters, Tallye Kate, 3, and Vera Haynes, one month.
Steven Leibel
Steven Leibel
Steven Leibel, a personal injury lawyer who lives in Lumpkin County and has a successful practice in Cumming, announced last week that he will run for the Georgia State House in District 9.
He has a bachelor’s degree from Queens College, City University of New York and earned his law degree from Emory University. He is also a certified mediator and a graduate of the North Central Georgia Law Enforcement Academy. This will be his first campaign for public office.
“I have no other objective than to make things better for the people of this district,” he told Fetch Your News. I care about the community. I see things that need to be done and I want to give back. We lack good quality development that will provide good quality jobs. Technology is lacking. We need to improve healthcare. I bring an excellent skill set to the campaign.”
Qualifying starts at 9 a.m. Monday, March 2nd and ends at noon Friday, March 6. Election Day is Tuesday May 19th.
Fetch Your News is a hyper local news outlet that covers Dawson, Lumpkin, White, Fannin, Gilmer, Pickens, Union, Towns and Murray counties as well as Cherokee County in N.C. FYN attracts 300,000+ page views per month, 3.5 million impressions per month and approximately 15,000 viewers per week on FYNTV.com and up to 60,000 Facebook page reach. If you would like to follow up-to-date local events in any of those counties, please visit us at FetchYourNews.com
UPDATE: It’s official! Collins will run for U.S. Senate Tanner may run to replace Collins in House
News January 29, 2020
Rep. Doug Collins
Rep. Doug Collins (R-Ga.) made it official on Fox and Friends this morning. He will leave the U.S. House of Representatives to campaign for Senate against Sen. Kelly Loeffler, who was appointed by Gov. Brian Kemp in December to complete the term of Johnny Isakson after his resignation due to health concerns.
In making the announcement, Collins said, “I’m going to confirm that we’re in it for the Georgia Senate race down here.”
So who will replace Collins?
Popular Republicans like Sen. Steve Gooch (R-Dahlonega), Sen. Butch Miller (R-Gainesville), radio talk show host Martha Zoller and Chris Riley, Gov. Nathan Deal’s former Chief of Staff, have reportedly said they will not enter the race.
Rep. Kevin Tanner (R-Dawsonville)
District 9 State Rep. Kevin Tanner could emerge as the leading candidate. The former fireman, law enforcement officer and Dawson County Manager told Fetch Your News Tuesday “I am giving it serious consideration and I will make a decision in the next few days.”
It will need to be a quick decision. Qualifying for the race will take place in March and the Republican Primary will be held in May.
Tanner, a four-term representative, is chairman of the House Transportation Committee and serves on the Appropriations, Education and Special Rules committees. He has more than 27 years of public service.
“This is an unexpected opportunity,” he said. “It’s not something I had planned on or thought about. But I have had a tremendous outpouring of colleagues and constituents calling on me to run.”
He added, “When I have a decision like this to make, I try to do so prayerfully. I want to do what is in the best interest of my family and the constituents in the 9th District.”
Gooch told Fetch Your News Tuesday “I believe it is a good opportunity for somebody to run for an open seat, but it won’t be me. I’m happy doing what I’m doing here. The three main reasons I won’t run are my three sons, Samuel, Seth and Sawyer. They are in public school now and they need a full-time Dad. This just isn’t the right time for me to leave and go to Washington.”
Should Tanner pull the trigger on a run for the U.S. House of Representatives that will leave an open seat in the Georgia House.
One name that has surfaced multiple times as a potential replacement for Tanner is Lumpkin County attorney Zack Tumlin.
Tumlin said Wednesday morning, “If Kevin Tanner runs for Ninth District Congress, I will 100 percent campaign for his seat in the Georgia House.
Fetch Your News is a hyper local news outlet that covers Dawson, Lumpkin, White, Fannin, Gilmer, Pickens, Union, Towns and Murray counties as well as Cherokee County in N.C. FYN attracts 300,000+ page views per month, 3.5 million impressions per month and approximately 15,000 viewers per week on FYNTV.com and up to 60,000 Facebook page reach. If you would like to follow up-to-date local events in any of those counties, please visit us at FetchYourNews.com
Who will replace Rep. Collins when he runs for Senate?
News January 28, 2020
Rep. Doug Collins
Rep. Doug Collins (R-Georgia) is widely expected to announce his campaign for U.S. Senate against Sen. Kelly Loeffler in the coming days. Loeffler was appointed by Gov. Brian Kemp to complete the term of former Georgia Sen. Johnny Isakson, who resigned at the end of last year because of health concerns.
Republicans may need to look no further than Dawsonville to answer that question.
District 9 State Rep. Kevin Tanner said today “I am giving it serious consideration and I will make a decision in the next few days.”
Qualifying for the race will take place in March and the Republican Primary will be held in May.
State Rep. Kevin Tanner
Tanner, a four-term representative is chairman of the House Transportation Committee and serves on the Appropriations, Education and Special Rules committees. He has more than 27 years of public service.
“This is an unexpected opportunity,” he said. “It’s not something I had planned on or thought about. But I have had a tremendous outpouring of colleagues and constituents calling on me to run.”
He added, “When I have a decision like this to make, I try to do so prayerfully. I want to do what is in the best interest of my family and the constituents in the 9th District.”
Sen. Steve Gooch (R-Dahlonega) said he will not be a candidate at this time.
“I believe it is a good opportunity for somebody to run for an open seat, but it won’t be me,” he told Fetch Your News. “I’m happy doing what I’m doing here. But the three main reasons I won’t run are my three sons, Samuel, Seth and Sawyer. They are in public school now and they need a full-time Dad. This just isn’t the right time for me to leave and go to Washington.”
Should Tanner pull the trigger on a run for the U.S. House of Representatives that will leave an open seat in the Georgia House.
One name that surfaced multiple times today as a potential replacement for Tanner is Lumpkin County attorney Zack Tumlin.
Fetch Your News reached out to Tumlin for comment, but he could not be reached before deadline.
Fetch Your News is a hyper local news outlet that covers Dawson, Lumpkin, White, Fannin, Gilmer, Pickens, Union, Towns and Murray counties as well as Cherokee County in N.C. FYN attracts 300,000+ page views per month, 3.5 million impressions per month and approximately 15,000 viewers per week on FYNTV.com and up to 60,000 Facebook page reach. If you would like to follow up-to-date local events in any of those counties, please visit us at FetchYourNews.com
Rep. Tanner holds first 2020 town hall meeting
News January 20, 2020
DAWSON COUNTY, Ga – State Rep. Kevin Tanner (R-Dawsonville) held the first town hall meeting of 2020 Saturday to update constituents on what happened at the state capitol during the first week of the 155th General Assembly.
Tanner holds the meetings weekly alternating between the Gordon Pirkle Room in the Georgia Racing Hall of Fame and Wagon Wheel Restaurant in Dahlonega.
A near capacity crowd was on hand to hear the representative outline key issues legislators are expected to address
Tanner said, “The budget is the most important thing we do in the General Assembly. That’s the guide for running state government for the rest of this fiscal year and next year.” During the first week, lawmakers worked to true up the supplemental budget. Once that is done, they will begin working on the “big” budget.
Tanner laid out what he expects to be the hot button issues this session.
“One of the hot-topic items is the foster care system,” he said. “We made some changes to the law a year or two ago which I think helped. But we have a lot of people who stay in foster care too long. We need to move them over to a permanent family. That is important. That is something the Governor, Lt. Governor me and other members of the House feel like is a priority.”
Tanner said gangs and gang violence is an important issue for Gov. Brian Kemp. “Thankfully, we live in an area where we don’t see that much but in the metro areas around the state, it’s much more prevalent,” he said.
As chairman of the state’s Transportation Committee, Tanner is concerned about commercial transportation.
“Georgia’s population is exploding, our business community is exploding and the Port of Savannah is bringing in freight at a record rate,” he said. But major industries like the Kia Plant in West Point and Shaw Industries in Dalton are having serious problems finding commercial truck drivers to deliver their products.
“I chaired a committee in Savannah and the head of the Kia Plant said he gets 700 tractor trailer deliveries a day but can’t find enough commercial truck drivers,” Tanner said. “Their average truck driver earns about $90,000 a year. A UPS driver with a route from Knoxville to Georgia earns in excess of $100,000 annually.
“There are some good paying jobs in the commercial trucking industry, but it’s hard to find help,” Tanner said. “If we are going to continue to grow and continue to be a leader in freight movement, we are going to have to find ways to encourage people to go into the industry. We’re going to be working now over the next year to start bringing forth some solutions.”
Georgia’ General Assembly operates on a biannual system. Some of the items left over from the first session of the 155th General Assembly are likely to be considered in this session. The Senate’s desire to take over control of the Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport is one of those issues.
Rather than support the Senate takeover, House members opted to appoint an oversight committee made up of House and Senate members to oversee operations.
“We have had conversations over the past week, week-and-a-half, so I am hopeful we will see resolution to a lot of those things left over from the last session,” he said.
Tanner has championed the issue of mental health for several years.
“We need to make some changes and improve our mental health system, whether it is from a law enforcement perspective, a courts perspective, an emergency room perspective or the perspective of the person suffering from mental illness,” he said. “The youngest person to take their own life in Georgia was 9 years old. Dawson County is fifth in the state percentage wise in suicides among young people.”
To address the issue, Tanner chairs the 26-member Behavioral Health Reform and Innovation Commission.
“I’m a firm believer that government is not the fix for most anything. But I also believe there is a sector of the population who cannot take care of themselves. People who are like that, who are schizophrenic, bi-polar and don’t have families we have to be able to provide resources.”
Fetch Your News is a hyper local news outlet that covers Dawson, Lumpkin, White, Fannin, Gilmer, Pickens, Union, Towns and Murray counties as well as Cherokee County in N.C. FYN attracts 300,000+ page views per month, 3.5 million impressions per month and approximately 15,000 viewers per week on FYNTV.com and up to 60,000 Facebook page reach. If you would like to follow up-to-date local events in any of those counties, please visit us at FetchYourNews.com
Senate unveils priorities for 155th General Assembly
News January 19, 2020
ATLANTA, Ga. –As our state’s constitution demands, my Senate colleagues and I convened the second Monday in January – for the latter half of the 155th Georgia General Assembly.
Of course, with a new session always comes new challenges, and the most daunting challenge for this year’s forty-day sprint will be adjusting to the absence of a dear friend, Senator Greg Kirk, who left this world far too soon. His friendship will be sorely missed and the hard working men and women he represented are now without the best and most fearless champion they will ever have. My prayers remain with Greg’s wife, Rosalyn, and the entire Kirk family.
I also had the privilege of being invited to the White House to attend a signing ceremony for the new Phase One Trade Agreement between the United States and China. This agreement will drastically lower many of the barriers our farmers face when attempting to export their goods internationally and will spur economic development opportunities across Georgia’s agriculture industry. I look forward to witnessing firsthand how this trade deal benefits Georgia’s farmers in the coming months.
Also last week, the majority caucus unveiled our Senate priorities for the upcoming session. Among them: my continued pursuit of broadband access for all Georgians – just as we made a commitment to the telephone over a century ago, it is imperative that we continue to invest the time, the manpower and the required funding to connect every corner of Georgia to the twenty-first century. I am happy to continue to lead on this issue, just as I am happy, and honored, to lead on our other priorities: creating greater transparency in healthcare, curbing infant and maternal mortality rates and empowering our law enforcement community.
On Thursday, Governor Brian Kemp outlined his legislative priorities for the session in his annual State of the State address. In this speech, Gov. Kemp emphasized the progress our state has made since last year and reinforced his commitment to combating gangs and human trafficking. He also reiterated the commitment he made last year for our educators by following through with an additional $2,000 pay raise Georgia’s teachers. I look forward to working with the Governor’s Office on these proposals and others to continue to make Georgia as great as it can be.
This week, the Senate will not be in session. But we will still be busy at work as budget hearings will monopolize the majority of our week. As anyone who listened to the Governor’s State of the State Address this week knows, the budget process this year will be a challenging one, but my colleagues and I were elected to serve as good stewards of your taxpayer dollars and we are ready for the challenge.
Thirty-six legislative days remain. And, in that time, a lot can happen. But the one thing I can guarantee: Georgia’s best days are ahead of us, and I am eager to help get us there.
Sen. Steve Gooch serves as the Senate Majority Whip. He represents the 51st Senate District which includes Dawson, Fannin, Gilmer, Lumpkin, Union and White counties and portions of Forsyth and Pickens counties. He may be reached at 404.656.9221 or via email at [email protected].
Fetch Your News is a hyper local news outlet that covers Dawson, Lumpkin, White, Fannin, Gilmer, Pickens, Union, Towns and Murray counties as well as Cherokee County in N.C. FYN attracts 300,000+ page views per month, 3.5 million impressions per month and approximately 15,000 viewers per week on FYNTV.com and up to 60,000 Facebook page reach. If you would like to follow up-to-date local events in any of those counties, please visit us at FetchYourNews.com
Gov. Kemp announces Fall Severe Weather Preparedness Day
Business, News October 31, 2019
News Release
ATLANTA — Governor Brian Kemp, in coordination with the Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency and the National Weather Service, is declaring Nov. 6, as Georgia’s Fall Severe Weather Preparedness Day and encouraging schools, businesses and individuals to take part in the severe weather exercise/tornado test at 9:30 am.
“Hurricane season is ending, but the threat of severe weather isn’t over,” said GEMA/HS Director Homer Bryson. “We typically see storms, including tornadoes, in late October through November, so this is an opportunity to provide our citizens with information and help educate them on how to better prepare for severe weather.”
In support of this day, many schools and businesses will be conducting their own severe weather exercise/tornado “TEST” which will be triggered by the NOAA Weather Radio’s Routine Weekly Test. All six National Weather Service Forecast Offices will issue this special routine weekly radio test simultaneously across the state around 9:30 AM.
To help Georgians prepare for severe weather, GEMA/HS’s Ready Georgia campaign offers resources and information residents can use to be informed about potential threats, develop a communications plan and create an emergency supply kit.
Employers can use the Ready Your Business guide to create custom contingency plans, and children can visit the ReadyKids page for age-appropriate information, videos and games. Your county emergency management agency is also a great resource for information or tips to help you and your family stay prepared.
Fetch Your News is a hyper local news outlet that covers Dawson, Lumpkin, White, Fannin, Gilmer, Pickens, Union, Towns and Murray counties as well as Cherokee County in N.C. FYN attracts 300,000+ page views per month, 3.5 million impressions per month and approximately 15,000 viewers per week on FYNTV.com and up to 60,000 Facebook page reach. If you would like to follow up-to-date local events in any of those counties, please visit us at FetchYourNews.com