Day 30 - 3/27/2007

Crossover day

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Today was Crossover Day- the day by which bills must pass their chamber of origin to be considered by the opposite chamber before the end of the legislative session. 

The day is traditionally marked by long agendas in both the House and Senate, and this year was no exception. Members of both chambers worked long into the evening hours to pass bills that could be sent to the other chamber. 

The House took up the Speaker’s bills to cut PeachCare eligibility and benefits in the later part of the morning.  The Speaker spoke in the well on behalf of his bill stating that the spending for PeachCare has been “out of control.”  He said that “it is time to shut down parts of the program and tighten up others.”  He added that the budget shortfall allows the legislature to “fix what we should have done in the past and didn’t have the political will to do.” 

Several speakers spoke against the bill.  Representative Porter assured the body that Congress intends to fund SCHIP and warned his colleagues that HB 340 takes Georgia a step backwards.  Others including Representatives Abdul-Salaam, Abrams, Smyre and Morgan also spoke against the bill. 

After a lengthy discussion, the bill passed 101 to 63. 

Many other bills received votes today.  Notably, the bill to all payday lending failed to get a majority in the House and failed.  The bill to limit lottery funds to be used to fund Pre-K and college tuition passed in the Senate. 

As always, it was as notable to see what bills died for lack of a floor vote as it was to actually be able to celebrate any one victory today.  The bill to give senior citizens a tax break seems to be dead for the session.  Bills to require women seeking an abortion the option to see the fetus if they get an ultrasound never made it out of the Senate Rules Committee nor did a bill making it easier for individuals to have a loaded gun in the car with them.  Finally, a last minute threat by Representative Jerry Keen, to introduce an amendment to an existing bill that would ban foster adoption, never materialized.