February 19, 2001:

FLAG DOMINATES EARLY 2001 GEORGIA SESSION--REMAINDER OF SESSION TO BEGIN WORK ON REMAINDER ISSUES

There is little doubt that the flag debate has taken a heavy emotional toll on the members of the GA General Assembly. There was little time for the members of the House to think about their decision. However, Senators had a week-end of back home deliberations and introspection before they had to cast their vote. In the end, the measure passed, Georgia shed its flag of 45 years along with its dominant St. Andrews cross from the Confederacy and embraced a blue legion dominated, instead, by the Great Seal of the State of Georgia.

Now, Representatives and Senators are awakening to the fact that only 15 legislative days remain, most of their agendas have yet to be decided (and in some important cases, yet to be introduced), and a weary group must take care of business quickly. Behind all of these issues is the fact that the General Assembly will reconvene this summer to hammer out new districts for all legislators, as well as determine the lines of the existing 11 congressional districts and the two news one which the 2000 census count has added to the state's delegation.

One of the measures of this session, more so than in previous years, is the beat of the flow of money. The FY 2002 budget is a central issue because the Governor has caused it to be based on a zero beginning. That is to say, all departments start from no money and build their respective cases from that point rather than the existing previous year's allocation. This system is causing a particularly difficult time. And many are complaining that what little there is in the kitty has been spent quietly by the Governor in his quest to garner support for the flag proposal. Deals are always made in a political environment and it seems that this fundamental truth may be the case in real terms with this session.