Quickbeats 389 Sepember 22, 2008

Gov. Sonny Perdue has challenged the citizens and businesses of Georgia to serve and enhance their communities during Hands On Georgia Week, which will take place from Saturday, September 27, through Saturday, October 4.

"We have much to be proud of and thankful for as Georgians, and volunteering in our communities is an essential part of our outstanding quality of life," said Gov. Sonny Perdue.

Citizens interested in participating in Hands On Georgia Week are encouraged to e-mail or call hands On Georgia at info@handsongeorgia.org or (404) 979

A Fulton County state legislator, Rep. Margaret Kaiser, has alerted her constituents to a price gouging order that was signed by Governor Sonny Perdue last week to protect Georgia consumers from unlawful increases in gas prices and other products.

Kaiser points out that the executive order prevents retailers from selling goods or services at an unreasonable or egregious price. The statute does not prevent price increases that accurately reflect an increase in the cost of goods or services to the retailer, an increase in the cost of transporting goods or services to the retailer.

Persons who feel the need to report price gouging should call the Governor's Office of Consumer Affairs - 1-(800) 869-1123 or (404) 651-8600.

House Ways and Means Oversight Subcommittee Chairman John Lewis has announced that the Subcommittee on Oversight will hold a hearing on the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation on Wednesday, September 24 in the House Office Building in Washington.

The Pension Benefit Guaranty Corp. Is a federal corporation that currently guarantees payment of basic pension benefits earned by 44 million American workers and retirees participating in about 30,500 defined-benefit pension plans.

Agents & Brokers Reform Act - The House of Representatives this week passed H.R. 5611, commonly referred to as the National Association of Registered Agents & Brokers Reform Act. This bipartisan measure was introduced by Rep. David Scott of Georgia and Rep. Geoff Davis of Kentucky and will reform the current system of insurance agent licensing. The legislation will provide streamlined non-residential insurance agent and broker licensing, while preserving the market conduct rights of states and their authority to supervise agents and brokers.

Congressman Scott said, "This legislation is straight-forward and will most definitely benefit consumers through increased competition among agents and brokers, thus leading to greater consumer choice."

Georgia Secretary of State Karen Handel has applauded a Fulton County Superior Court ruling that rejected a challenge to the constitutionality of Georgia's electronic voting machines.

"No Georgians has been denied the right to vote by our voting systems, and our systems must pass a rigorous testing and certification process," Handel said. Georgia implemented electronic voting machines statewide in 2002.

Pursuant to requirements of the Georgia Constitution, Secretary of State Karen C. Handel, Attorney General Thurbert Baker, and Legislative Counsel Sewell Brumby are providing summaries of the proposed constitutional amendments that will appear on the November 4^th General Election ballot for consideration by the people of Georgia.

Amendment 1 - will encourage the preservation of Georgia's forests through a conservation use property tax reduction program.

Amendment 2- To authorize local school districts to use tax funds for community redevelopment purposes. The proposal affirms that the General Assembly may authorize counties, municipalities, and housing authorities to carry out community redevelopment.

Amendment 3 - This proposal authorizes the General Assembly by general law to provide for the creation and regulation of infrastructure development district for the creation, provision and expansion of such infrastructure services and facilities as may be provided for by general law.

The Georgia Department of Labor has reported that the state's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate rose to 6.3 percent in August, the highest in 15 years. The jobless rate was up 1.9 percentage points from 4.4 percent at this same time last year. During the same period, the number of payroll jobs decreased 37,700 or nine-tenths of one percentage point. "We're in the midst of a very challenging job market," said State Labor Commissioner Michael Thurmond," and finding a job is difficult, but not impossible.