By Sen. Butch Miller

The Georgia General Assembly opened its 152nd Legislative Session on Monday, Jan. 10 at the State Capitol.  This is my first session as a state senator and I am honored to represent you in the legislature. It was an eventful week, partly due to the dangerous winter storm that greeted us on Sunday night, but also because we welcomed a new governor and many new legislators.  We also heard Governor Deal’s annual State of the State address where he outlines his agenda and budget recommendations for the year.
At the start of this session, we already face a nearly $2 billion budget hole. Finding a way to close the revenue gap will be our top priority. While the economy dipped and has slowly been working its way to recovery, balancing the state budget has become an increasingly arduous task.  During these tough economic times, the legislature has cut spending to require government to live within its means.  We are spending $2.4 billion less in the Fiscal Year 2011 budget than we were in 2009.  Growth in education, Regents, technical schools and Medicaid is expected to consume the majority of the 4 to 5 percent revenue growth that economists are projecting this year.   
Governor Deal called for increasingly limited government in his State of the State address. This will help build on the work that Georgia’s conservative leadership has already done to find efficiencies throughout state government.  As the governor pointed out, it's our responsibility to practice the principles of conservative government that we preach. It’s time to end the rhetoric of campaigns and get down to the business of moving our state on a continued path to recovery.
In his speech, the governor emphasized education, water and transportation as fundamental elements to our competitive advantage. He placed a high priority on K-12 funding, saying that education is a vital economic development tool and that shortening school years or furloughing teachers would be detrimental to our recovery. I agree completely; a good education system is the gateway to the future success of our children and the state of Georgia.

Another essential program we will be evaluating is the HOPE scholarship. Over the past several years, HOPE has paid out more than the lottery brings in. In FY 2011, it is estimated that over $300 million of reserves will be needed and for FY 2012, over $400 million of reserve funds will be needed. If this pattern is not preserved by FY 2013, all of the reserves will have been expended and HOPE cannot meet its obligations. Programmatic changes will be necessary during this legislative session. The governor’s 2012 budget does not authorize HOPE expenditures beyond what the lottery produces. This program is a shinning star in Georgia. We must work to preserve the program and ensure that hard-working students across Georgia have every available resource to help them further their education.

Georgia’s population growth during the last 10 years combined with recent droughts and a federal ruling that challenges our right to drinking water from Lake Lanier has threatened the future of our water supply. The governor is calling for reservoir creation and expansion throughout the state. He has placed an emphasis on leveraging allotted money in the budget on local-state partnerships that will work together to ensure a sustainable water supply.

While our transportation system is one of the most advanced and accessible, with 99 percent of Georgians living within 20 miles of a four-lane road, it is still one of the most clogged, especially around metro Atlanta. Relieving congestion and improving mobility will be a top priority of the governor’s and the legislature’s agenda. Over this next year Georgians will have an opportunity to shape investment in their communities through regional transportation roundtables. It is important that all Georgians be involved in this process. The governor also placed an emphasis in his address on the potential of public-private partnerships as an alternate means of funding transportation improvements.
This session, I will serve as Chairman of the State and Local Governmental Operations Committee. I was also appointed to the Agriculture, Transportation, Natural Resources and Economic Development committees. Our work on the committee level lays the foundation for concise, solution-based legislation and I am honored to serve the people of Georgia in my capacity as a member of these important committees.
This challenging session will be an opportunity to pass legislation that will put Georgia on the road to growth and success. If you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to contact me.

To the citizens of the 49th Senate district,

I am honored by the overwhelming support in Tuesday’s election.  It is a great honor to be your senator, however the position belongs to the people, I merely hold the title.

These are challenging days for Georgia.  The General Assembly recently completed a difficult session.  Severe cuts were made to even the most essential state services, such as public safety and education.  Unfortunately, the latest revenue figures are not encouraging.  I am going to spend the remainder of this year with representatives of our state agencies and learn everything I can about the integral workings of state government.  I will do my homework and be prepared to serve the people of Hall and Jackson counties to the best of my ability.

To my opponents in Tuesday’s special election, I want to say a sincere thank you.  Fortunately, we agree on many issues and I invite you to join me and the citizens of the 49th district in finding the best solutions that benefit our great state.

I want to do my part for state government.  While the legislature is not in session and I am learning about state government, I will not accept a salary through the end of the year. Against the backdrop of the state budget, that’s a small amount, but I think it is the right thing to do.

So many of you have offered your encouragement, your prayers and your financial support to our campaign.  Teresa and I are blessed by your kindness.  I have to express my love and gratitude to Teresa and our boys. They have been my partners in this effort and I now add Senator to the titles I hold most dearly – husband and father.

I am thankful to God for this awesome opportunity I have been given.  I pray for God’s blessings on you and our state.

Sincerely,

 

Butch Miller, Senator-Elect
49th District of Georgia

I just finished an interview with Bo Henderson with an organization called "The Rich Life". He is a financial counselor, advisor and investor with the concept centered around the fact that "The Rich Life"  is more than money. It is all about your life, your passion. It is about what is important to you. We talked about a number of issues such as community service, commitment to our fellow man, being part of the fabric of the community as well as my involvement in civic organizations and non-profit organizations such as Meals on Wheels, Challenged Child, Partners in Education etc. The interview was on WDUN radio here in Gainesville and was live from 2pm to 3pm and it really brought out the things that truly give us richness in our lives. We also talked about my college career, putting myself through college, how I got into the Honda automobile business, and what my business partner Jim Foote and I have done with the business since taking it over 15 years ago.

I am off now to the firing range with my son Charlie, an avid outdoorsman, who loves to hunt and fish. Charlie is a real inspiration to me as he has a disability but chooses to focus not on his disability, but rather on his ability. From there we are going to a full bloom nursery to pick up an present for his mom Teresa, who has a birthday on April 4th.

Tomorrow, Teresa, my sons Charlie and Carey, and I are attending sunrise service at our church to celebrate the resurrection of our Savior Jesus Christ, then off to visit friends and family for lunch.

What a special time of year, celebrating Jesus's resurrection, the rebirth of the spring season, the new blooms of life abound.
Yes, it truly is a "Rich Life" for us all.

Each new year brings us a brand new canvas on which to paint our masterpiece. With 2009 behind us, we can now look forward to creating 2010's destiny. Will you inspire others this year?  Will you greet each day with enthusiasm and a big smile? Will you make a difference in your community? You have the power to influence the outcome of 2010 in many ways. Take the opportunity to paint a masterpiece this year.