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Sally’s Senate Snapshot 2023 #4

Back to School Edition Getting enough sleep during the legislative session can be tough. Even when I’m sleeping, I dream about what happened the day before. This week I had the classic “I forgot to go to class” dream, which made me realize that lately, the legislature has been feeling more like school than a […]

Sally’s Senate Snapshot 2023 #3

The Senate is Starting to Roll . . . For three weeks, office-less freshman legislators have roamed the halls looking for a place to land. I’m happy to report that finally, everyone has an office! While the Senate hasn’t had a single floor vote yet on an actual bill, Committees, County Delegations, and various Caucuses […]

Sally’s Senate Snapshot 2023 #2

In the Weeds with Georgia’s Budget “There is nothing that we will do in this building that directly touches your constituents more than this document.” — Senate Appropriations Chair Blake Tillery Week Two: Word spread through the halls — “The budget’s out!” Legislators queued up to get their inch-thick, spiral bound copy of the Governor’s […]

Choose Hope

To be hopeless — Dishonors those who have come before us, And abandons those who come after us. It is therefore our duty to Choose hope At the Dunwoody 4th of July parade Monday, I shared with Congressman Hank Johnson how I have struggled for over a week to write this email. He responded in […]

Sally’s Senate Snapshot 2022 Sine Die!

Is There a Storm Brewing? That eerie feeling just before a spring storm, when the air is warm and still. Sine Die, the last day of the session, always makes me nervous. It’s a very long day and bills that have been dormant since the year before can reappear without notice. This year, big ticket […]

Sally’s Senate Snapshot 2022 #12

What’s Behind the Green Door? Back when I served in the House (1999 – 2005), I’d hear a lot of talk about the “Green Door Committee.” Somehow I pictured that these old-time, cigar smoking legislators made their final deals in a secret upstairs room located in the recesses of the Gold Dome behind an old […]

Sally’s Senate Snapshot 2022 #11

Driving Toward the Finish Line Who’s In the Driver Seat? Sine Die is one week away and major proposals still hang in the balance. So, you might ask, “Who’s in the driver’s seat?” So far it’s been Governor Kemp who put the pedal to the metal, accelerating his campaign platform. But now it’s clear that […]

Sally’s Senate Snapshot 2022 #10

To boldly go where no one has gone before! Captain’s Log Stardate 22-03-18.16: Day 31 of our journey into Georgia’s 40-day legislative session. Throughout our mission, the terrain has been treacherous with daily incoming fire from the Republicans. Their goal is to maintain power by keeping their base angry and afraid. Their ultimate victims are […]

Sally’s Senate Snapshot 2022 #9

The Georgia Midterms Take Shape  There was a celebratory atmosphere at the Capitol this week as candidates came to qualify to be on the ballot for this year’s midterm election. Tuesday was an especially exciting day as I qualified the same day that Stacey Abrams qualified for her bid to become the first black female […]