Gilmer County’s two state representatives showed up at a Gilmer Chamber luncheon where they gave brief remarks.
State Rep. Johnny Chastain and State Sen. Steve Gooch joined chamber members at the ETC Pavilion for the organizations monthly event.
Both began their remarks about the protests in Los Angeles and assured the attendees people would be put in jail if there was vandalism or violence in Georgia.
Rep. Chastain went on to announce he would be joining the whip team for Republicans in his fourth session. Whips count votes on upcoming legislation for their party and encourage members to vote with the leadership.
He encouraged voters to speak with him about their ideas, their needs and any issues they may have problems with at the state level.
“We don’t always get it right under the Gold Dome,” Chastain said.
He particularly asked for any ideas to help stop bank fraud.
Other issues he touched on included a revitalized rural development commission for the state house, spoke about efforts around an optometry school in Georgia and help with affordable housing.
On the last subject, he said it is almost impossible to start from scratch and build a house for young people. A lot of the cost he attributed to “plain old red tape.”
He said he is always in favor of cutting red tape.
Chastain touted the $37.7 billion state budget which the legislature just passed which included a rainy day fund and surplus. He said they are cutting the budget in measured ways.
“We’re cutting it in a good way,” he said.
He also touted the rebates Georgia taxpayers will be getting soon which includes $500 for married people filing jointly, $350 for a married person filing separately and $250 for a single person.
Chastain finished by touching on education spending, money for the corrections system and hurricane recovery.
The legislature will be studying issues surrounding medical marijuana, insurance rates, gaming and sports betting and improved access for medical care in rural areas.
Sen. Gooch, who announced his bid for Lt. Gov. recently, began with a simple declaration.
“We are your voice in Atlanta,” he said.
Early remarks focused on tort reform which was a priority for Gov. Brian Kemp and involved bills SB 68 and 69, signed into law following last session.
Gooch said he has three teenage sons at home, and his car and home insurance bill totaled $19,000 for the year.
“That’s not affordable,” he said. “That’s not something that working families can go out and work a job as a school teacher or a firefighter or anything else in this community and be able to pay that.”
He said tort reform would reign in runaway jury verdicts and should lead to lower insurance premiums over the next 12 to 36 months.
“I believe what we did this year is a good start,” he said. “We are going to expect them to lower their cost.”
He highlighted work in the legislature to help people and businesses in Georgia who were affected by Hurricane Helene and to help with workforce solutions, touting the technical school system of Georgia.