Friday February 2 was the 14th day of the 40-day legislative session. As always, the state budget is taking center stage, and committees are busy considering legislation that has been introduced thus far. The Appropriations Committee is currently completing its work on the amended 2007 budget. The amended 2007 budget makes funding adjustments for the last three months of the 2007 fiscal year. We are set to begin work next week on the 2008 budget.

We continue to work diligently on the PeachCare funding crisis. Governor Perdue traveled to Washington on Wednesday to testify before a United States Senate committee about our funding shortfall. The Governor urged Congress to fully fund the program and to make adjustments that would prevent similar shortfalls in the future.

The House considered, and overwhelmingly approved, a resolution that would authorize the construction of a statue honoring former Georgia Governor and Senator Zell Miller. Senator Miller was my professor and baseball coach at Young Harris College, and I was proud to speak in support of this resolution. It now moves to the Senate for consideration.

I will continue to keep you updated throughout the session. During the session, I can always be reached in the following ways: 404- 656-7855; mickey.channell@house. ga.gov; State Capitol, Room 401, Atlanta, Georgia 30334. If you ever have questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact me.