GPB News

After realizing that a one dollar tobacco tax will not make it through the legislature this year, hospitals are warming up to the idea of paying a 1.6 % provider fee. That’s because they want to avoid lower Medicaid payments. To fill a Medicaid budget hole, Governor Perdue proposed the provider fee in his first budget outline. Otherwise, he says hospitals would take a 10.25 % cut in medicaid re-imbursements. Hospitals immediately balked at the idea saying it would be too much of a burden. They lobbied instead for a dollar tobacco tax. But when Republican leaders refused to support that idea, hospitals started negotiating. Jimmy Lewis lobbies for a group of rural hospitals. “The ball is moving to the provider tax. There are major hurdles to overcome to get to that, it’s a major turn on our part, but it’s the least offensive of the option that are on the table.” Hospitals want the fee to sunset in 2 years and they’re looking for exemption of some non-profit and state run hospitals. The provider fee would allows the state to access federal matching grants for Medicaid.

This week the state senate is expected to vote on a bill that would make it harder to appeal environmental permits. When a group disputes a proposed landfill or coal plant, it usually challenges the permit given out by the Environmental Protection Division. It does that by presenting evidence contrary to the company’s building the project. But if SB 486 passes, that won’t be possible says Neil Herring with the Sierra Club. "We will not be able to persuade the judge to overturn anything EPD has determined," says Herring. "He has to go along with them. He has to as a matter of law." Herring says the bill is pushed by companies wanting to build coal plants. Its sponsor Republican Senator Ross Tolleson says he wants judges who hear such cases to defer to experts of a state agency like the EPD on technical matters. "The administrative law judges... they don’t have the expertise all the time, say in the air quality permits, so they’re a lot of things they really need to defer to experts when they’re dealing with these kinds of permits." Tolleson says the issue came to light in 2008 when an Atlanta judge ruled a proposed coal-fired plant in Early County had an invalid permit. The ruling halted construction on the first coal plant to be built in Georgia in 20 years.

Regulators shut down three Georgia banks, bringing the number of failed banks nationwide to 37 this year. The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation took over Appalachian Community Bank in Elijay, Bank of Hiawassee in Hiawassee and Century Security Bank in Duluth.

University of Georgia President Michael Adams says budget cuts next year could include pay reductions for top administrators, including himself. The state's university system is making cuts worth hundreds of millions of dollars this year as the state reduces its budget to cope with lower revenues. Adams spoke at a news conference on Thursday, and said that at some point anything is on the table in terms of cutting expenses. Adams didn't back off proposals for drastic cuts to programs like the State Botanical Garden of Georgia and 4-H. He says the university will continue to put instruction first. He said it's possible that the UGA Athletic Association will chip in more for academics.

More than 1000 people from Georgia will travel to Washington this week to demand immigration reform. Latino groups say President Obama hasn't followed through on a promise to make it easier for immigrants to stay in the U.S., instead deporting more immigrants at a faster rate than the Bush administration did. "The community is pretty much fed up for immigration reform to happen," says Jerry Gonzalez, director of the Georgia Association of Latino Elected Officials. "(Obama) promised during the campaign that that was going to happen the first year...and part of the reason that we're going to Washington, D.C., is to ensure that the president doesn't forget his promise." Gonzalez's organization and others from Georgia will join thousands of people from across the U.S. at a march on the National Mall on Sunday, the same day a major congressional vote on health care reform is scheduled.

Democratic Savannah Congressman John Barrow says, he will vote no on the health care reform bill moving through Congress. Barrow voted against the measure when it came up the first time, but refused to say how he'd vote on the critical second vote this weekend until late Friday afternoon. In a statement, the Congressman said, the health care bill puts too much burden on working people. That should please Savannah voter Rome Parham, a self-described healthy 27-year-old who says, he shoudn't be forced into buying health insurance. "If they make it mandatory, it's kind of like a win-win situation, but at the same time, a lose-lose also because some young people like me, we don't get sick," Parham says. "We don't need it." However, other voters who spoke on Friday said, they would vote for a primary challenger if he voted no. "If he can get this done, I think he would gain so much more respect from the people from Savannah," said Pat Gibson, of Savannah, before Barrow's announcement. "It would make me happier to see people get what they need becasue the way they have health insurance now, it's so astronomically high." Barrow faces Regina Thomas in this year's primary and beat her with a sizeable 76% of the vote in the last primary. Barrow is a conservative Blue Dog in a competitive East Georgia district. His last general election victory was 66% against Republican John Stone.

Federal investigators have finished testing for possible toxic chemicals at a state park in South Georgia, but the results of those tests could take weeks. The Environmental Protection Agency spent two days at Reed Bingham State Park collecting water and soil samples. While they were there they also dug up two metal drums. The investigation comes just a few days after state environmental officials conducted their own tests. Samples were collected from areas where endangered wildlife live. Ronnie Eakins is with the Georgia Department of Natural Resources. “The area that was being questioned is close to a bald eagle nest and the gopher tortoise really ranges throughout the whole park.” In February state and federal environmental officials received a complaint alleging improper disposal of hazardous waste. Results of the testing could take up to a month.

Congressman Sanford Bishop will vote for health care reform. The Blue Dog Democrat from South West Georgia’s second district had been wavering. He says polling in his district showed that people were evenly split and evenly passionate about their convictions. “I’m in a situation where I’m damned if I do and damned if I don’t," Bishop says. "And if I’m damned under those circumstances I want to be damned on side of angels and on the side of right." Bishop says he believes passing health care reform is "right for the country both in the long term and the short term." He says there are about 86,000 people living in his district who do not have health insurance.

A string of 7 radioactive contamination incidents at the Savannah River National Laboratory resulted in what officials call a “time out”. The incidents were minor, meaning readings were low and no one was injured. Facilities where radioactive materials are handled were temporarily shut down while officials went over safety guidelines with employees. Angie French is a spokesperson for the Savannah River Lab. She says the time out was a voluntary way for officials to fine tune safety measures at the lab. "We are able to maintain our record as the safest national laboratory in the DOE complex because when we see minor events like this we stop and look before it gets to the point where they are major events," said French. The Savannah River Lab tests thousands of radioactive samples each year for Department of Energy projects such as nuclear waste disposal.

A rural hospital in southeast Georgia is offering patients with overdue bills a 50-percent discount to pay-up now. It’s an effort that officials say could spread in the down economy. Charlton Memorial Hospital in Folkston says patients with bills at least 90 days past-due as of last month...have until the end of March to take advantage of the deal. Kim Savage is comptroller for the small 25-bed facility. She says Charlton Memorial is owed more than $6 million. And the discount offer idea she says, could easily spread to other small hospitals in the state. "I think there’s potential there. I know especially rural hospitals and especially critical access hospitals are facing some really difficult cash-flow situations right now.” Savage says Charlton Memorial’s never tried this before. And if half of the $6 million is collected, they would consider that a success. Hometown Health represents more than 50 rural hospitals in Georgia. CEO Jimmy Lewis says this is just another idea for small hospitals trying to improve tight cash flow. Lewis says too many small hospitals are suffering financially. "We have since the middle of December helped some 8-10 achieve some emergency resources for making payroll. And that’s critical to our hospitals when we find that many hospitals in that kind of condition and we know that we’ve got a number of hospitals also that have less than 10 days cash on-hand.” Lewis says aggravating the problem -- rural areas with high unemployment means many more patients coming-in with no insurance.

Restricting the sale of guns near schools is the aim of a bill introduced in the state senate. A dozen people rallied in support of it today outside an Atlanta pawnshop. Carrying signs that read “No guns near schools” and “No pawn shops”, residents of the Booker T. Washington neighborhood in west Atlanta paced the street where the pawn shop is yet to open and sell weapons. They say the area is rife with gang activity. Jarrell Pealer who has lived here 17 years says the last thing his community needs is more access to guns. “We got a school just a block away . Kids going back and forth. With the gang violence, we’re afraid someone will attempt to break in and get the gun," says Pealer. "Then also we don’t want break-in’s in our homes.” Senator Vincent Fort led the protest. He says his bill would help. “It would allow cities to put restrictions on where gun dealers can locate," says Fort. Since 2005, only the state can regulate the sale of guns. Gun rights advocates say Fort’s bill would infringe on their second amendment rights.

University of Georgia officials say tailgaters will still be welcome when they return to the school’s north campus in the fall for football season. But there will now be some restrictions on what they can...and cannot bring. Last football season, tailgating fans left tons of trash on the grounds after UGA’s game with South Carolina. UGA President Michael Adams. "We've done everything we can to be fan-friendly. We want the fans here, we want them to have a great time, we want them to come, we want them to tailgate. We just don't want them to destroy the campus in the process." Restrictions now include a ban against tents, kegs, generators, grills and tables larger than 4 feet long on north campus. Tailgating also won’t be allowed until 4 hours before kickoff. Across the campus, UGA officials are banning things like pull-behind trailers, grills, ATV’s and parking on sidewalks.

State Schools Superintendent Kathy Cox says she's confident that Georgia officials this week adequately made their case to the federal government about why Georgia should a cut of $4.3 billion in stimulus money. Georgia is a finalist for the competitive funding, known as Race to the Top, along with 14 other states and Washington, D.C. Cox says that comes in part because Governor Sonny Perdue wants pay increases for Georgia teachers to be based on a controversial merit system. Cox and Perdue and were among a five member team that went to Washington this week, making presentations to a panel that will decide who gets the money. The finalist states are being judged on education reforms and innovation. The U.S. Department of Education will award the stimulus funds.

The bad economy and high unemployment are affecting hospitals in small towns like Millen. With so many people out of work, few people there have insurance. Jenkins County Hospital is increasingly treating poor people who can’t afford care, absorbing the costs and causing thousands of dollars in shortfalls. "The hospital is a vital part of the community, and a vital part of helping draw new industry and we need to keep it there and keep it strong," says King Rocker, the mayor of Millen. "Really and truly the only thing that can help that is some new industry to help put people back to work." The small hospital already can’t afford to do procedures such as colonoscopies or minor surgery. Full-time employees have a bigger workload since the hospital laid off all part-time staff a couple of years ago. Funding from the Jenkins County commission has helped plugged the hospital's shortfalls. Hospital officials, however, say they'll make another request for more dollars sometime during the current fiscal year due to the budget woes. Rocker estimates that only half of Millen's residents have health insurance. Hospital officials say the number of people with full-coverage private health insurance is far smaller, with most of them being teachers or state employees. The unemployment rate in Jenkins County in January was 21.8 percent, one of the highest in the state.

Texting while behind the wheel would be banned under a bill that unanimously passed the senate today. Republican State Senator Jack Murphy sponsored the bill. He says it is needed because 80 percent of lives lost in accidents last year were due to distracted drivers. "There are teenagers and also adults causing accidents all over the place while they are driving and texting. They are weaving all over the place, they are impeding traffic, going slower than what they should be because they are trying to text and drive," said Murphy. Under the measure, violators would pay a $150 fine and get three points on their license. Teens, on the second offense, would have to wait an additional year to get their class C license.

Georgia Republicans continued their fight Thursday against the federal health care proposal. On Wednesday, Democrats prevented the two-thirds majority needed for an amendment to the state Constitution. It aimed at having Georgians opt out of any federal health care law. Thursday, Senate Republicans passed a bill that would do just that. It only needed a simple majority and passed easily. "While I would have preferred to let Georgians vote to have their rights protected in the state constitution, this legislation will protect Georgians in a similar way," says Republican Judson Hill, who sponsored the bill. But legal experts warn that state law cannot supersede federal law. Senate Democrats say the legislation is a waste of time and money and will likely end up in court. Georgia is one of 38 states trying to pass laws against federal health care.

The state house today passed water conservation legislation paving the way for Governor Perdue to sign it into law. Under the provision outdoor watering is limited to the hours of 4:00 pm and 10:00 am. Farms and gardens are exempt. The law requires high efficiency plumbing fixtures like toilets, shower heads, and faucets, in new construction. It also includes other voluntary water saving measures. Georgia wants to show neighboring Alabama and Florida that it is serious about water conservation. The move could send good will to the tri-state water talks. A federal judge has given Georgia 3 years to find a water sharing agreement with its neighbors or lose Lake Lanier as a water source for Metro Atlanta.

Students who bring something to school that could be deemed a weapon would no longer be charged as designated felons under a measure that was unanimously approved by the Senate. The bill sponsored by State Sen. Emmanuel Jones, is aimed at giving administrators more leeway with Georgia's Zero Tolerance policy. "In our zeal and zest to lock away those kids that brought dangerous weapons to school, the system trapped good kids. And that's who i have heard from. Good kids who are being prosecuted for minor infractions," said Jones. Under the bill first offenders would be charged with a "delinquent act" rather than a felony, which could tarnish a student's record.

Democratic and Republican Lawmakers from North Georgia are pushing a bill that would require a permit to transfer water from a river basin to Metro Atlanta. Representative Michael Harden of Toccoa is the sponsor of the bill. He says that the river basins of northern Georgia represent jobs, economic development, and livelihood for the region. "If as rural Georgia we were attempting to ask metro Atlanta to donate some of their revenue to us, simply because we thought we were deserving of it, there would be an outcry. At the core of it it's water, but it's economic development and the productivity of rural Georgia," Harden said. A similar bill was introduced last week in the Senate. Both bills would create for the first time a system for permitting and regulating water transfers.

As Congress nears a possible health care vote two Georgia Congressmen, Sanford Bishop and John Barrow, are still in the undecided category. The margin is razor thin and the lobbying intense on both sides. In Bishop's Second Congressional District the constituent's opinions are as diverse as the population. In Byron 72-year old Marshall Scott sees plenty wrong with the Senate bill and he doesn’t want it. He’s called and emailed Bishop's office and he’s not alone. “All my friends and associates at church and so forth, I’m an assistant Sunday school teacher at our church, most all the men in there, they’re against it.” Scott says if Bishop votes yes he’ll work to get him out of office. About 89-thousand people in the Second Congressional District Are uninsured. Johnnie Zanders lives in Fort Valley and puts on community health fairs. She’s hoping for a yes vote from Bishop “I think this would be a positive step because everybody seem to be included and I know there’s some issues that some people don’t want to be included, but sometimes it’s a trade off.” Some Republican candidates are getting ready to challenge Bishop should he support President Obama’s health care bill.