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Published Wednesday, January 25, 2012 in Local

Guest Column: A new legislative session

Guest column by Sen. Mike Crane

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I am honored to represent the people of Carroll, Coweta, Heard and Troup counties in Senate District 28. I look forward to hearing from you and working on your behalf.

As your new state senator, there are principles that will guide how I review all legislation. These principles are the foundation of questions we should ask of any legislative act, including: Is it within the constitutional framework of government (is it something the government should do, or is it our responsibility as individuals), is it moral and just, does it benefit all Georgians (government cannot be in the business of promoting only one segment of the community), do the benefits exceed the costs, and is it the most efficient approach to solving the problem? Some of the issues that are coming up early in this legislative session include legislation that will help limit the size of government, reform our tax code, create an environment to make our state more attractive to business, and improve the educational opportunities for our children.

This past week has been full of budget hearings and an initial review of the governor's budget for our state. I have serious concerns of how our state approaches the budget process and am currently working on legislation that will promote sound fiscal practices and limit the growth of government.

This is just the beginning of my thoughts as we begin the 2012 legislative session. I will continue to keep you up to date on key issues and help you stay informed on our actions in the state Senate.

I welcome your ideas and feedback. If you have any questions or concerns, contact me at our Capitol office. You can reach me by phone at 404-656-6446 or by email at mike.crane@senate.ga.gov.

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