Bobby Franklin’s Georgia Journal: Big Government Era In Peach State Is, Alas, Alive And Well
REP. BOBBY FRANKLINHB 1111 was an innocent looking bill that seemed to change some wording here and there. I was planning on voting against it mainly because it increased the penalties for not having the proper state permission to drive a commercial vehicle. Then the author of the bill made his presentation. He actually said that HB 1111 brings Georgia law “in line with federal law so we can continue to receive federal funds.” That statement alone caused me to go from a preferential “no” to a principled “NO” since there is no provision in the US Constitution for the federal government to either appropriate funds to states for traffic law enforcement nor forthe federal government to be involved in defining traffic offenses. HB 1111 passed the House by a vote of 153-3.
HB 1105 was a one sentence bill requiring “Annually between October 1 through March 1, prior to discharging any inpatient who is 65 years of age or older, a hospital shall offer the inpatient vaccinations for the influenza virus and pneumococcal disease, unless contraindicated and contingent on availability of such vaccine, in accordance with any applicable rules and regulations of the department.” Aside from the civil government not having jurisdiction to require a business to offer certain goods or services to its customers, this bill is bad public policy. Imagine a person who is 65 or older coming to the hospital with major trauma accompanied by multiple system failure and could die at any time. Prior to this person dying (and thus being discharged) the hospital staff must now spend precious time otherwise spent in trying to save the life by offering a flu shot! HB 1105 passed the House by a vote of 151-9.
By a vote of 154-1 the House approved HB 1088, a bill to provide state central planning of “agricultural tourism.” The last time I checked, I could not find any Biblical role of the civil government in the function of tourism, agricultural or otherwise.
Most people would agree the the War of 1812 has been over for some time now. However, HB 953 provides “for the establishment of the War of 1812 Bicentennial Commission.” This expansion of government consists of 28 people who are appointed for the life of the commission, which extends through December, 31, 2015. Being a product of the government schools of Alabama I could be wrong here, but I think that 2015 is 3 years after 2012. HB 953 passed the House by a vote of 141-7.
The era of Big Government is alive and well in Georgia.
The duty is ours…
the outcome is God’s