Bobby Franklin’s Georgia Journal: Blue Crabs, Kids, Chickens, Car Tags, And The Return Of Prohibition - Sort Of
Last week was a busy week for stupid stuff under the Gold Dome here in Georgia.
REP. BOBBY FRANKLINA hot trend is for certain industries is to keep out competition by requiring state licensure with ever increasing education standards in order to practice a particular trade. HB 241 increased the educational requirements for dispensing opticians. It passed the House with a vote of 156-1.
The messianic Republican majority in the Georgia House enacted the “Uniform Prudent Management of Institutional Funds Act”, HB 972. This completely new law would dictate that managers of institutional funds, well, will not be stupid. HB 972 passed the House with a vote of 161-1.
If you like state central planning and particularly if you favor the insane notion that the state owns all wildlife, then you will love HB 1016. This bill allows the commissioner of the Department of Natural Resources (why there is such a department is another story) to prohibit all commercial and recreational fishing for blue crabs. During the debate it was pointed out that there is no shortage of chickens in Gainesville, Georgia, the poultry capital of the world, mainly because chickens are privately owned. An amendment to begin the process of privatizing blue crabs was defeated by a vote of 10-150. HB 1016 passed the House unamended with a vote of 142-21.
LOTS OF THESE GUYS because State doesn’t own them. Might be a lesson here.The last time I checked, the state does not have any children. That did not stop our Republican majority from passing HB 1054, the “Children and Family Services Strengthening Act of 2008.” This bill not only created yet another executive branch agency but it allows that agency to receive funds unconstitutionally appropriated to it from the Congress. HB 1054 passed the House with a vote of 99-67.
Currently in Georgia you can show pride in your out of state college by voluntarily paying $25 per year extra for your car tag. These out of state college car tags generate a large amount of money from those willing to pay. Well it seems that some neighboring states do not make it very easy for their citizens to voluntarily tax themselves to purchase car tags promoting Georgia colleges. Have no fear, Republican Whip, Barry Fleming, has come to the rescue with HB 1165. This bill will cut off the stream of voluntary tax revenue from Georgia citizens wishing to show support for their out of state schools if that state does not allow its citizens to freely tax themselves to do likewise. HB 1165 passed the House with a vote of 142-10.
Did you think that Prohibition was over? Think again. HB 1066 criminalizes the mere possession of a machine that vaporizes alcohol. While Georgia is throwing the book at people that use alcohol vaporizing devices, the butchering of the unborn continues. HB 1066 passed the House with a vote of 164-1.
Back in the 1700s Georgia’s northern border was established at the 35th parallel. Well it seems that some surveyor, no doubt while under the influence of vaporized alcohol, created a map showing the 35th parallel to be roughly a mile south of where it actually is. Rather than simply enforce the correct border, and true to the Republican era of bigger government, HR 1206 creates the Georgia-North Carolina and the Georgia-Tennessee Boundary Line Commission. The measure passed the House with a vote of 136-26.
The duty is ours …
the outcome is God’s