Politics & Government

State Legislators Headed Back To The Capitol For Special Session

Delay of TSPLOST referendum and ratification of the governor's gas tax rate freeze on the agenda.

State lawmakers have been summoned back to the Capitol for a special session, beginning Monday. Gov. Nathan Deal formally issued the call Wednesday for the special legislative session to convene Aug. 15.

According to a press release from the Governor’s office, the special session will include redistricting of the Georgia state legislative and congressional districts, technical changes to next year’s TSPLOST referendum and ratifying the governor’s gas tax rate freeze.

The proposed “technical change” is moving the date of the TSPLOST referendum from the July 2012 primary to the Nov. 6, 2012 general election -- a move some believe will ensure greater participation in the referendum. Since 2012 is a presidential election year, turnout is expected to be high in November. However, the July primary will include no major statewide races to draw large number of voters. The date for the state's presidential primary has not yet been set, but, by law, must be held before the second Tuesday in June.

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According to Deal spokesman Brian Robinson, the governor "would like to see the TSPLOST date moved to November in order to include as many Georgia voters as possible in this important decision for our state’s future."

However, the primary focus of the special session will remain the redistricting process.

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“My aim is to sign into law fair maps that comply with the mandates that the federal government sets forth,” Deal said in a released statement. “We will update our state and congressional legislative district maps to reflect the population changes documented in the 2010 Census, and we will honor the sacred principle of ‘one person, one vote.’ Working swiftly, as our maps require preclearance from the Department of Justice, we will also work to provide candidates and voters as much time as possible to prepare for the next election cycle and to keep costs down for Georgia taxpayers.”


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