Today I co-chaired a hearing on global warming at the State Capitol.  The idea for the hearing originated with Senator Ross Tolleson, who chairs the Senate Natural Resources and Environment Committee.  He asked me to join him because I am the chairman of the Senate Regulated Industries and Utilities Committee, which deals with energy issues.

As I said at the hearing, glaciers once covered most of North America.  They have steadily receded over the last several thousand years as the world has grown warmer, and most of that warming has had nothing to do with human activity.  In fact, it is pretty clear that the temperature of the sun, which rises and falls in cycles, is the driving natural phenomenon.

As to whether human activity has accelerated the warming in the last hundred years, it seems logical that we have had some impact.  The controversy arises in determining the extent of that impact and what should be done about it.

Senator Tolleson arranged for us to hear from two witnesses.  Martin Rickerd, the British consul general, discussed his country’s efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, including incentives and penalties on energy-intensive businesses and on automobile owners.  Dr. Harold Brown, professor emeritus from the University of Georgia, urged caution, saying that the human impact on climate is difficult to ascertain.  He also pointed out that climate experts were predicting a new Ice Age as late as the 1970s and demanding government action to “warm up” the planet.

More hearings are planned.  Global warming was an issue at the National Conference of State Legislatures meeting in Boston last summer.

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The Lieutenant Governor has asked me to represent Georgia on the Southern States Energy Board.  The Board was created by an interestate compact to encourage collaboration among the Southern states on energy issues.  I appreciate the Lieutenant Governor’s confidence in me and look forward to my service.

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Our regular session began as usual at 10:00 a.m.  We unanimously approved Senate Bill 14 dealing with the Superior Court Clerks Cooperative Authority.  We also approved Senate Resolution 126 setting forth our schedule through Monday, February 12, which will be the eighteenth day. 

I introduced Senate Bill 84 at the request of the Insurance Department.  This bill updates the unfair trade practices section of the Insurance Code to deal with insurance scams aimed at members of the military.

My lunch hour was taken up meeting with lobbyists and constituents. I met with both hospital and insurance lobbyists about Senate Bill 73 dealing with continuity of care.  I visited with groups of architects, homebuilders and school children from my district.  I met with electric lobbyists about the shared use of the utility poles (”pole attachment”).  I met with a lobbyist from a leading beer maker about Sunday sales.  I also worked on legislation that would create a Gwinnett County Stormwater Authority.

My afternoon was packed with committee meetings.  At the Banking and Financial Institutions Committee meeting, we heard a presentation from the Commissioner of Banking.  He outlined the annual departmental “housekeeping” bill updating the Banking Code. 

The Health and Human Services Committee acted on several bills and resolutions, most creating study commissions and task forces.  We favorably reported Senate Bill 57 which would provide for a system of licensing dialysis technicians. 

The Rules Committee voted to place Senate Bill 10 on the calendar for tomorrow, the Georgia Special Needs Scholarship Act.  The Democrats, self-proclaimed champions of the downtrodden, appear to be gearing up to oppose this bill.  It should be interesting.

I returned calls right before I left the office.  I reached the one constitutent who had contacted me in opposition to Senate Bill 10.  I explained my reasoning for supporting the bill, and I seemed to win him over.

We go into session tomorrow at 9:30 a.m. You can watch our proceedings live tomorrow at the Georgia General Assembly website.

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