Decatur Leg Delegation Hosts Town Hall 
House, Senate and Mayor to speak candidly about new roles and state policies

ATLANTA, Ga. (January 27, 2011) - The 2011 Session of the Georgia General Assembly began Monday, January 10 and Democrats are wasting no time taking their message to communities around the state. House members of the Decatur-area DeKalb County delegation will host a town hall meeting on Tuesday, February 1, 6 p.m.- 7 p.m. at Decatur City Hall. 

The public hearing will give Decatur area residents the opportunity to be heard on issues being considered during the legislative session.

Sen. Jason Carter, Representatives Stacey Abrams, Stephanie Stuckey Benfield, and Mary Margaret Oliver will be joined by Decatur Mayor Bill Floyd. 

"My colleagues and I are ready to hear from our constituents about the policies being proposed at the capitol," said Benfield. "As the opposition party, we're responsible for offering thoughtful alternatives to Republicans' proposals."

To close a $1.5 billion budget gap, Republican lawmakers have proposed cuts to education, healthcare and public safety. A proposal by the Special Council on Tax Reform and Fairness for Georgians would add a tax on groceries, cigarettes, and prescription medicines.

Cuts proposed to the HOPE Scholarship would negatively impact nearby DeKalb Technical College, which has graduated more than 32,000 students since 1993, with the help of the popular scholarship program.

Sen. Jason Carter said he and his colleagues in the House will stand against any effort that would force working families and small businesses to sacrifice the most. 

"It is our families and small businesses that will lead the way to prosperity, create jobs, and help to rebuild our economy. We need to provide them with the same attention that gets offered to our largest companies," Carter said. "Right now, we're reaching out to the citizens of Georgia in a variety of ways to keep them involved in what's going on at the capitol and to get their input. I'm looking forward to the town hall meeting."

Rep. Stacey Abrams, recently elected to lead the House Democratic Caucus, has vowed to reconnect Democratic leaders with constituents.

"We are having conversations around the state and we will make government as open and accessible as possible to every Georgian," she said.

For more information about the event, please contact Rep. Stephanie Stuckey Benfield (404) 964-7025. To learn more about the Georgia House Democratic Caucus and its members, visit www.gahousedems.com, call 404-656-5059 or email staff@gahousedems.com.