Legislators to recap key issues for area

The Columbia County Chamber of Commerce is offering the public a chance to hear about the 2006 state legislative session from the legislators themselves.

The chamber's Government Affairs Committee is playing host for the annual Post-Legislative Breakfast from 7:30 to 8:45 a.m. Tuesday at the Savannah Rapids Pavilion in Evans.

"What we are doing is giving the chamber members and the community at large an opportunity to hear directly from the legislators about what occurred during the session and what they feel was important, and also to pick their brains about what they think is important for the coming year," said Government Affairs Committee Chairman Bobby Christine, who also is a local attorney and county associate magistrate judge.

All four state legislators representing this area will attend the breakfast meeting, including Sue Burmeister, R-Augusta; House Majority Whip Barry Fleming, R-Harlem; Appropriations Committee Chairman Rep. Ben Harbin, R-Martinez; and Sen. Jim Whitehead, R-Evans, who is the chairman of the Public Safety and Homeland Security Committee.

"I don't think there is a more powerful delegation in the state nor, and this is the irony of it, nor one that is more accessible," Christine said.

Christine said the delegation will likely discuss key issues from the session, which ended April 7, including budget issues and imminent domain, a government's ability to seize property, and the delegation's opposition to the growth of that power.

The event also will feature Columbia County Commission Chairman Ron Cross and Wayne Bridges, chairman of the Columbia County School Board.

Gordon Renshaw, the executive director of the chamber, said the event keeps chamber members, who are the backbone of Columbia County, informed of important and pertinent legislation. It also offers a chance for chamber members to interact and build relationships with the legislators.

The event, which features a full catered breakfast, is free to chamber members. Nonchamber members are welcome to attend for a $10 fee. The event is sponsored by BellSouth and Serotta, Maddocks, Evans and Co.

For more information, call the chamber at (706) 651-0018.