Frank Eldridge, secretary of the Senate, said the first year in the two-year session always starts slowly because there are no bills being carried over from the previous year. One reason for the seeming inertia, according to House Majority Leader Larry Walker, is the wrenching debate, both internal and external, that took place when the bill to change the state flag erupted just 12 days into the session. And it's taken me awhile to get myself back on track. Senate Minority Leader Eric Johnson said the flag vote is just one reason for the slowdown. But we were also coming out of a very tough election season, and we're coming back here for reapportionment and redistricting in August.
Nobody wants to fight.
In August, legislators will meet to redraw the boundaries of state House and Senate districts as well as carve out two new congressional districts for the seats Georgia gained in the last census. Johnson and some other Republicans said there's a dearth of big initiatives coming out of the Legislature this session partly because Democrats have become complacent and feel obligated to run new ideas by Gov. Roy Barnes. So many issues and so little time make House Minority Leader Lynn Westmoreland of Sharpsburg nervous. The status of major legislation after 30 days of the 2001 Georgia Legislature. A bill creating the first new Georgia flag since 1956 swept to approval in the House and Senate and was signed into law by Gov. Roy Barnes.