State Senator Tim Golden (D-Valdosta) named to Special Committee on Revenue Structure

State Sen. Tim Golden (D-Valdosta) has been appointed by Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle to the new Special Joint Committee on Georgia Revenue Structure. The committee was established, along with the Special Council on Tax Reform and Fairness for Georgians, through enactment of House Bill 1405, which was passed during the 2010 legislative session.

The 12-member joint committee will be responsible for considering legislation during the 2011 session of the General Assembly that would implement recommendations by the special council, which is charged with conducting a thorough study of the state's current revenue structure during 2010. Legislation approved by the special committee will go directly to the floor of the House of Representatives for a vote and, if approved by the House, then to the floor of the Senate for a vote.

The special council consists of 11 members, including four leading economists, Gov. Sonny Perdue, the chairs of the Georgia Chamber of Commerce and Georgia chapter of the National Federation of Independent Business and other citizens appointed by the lieutenant governor and speaker of the House.

Golden is a senior member of the Senate Finance Committee, which handles tax-related legislation. In addition, he is secretary of the powerful Senate Appropriations Committee, which is responsible for the state budget. He also serves on the Higher Education, Insurance & Labor and Government Oversight committees. Golden is chairman of the Senate Democratic Caucus and is co-chair of the Senate Study Committee on Manufacturing in Georgia.

Golden is running unopposed in the General Election, but has been endorsed by Medical Association of Georgia, Georgia Association of Educators, Georgia Hospital Association, 100% voting record with NFIB, National Federation of IndependentBusinesses (NFIB), National Rifle Association (NRA) & Former Governor and U.S. Senator Zell Miller.