David's blog

I am pleased to be among the first group of 2008 candidates to be endorsed by the Georgia AFL-CIO and the Georgia Chapter of the Sierra Club.

During the first week of June, I was honored to speak to members of the Georgia Chamber of Commerce at their annual meeting on St. Simons Island and to appear before the UFCW Local 1996 at their meeting on Jekyll Island.

Through much of 2007, I served as a member of the Senate Study Committee
on the Shortage of Doctors and Nurses in Georgia. The Final Report of
our committee can be reviewed by clicking on the attached PDF below.

Last week I addressed the Bioenergy Conference held at University of Georgia facility in Tifton. More than 700 people registered to attend the event. The three day conference included presentations on biomass electric power generation and the development of liquid fuels such as ethonal and butonal from Georgia grown agricultural products. Renewable energy promotes energy independence and rural economic development. Additionally, development of renewable energy will decrease greenhouse gases and increase fuel diversity which serves as an economic hedge against weather events such as hurricanes. We have a great opportunity in this state. Georgia's farmers are some of the most productive in the world. We are the largest poultry producing state. Additionally, our state is blessed with great timber resources which are ideal for biomass electric generation. We have worked hard to attract some of the country's premier research programs to the University of Georgia and Georgia Tech. Unfortunately, Georgia is falling behind with regard to renewable energy development because our state government has not been bold. Our electric utilities have done little to promote alternative energy. The state needs to do more to promote liquid fuel use and development. Incredibly, there are leas than a dozen pumps in Georgia where people can purchase E85 ethonal. I am working on legislation for consideration in the 2008 Session to promote renewable energy in Georgia. We have a long way to go.

It was a great honor to deliver the Commencement Address yesterday during the 2007 Decatur High School graduation exercises. The evening could not have been better. The members of the Class of 2007 were enthusiastic in their support of each other and demonstrated why Decatur High School is such a great place. The gathered crowd of family, friends, alumni and community members numbered at least two thousand. For the first time in 25 years, Decatur High School conducted its graduation ceremony on campus in its stadium. Congratulations to first year principal Lauri McKain-Fernandez and her team for a great year. Thank you again for the privilege of being included in the celebration. As I said at the conclusion of my remarks last night, I expect great things from the Decatur High School Class of 2007.