Speaker Ralston and Lt. Gov. Cagle Announce the Creation of the Special Joint Committee on Immigration Reform

ATLANTA— House Speaker David Ralston and Lieutenant Governor Casey Cagle today announced the creation of the Special Joint Committee on Immigration Reform.

“The creation of this joint committee was inspired by the federal government’s continued failure to deal with the problem of illegal immigration and its drain on taxpayer resources in Georgia,” said House Speaker David Ralston. “I expect this committee to look at every legislative solution available to the General Assembly that picks up where Washington D.C. has let us down.”

This 14-member joint committee will work to draft legislation that stems the flow of illegal immigration activity in Georgia. Rep. Matt Ramsey (R-Peachtree City) and Sen. Jack Murphy (R-Cumming) will serve as Co-Chairmen of the Special Joint Committee on Immigration Reform.

“A respect for the rule of law is one of the basic founding tenets of our state and nation. If the federal government continues to neglect its responsibility to enforce the law, we’re going to use every option at our disposal to lessen its impact in Georgia,” said Lt. Governor Cagle. “The members of this committee will take a broad, in-depth look at ways to confront this problem and offer concrete solutions to improve the regulations we have on the books already.”

Speaker Ralston also named to the joint committee State Representatives Katie Dempsey (R-Rome), David Casas (R-Lilburn), Rick Austin (R-Demorest), Michael Harden (R-Toccoa), Greg Morris (R-Vidalia), and Stephen Allison (R-Blairsville).

Lt. Gov. Cagle appointed State Senators Johnny Grant (R-Milledgeville), Jeff Mullis (R-Chickamauga), Chip Rogers (R-Woodstock), Bill Heath (R- Bremen), Butch Miller (R-Flowery Branch) and John Bulloch (R-Ochlocknee) to the joint committee.

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