Since 2002, Georgia Watch has served as the state’s leading consumer advocacy organization. We focus mainly on issues that impact your wallet and quality of life such as health care, energy and utility issues, identity theft, foreclosure, predatory lending and access to civil justice. As a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, Georgia Watch works to protect Georgia families by developing pro-consumer policies and advocating for the Georgians at the state capitol and the Public Service Commission. We also conduct consumer protection workshops across the state, providing much needed education and assistance.
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April 15, 2011
The 2011 session was another slow-moving, drawn out session that has become typical in recent years. Once again, the state is facing declining revenues, which made setting a budget a difficult process. Overall, consumer-friendly measures saw little real action, while several potentially harmful measures moved quickly. Here is a wrap-up of some of the consumer issues that Georgia Watch was following in 2011. Read more
April 13, 2011
Yesterday evening the Senate passed House Bill 47, a bill that would allow health insurers to offer out-of-state plans with less baseline coverage than currently required by Georgia law. The bill has now passed both chambers of the General Assembly and needs only the Governor’s signature to become law.
While supporters of the bill maintain it will increase competition and lower prices, Georgia Watch and health advocates across the state believe it will undermine hard-fought consumer protections, such as Georgia’s requirement that all insurance policies include screenings for ovarian and prostate cancer, as well as coverage for mastectomies. Read more
April 12, 2011
Georgia Watch and the Georgia Alliance for Ethics Reform are continuing last minute efforts to close the lobbyist loophole allowing undisclosed gifts to staff employees of public officials. Currently, the amendment to fix the loophole has been attached to SB 160, a bad bill that would would allow state regulated utility companies to contribute to political campaigns after a 35 year ban on such contributions.
We are now urging all Georgians to call House Speaker David Ralston at 404-656-5020 or email him at david.ralston@house.ga.gov and tell him, “right amendment, wrong bill.” Read more
April 12, 2011
Georgia’s legislative women’s caucus will again crowd the walls of the Senate in protest of a bill poised to strip essential coverage from health insurance, coverage that helps protect Georgia women.
House Bill 47, which was introduced by Representative Matt Ramsey (R-Peachtree City), would allow insurance companies to sell individual health insurance plans in Georgia that don’t include the basic consumer protections and minimum medical benefits that are currently required by Georgia law, as long as the insurance policy is offered in another state. Read more
April 5, 2011
The Public Service Commission voted today to delay action on the adoption of a cost control plan for two new reactors at Plant Vogtle.
The five commissioners decided unanimously that a further hearing was necessary to explore accounting issues raised last week by Georgia Power’s attorney in a letter to the Commission. Read more
March 31, 2011
In a scheduled committee meeting this morning, Georgia Watch Consumer Energy Program Director Clare McGuire urged Georgia’s five public service commissioners to adopt cost controls on the construction of two new nuclear units at Plant Vogtle. McGuire said the current agreement between Georgia Power and the PSC unfairly exposes ratepayers to cost-overruns.
The two new units – Vogtle units 3 and 4 – are expected to cost $6.1 billion and be completed in 2016-17. PSC Staff has proposed a risk-sharing mechanism (RSM) on cost overruns that would incentivize Georgia Power to complete the project on time and under budget. Most importantly, the proposal calls for a slightly lower profit margin for Georgia Power if construction costs rise above $6.4 billion, or $300 million over budget. Read more
March 30, 2011
Holly Lang, Georgia Watch’s Hospital Accountability Project Director, appeared last week on GPB’s Lawmakers to discuss current health-related state legislation, as well as the impact of the new federal healthcare law on Georgians.
March 27, 2011
Georgia Watch and the Georgia Alliance for Ethics Reform are urging state lawmakers to take further steps to strengthen Georgia’s ethics laws.
In a February press conference on the steps of the Capitol, Georgia Watch executive director Angela Speir Phelps called on lawmakers to do more to close existing loopholes and bring more transparency and accountability to the legislative process.
“There is no shortage of lobbyist money for travel, meals, sporting events or concerts at the Capitol. Whether those gifts wield influence over decisions or not – the appearance of impropriety results in distrust of our elected officials,” said Speir Phelps. Click here for full story and video
March 24, 2011
Georgia Watch Deputy Director Danny Orrock appeared on Georgia Public Broadcasting’s Prime Time Lawmakers last week to discuss Crossover Day and the consumer impact of various bills currently being debated at the Capitol. Click here for full story and video.
March 21, 2011
As a proud member of the Georgia Alliance for Ethics Reform, Georgia Watch has been advocating passionately for greater transparency and accountability at the Capitol. Along with Common Cause, the Georgia Tea Party and the Georgia League of Women voters, the Alliance is focusing much of its legislative efforts on fighting two bills that would significantly weaken Georgia’s ethics laws: SB 160 and HB 232. Read more
March 8, 2011
Senate Bill 160, a bill that would allow regulated utility companies to directly contribute to state political campaigns, unanimously passed the Senate Ethics Committee yesterday despite the objections of Georgia Watch and the Georgia Alliance for Ethics Reform.
SB 160 now heads to the Senate Rules Committee which will schedule the bill for a full floor vote. Read more
March 3, 2011
Georgia Watch and the Georgia Alliance for Ethics Reform are urging lawmakers to oppose Senate Bill 160, which would allow regulated utilities to make direct campaign contributions to political candidates, except those running for Public Service Commission.
“This bill would greatly increase the influence of utilities that have state-created monopolies,” said Danny Orrock, Deputy Director of Georgia Watch. “The state already gives them a monopoly and the power to take a citizen’s land through eminent domain. An entity that wields such significant power should not be allowed to play in elections.” Read more
"I’m proud to be a Georgia Watch board member because it is the only bonafide group in Georgia looking out for you and me as consumers."
- Clark Howard
