ATLANTA (AP) — Georgia lawmakers are facing a grim to-do list as they return to the Capitol Monday for the 2010 legislative session.
Tax collections are still in freefall, meaning legislators will need to get to work immediately on hacking what could be another $1 billion or so from the state budget.
The scandal that brought down the state's powerful House speaker suggests ethics reform — and bad behavior — will be a hot topic in the frenzy of an election year.
Water could be running out for Atlanta. And traffic gridlock just keeps getting worse without a deal on a funding fix.
State lawmakers say they hope to protect public safety and education from the worst of the budget ax but even they will see some funding cuts.
