By MONROE ROARK
mroark@thecitizennews.com

State Sen. Rick Price reflected on the close of the 2000 General Assembly's legislative session by highlighting several positive achievements as well as the one that got away.

Several efforts by his fellow Republicans to introduce ethics reform legislation, particularly in the area of campaign finance reform, were mounted but none were successful, he said.

Democrats passed a measure that actually increased limits on campaign contributions. Price did not vote for that. “I don't consider that to be campaign finance reform,” he said.

Price spoke highly of one Democrat's efforts to call for some financial oversight of Grady Hospital, which Price says is desperately needed. David Scott of Atlanta introduced the bill, and it passed the Senate, but it died in the House, Price said.

Other measures that Price supported and were passed included a new bill that should reduce the car tag tax some $40 million statewide. A new formula will determine tag costs by taking a combination of a vehicle's wholesale and retail costs and averaging them. It will take effect Jan. 1, 2001.

By late summer, motorists will not have to worry about being ticketed for not carrying proof of insurance. All insurance carriers are to be on-line by Aug. 1, thanks to new legislation, so traffic enforcement officers will have instant access to insurance information via the computers in their patrol cars.

Also starting this summer will be DNA testing of convicted felons, which should take effect July 1 depending upon when Gov. Roy Barnes signs the bill, Price said.