Although the Georgia General Assembly has just gotten its wheels in motion for this session, Sen. Donzella James, D-College Park, already is in high gear.

James, whose 35th District includes Union City and Fairburn, is set to bring forth a wide range of legislation that could affect everything from how we talk on our cell phones to the care of our children.

One of the more contentious issues she sees happening this term is the debate over the state flag.

"I am supporting the pre-1956 flag. The flag that we have now does not represent all Georgians," she said.

James doesn't have any issues with descendents of Confederate veterans who are working to keep the flag, but points out the current flag is not the one that was flown during the Civil War.

But James believes that many of her personal issues are just as important as retiring the flag. One of her big issues this session will be to pass a bill that would lower the cost of prescription drugs for senior citizens.

The issue was one of the major talking points during the federal election and James wants the state to get involved in the process.

Another issue concerns teen drinking. James wants to see some sort of licensing and regulation placed on beer kegs.

"A lot of these parties have kegs and there's no way of telling who supplied the beer," she said.

Another drinking-related issue that she would like to see passed is the acceptance by Georgia of the .08 level of alcohol for driving under the influence.

"That's the federal standard," she said. Georgia's current standard is .1.

She would also like to see the state strengthen the open container law.

"Last year, we lost $19 million in federal funds because we don't comply with their standards," she said.

In addition to alcohol laws, James will introduce a measure to make it a misdemeanor to leave a child under 5 years old unattended in a car.

Later in the session, she also plans to introduce a bill that would make it a misdemeanor for residents to use cell phones in the car that are not the "hands-off" type or use a speakerphone capability.