Friday, February 15, 2002
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Friday, February 15, 2002 |
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James' breast-feeding bill passes Legislature By JOHN
THOMPSON Mothers who breast-feed their babies are breathing a sigh of relief because of a bill that state Sen. Donzella James introduced. The bill has passed the House and Senate and, if signed by Gov. Roy Barnes, will allow mothers to breast-feed in public, without any fear of reprisal. "It allows mothers to feed their babies without the fear of arrest," James said. The General Assembly had passed a similar law in 1999, but the law said the women had to feed their children discreetly. "Some restaurant owners were saying they didn't want this in their restaurant. One woman was threatened with arrest in a mall," James added. James is pleased her fellow legislators went along with amending the law, and is hoping to have similar success with other legislation she has introduced. Among the bills she has introduced is a bill calling for pricing on prescription drugs that provides discounts for seniors. She said many elderly Georgians are faced with the prospect of buying food or prescriptions on a monthly basis and she wants to see that changed. James has also introduced Senate Bill 427, which would make it an aggravated misdemeanor for a person who tests positive for driving under the influence to have a minor in the car. "This is putting many of our children at risk," she said. Like many other legislators, James has also introduced a bill to deal with skyrocketing natural gas prices. James' bill would allow the state Public Service Commission to pick an appropriate provider. "It's time for them to start doing their job," she said.
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