The Fayette Citizen-Opinion Page
Wednesday, February 3, 1999
Barnes' new metro transport agency just another layer of unneeded gov't.

By State Rep. Lynn Westmoreland

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On the whole, I must say Gov. Roy Barnes' conservative approach to state policy is commendable, but I am a little concerned that he may be trying to increase the size of government when doing so is unnecessary.

A top priority for our new governor is to improve traffic situations in the metro Atlanta area. This is definitely an area we need to address in a swift manner, but I disagree with him when he says the answer is to create a new agency which would oversee all transportation plans for the metro area.

As proposed, the board would have planning and veto powers, despite the fact that the state's Department of Transportation and the Atlanta Regional Commission are already established to accomplish the same goals.

A major difference in the way it is now and the way Gov. Barnes wants it is that the Department of Transportation answers to the legislature, but the new proposal would create a board that would answer to him alone.

I believe the move would cause a needless shift in the "balance of powers." Currently, the DOT with help from the ARC can do everything the governor wants to do, and this would be a more prudent way to achieve our common goals without adding another layer of government, which would cost the taxpayers more money.

On the insurance scene, Barnes is looking to create the position of insurance consumer advocate. He says he wants to help cut down on insurance fraud, and while this is an admirable goal, Georgia already has the elected office of Insurance Commissioner to carry out these plans.

Instead of creating another level of bureaucracy that would again answer directly to the governor, more effort should be made to work with current Insurance Commissioner John Oxendine to achieve the governor's goals.

Another insurance concern Gov. Barnes is trying to address involves health management organizations (HMOs). He wants people (even those who get free healthcare) to have more choices in choosing healthcare providers.

The problem here is that, despite Barnes' claims to the contrary, more choices mean higher costs for taxpayers. If insurance costs were to rise too much higher, more and more people would be unable to afford health insurance, thereby leading to higher taxes. Forcing HMOs to give nonpaying customers more choices is another example of government getting too big and flexing too much muscle.

A very important item addressed last week regarded the state's plans to tackle the Y2K, or Year 2000 noncompliance, problem. We in the House approved a measure that would set an additional $170 million aside so computer programmers can effectively ensure that Georgia's computer systems will be compliant and not fail when the new year rolls around.

Well-known Christian financial advisor Larry Burkett was at the Capitol last week, and he issued a report that says the country's financial markets appear to be in good shape heading into the year 2000. However, he said there were many areas of society that may still be non-compliant when 2000 arrives. Certainly we want to do what we can to prevent widespread power outages and transportation problems due to noncompliant computer systems.

So far, this year's legislative session in the Capitol has gone well, and I look forward to the days and weeks ahead as we seek to make Georgia a better place to call home.

If there is any way I can be of assistance to you, please call my office at 404-656-0177.


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