Newly-elected state Rep. Ann Purcell spoke to the Noon Lions Club on Monday and thanked the Lions for all the work they do in the community.
She said it’s good to hear from individuals, as often lawmakers have to take actions based on just the information they have.

Purcell talked about her appointment by Gov. Sonny Perdue to work with the state’s technical education and said the governor then appointed a committee made up of all of the state’s education heads, a move she said had been wonderful.

Purcell said it promoted a “greater exchange of knowledge within the education system,” and it will help to avoid duplication of services.

She also touted the new career academy being constructed next to the Savannah Technical School’s Effingham campus and said it would give students an opportunity to pursue career paths. It also would would provide a seamless transition between the public school system and the STC.

Purcell also praised the QuickStart process that is training workers for the new EFACEC plant.

“We’ve got a lot going on in our county for education,” she said.

Purcell reiterated that the planned Effingham Parkway may need another name in order to get the project moving along. She also said the parkway needs to start at the Jimmy DeLoach Parkway and head north, instead of the other way around, in order to provide faster service to residents.

She also told the audience that Georgia would begin to issue new driver’s licenses the first of the year. The new licenses will incorporate new ID and security features.

Purcell warned that more cuts to the state budget are coming.

“The budget process is going to be a very hard one this year,” she said.

But, she said, the state has to balance its budget. She said to expect additional taxes on tobacco and gasoline. She also talked about the state’s water woes and their impact on the Coastal Empire. Purcell said parts of north Georgia want to withdraw water from the Savannah River and use it to supply Atlanta and that she’s against that approach.

“It would impact us negatively,” she said. “They need to leave us be.”

But she advised that Georgians have to work together. “We’ve got very few votes south of Atlanta,” Purcell said. “We have to work to get our votes and to keep what we have.”

Purcell also said state districts would be redrawn in 2011 after the 2010 Census.

“The Census is going to be very important for us,” she said.