The Georgia Legislative Black Caucus (GLBC), chaired by State Representative Karen Bennett (D-Stone Mountain), recently announced its 2020 legislative priorities in honor of Black History Month and ahead of the GLBC’s 45th annual Heritage Dinner. The GLBC, which is comprised of 65 House and Senate members, made the announcement during a press conference on Thursday, February 5.

At the press conference, Rep. Karen Bennett (D-Stone Mountain), along with Reps. Patty Bentley (D-Butler), Rhonda Burnough (D-Riverdale), Carolyn Hugley (D-Columbus) and State Senator Harold Jones (D-August), discussed the GLBC’s agenda for the 2020 calendar year. Rep. Bentley discussed the group’s health care priorities and conveyed the GLBC’s support for policy measures that would expand access to health care and increase its affordability to all Georgians.

“We believe Georgia should catch up with other states across the nation and expand Medicaid, insuring hundreds of thousands more of our residents,” said Rep. Bentley.

Additionally, Rep. Burnough and Sen. Jones discussed education and criminal justice reform priorities respectively, and Rep. Hugley announced the upcoming Heritage Dinner, which will take place on Thursday, February 27.

During the press conference, Rep. Bennett also addressed the GLBC’s concerns regarding Governor Brian Kemp’s budgetary recommendation for the Amended Fiscal Year 2020 and Fiscal Year 2021 budgets. Rep. Bennett discussed potential divestments in the state’s criminal justice system, especially in services that support rehabilitation, training, alternative sentencing and legal representation. In closing, she discussed how the proposed budget cuts could also impact the following areas: the state’s social mobility gap; workforce training; economic development; children/adolescent health, education and social services; health services; and statewide infrastructure.

“We must join colleagues across both parties to address these concerns and work to find solutions to balance our budget without jeopardizing these critical services,” said Rep. Bennett.

For the past 45 years, the GLBC, which is the largest black caucus in the nation, has sought to protect the general welfare of black people, other people of color and disadvantaged citizens of Georgia in matters of healthcare, education, social and criminal justice, employment and economic empowerment.