The Georgia State Capitol building located in Atlanta, GaERRIN HAINES, Associated Press
RAY HENRY, Associated Press
ATLANTA - Georgia lawmakers have returned to Atlanta to start a busy 40-day legislative session that's likely to address a budget shortfall created by rising health care and education costs.
Legislators are expected to break with the traditional slow start to the session and get to business Monday, their first day back at the Capitol.
In the Senate, Lt. Gov Casey Cagle recognized two new lawmakers and attempted to assert himself as the leader of the chamber, foreshadowing an ongoing power struggle with his GOP colleagues. The Senate is scheduled to vote on bills carried over from last year's session related to education and courts.
In the House, Speaker David Ralston made a few brief remarks Monday morning welcoming a handful of new lawmakers to the chamber before a clerk started reading new bills and members took up scheduling and other matters.
Leading lawmakers have vowed to adopt legislation this year that would spur job creation and workforce development programs as Georgia's unemployment rate still hovers around 10 percent. Legislators also are expected to consider new infrastructure spending, revamped policies to address prison overcrowding and social issues such as abortion.