It's been a good year so far for Georgia business, according to someone who should know - George Israel, president and CEO of the Georgia Chamber of Commerce since 2002.

The highest priorities of the 4,000-member group were all addressed during this year's legislative session, and among the very most important was transportation. The legislature passed the TSPLOST bill, or Transportation Special Local Option Sales Tax bill. It provides for counties to group together as regions to propose and fund transportation projects for their areas, which would be funded by a 1 percent sales tax on that area, if it is approved by the voters of that area. And the overall bill must first be approved by voters statewide.

"It's not a perfect bill, and I suspect the legislature will revisit it next year, but work is already beginning to develop a project list," he said.

On education, he lauded the passage of a school board governance bill meant to avoid another Clayton County-type episode, in which a school system loses accreditation because of school board meddling.

"The school board down there was too involved in the classrooms and in the athletic departments," he said. "School boards need to be setting millage and passing budgets and setting policy for a school system, not all that other stuff. Sound leadership is the key to quality education."

The legislature passed a conservation bill that hopefully be key in finding a solution to the ongoing tri-state water wars, Israel said. Georgia must do a better job of capturing rainfall and conserving its water resources. And serious thought is being given to taking millions of gallons of water out of the Chattahoochee as it nears the state line in south Georgia then piping it back north of Atlanta, where it would empty back into the 'Hooch for another trip through Atlanta.

Of urgent need are steps to address the state's lagging trauma-care network, he said. Presently, the only trauma-care centers are in Atlanta, Augusta, Savannah and Macon.

"Think about that the next time you're driving south of Macon on I-75," he said. South of Macon, there is not a single neurosurgeon on call in any hospital emergency room in the state, he noted.

Thanks to a ballot initiative passed by the legislature, voters will be asked in November to approve a $10 fee on license tag sales to help fund a comprehensive statewide trauma care network.

"The Chamber is part of a coalition that will be working hard to ensure this measure passes," he said. "If it does, an improved network could save as many as 700 lives each year."

The state legislative session is over, but the Chamber's work continues, Israel said.

"Every statewide office is up for election this year for the first time since I don't know when," he said. "There are open seats for every constitutional office but lieutenant governor. We're also electing a U.S. Senator and 13 U.S. representatives. In the state Senate, there are 13 open seats and 20 sitting members who were challenged. In the House, there are 28 members who are not returning and 62 who were challenged.

The state Chamber also keeps an eye on what Congress and the feds are up to.

The chances of Congress passing climate change legislation, or cap-and-trade, seem less likely at the moment that they did earlier this year.

"We're watching it closely," he said. That bill as originally proposed could have cost the average household as much as $1,500 per year."

"Our goal on federal issues is two-fold," he said. "We want to help the business community understand what is happening and we want to ensure our delegation knows what is important to Georgia business.

"We are working to build a statewide grassroots network so that our members will hear clearly what the business community is thinking

"We are encouraging our members - and any business-minded Georgians - not only to vote, but to be involved," he said. "We are also increasing our focus on Washington, D.C. There are huge issues that impact each and every one of us that have been on the table."

Israel said he was very concerned about Obamacare, which he said is guaranteed to result in health care rationing. Most businesses will pay the fairly small fine for not offering health insurance to their employees, rather than paying the bigger cost of providing them insurance, he predicted. And that will mean radical changes in the type of plans and coverages that are offered.

Financial reform was signed by the president last week, and while it included a few improvements, it made no attempt to address the main underlying cause of the problem, which was Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, which in the Clinton years began pouring out home loans without requiring any documentation on the part of the borrowers. Then, those mortgages were securitized and sold as investments, even though they were not worth the paper they were printed on, Israel said.

"In addition, it creates a new layer of bureaucracy and numerous new regulations for borrowers," he said.

"We have historically enjoyed a business friendly legislature and congressional delegation, and we want to keep it that way. That is why the Georgia Chamber has stepped up our involvement this election cycle."

Incidentally, Israel said that voter disenchantment is the highest he's ever seen, and that a higher number of voters than usual probably will signal their disgust by not voting at all this year.

Bill Kinney is associate editor of the Marietta Daily Journal.