Top community leaders gathered to honor and recognize State Senator Tim Golden and State Representatives Ellis Black, Amy Carter and Jason Shaw for their pro-business efforts during the 2012 Legislative Session. The Chamber’s Manufacturers Council and the Valdosta-Lowndes County Industrial Authority hosted the event to commend the passing of the Tax Reform Bill which will eliminate the sales tax on energy used in manufacturing, giving Georgia a competitive edge. Georgia Chamber representatives Lauren Fralick and Kevin Curtin praised the delegation for receiving all A’s on its legislative scorecard for two years in a row and honored Sen. Golden with its 2012 Senator of the Year award, which he previously received in 2007.

“Sen. Golden has constantly fought to strengthen businesses here in Georgia - last year leading the charge to pass House Bill 292 – which capped the surcharge increases employers were due to pay on unemployment insurance taxes. He also led on creating the insurance mandate review committee,” stated Curtin. “This year his leadership and bipartisan efforts to pass Senate Bill 402 was one of the biggest pro-business victories of the 2012 session.” Georgia was the only state in the nation that did not allow alternative investments with state pension funds, denying the state access to critical funds for venture capital investments. This legislation has been in play for the past five years and thanks to Golden’s tireless work, it passed with strong bipartisan support in both chambers.