Lee Henderson, Newstalk 105.9 WVGA:

STATE TRANSPORTATION FUNDING

The gap between initiating transportation projects in Georgia and the money to fund them is an issue that state law makers must face.

State leaders including Governor Nathan Deal, House Speaker David Ralston and Lt. Governor Casey Cagle are backing a proposal that calls for large increases in funding for transportation. Finding the money to make their desire a reality is the next step.

The amount needed according to a recently released study calls for an extra $1.5 billion to maintain current infrastructure and several billion more to cover the cost of the new plans. State Representative Ed Rynders announced that Georgia is 23rd in the nation when it comes to funding road projects and 49th in taxation for road projects. Also being considered is new taxation.

BRANNAN EXECUTED

Convicted killer Andrew Brannan was executed in Georgia Tuesday night for the January 1998 murder of Laurens County deputy sheriff Kyle Drinkheller. Attorneys for Brannan argued that he suffered from mental illness as a result of his military service during the Vietnam War.

DEAL PROPOSES NEW PROBATION OVERSIGHT

Governor Nathan Deal wants to establish a new agency to oversee the supervision of probation and parole in Georgia. Deal wants to shift the responsibility of oversight from the Department of Corrections-Juvenile Justice Department and the Pardons and Paroles Board.

Such a move Deals says will eliminate duplication of processes and ease the process or re-entry into society for released prisoners.