State Rep. Amos Amerson will be on hand this Saturday, Jan. 28 at 8:30 a.m. at Ryans Restaurant to meet with residents of Dawson County. Amerson represents the 9th District, which includes parts of Dawson, Lumpkin and Forsyth counties.

These meetings give my constituents an opportunity to talk to me face-to-face about their concerns, and for me to tell them whats happening during the [legislative] session that affects their lives and well being, Amerson wrote in a column recently published in The Dahonega Nugget and in the News & Advertiser.

The Georgia Legislative session started Jan. 9 and lasts 40 days. Elected representatives are given marching orders from Gov. Nathan Deal. Goals for this years session include a 10-day increase in the pre-K school year, and an additional $55.8M for teacher salary increases, which the governor said should be based on teachers training and experience, Amerson added. A committee meeting was held to receive ideas on how to best maximize lottery funds to support our Pre-K and HOPE scholarship programs.

Unemployment and jobs creation are also at the top of Gov. Deals list and he has outlined a three-part plan for strategic tax reform. The plan includes elimination of sales tax on energy used in manufacturing and a sales and use tax exception for construction materials used in projects of regional significance and modernized restructuring of Georgias Job Tax Credits and Quality Jobs Tax Credit programs.

The event is this Saturday, Jan. 28, 8:30 a.m., Ryans Restaurant, 126 Georgia 400, Dawsonville, 706-265-1565