State Leaders Talk Macon-Bibb Consolidation; Affordable Care Act in Macon Forum

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – Several hot topics have middle Georgia state leaders excited about things to come in the area.

Wednesday, all eight legislators talked about the next General Assembly in Atlanta.

How’s the state going to help Macon-Bibb County heading into consolidation?

That was the big topic for middle Georgia’s state representatives.

Members of the Greater Macon Chamber of Commerce had the opportunity to submit questions to state reps on what their community can look forward to heading into the next legislative session.

“I believe we’ve really set the foundation for future growth for our community. I couldn’t be more excited about where we’re headed,” State Representative Allen Peake, R-Macon, said.

All of the eight members of the delegation agreed, job growth could be at the top of the agenda when leaders meet in January.

State Representative James Beverly, D-Macon, says a key to the area’s success is economic development.

“You have an expanded base in taxes, and that’s going to generate a certain amount of economic development. We’ve got to make sure that all of our citizens are included in the deal flow,” Beverly said.

He, and Peake agree, middle Georgia has to take advantage of when the port widening project in Savannah is completed.

“We’ve got to be ready with an inland container port area. Whether it’s in Bibb County, Houston County, Monroe County, Twiggs it doesn’t really make a difference we have to make sure that we think regionally,” Peake said.

Beverly thinks Macon’s location in between Savannah and Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport in Atlanta could mean a significant amount of dollars in middle Georgia.

“We want to be the next big emerging market as it relates to freight, and trains, and planes, and automobiles. We want to be the place where people off load there stuff and we take it to the rest of the state and certainly the southeast,” Beverly said.

Another issue members with the chamber of commerce asked the delegation, was what will happen with Medicaid funding associated with the affordable care act in the state.

Some leaders think a few of those laws might change.

The general assembly session meets on January 13.