Teilhet Hits Web, Urges More Participation

Smyrna, GA – State Representative Rob Teilhet (D-Smyrna) today announced he will post a series of web videos during the 2009 legislative session to increase transparency under the gold dome, and encourage Georgians to become more engaged in state politics.

“Too much of the debate is driven in Atlanta by big corporations and influential lobbyists,” said Representative Rob Teilhet. “It's a new session. It's a big year. We face lots of fiscal and economic challenges. I'm using these web videos to bring the average person's perspective back to the forefront.”

The webisodes will be called “Inside Georgia with Rob Teilhet,” and can be found on his web site at www.robteilhet.com or www.youtube.com/robteilhet.

In his first web video, Teilhet describes three pieces of legislation he'll introduce to the 2009 Georgia General Assembly. The first would reform the practice of instant tax refunds, requiring more disclosure of the triple digit interest rates that are charged by the companies who make these loans. In the video, Teilhet calls the loans predatory and dangerous.

Secondly, Teilhet advocates shifting more of Georgia's economic development resources to small businesses, providing additional resources to help them both get started and to weather the current economic climate.

Teilhet also will introduce a measure that models a program in Kentucky designed to attract small high tech businesses by matching assistance these firms receive from the federal government, helping to create high paying jobs with good benefits and to make Georgia a center of innovation and new technology.