WATER RIGHTS
After 20 years of litigation, a federal judge ruled in July 2009 that Georgia’s homes, businesses, and governments must stop using Lake Lanier for water by July of 2012.  If the order is implemented, it has been estimated that it could cost Georgia’s economy $40 billion per year.

Attorney General Olens is aggressively advocating for Georgia’s fair share of its natural resources in and out of court, and is working with other key Georgia leaders to present a united front to our neighbor states.  On March 9, 2011, the State of Georgia presented its oral argument before the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals asking the Court to overturn the July 2009 ruling so that the state can continue to meet the water needs of Georgia citizens.

“This case is critical for Georgia in that it will have a substantial impact on our state for decades in terms of both sustainability and growth,” said Attorney General Sam Olens. “I am committed to defending Georgia’s right to its fair share of natural resources and am firmly convinced in the strength of our case on appeal.”

HEALTH CARE
“Given the far-reaching impact of the federal healthcare law on every Georgia citizen as well as the critical constitutional implications of its requirements, it is important that Georgia’s interests are protected at all stages of the litigation.” –Attorney General Sam Olens

Subsequent to the passage of The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act in 2010, 20 states joined Florida in filing a federal lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of the bill, with Georgia joining in the name of the Governor’s office. Following his swearing-in in January, 2011, Attorney General Olens amended Georgia’s filing, adding the Georgia Office of the Attorney General to the lawsuit. Iowa, Ohio, Kansas, Maine, Wisconsin and Wyoming also joined the lawsuit, bringing the total number of states which are party to the Florida litigation to 26, along with National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB).

On January 31, 2011, federal district judge Roger Vinson, struck down as unconstitutional the requirement in the federal health care law that individuals must purchase health insurance, otherwise known as the individual mandate. He then issued a stay of his ruling in early March on the condition that the federal government must file its appeal within seven business days.

The Obama Administration has since filed its appeal with the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals in Atlanta, and the Court has issued an order setting an expedited briefing schedule this spring for the appeal. The appeal will be fully briefed before the end of May and an oral argument before the 11th Circuit is scheduled for June 8, 2011.

Attorney General Olens is committed to working with NFIB and the 25 other states involved in the lawsuit to vigorously defend our State and the U.S. Constitution, and by extension, the rights of all Georgians throughout all stages of the litigation

The State of Virginia filed a separate suit and on December 14, 2010, a Virginia federal judge ruled that it is unconstitutional for the government to compel Americans to buy health insurance.

For more information on this issue or other issues, please go to the the official Attorney General Of Georgia website to learn more.