Georgia Chamber chief wants trauma care support

GAINESVILLE - Georgia Chamber of Commerce president George Israel Thursday in Gainesville urged local chamber support of a constitutional amendment to raise money for a state wide trauma center network by adding $10 to the state's vehicle license tag fee.

Israel was featured speaker at the state chamber's 'Power Lunch' hosted at the Gainesville Civic Center by the Greater Hall Chamber of Commerce. He told local chamber members and government officials that if voters pass the funding amendment on November's ballot it would raise $80-million for the network.

It would possibly save 700 lives annually now lost when trauma care is not available, especially in rural areas south of Macon along I-75 and I-16. Israel said reports that the tag fee would support free hospital care for illegal aliens is mis-information.

"That's not the case," Israel said. "It is to provide that level of equipping and manning a trauma center so they can handle the most intense type of head and trauma cases."

The incoming chairman of the Georgia Chamber of Commerce, Doug Carter from Gainesville, said water is a leading issue for this area at the state capital.

"The Chamber is still heavily involved in trying to get the future re-authorization of Lake Lanier for drinking water," Carter said. "There's also the legislation we worked on in conjunction with on water conservation. We as a state have got to work not only to conserve but plan for future growth."

Carter also listed the new regional transportation funding bill as a top issue with its special sales tax funding for local projects.

"The legislation that was passed that will be on the ballot in 2012 would provide the one cent for local transportation projects will be very important as we continue to grow as a community," Carter said.

Carter added that the trauma care bill calling for voter approval of the amendment to allow the $10 add on fee on license tags is also important locally, with Northeast Georgia Medical Center now listed as one of the top 100 hospitals in the country already doing trauma type care without the designation.