Georgia House of Representatives
House Media Services Office
ATLANTA – State Representative Henry “Wayne” Howard (D-Augusta) and family members will be presented with the Lifetime Achievement Award by the Georgia Association of Broadcasters (GAB) for Augusta’s The Parade of Quartets TV show. The GAB holds its annual Honors Night Program on Friday, June 7 at 6pm.
Continue reading “Georgia Association of Broadcasters to Honor Rep. Wayne Howard”
ATLANTA – State Representatives Quincy Murphy (D-Augusta), Henry “Wayne” Howard (D-Augusta), Earnest Smith (D-Augusta) and Gloria Frazier (D-Hephzibah) announced today the introduction of House Bill 1235, also known as the “Augusta-Richmond County Transparency in Government Act.” This legislation would require the Augusta-Richmond County Commission to cooperate with the state auditor in his mission to ensure proper use of taxpayer dollars at the local level.
“As state legislators, we must ensure government is held accountable,” said Rep. Murphy. “HB 1235 does this by ensuring the Augusta-Richmond County consolidated government maintains all proper records and provides taxpayers with access to those records.”
HB 1235 would require all Augusta-Richmond County departments, agencies, and private contractors, who are responsible for $500,000 or more in public funds, to have a forensic accounting audit at least every four years. Upon completion, the audit would be available to the commission and public. Failure to comply with the mandatory audit would result in the removal of the head of the agency or termination of contract for the delinquent private entity.
The representatives were led to sponsor HB 1235 after receiving a letter from the State Auditor, Russell W. Hinton, which stated that the Department of Audits and Accounts had not yet received the annual audit report from the Augusta-Richmond County Board of Commissioners.
“While I am sure that the Board of Commissioners will submit the necessary paperwork before their required deadline, this letter served as an opportunity for us to review our current laws governing local oversight,” said Rep. Howard, Chairman of the Augusta-Richmond County Delegation. “We found that we lack the tools necessary to ensure compliance with oversight policies. HB 1235 fixes that, so that we may assure taxpayers that their hard-earned money is put to proper use.”
For more information on HB 1235, please click here.
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ATLANTA – State Representative Henry “Wayne” Howard (D-Augusta) today welcomed New York Giants’ safety Deon Grant to the Georgia House of Representatives to be recognized with House Resolution 1588, which commends Grant for his recent Super Bowl Victory with the New York Giants.
“I’m proud to welcome Deon Grant to the State Capitol,” said Rep. Howard. “He is not only an extraordinary football player, but a fine Georgian, who contributes to his community and inspires the people of this great state with his hard work and perseverance.”
Grant is originally from Augusta, Georgia, where he attended T.W. Josey High School and became the nation’s top defensive back recruit. He then attended the University of Tennessee as the first-team All American selection. In 2000, Grant was drafted into the NFL as a second-round pick by the Carolina Panthers. He then signed as an unrestricted free agent with the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2004. Three years later, he signed with the Seattle Seahawks and became the highest paid defensive back in NFL history. He has been with the New York Giants since April 2010.
Representative Wayne Howard represents the citizens of District 121, which includes portions of Richmond County. He was elected into the House of Representatives in 2007 and currently serves on the Children & Youth, Education, Health & Human Services, and Legislative & Congressional Reapportionment committees.
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