ATLANTA—House Speaker David Ralston (R-Blue Ridge) today met with the Special Committee on Small Business Development and Job Creation and charged it with reviewing and evaluating Georgia’s regulatory environment. This effort, called Red Tape Watch, will be carried out throughout the 2012 legislative session.

“As I have traveled the state this year and met with small business owners, I have heard over and over again of their experiences dealing with oppressive and burdensome government regulations and red tape,” said House Speaker David Ralston. “This is a situation we cannot tolerate as our state recovers from the economic downturn and positions itself to be even more competitive in economic development.”

The Special Committee on Small Business Development and Job Creation, served on by Rep. Sean Jerguson (R-Holly Springs), will meet periodically throughout the session to hear directly from small business owners. This committee was created by House Speaker David Ralston in January 2010 to solely focus on sustaining and growing small businesses in Georgia and thereby creating job opportunities for Georgians.

“Government needs to be reviewed often, and burdensome or onerous state regulations that are on the books that may be outdated or unnecessary should be cut. ” said Rep. Jerguson.  ”This process will help us identify opportunities to help create an economic environment that fosters job creation and is conducive to the growth of small businesses throughout the state.  This is a great step in the right direction, as was passing the “Sunset” legislation that allows us to review government agencies and bureaucracy periodically.”

Small business owners who would like to participate in this process but who cannot attend a hearing can fill out a form to voice their concerns at www.house.ga.gov/redtapewatch.

The next meeting of the Special Committee on Small Business Development and Job Creation will be held Thursday, February 2, 2012 at 1pm in room 406 of the Coverdell Legislative Office Building.