With the word that Gov. Sonny Perdue has rescinded his veto of the 2007 supplemental budget bill, it now appears that we will not have to endure the agony of a special session on top of the agony we already endured during the regular 2007 session. (Remember the comments about the governor's backside and exchanges between the speaker and governor's office that sounded as if they were coming from kindergarten students.)

As the year and legislative session began, many Georgians such as myself, who had endured decades of single-party government under the Democrats, held out at least a little hope that some fresh blood and fresh ideas from a party claiming to favor "limited government" might usher in a new responsible, businesslike approach to the "art" of governing.

Not only did this not occur, but the session also left many Georgians -- including me -- wondering if we had jumped from the frying pan into the fire. Not only did the Republicans frequently and willingly abandon any pretense of supporting the principles of "limited" government, but they also proved incredibly inept at doing the one thing you would expect a business-oriented party to do well -- developing a responsible budget. There is no other way to describe this legislative session except with words such as "disastrous," "disorganized" and "disappointing."

During the last few decades of monopolistic Democratic rule, it often seemed as if there were no checks on the power of government to launch new programs and drastically increase government spending -- from just over $5 billion in fiscal year 1987 to more than $16 billion in fiscal year 2004.

After publicly proclaiming that a new day had arrived and the days of "pork barrel" spending were gone when the last Democratic majority exited town, the Republican majority this year passed a budget that was downright greasy with pork, including a $2 million parking deck in Gainesville, Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle's hometown, $575,000 for the very essential Georgia Golf Hall of Fame in Augusta (home of the House Budget chairman) and $30,000 to fund the Georgia Racing Hall of Fame in Dawsonville (which has been bankrupt and closed for more than a year).

And let's not overlook the fact that the Grand Old Party wasted no time in demonstrating that the concept of "limited" government clearly means something different to those at the Capitol than to many of us in the real world. A bill to allow the purchase of beer and wine on Sundays (as is the case in the vast majority of states) was never allowed up for a vote. Another bill to require that women contemplating an abortion be given the opportunity to see a sonogram passed with flying colors.

And let's not forget the continued talk and threats to curtail or eliminate the teaching of Darwin's theory of evolution. The influence of the liberal Democratic "do-good" organizations may have diminished, but it has been replaced by the even stronger influence of "do-gooders" of the right, the Christian Coalition. Nanny government appears to be more alive and well in Georgia than ever.

Will the Republicans be able to get their act (and egos) together and demonstrate a businesslike approach to budgeting and government? There is always hope, but the chaos of the first session does not bode well for the future.

> David Chastain is executive director of the Libertarian Party of Georgia.

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