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Despite signing dozens of bills into law this week, Gov. Sonny Perdue still has hundreds of pieces of legislation from this year’s session on his desk, and a Wednesday deadline to decide their fate.

Most bills would become part of the Georgia Code even if he doesn’t sign them, but Gov. Perdue tries to review each piece of legislation, said spokesman Marshall Guest.

“He makes a conscious effort to put his stamp of approval or disapproval on each piece of legislation,” he said.

So, as he wades through the pending laws that already won approval by the General Assembly, lawmakers, interest groups and residents are closely watching every time the governor picks up his pen.

Budget

Perhaps the largest item Gov. Perdue hasn’t made a final decision on is the $21.2 billion budget for fiscal year 2009, which begins July 1.

“There’s no particular time frame,” Mr. Guest said. “Any time between now and then (May 14). It’s an extensive document that takes a great deal of time and effort.”

The governor has the power to line-item veto, so he can pick and choose which budget sections he approves.

Georgia’s slowing economy may make some deletions more likely, said Sen. Don Thomas, R-Dalton.

“The main thing we’re concerned about is recession,” he said. “(Line-item vetoes) may very well happen if revenues are not enough.”

Gov. Perdue threw legislators a curve in March when he reduced budget revenue projections by $245 million. He suggested lowering a state employee pay raise from 2.5 percent to 2 percent, but legislators passed the full 2.5 percent.

Another point of contention is school funding. Gov. Perdue proposed cutting the funding formula by $141 million this coming fiscal year. However, legislators fought to restore $50 million of those cuts and put an additional $10 million in grants to equalize funding in 16 metro Atlanta school districts.

“It’d be a tremendous resource to schools around the state that struggle to maintain” basic levels of education, said Rep. Tom Dickson, R-Cohutta.

He and many other House members said they were disappointed when the lower revenue estimates left them unable to fully restore funding to the level called for by the formula.

Rep. Dickson said he’s also curious to see what Gov. Perdue decides on a bill that establishes a state commission to approve charter schools instead of leaving charter schools’ creation to local school districts and the Board of Education.

“The taxpayers, the ones that pay the bill, should have some say,” he said. “It takes out that model created (by current law). That’s my concern.”

The budget passed by the Legislature also includes $3 million in bonds for development of a historic park at the Resaca Battlefield in Gordon County, in time for an expected influx of tourism for the 150th anniversary of the Civil War, which begins in 2011.

Local concerns

What Gov. Perdue decides to do with the Georgia Tourism act is of particular interest to Northwest Georgia lawmakers, who believe the tax incentives provided in the bill are crucial to the construction of a hotel at the Northwest Georgia Trade and Convention Center in Dalton.

The governor vetoed the bill last year because unrelated film industry tax incentives were attached to it, throwing the hotel deal with Missouri-based developer John Q. Hammons into question. A move by the House to override the veto was never taken up in the Senate this session.

Legislators worked closely with Gov. Perdue to make sure the tourism tax incentives, which allow developers to recoup up to 25 percent of capital costs over 10 years, would meet his approval, said Rep. Roger Williams, R-Dalton.

“There’s always a little anxiety with this governor,” he said. “But I felt like when we left there, there was no indication he’d reject the bill.”

Governor’s Office representatives said last month the bill still needed to undergo a thorough review based on its own merits.

Rep. Williams said he’s also interested to see Gov. Perdue’s action on a bill he co-sponsored to help the growing North Georgia farm winery industry by allowing Georgia residents to order wine online and receive up to 12 cases a year shipped directly to their homes, instead of having to drive to small wineries that may not have wholesale distributors.

“I’ve been talking with the lobbyists, and they feel pretty confident the governor will sign it,” Rep. Williams said.

Also, he said he plans “first thing” next session to revive his bill to allow local governments to hold votes on whether to allow package alcohol sales on Sundays, especially after Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle indicated this week he’d allow such a measure to come to a vote on the Senate floor.

“To me, it’s a non-religious issue,” Rep. Williams said. “I’m going to pursue it next session.”

Boundary dispute

Gov. Perdue is also reviewing a resolution urging him to negotiate with Tennessee Gov. Phil Bredesen regarding the state line shared by the two states. If that doesn’t go anywhere, it would direct the state attorney general to file a border dispute claim with the U.S. Supreme Court.

Georgia lawmakers claim the border was incorrectly marked almost 190 years ago, and is 1.1 miles south of the 35th parallel of latitude decreed by Congress as the boundary. Correcting it, the legislation’s authors said, is also an attempt to lay claim to the Tennessee River and its abundant waters as Georgia faces historic drought.

Gov. Perdue is open to “meaningful discussions” with Gov. Bredesen, Mr. Guest has said, but whether he puts his signature on the resolution is yet to be seen. Gov. Bredesen hasn’t been quite as open to negotiations.

Gun carry rights

One of the most controversial bills Gov. Perdue must decide upon is one that would allow those licensed to carry concealed weapons to take guns in public places, such as parks, mass transit and restaurants that serve alcohol.

Supporters of the bill, which has been years in the making, say it will help Georgians protect themselves and is the right step in expanding gun rights, but opponents say adding more guns in public will just create more danger.

“I want the governor to sign the bill,” said Rep. Martin Scott, R-Rossville, adding he was “optimistic” the governor would do so. “It’s important for self-defense and gun rights for the people of Georgia.”