General Assembly Starts Monday | News

ATLANTA (AP) - Georgia's lawmakers soon return to the Statehouse for the start of their annual 40-day legislative session.

The House and Senate plan to gavel into session 10 a.m. Monday.

While the first day is mostly for formalities, the Senate could vote to set an internal rule capping lobbyist gifts to lawmakers at $100. House Speaker David Ralston has said Republican leaders will likely introduce legislation this week creating a prohibition on those gifts.

Gov. Nathan Deal will give his annual State-of-the-State speech Thursday and unveil his budget plans. Republicans who dominate both chambers expect they will once against need to cut state spending because revenues have not met projections in a weak economy.

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