Day 13 -- Who said fathers know best?

The Women's Policy Group held a lunchtime Capitol Briefing today that was so well-attended that about 15 of us sat on the floor.

And it was a good thing it was crowded -- with the budget cuts, women are taking some of the hardest hits, as usual.

Nice to hear from the crowd that many of them intended to run for office, as women are underrepresented under the Gold Dome.

Lobbyist Extraordinaire Elizabeth Appley listed some of the things coming down the pike:

The Governor's proposal to eliminate the Family Violence Commission: Since its creation in 2001, the Commission has reduced Georgia's per capita family violence homicides by 26.2%, a rate almost 6 times better than the national average. So why does he think cutting it is such a good idea?

He also wants to eliminate the Temporary Protective Order Registry, which keeps a computer record of every restraining order, so that when a woman flees her abusive partner with her kids in tow in the middle of the night, she doesn't have to find the paper copy of the restraining order first.

Oh, and he wants to freeze funding for Domestic Violence Shelters and Rape Crisis Centers. Who needs 'em anyway.

In the meantime, Appley pointed out, the state gives $5 million a year in tax exemptions to llama farmers. Call us if you want to find out how to get in on this great deal.

Oh, and if the state's in such a budget shortfall, wouldn't you think the 90% federal matching funds for family planning money make the state think twice about the 34% family planning cuts?

It's amazing how some people in our state government have said they are willing to turn down matching federal dollars.