Georgia Roots. Adaptable Strategies.
Contact Us
A white building with columns and a ceiling.

Georgia Governmental Affairs'

Clientele annually builds upon their successes in the Georgia General Assembly. "We put my years of service alongside that of my friends and colleagues in government to make Georgia a better state, "Walraven said. "We've improved access to health care for cancer-stricken Georgians who were being denied lifesaving medicine in drafting and advocating for the Jimmy Carter Cancer Access Act. We've helped reform tax law to improve the private sector's ability to collect delinquent property taxes while fully funding and protecting local governments, so Georgians who pay their taxes on time don't see their millage rates increase.

We've spotted an opportunity to end bad local water laws that were stalling real estate transactions in Georgia's worst pockets of blight. Legislative leaders agreed and amended a bill to force water providers to provide services to new property owners rather than sticking them with the previous owner's bill. In tight budget times, we succeeded in obtaining a grant to help burn patients keep their families close to them as they heal."

Outside of the Capitol, Mr. Walraven helped EdenCrete Industries, Inc. to choose Georgia and, specifically, his hometown of Augusta, to develop a manufacturing facility—creating over 250 jobs with a $65 million investment. Mr. Walraven also was key in helping EdenCrete receive DOT approval for the use of its concrete additive. "If your business is interested in creating jobs in Georgia, we can help Georgia become interested in your business."

Are you looking for this kind of success in Georgia? If so, contact us today.

A close up of the top of an architectural column.
New Project (18)

A Full-service Lobbying Company

Georgia Governmental Affairs, LLC, (GGA) is a full-service lobbying company representing clients before all areas of the Georgia Government. Immediately prior to creating GGA, Mr. Walraven served as Counsel to the Speaker of the Georgia House of Representatives, David Ralston, a position he held since the Fall of 2007.

What Is a "Full-service" Lobbying Company?

A large tree in the middle of a field.

Adaptable Strategies

Having spent twenty sessions under the Gold Dome, Mr. Walraven has learned the legislative process. Like Georgia's State Tree, The Live Oak must adapt from drought conditions over 100 degrees in our hot Summers to below-freezing, wet weather in our Winter season; we must be ready to succeed no matter the conditions.
We are always thinking of contingency plans should "plan A" encounter trouble. Lining up alternative means of passing good legislation or stopping harmful bills from being enacted requires experience and vast knowledge of how a bill really becomes a law. "The Schoolhouse Rock 'I'm Just a Bill' cartoon teaches you how a bill makes its way through the legislative process, says Mr. Walraven. However, just because a bill "dies" does not mean that we are finished working to find a way to accomplish our clients' goals. We have the institutional knowledge to identify opportunities to help our clients from day one until the gavel drops Sine Die and never stop looking for ways to get the job done."

Read More
A pen and ink drawing of a feather in a jar.

Legislation Drafted Quickly and Correctly

Mr. Walraven has served as lead attorney on countless pieces of legislation for over a decade in various policy areas. The benefit for our clients? When an agreement is made on policy or a legislator requests language, Walraven immediately drafts legal language that is narrowly tailored to ensure that your goals are achieved and your interests.
This way, your legislation is protected from landing on top of the "To-Do" box of a sometimes-overburdened state lawyer.

For years, Mr. Walraven has been trusted by two House Speakers, professional associations, private enterprises, House Committee Chairs, and others to draft legislation on key issues before the Georgia General Assembly. These include property and sales taxes, water supply, transportation governance and funding, health care, insurance, state and local government, higher education, Medicaid, and many more.

Read More
A black and white picture of a check mark in the box.

Compliance With Lobbyist Rules

Having served as a campaign manager, lobbyist, and Speaker's Counsel, Mr. Walraven has experience with Georgia's ethics and campaign finance law. In fact, Walraven was hired to draft the legislation, which became the 2005 Ethics in Government Act.
After that, he drafted follow-up legislation in this area and, in 2010, drafted Speaker Ralston's signature 2010 Georgia Government Transparency and Campaign Finance Act, the current governing law on lobbyist compliance and campaign finance.

"We know how to keep our clients in compliance with the Act," said Walraven. Our clients rest assured that when they wish to engage in the political process that they do so in accordance with the law. We understand that our clients lend us their reputation and good name, and it's of paramount importance to me that we are good stewards of this."

Read More

Celebrating 25 years under the Gold Dome