ATLANTA -- There’s a simple way that even the least experienced statehouse observer can tell at a glance which committees are the important ones. Count the Democrats. If Democrats make up less than one-third of a committee’s membership, then the Republicans are overrepresented for a reason. The partisan split in the House and the Senate is almost exactly one-third Democrats, two-thirds Republicans. Democrats don’t have a majority on any House committee, meaning they can only amend or approve a bill with the support of Republicans. read more