ATLANTA — Sen. Doug Haines (D-Athens) said the impact of University students’ votes in an election year is poor because of low student voting turn-outs in the past.

“Right now, their vote is irrelevant because they don’t vote,” Haines said at the state Capitol Thursday. “I’m tremendously disappointed and shocked that students at the University of Georgia don’t vote.”

The senator also said University students profit the most from his duties in the legislature, but they won’t “get off the couch” and register to vote.

“I’m on the Higher Education Committee, and I’m serving the University of Georgia students,” Haines said. “No one benefits more than students, but they don’t register, they don’t vote, they don’t talk about it.”

In addition to addressing voter apathy, Haines also said Georgia schools have fared well with recent budget cuts because of conservative spending in the General Assembly.

Although tuition has been raised and schools’ budgets have been cut, “we’re leading on all fronts,” Haines said.

“We’ve seen great success,” he said. “Our tuition increase is the lowest (in the Southeast), our pay raises have been the highest and our student spending have been the highest.”

Rep. Louise McBee (D-Athens) said she relies on voices from the University — including University President Michael Adams — in her decision-making process.

“I think University input is important,” said McBee, former University dean of students. “Students can always put their input through my Web page or by calling and e-mailing me.”

McBee and fellow Rep. Keith Heard (D-Athens) said they are working hard to pass legislation they feel is important to the Athens community.

“We’re trying to make sense of the budget,” Heard said. “There have been cuts in human services, which deals with Veteran’s Affairs and the Department of Labor. That’s the biggest thing (I’m working on) — the budget.”

Among McBee’s potential resolutions is tightening restrictions on the licensing of athletic trainers, which will lend more credibility to the field, she said.

She also said she hopes to eventually pass an NCAA-supported bill placing restrictions on students, schools and professional agents and place punitive measures on them if they don’t follow the regulations.

In addition, one of McBee’s chief responsibilities as the only House member on the Higher Education Subcommittee is to help secure funds for new University buildings — including the Coverdell Research Building and a new veterinary research facility — and renovations and repairs.

“I’m like the watchdog for the campus budget,” McBee said. “The state has been very good to the University. I just try to make sure we get our fair share — and we do.”