Two Republicans said to have key Senate committee chairmanships

ATLANTA - A suburban Atlanta lawmaker and a south Georgia party-switcher who helped give Republicans the majority in the Senate are in line for key posts. <br> <br> Capitol sources say Republican Senator Jack Hill of Reidsville will be given the chairmanship of the Senate Appropriations Committee. The former Democrat&#39;s decision to abandon the Democratic Party and join the Republican side helped the GOP gain its majority. <br> <br> If Hill is picked, he&#39;ll replace Democratic Senator George Hooks of Americus, longtime chairman of the powerful committee. <br> <br> Calls to Hill and Hooks were not immediately returned. <br> <br> Capitol sources also say Senator Don Balfour, a businessman from Snellville, would be the Republican pick to chair the Rules Committee, one of the most powerful positions in state politics. Balfour&#39;s belongings were seen being moved into the Rules Chairman office Monday. <br> <br> Republicans plan to exercise their newfound majority power when the Legislature convenes January 13 with a rules change that&#39;s expected to strip the lieutenant governor -- Democrat Mark Taylor -- of his authority to appoint committees, leaving him only the Constitutional duty of presiding. <br> <br> A rules change could give that power to a special body controlled by the GOP.