ATLANTA --- House lawmakers convinced colleagues in the Senate to slow the pace of the General Assembly to allow more time for working on the $20 billion budget.
With projections that tax collections could fall as much as $3 billion below what's needed, the House Appropriations Committee has been searching for ways to cut costs. When they have to also attend House sessions and other committee meetings, there just isn't enough time, said House Majority Leader Jerry Keen, R-St. Simons Island.
As a result, the House and Senate will no longer meet on Mondays and Fridays but will conduct committee meetings those days.
The first order of business Monday will be a meeting between the governor and legislative leaders to figure out the ramifications of Friday's news that tax collections had fallen 14 percent in January from 2008. That puts collections off 4.8 percent seven months into the fiscal year.
Unknown is whether Gov. Sonny Perdue will officially revise the revenue projections downward, which would force budget writers to cut even more.
The House Ways and Means Committee will meet Monday to consider a sales-tax holiday and special purpose local option sales taxes for municipal water systems, and the House Education Committee will meet Tuesday to consider paying extra to attract science and math teachers. On Thursday, the House Transportation Committee will meet to consider a $25 billion statewide sales-tax increase for a range of projects.
Reach Walter Jones at (404) 589-8424 or walter.jones@morris.com.
STATUS OF KEY BILLS
HOUSE BILL 39
Cigarette tax increase of $1 per pack
Status: House Ways and Means Committee
HOUSE BILL 104
Permits local voters to approve the sale of packaged alcohol on Sundays
Status: House Committee on Regulated Industries
HOUSE BILL 118
Midyear adjustment to the current year's budget, including the governor's recommendation to end the $428 million Homeowners Tax Relief Grants to local government
Status: House Appropriations Committee
HOUSE BILL 119
The budget for the next fiscal year, including the governor's recommended 1.6 percent tax on hospitals, 10 percent spending cuts and a $1.2 billion stimulus package
Status: House Appropriations Committee
HOUSE BILL 160
Governor's "super speeder" bill to boost fines $200 for drivers exceeding 85 mph on interstates and 75 mph on other roads
Status: House Public Safety and Homeland Security Committee
HOUSE BILL 277
Levies a 1 percent sales tax statewide for specified transportation projects over 10 years
Status: House Transportation Committee
HOUSE RESOLUTION 1
Caps local assessments on property at 3 percent for residential, 4 percent commercial
Status: Awaiting House vote
SENATE BILL 31
Allows Georgia Power Co. to charge customers the financing costs of nuclear plants before they begin operation
Status: Awaiting Senate vote
SENATE BILL 39
Constitutional amendment to allow counties to levy a 1 percent sales tax for transportation projects of their choice
Status: Passed the Senate, pending in House Transportation Committee
SENATE BILL 83
Allows voters to decide to double the statewide homestead property tax exemption for residences from $2,000 to $4,000
Status: Senate passed Friday
SENATE BILL 90
Establishes vouchers to use taxpayer funds for families to pay for private school tuition
Status: Senate Education and Youth Committee
SENATE BILL 101
Governor's bill to exempt makers of drugs and medical devices from liability on products approved by the Food and Drug Administration
Status: Senate Special Judiciary
SENATE BILL 108
Governor's tort-reform bill to charge attorney's fees to plaintiffs who lose a motion to dismiss.
Status: Senate Special Judiciary
SENATE RESOLUTION 44
Constitutional amendment to create a transportation special purpose local option sales tax of 1 percent
Status: Passed the Senate, pending in House Transportation Committee
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