ATLANTA --- Republicans in the state Legislature plan to unveil their own version of an economic stimulus plan Wednesday. Few details have leaked out beyond a news release that calls it a "tax relief package."
"(It's) kind of a conservative answer to the pork-and-political-payback (bill) that has been going on in D.C.," said Senate Majority Leader Chip Rogers, R-Woodstock.
House Majority Leader Jerry Keen, R-St. Simons Island, would only tell reporters to stay tuned.
"You're going to see some things announced (this) week out of the House that I think will be pretty exciting for the citizens of this state, that we intend to act on now that we have the property-tax issue off our plate and into the Senate," he said.
The tax issue he mentioned is House Bill 233, which would halt any increases in property tax assessments for two years. The House passed it Thursday, and Mr. Rogers promised the Senate would act on it quickly.
Also this week:
- Committees in the House and Senate will continue meeting on sweeping transportation-funding legislation as they await introduction of a reorganization plan for the Department of Transportation.
- House subcommittees will consider the controversial Senate Bill 31, which allows Georgia Power Co. to charge customers for part of the cost of constructing two nuclear reactors at Plant Vogtle near Waynesboro before they begin operation, and a bill that would prohibit the use of coal for power plants mined by mountain-top removal.
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
Mid-year 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
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 on other roads
Status: House Public Safety and Homeland Security Committee
HOUSE BILL 233
Prohibits increases in property-tax assessments for two years
Status: Won a majority in the House but is subject to a second vote before going to the Senate
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 and 4 percent for commercial
Status: Failed on the House floor
SENATE BILL 31
Allows Georgia Power Co. to charge customers the financing costs of nuclear plants before they begin operation
Status: Passed the Senate, pending in House Regulated Industries Committee
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: Passed the Senate, pending in House Ways and Means Committee
SENATE BILL 90
Establishes vouchers to use taxpayer funds for families to pay private school tuition
Status: Senate Education and Youth Committee
SENATE BILL 101
Governor's bill to exempt the 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 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
Comments
Let's see what we may see for "stimulus". Maybe more loopholes like that peanut plant did by declaring bankruptcy, to avoid the lawsuits that's sure to come from inappropriate business practices that killed now 9 people? More tax breaks for businesses, but saddling the taxes on homeowners who'll pay the difference? More fish ponds for governors? I love GA, but I can't stand how rotting sausage is made.
SB 90 authorizing public funds to pay for private schools, better known as "vouchers" needs to die. It will only benefit students who would go to private schools anyhow. Poor students in sub-par school districts will NOT be driven across town to better school districts by their parents. In the long run it benefits those that have the resources to go to another school, and hurts those who remain behind.
I am for universal school choice. If some parents are not willing to make an efforts to drive their children to a better school, they have no one to blame but themselves.
How does helping some kids hurt others????
Hooray for freezing property assessment for two years.
IF I had a child and the money, I would send my child to a private school where dicipline is high, studies are higher than the public schools because of the dumbing down and a place where my child would have an advantage over the masses. Why should I not get a voucher for the amount of school tax I paid into the system. And what about all the money I paid into the system and no children?
I am sure the Republicans will send any money received, back to D.C. with a note that they don't need it in their district!!! After all to accept the money is conplicity in the action and acknowledgement of the need for the action.
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