2010 Legislative Session Update: Week Twelve

Dear Neighbor:

This week, Georgia lost the life of former Senator, Nancy Schaefer. Schaefer served for the 50th district where her Conservatism and political activism gave her the strength to stand for her beliefs and never back down. She had a kind heart and a desire to serve the people of Georgia well. Please pray for her family and friends as they struggle through this difficult time.

Educators Salary Protection Act

Last week the Georgia Senate voted in favor of protecting teachers’ salaries by avoiding unnecessary furlough days. The proposal prevents school systems with more than six percent of unencumbered funds in its reserve accounts from furloughing teachers, when funding is readily available to prevent the furloughs. The state has exhausted a reserve account of almost $1.8 billion over the last two years. Most of the reserve funding went to education spending. Balfour explains, “Teachers services are extremely valuable to ensuring the success of our students.”

Saving Taxpayer Dollars

In order to save taxpayer money and help balance our budget in an economy where every dollar counts, the Senate passed a bill that will cut spending on State Boards, State Authorities, Commissions and Councils. The compensation for the organizations listed above, would be restricted to only the actual transportation costs to attend meetings. Balfour explains, “This creates an opportunity to help the legislature balance the budget and create job growth.”

JOBS Act

“This act is designed specifically to encourage and reward those who invest in Georgia and create jobs. Also, it recognizes that free-markets, investment, and the private sector are the key to creating job recovery in Georgia. Georgia has now become the national leader in promoting investment and job growth through free-market principles. At a time when most states are raising taxes and punishing businesses, Georgia has taken a different path.” Below is how the JOBS Act will work:

Employers receive credit against unemployment tax if they hire someone currently receiving unemployment benefits

“Angel Investor” tax credit created to reward those who invest in Georgia start-up companies that create jobs

Elimination of the Georgia “Net Worth” tax, a 1930’s tax relic that punishes companies that accumulate wealth

50% Reduction in “Long-Term” Capital Gains rate once the Georgia “Rainy-Day” fund is at $1 Billion

Guidelines for Federal Health Care in Georgia

Legislation passed the Georgia Senate prohibiting any state department or agency from implementing the recently passed federal health care measure without providing the Georgia General Assembly with a cost-benefit analysis and the financial impact to the taxpayers. This bill would require the House and Senate to expressly approve any agency’s plan to utilize the federal plan for its employee’s health care coverage.

Further, this legislation would ban any state department or agency from employing any part of any federal health care reform unless the department or agency first gives a financial report to the General Assembly. The required report would have to include any details federal reform provision requirements, whether the provision has any state waiver, any effects their actions would have on Georgia and its citizens, and the consequences for not complying. SB 399 also directs that state agencies would be able to adopt federal plans if the General Assembly specifically authorizes the federal reform provision in Georgia.

I appreciate your support throughout the 2010 legislation session. It is an honor to serve you.

Please contact me with questions or concerns.

Best Regards,

Don

This entry was posted on Saturday, April 3rd, 2010 at 2:27 pm and is filed under News & Events. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.