The state legislature is expected to vote Friday on a midyear budget that contains $100 tax rebates for the typical homeowner, thanks to a late compromise between leaders of the Georgia House and Senate.
Senior GOP lawmakers couldn’t agree how best to use about $142 million in the state’s midyear budget, so they decided to spend it on the tax credits, which had never been mentioned before.
Gov. Sonny Perdue says it may not be a good idea.
“It came about in a strange fashion,” Perdue said. “I’m not sure the budget negotiations conference table is the place to really discuss and talk about tax strategy and fiscal policy decisions such as occurred.”
Perdue says he’ll consider the midyear budget carefully. There are several reasons why he could veto it. He reminded reporters that he had made a campaign promise to give seniors a new tax break, but lawmakers failed to act on his pledge. Secondly, there’s no money in this new version for some things Perdue wanted, including his “Go Fish” tourism initiative and a land conservation program.
In response, House Majority Leader Jerry Keen (R-St Simons) says the budget negotiators—all senior GOP legislators—should be the ones directing tax policy. Besides, he says, there’s not enough time to follow through on Perdue’s promise of tax relief for seniors.
“It’s too late in the session to pass another bill,” says Keen. “The only avenue we had to return the money to the taxpayers was to take something in budget, and that was our only option.”
Keen says the House supports many of Governor Perdue’s projects, and may try to fund them in next year’s budget.
Without a budget, lawmakers would have to return to the Capitol for a special session.
The House appropriations committee plans to approve the 2008 budget Thursday.
Senior GOP lawmakers couldn’t agree how best to use about $142 million in the state’s midyear budget, so they decided to spend it on the tax credits, which had never been mentioned before.
Gov. Sonny Perdue says it may not be a good idea.
“It came about in a strange fashion,” Perdue said. “I’m not sure the budget negotiations conference table is the place to really discuss and talk about tax strategy and fiscal policy decisions such as occurred.”
Perdue says he’ll consider the midyear budget carefully. There are several reasons why he could veto it. He reminded reporters that he had made a campaign promise to give seniors a new tax break, but lawmakers failed to act on his pledge. Secondly, there’s no money in this new version for some things Perdue wanted, including his “Go Fish” tourism initiative and a land conservation program.
In response, House Majority Leader Jerry Keen (R-St Simons) says the budget negotiators—all senior GOP legislators—should be the ones directing tax policy. Besides, he says, there’s not enough time to follow through on Perdue’s promise of tax relief for seniors.
“It’s too late in the session to pass another bill,” says Keen. “The only avenue we had to return the money to the taxpayers was to take something in budget, and that was our only option.”
Keen says the House supports many of Governor Perdue’s projects, and may try to fund them in next year’s budget.
Without a budget, lawmakers would have to return to the Capitol for a special session.
The House appropriations committee plans to approve the 2008 budget Thursday.
