Transportation funding dies last day of session

State lawmakers ended the 2009 legislative session without any penny tax for transportation. All evening house and senate negotiators tried to compromise between a statewide plan and regional plan. In the end they gave up trying to find common ground. Members of the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce and the Atlanta Regional Commission were angry and disappointed.

"I blame the leadership of this state," said ARC Chairman Chip Crautler. “I can't tell you how angry I am."

Republican leaders including Lieutenant Governor Casey Cagle said they don't want to play a blame game.

Transportation funding also failed in the last hour of last year's general assembly session.

However, this year the legislature did pass new governance for transportation. The Department of Transportation will no longer be in control of highway dollars. SB 200 shifts that responsibility to the legislature and particularly the state house.

Lawmakers also passed an 18.5 billion dollar budget for the next fiscal year that includes cuts across state agencies and some social services.

A controversial bill requiring that driving tests are given in English only failed to get a majority in the senate and failed, but lawmakers did pass a requirement to show citizenship before registering to vote.