Senate Nixes Transportation Compromise

A "thumbs down" from the state Senate today on a compromise transportation funding plan from the House. The Senate and the House are pushing competing plans that would allow voters to approve a one-cent sales tax hike to fund infrastructure projects. The Senate is pushing a regional approach while the House favors a statewide solution. The bill rejected by the Senate on Thursday tries to merge the two ideas - allowing counties to band together to levy a one-percent sales tax if a 2010 constitutional amendment for a statewide transportation sales tax hike fails. Now, a conference committee will be appointed to hash out differences between the chambers.

(Associated Press)

Tuition Tax Credit Passes House

The Georgia Senate has voted to broaden the state's new tuition tax credit program, which gives income tax credits to donors who contribute to scholarship programs for students to attend private schools. The measure, which passed 35-12 Friday, is designed to pave the way for more businesses to take advantage of the tax credit and to make it easier for more people to use them. It also makes pre-kindergarten students eligible. State Sen. Vincent Fort, an Atlanta Democrat, calls the measure "a back door voucher bill" that would hurt public schools. But state Sen. Eric Johnson, a Savannah Republican, says it allows for the private citizens and businesses to invest in education. The bill already has passed the House. It now heads to the governor.

(Associated Press)

'Antidiscrimination Act' from House

House Republicans have introduced a measure aimed at erasing a policy that allows local governments to consider the race of contractors bidding on projects. The measure introduced Wednesday also would ban colleges from considering an applicant's race or gender. The measure, dubbed the "Antidiscrimination Act of 2009," has drawn fierce criticism from Democrats. But it's also earned the support of two black Republicans and a handful of other GOP lawmakers who say it's a first step toward creating a more "colorblind society." State Rep. Clay Cox of Lilburn, who authored the bill, says he hopes it "sends the message that race isn't important." Meanwhile, black legislative leaders called it an "awful piece of legislation."

(Associated Press)

'09 budget stands in way of Session's end

A joint state House-Senate appropriations committee met briefly Sunday to hammer-out their differences in the 2009 fiscal budget.

Lawmakers recessed shortly after getting underway. They've agreed instead to let the various House and Senate sub-committees work out the differences in their respective '09 budgets. A 32-page document details those differences, which comes out to about 15-million dollars.

One example of the gap--the House has proposed 2.5 million dollars for the Department of Community Affairs. The Senate proposed 5 million.

Republican Jack Hill chairs the state Senate Appropriations Committee.

"It keeps the folks who are the experts in the department budget talking instead of those of us at the table, who deal with it at a different level".

Lawmakers say they hope to wrap-up the '09 budget before the regular session ends this Friday.

Meanwhile, Governor Sonny Perdue has said cuts will have to be made as a result of falling revenue for the state.

-from Valarie Edwards

Lawmakers move many bills in busy Crossover Day

Yesterday was the 30th day of the legislation session--the final day for lawmakers to pass bills in one of the chambers.

In the House, Speaker Glenn Richardson got an altered tax reform plan approved with the help of Democrats--a vote of 166-5. The revised version would do away with the car tag tax and limit property tax assessments. Democrats jumped on board when a provision was dropped that would have restricted local spending of tax money.

Other measures out of the House yesterday--approved by a 164-7 vote was legislation to help fortify Georgia's struggling trauma system by adding a 10-dollar vehicle registration fee. Winning approval was a measure to deliver tougher penalties against students who falsely accuse teachers and school employees of inappropriate behavior.

A measure concerning billboard regulation was twice voted down however. It would have compensated billboad owners when they have to move their signs.

From the Senate, there was unanimous passage of legislation to give scholarships to students who have a parent killed or wounded in military combat. The program would cost the state up to 1.3 million dollars. A Governor Sonny Perdue-backed bill won passage that allows voters to oust school board members if that district loses accreditation. This came in the wake of Clayton County's troubles.

The sports of ultimate fighting and mixed martial arts would be regulated by the same panel that covers boxing. The Senate bill however doesn't put the money-making wrestling industry in Georgia under the same oversight.

Proposed ban on "vaporized" alcohol

The Georgia House voted today to ban the sale and consumption of inhaled alcohol. The bill would outlaw "vaporized" alcohol, which is liquor mixed with oxygen to create a mist users can inhale instead of drink. Some say this type of drinking leaves less of a hangover, but opponents argue it can be deadly because users don't know exactly how much alcohol they are consuming.

Georgia House passes trauma care bill

Today the Georgia House passed legislation to help the state’s broke trauma care system. Today’s bill would create a trust fund for trauma care centers, and appoint a nine-member Georgia Care Trauma Network Commission to help coordinate, raise and distribute funds. But critics say the bill sets up the fund without putting money in it. People are 20% more likely of dying from a traumatic injury in Georgia than the national average.