House Speaker Wants Tax Reform Now

With one day left in Georgia's Legislative session disagreements between the House and the Senate on tax reform still prevent legislation from being passed. Gerogians may not see a tax break in 2008 as the bickering continues. Leuitenet Governor Casey Calge blocked the House's proposals for and end to car taxes yet again. Cagle issued a statement asking the House to get on course with the Senate's plan for tax reform which is a cut in income tax.

House Speaker Glen Richardson said the Senate has simply found a new way to hide from the issue.

"The senate, again refused to vote on House Resolution 1246, and again the Leiutenet Governor of this state and the Senators of this state denied the people of GA the right to end taxes on their cars."

The time to pass tax reform in running short; Richardson is asking for a conference committee between the House and the Senate to try and work something out. Friday is the last day of the session.

Lesiglative Session.... Day 38

The state House passed a measure that would support the Senate's idea to cut state income taxes by ten percent. But, there is a catch; it would go into effect in three years, and only if Georgians pass a constitutional amendment to cut car tag taxes - a measure preferred by the house.

House speaker Glen Richardson said, at this point, its time for the Senate to make a decision.

"Its fairly clear that the Lieutenant Governor and the Senate does not want to give Georgians tax relief because the have played every game they can," said Richardson.

Senate leaders said they think they can come up with a compromise in these last few days of the session to deliver some sort of tax relief to Georgians.

But, for Georgians living in areas with little or no trauma care, the demands placed on the Senate by the house could prevent them from getting relief any time soon. With only two days left in the session, if the Senate votes "NO" to the car tag tax cut, it could get bogged down in committee leaving Georgians in the south and west portion of the state with below average trauma care.

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.

Augusta school officials oppose tax reform plan

School officials in Augusta are going on record against a controversial tax reform plan.

The Richmond County school board has voted to formally oppose the tax plan for education proposed by Georgia House Speaker Glenn Richardson (R-Hiram).

They will take their opposition before legislators at a breakfast on Thursday.

The plan would eliminate a portion of property taxes, replacing education dollars with expanded sales taxes.

But school officials in Augusta fear they would lose control of local education funds.

"Now, we're working under a system where the local authorities have the ability to cut taxes or raise taxes to support a system that the public will support," said Jack Padgett, a Richmond County school board member. "I'm just not sure that anytime you send money away that you would get it all back."

Richardson eventually wants to eliminate all property taxes.

"Property taxes are rising faster than people's ability to pay them, and it is time that local governments stop balancing their checkbooks on the backs of homeowners," said Clelia Davis, a spokeswoman for Richardson. "All we are asking is for the citizens of Georgia to have the right to vote and decide whether they want to eliminate property taxes and change the system. That is the ultimate form of local control."

The Georgia School Boards Association, meanwhile, says only a few school systems so far have asked them for assistance in drafting resolutions opposing the plan. Richardson has dubbed the plan GREAT, which stands for Georgians for the Repeal of Every Ad Valorem Tax.