State Capitol UPDATE--Transportation Legislation

-Senator Jeff Mullis (state Transportation Committee Chair)comments from the well: says House not working with Senate on coming to a transportation agreement...says the House's plan will fail - nowhere in America have they voted for a statewide TSPLOST...Muliis: "I'm frustrated...we offered middle ground, them, none. The Senate is ready to act now." Mullis says substitute to HB56 includes a TSPLOST, and the transportation funding referendum question would be on 2010 ballot.

-Senator Doug Stoner now in the well: the House has offered up something that has not been proven - says it's not worth the gamble...MARTA is critical to this region - added in language in sub. to help MARTA.

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General Assembly--Will Transportation Funding Plan Pass?

The fork in the road is fast approaching for state lawmakers in this General Assembly session--whether to adopt a transportation funding plan, or delay such a measure until next year’s Capitol session. The Senate Monday passed its version of a sales tax plan for a second time—the regional one-penny tax approach. In the process, it OK’d a gutted version of the House transportation measure, where the bulk of the language was replaced with the Senate’s original plan. The two chambers now have only five days left in the session to strike a compromise on a transportation funding model.

Transportation Gets Lawmakers' Focus

The issue of how to fund transportation is expected to take the center-lane for state lawmakers early this week. The General Assembly session continues today with the proposal to raise the state sales tax by one-percent to be unveiled by the House Transportation Chairman. A full Senate vote could come Tuesday. The alternative is expected to get a Senate vote tomorrow as well--the proposal to allow individual counties to vote on raising their local taxes for transportation projects.

Other legislation to look for this week at the Capitol—a voucher bill that would give parents a check they can use to pay tuition for their children to attend private schools.

You can get updates on the General Assembly session anytime on this web page. You can also get the latest on GPB Radio every morning and afternoon.