No special session: Perdue strikes property tax cut before signing budget

Gov. Sonny Perdue used his line-item veto power Tuesday to strike a tax cut before signing the 2007 amended budget, which contains emergency funding for education and the Peachcare child health plan.

Perdue's action reverses his earlier veto of the entire budget, which dictates state spending until July. He said this was not what he had wanted to do. He had hoped to call lawmakers back to the Capitol for a special session on the midyear budget, but ruled it out after meeting resistance from House leaders.

"It would've been tough on the members of the House and Senate, who are citizen-legislators, to come back not knowing how long that would be," Perdue said. "It would've been a show of power. It would've been futile."

Perdue denies his decision is a personal rebuke to House Speaker Glenn Richardson, who accused Perdue of showing lawmakers "his backside" by vetoing the budget. Richardson, who was once Perdue’s House floor leader, now uses softer words.

"Sometimes friends disagree, but the House will not compromise when it comes to defending the taxpayers of Georgia," he said in a written statement. He expressed disappointment that Perdue has vetoed $142 million one-time tax credit for property owners.

"The House still believes that if we can't all agree on how to spend the money, the best thing to do is to return it to the people who sent it to us," he said. "We would rather have it go back to the taxpayers than be hoarded for the government to spend another day."

But by striking the tax cut from the budget, Perdue says the money will enable the state to prop up its reserves at a time when economic growth is slowing.

"I think it's prudent at this time to be fiscally conservative," he said.

House leaders contend the reserves are in good shape now. Speaker Pro Tem Mark Burkhalter says he can't support the governor's decision.

"Aside from the fact that it's vetoing a tax cut, trying to understand how you can veto legislation, after sending out a press release and line-item veto something that’s a portion of what you already vetoed."

Burkhalter says House members are considering their next move, and they still want a tax cut.
Perdue's decision won praise from Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle, who presides over the State Senate.

"Leadership is about stepping forward with solutions in situations where compromise seems beyond reach. The Governor exercised strong character and courageous leadership today," said Cagle. "Every Georgian should be proud of the outcome of this process."

But Perdue was not as proud.

"Who said I felt positive about it?" Perdue asked. "It's the only option I believe that takes care of Peachcare and midyear educational reserves, but it still leaves some needs unmet."

Perdue says state workers-including prosecutors and public defenders-could face furloughs.

He has not decided yet whether to sign the 2008 budget lawmakers approved. He says he will take "corrective action" if necessary.

Perdue Delivers State of the State

Governor Sonny Perdue was welcomed by the full General Assembly to the State Capitol’s House chambers this morning. He delivered his annual State of the State address to outline where Georgia goes from here, in the face of a massive budget shortfall topping $2 billion.

Perdue said "we must not allow ourselves to be trapped in a short-term mindset where rash decisions result in dire long-term consequences."

Perdue in his 33-minute address told lawmakers some of the budget-pain could be relieved by tapping the state’s reserves for $50-million now, and another $408-million next fiscal year.

While light on specifics in certain areas, he gave particulars on some others, such as Georgia’s Medicaid funding gap. While some federal help could come in a stimulus package proposed by the incoming Obama-adminstration, Perdue said waiting is not an option:

"For those of you who would like to sit back and wait for Washington--we’ve waited before if you remember. And while I’m hopeful we’ll receive additional funds from the federal government, when I had the obligation of putting this budget together, I did not have the option to budget for money that may never materialize."

To that end, Perdue introduced legislation designed for Georgia’s healthcare system to share the burden in replenishing Medicaid:

"My budget will reflect in an accompanying bill that we will propose...a 1.6-percent fee on hospitals and health insurance providers to fill the hole in Medicaid and to do what the health care community has asked of us to do for so long."

Another centerpiece of Perdue’s budget proposal would fund critical new infrastructure and further support Work Ready programs in the state to spur 20,000 new jobs. The Governor says the $1.2 billion construction borrowing package would be backed by Georgia’s AAA bond rating:

"In the past, we’ve often funded the design-phase of a project one year and the construction at a later date. This year’s package will fast-track some of those. We'll feature many projects in which both design and construction are funded in the same year, ensuring a more timely completion.”

Other points of highlight and proposals from the Governor's address:

- Transportation: Perdue says he shares a vision with Lieutenant Governor Casey Cagle and House Speaker Glenn Richardson to devise a plan to improve the state's needs. Perdue would back the right funding plan. He also is committed to reform of the Department of Transportation.

- Education: Legislation to ensure local school boards act properly. Perdue also wants lawmakers to pass legislation to reward principals of improving schools with bonuses, and award merit pay to top teachers.

- Trauma care: In conjunction with Medicaid fee proposal, the Super Speeder legislation would provide $60 million for the sustaining and enhancement of trauma care in Georgia.

- Perdue's budget proposal calls for no pay raises for state employees and teachers next year ; $428 million in property tax grants would be eliminated, possibly leading to property tax increases for Georgians.

Perdue mum on endorsement in Dist. 50 race

Gov. Sonny Perdue took pains Thursday to distance himself from a pamphlet distributed by Sen. Nancy Schaefer during the primary campaign that apparently suggested to some people the governor had endorsed her in the race for SD 50. He hasn’t endorsed anyone, he said. Schaefer finished second in a three-way primary battle and will face challenger Jim Butterworth in the runoff on Aug. 5.

Perdue commented during an appearance via telephone on the Martha Zoller show on Gainesville radio station WDUN. Zoller began by telling Perdue his name had been bandied about in the race and asked him if he wanted to address it.

“I trust the people of that Senate district to make their decisions. I don’t think they need a governor sitting in Atlanta from middle Georgia trying to tell them how to make those decisions. I know I had a few calls over a mail out that was done. It was unfortunate. I had not had any conversation with either of the candidates - either of the three candidates - in there regarding any kind of endorsements, and some people felt I had chosen sides and it was not the case and it’s not the case today.”

The question was raised a few minutes later in the program by a caller, and Perdue reiterated that he had “absolutely not” endorsed anyone in the race.

“If I were up there, I could be a little offended if the governor was trying to tell me how to elect my legislative representative.”

Even so, Perdue endorsed at least one incumbent senator during the primary elections - Sen. John Douglas - and perhaps others.

The pamphlet which Schaefer circulated included a photo with her and a shirt-sleeved Perdue, with this statement attributed to Perdue: “Nancy Schaefer is a strong voice in the Senate for Northeast Georgia and I count on her integrity and commitment in the state Senate.”

Butterworth led the July 15 voting with 6,865 votes, or 40.8 percent, to Schaefer’s 6,315, or 37.5 percent. Third-place finisher Terry Rogers got 3,649 votes, or 21.7 percent.

Following the broadcast, the manager of the Butterworth campaign, Dan Gassaway, said the pamphlet reflected "failed leadership" on Schaefer's part.

"Northeast Georgia needs jobs, lower taxes and real leadership," he said in a press release. "Unfortunately, all we have received from Schafer is a long line (of) disappointing political stunts designed to distract us from her failures."

Meanwhile, the two runoff participants are clashing over another issue: how to keep open a cannery in Habersham County. Schaefer announced this week she has asked Perdue for a $10,000 grant from his emergency fund to keep the cannery in operation until the county can find the money. Butterworth, who is chairman of the Habersham County Commission, said the county already has approved an $8,000 grant to keep the facility open for the harvest season.

(InsiderAdvantage Georgia)

Perdue lashes out at Alabama over water use

Dry irony at boat ramp at West Point Lake. Print warning: "Boat Smart - Boat Safe, Wear Your Life Jackets!" (Dave Bender)

Standing by a high-and-dry boat dock at West Point Lake, Governor Sonny Perdue on Wednesday took the gloves off in a water fight with neighboring Alabama, and its Governor, Bob Riley.

Riley, in a letter to President George Bush, asked that Perdue's intention to slow the flow be stopped:

Alabama "cannot stand by and allow Georgia to take control of the water in that reservoir to the detriment of the people who live and work downstream in Alabama," Riley said. "That would be a radical step that would ignore the vital downstream interests of Alabama."

"Georgia has repeatedly framed its request as a contest between people in the Atlanta area and endangered mussels in Florida. Nothing could be further from the truth," Riley said. "In reality the action that Georgia seeks will have dire consequences on people and their livelihoods downstream in Alabama."

During a question-and-answer session at the press conference, Perdue shot back, saying,

“It's a little bit like the Old West, where one land-owner would try to dry the other one up, downstream. The interesting thing is that Alabama is trying to use these insane rules of the fish and wildlife and the Corps of Engineers to dry Georgia up -- and we're not gonna' let it happen.”

Perdue emphasizing a point to assembled reporters. Rep. Lynn Smith (R) is in background. (Dave Bender)

Perdue says he's weighing taking Georgia's case to the Supreme Court. He outlined a series of immediate and drastic water-saving steps, including a 10-percent, across-the-board cutback on usage by state agencies. Perdue told reporters gathered at the boat-ramp, that,

“the remains of West Point Lake are a stunning reminder that this drought is devastating not only metro Atlanta, but the entire state of Georgia.”

Perdue says he's spoken with federal officials, and hopes somebody from Washington -- perhaps even President George Bush -- will see for themselves how the drought is parching Georgia.

Shoal marker at West Point Lake. The red diamond indicates nominal water line. (Dave Bender)

On Saturday, the Governor declared a state-of-emergency in 85 counties.

Click here for more comprehensive GPB News drought coverage.

Special session looms as lawmakers continue budget fight

State funding for the next 14 months is up in the air. The Georgia House, Senate and Gov. Sonny Perdue are playing a high-stakes game of chicken just hours before the legislature adjourns for the session.

In the House, Democrats joined Republicans Friday morning to override Perdue's veto of the amended 2007 budget.

"I was the first Republican Speaker of the House, and I'm about to be the first to vote to override a governor's veto ever in this state," House Speaker Glenn Richardson (R-Hiram) told representatives before the vote. “I think you are too."

All but five representatives approved the override. Richardson called on the Senate to do the same immediately. But Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle, who presides over the upper chamber, says the House vote does not count because of a technicality. According to the Georgia Constitution, lawmakers can consider an override only after the governor transmits his veto to them. Cagle says a late-night press conference, in which the governor vetoed the budget document, does not constitute official transmission.

"The Senate is going to continue to do the business of the state. We're going to continue to take up legislation," Cagle said. "And we're going to appoint conference committees and try to work through the differences. I encourage the House members to do the same."

Gov. Sonny Perdue vetoed the 2007 midyear budget late Thursday, saying, "It does not fund necessary operations. It does not meet the current expenses of the state. It does not meet the needs of Georgians."

Perdue disagreed with lawmakers' decision to spend $142 million on property tax rebates. But, by vetoing the midyear budget, he has killed emergency funding for the Peachcare child health program, education, and tornado clean up.

That's why, House Democrats say, they helped their Republican counterparts override Perdue’s veto.

"When we evaluated where we are, we felt like the only way to get Peachcare funded right now, was to agree to what we had done in the conference committee," said House Minority Leader DuBose Porter (D-Dublin). The override, he says "is the only scenario where we could end today and go home and have expectations for a functioning government done now."

Porter acknowledges line lawmakers are caught in a game between the current governor and two men who might want to succeed him. Perdue has said he would call lawmakers back to the Capitol for a special session, unless the House and Senate resolve the budget dispute. Senate leaders say they’re willing to amend the 2008 budget, which has not been passed, with a new version of the 2007 midyear budget. But House leaders are refusing to come to the table without the property tax cut that Perdue staunchly opposes.

Perdue calls state house action irresponsible

Governor Perdue today accused the state house of being irresponsible in passing a tax reform ammendment. The tax cut amendment would leave the state 800 million dollars short in a few years if approved by voters.

That's the tally from the budget and policy institute and Governor Perdue Agrees.

The state house this week just barely passed the amendemnt which would cut car taxes and the state income tax portion of property taxes.

Governor Perdue says the state house actions were wreckless. "This is major tax policy of the state done on the fly" Perdue says, "I liken it to the Wright brothers jumping out of Kiddy Hawk and designing and airplane on the way down."

Perdue accuses house members of being motivated by election year politics and not the best interest of the state.

"We're gonna need resources to fund education, growth and transportation in the future, " Perdue said.

The ammenment is now in the State Senate. Today the Georgia Budget and Policy Institute called on Senators to halt the measure.

Because this is a constitutional ammendment, the Governor has no veto control.

Perdue doubts lawmakers would call special session

Some state lawmakers want to call a special session to override Gov. Sonny Perdue's recent vetoes, but Perdue says he is not worried.

Republican leaders in the state legislature are angry that Perdue struck $140 million from the budget for the fiscal year that starts next month. Perdue also directed state agencies to ignore lawmakers' instructions over how to spend their money.

"This was an unusual session and emotions were fragile," Perdue says. "People may assume these were emotional decisions. They were not emotional decisions. They were decisions of process and methodology and principle that I'm happy to defend to anyone and I'd be happy to visit with any legislator about that."

Perdue says he doubts many lawmakers want to return to the Capitol this summer for something, he says, is not an "extreme situation."

Lawmakers who feel otherwise say it's their role to finalize a budget, and they want the ability to direct how agencies spend the money they appropriate.

Leftover Perdue campaign funds challenged

A Democrat running for U-S Senate says Republican Governor Sonny Perdue's new political action committee is a misuse of campaign funds. Perdue has over 780-thousand dollars left in his non-profit called Perdue PAC. It's leftover from his 2006 re-election campaign. Perdue has not said how he'll spend the funds.

U-S Senate candidate Dale Cardwell, a former Atlanta investigative TV reporter, says it's wrong for Perdue to use campaign money to support a PAC, or political action committee.

"He ought to give it back to the people who gave it to him because they believed in him running for re-election".

Perdue's former campaign manager, Nick Ayers, says Cardwell should have looked into the State Ethics Commission's files. He says there are guidelines in the ethics code that say candidates are allowed to contribute extra campaign money to non-profit organizations...even if the phrase "political action committee" is in the title.

Perdue lists top legislative agenda

Governor Sonny Perdue, flanked by Lt. Governor Casey Cagle, and House Speaker Glenn Richardson, makes a point to reporters during a press conference at Columbus Municipal Airport, Thursday, Jan, 10, 2007. (Photo: Dave Bender)

Governor Sonny Perdue, Lieutenant Governor Casey Cagle and House Speaker Glenn Richardson jetted into Columbus Thursday morning.

The trio laid out their plans for the upcoming legislative session during the barnstorming stopover, part of a two-day, cross-state marathon.


Perdue, flanked by Cagle and Richardson, listed his agenda:

“Focus on the primary issues that concern people: healthcare, transportation, jobs, education, and certainly water's been on all of our minds.”

Columbus Mayor Jim Weatherington said Perdue “hit all the right buttons,” in his remarks encouraging local input for the statewide water plan.

State representatives and other city officials were also on hand for the half-hour visit.

Perdue and company flew on to Cartersville and Gainesville from Columbus.

Click here for more GPB News coverage of Perdue and state issues.

GOP lawmakers angry with Perdue over budget

State lawmakers are still mad that Gov. Sonny Perdue vetoed some of their favorite budget projects last month. Some want to call a special session to override his vetoes.

House members were already seething over Perdue's veto of a property tax cut. Then, the governor nixed some local projects, or pork, depending on your viewpoint. Senate Majority Leader Tommie Williams (R-Lyons) says even his chamber is upset with what came next: Perdue told state agencies to ignore lawmakers' instructions on how to spend public funds.

"If we don't have that privilege, then we become insignificant in the budget process and, frankly, we don't want to be there," he said.

Williams says he will try to work with Perdue to iron out differences soon. They have scheduled a meeting.

On the other hand, Clelia Davis, the spokeswoman for House leaders, says the lower chamber is seriously considering calling themselves back to the Capitol for a historic special session. Davis says representatives will not go out on a limb to do that without Senate backing, however.

A footnote:

When Gov. Sonny Perdue vetoed a property tax cut last month, he said the state could not afford it, and pointed to declining revenue numbers for April. But Georgia has bounced back stronger than before, with a 28 percent increase in May tax collections compared over last year.

Revenue Commissioner Bart Graham says the late tax deadline of April 17 caused a delay.

"The two days, and people who owed money filing on the deadline, contributed to a big swing between April and May," he said.

Graham says the department did not manipulate the numbers to bolster Perdue's case for a veto.

Perdue: Peanut Company Broke a 'Sacred Trust'

Governor Sonny Perdue on Wednesday said a “sacred trust,” was broken between the Peanut Corporation of America and consumers over the spreading salmonella debacle at the company’s Blakely plant.

Perdue and state agriculture officials are circling the peanut wagons and throwing their full backing behind Georgia’s farmers, food producers and distributors.


Governor Sonny Perdue makes a point to the several hundred industry leaders, farmers and legislators at the Georgia Agribusiness Council State Legislative Breakfast, held in downtown Atlanta on Feb. 4, 2009. (Photo: Dave Bender)

At a Georgia Agribusiness Council State Legislative Breakfast, Perdue told several hundred industry leaders:

“When people violate that sacred chain of food safety control, they will be prosecuted and held accountable; it is too important not to…(applause)”

Perdue faced a room packed with a veritable roll-call of food and ag industry officials.

Many worry that the an spreading peanut recall could prompt an already uncertain public could shun other preach-state-grown-and-produced foods.

Agriculture Commissioner Tommy Irvin, says his department will reorganize to face the daunting task of better monitoring farms and factories across the state:

”Our inspectors have 16,000 facilities they have to inspect. You have to do that today with 60 employees – it’s impossible to give the necessary coverage that, apparently, we need.”

Irvin says his office will ask the legislature to establish a division to deal exclusively with checking processed foods.

The General Assembly is already mulling a mandatory food-testing bill.

Perdue, however, says no amount of externally-enforced inspections can replace a responsible food industry:

“In the food chain, there is a voluntary compliance: we share a sacred trust of safety among our producers, processors, preparers and servers of food – and you cannot be everywhere at one time.”

House Speaker Bill Richardson holds up a bag of Georgia peanuts, during his comments at the Georgia Agribusiness Council State Legislative Breakfast, held in downtown Atlanta on Feb. 4, 2009. (Photo: Dave Bender)

To make a point of that trust, House Speaker Glenn Richardson held up a small bag of Georgia peanuts as he stood behind the podium:

"One of the fringe benefits of being at the capitol, is [that] the Department of Agriculture brings these Georgia peanuts by (opens foil packet); they leave them at our office. And everybody that comes to our office loves these, and you know what?… (eants a few peanuts) I love Georgia peanuts. (applause).”

And those Georgia peanuts make up almost half of all peanuts used in the United States.

Click here for more GPB News coverage of the salmonella-tainted peanut products.

Perdue tells drivers 'don't panic'

Governor Sonny Perdue is telling Georgia drivers to not panic, and take only necessary trips in order to conserve gasoline supply in the state. Perdue made his comments Wednesday morning, a day after federal officials relaxed restrictions on fuel blends gas stations can accept. 45 Georgia counties are covered by the waiver. In many parts of metro Atlanta, drivers have waited up to an hour to fill-up.

Perdue says his office is on the phone every morning with distributors, and says the state is on the backside of the shortage:

"We think we’ve peaked as far as the lack of production capacity and these pipelines are re-filling...these distribution points are filling back up. And hopefully that will be experienced by the customer very, very soon."

Perdue says that timetable should be four to five days for improvement. However, if the situation does not improve fast enough, Perdue says he might consider options like a state holiday to preserve supply.

Concerning the charge leveled by state Democrats that he dragged on addressing the gas shortage, Perdue responded:

"That’s what the opposing party always says is you didn’t do what you should have done fast enough, soon enough. That’s what a being a Democrat is all about is trying to tell those others in government how to run government while they had it for 135 years."

Governor questions budget compromise

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.

State leaders play pinball with SAT scores

State Democrats and Republicans are playing pinball with Georgia's lackluster S-A-T scores.

First, the facts: On average, Georgia students scored 1472 out of a possible 2400 on the S-A-T.

Gov. Sonny Perdue is looking at the bright side: Georgia has the fourth-worst scores in the nation, not the worst. Black and Latino students have outscored their counterparts nationwide.

But House Minority Leader DuBose Porter (D-Dublin) takes the glass half-empty approach.

He notes average math and reading scores are the lowest they have been in eight years. He accuses Perdue of embarking on a public relations campaign to cover that up, while slashing state funds for education.

In turn, Perdue has blamed 130 years of Democratic rule for a "culture of negativity" that once made Georgia dead last in the SAT.

Now Porter is reminding Perdue that he was once a Democrat too.

Here are excerpts from their statements:

Gov. Sonny Perdue:

While the state of Georgia and the nation as a whole saw a dip in 2007 SAT scores, Georgia continues to have outstanding participation rates and our minority students are scoring higher than the national average for minorities. Our African-American and Hispanic public school students' average scores continue to outpace their counterparts around the nation with higher scores in most areas of the test.

Rep. DuBose Porter:

I'm not surprised. This is exactly the result I was expecting but until the public wakes up and finds out the truth behind the massive public relations campaign that these elected Republicans have been waging it will continue.

Perdue:

For more than 130 years, Democrats like DuBose Porter and his pessimistic friends presided over an educational system that was failing our students. Our graduation rates were dismal and our rankings on tests like the SAT were dead last….Rep. Porter's comments yesterday were disrespectful and insulting to Georgia teachers, administrators, parents, and most of all, our high school students.

Porter:

I think [teachers, students and parents] are doing amazingly well with $1.3 billion less in the state's education budget….Overall, the nation's graduating class of 2007 averaged the lowest math and reading SAT scores since 1999 and Georgia's average dropped five points from last year. Everybody does worse, but the gap narrows, and in the world of massive PR this is turned into a positive.

Perdue Could Reject Some Stimulus Funds

Governor Sonny Perdue is considering leaving some of Georgia’s portion of federal stimulus money on the table. That’s because he doesn’t like some strings that might be attached.

Perdue shares an opinion of some fellow Republican governors that accepting all of a state’s allotment of stimulus funding might not serve the best interests of their residents.

Perdue spokesman Bert Brantley says there are about 50 programs that could get a boost by the roughly $6 billion Georgia would get. But for some areas of need--like more unemployment benefits--it’s not a slam dunk to take the funds:

"If there’s a pot of money that’s available that is going to require us to spend more money down-the-line and raise taxes on Georgians in order to meet those obligations, then that’s something we’re going to take a very hard look at."

Some other Republican governors, like South Carolina’s Mark Sanford, share the concern over unemployment benefits and the stimulus.

Perdue is in Washington D.C. continuing a National Governor’s Association meeting. Today the group is meeting with President Obama. Perdue returns to Georgia mid-week.

Perdue health plan draws critics

Gov. Sonny Perdue is encountering road bumps as he tries to build enthusiasm for a plan to use government funds to encourage small businesses to provide health-care benefits.

Most of Georgia's small businesses do not offer health coverage to their employees, but Mike Sullivan, owner of Conyers-based Southeast Sealing Inc., does. He says it is breaking his budget.

"There are a lot of guys and women in this state who have small companies and who are being absolutely ripped apart by high health-care costs," Sullivan says. He welcomes Perdue's proposal to create a voluntary, state-run, health-insurance program for small businesses.

"It will cost someone a lot of money," Sullivan says. "I just hope that someone is not me."

The money is proving to be the sticking point. Perdue wants to subsidize the $182 million program with federal Medicaid grants and $20 million of state funds. That amount of money could cover roughly 30,000 low-income workers out of a pool of about 380,000.

The idea of using government funds to pay for the plan is drawing criticism where Perdue needs support the most: under the Gold Dome.

"Entitlement plans are not the way to solve the problem," says House Rules Chairman Earl Ehrhart (R-Powder Springs). "If we really want to add something to this, let's have benefits for all taxpayers and let's do it through a tax credit, not through involuntary tax contributions."

Ehrhart says he doubts the General Assembly would approve Perdue's proposal without major changes.

Perdue approves voucher program for disabled students; gets ready for GOP convention

Gov. Sonny Perdue has signed into law a program that allows disabled children to attend the school of their choice on the state's dime.

In this new program, parents can use voucher money to take their children with special needs out of their neighborhood school and put them in another public school, or a private one.

"We've seen over and over that when parents take charge of their family's education, I believe families win," Perdue said. "The competition that results from parental choice will raise all boats, benefiting all the special needs children of Georgia."

Each voucher will be worth the same amount the state pays to teach a special-needs child in public school—roughly $9000 per year now. Children must spend a year in public school to qualify for the program.

At the same meeting, Perdue told reporters that he will speak Saturday to Republicans at the GOP convention about his principles of governing.

"I think I will describe to them what my convictions are about being a true conservative and how I think true conservatives act," he said.

Perdue says he will not discuss his argument with state House Republicans over the 2007 midyear budget.

He struck a property tax cut from the budget before signing it.

He says he will use his line-item veto power again on the 2008 budget later this month.

Some conservative bloggers are urging convention-goers to walk out during Perdue's speech tomorrow in protest of the veto.

Committee hears Perdue's '09 budget plans

There was some good news and some bad news from the Capitol, as Governor Sonny Perdue presented next year budget to the joint House Senate Budget Committee earlier today.

First the good news. Governor Perdue is confident the state will be okay if the nation's economy takes a downturn. Now the bad news, growth is slowing, tax revenues are down and competitors are nipping at the state's heels for a piece of Georgia's booming ports business.

The Governor got a round of applause from lawmakers with mention of water mismanagement when he said its time for Georgians to start taking control of their water concerns rather than rely on the US Army Corps of Engineers.

Perdue has asked lawmakers for 1-million dollars for the Georgia Bureau of Investigation to fight identity theft. The Governor's proposed budget also includes a 94 million dollar plan to trim property and car taxes and a 142 million dollar tax cut for upper income retirees, based on a projected 3.4 percent growth in Georgia's tax receipts.

Also included in the budget, money for statewide trauma care.

Perdue wants 53 million dollars to shore up Georgia ailing trauma care network, including Atlanta's Grady Memorial Hospital. He called funding for trauma care statewide is a priority.

"I thought it was incumbent on us to try to resolve those in a framework that works for everybody, not trying to single out Grady for a one-time solution, but try to put a trauma system in place that will not only benefit Grady but would also benefit the other trauma hospitals across the state."

Perdue's nearly twenty-one and a half billion dollar state budget includes budget plan also includes for a 2-and a half percent raise for teachers.

If approved by the General Assembly, the budget authorizes the state to borrow about $1.2 billion to build new schools, repair the state's crumbling infrastructure roads and deepen the Georgia's harbors.

Governor and House Speaker agree to disagree on taxes for now

Gov. Sonny Perdue and House Speaker Glenn Richardson (R-Hiram) say they are still friends, despite exchanging harsh words over a property tax cut the House pitched and Perdue vetoed.

Nonetheless, both stuck to their guns at the GOP convention Saturday.

Perdue defended his veto. He said the $142 million saved is now in the state's reserve fund, where it can be used to reduce long-term expenses.

"I've not going to go through this job eight years and enjoy life," he said, "then hand a tax bill to my children for them and my grandchildren to pay."

Perdue noted the state needs billions to shore up its pension plan.

But when House Speaker Richardson took the stage an hour later, he insisted that a tax cut would have been the better choice.

"I say we need to go slow on saving money," he said. "If we've got extra money, we’re either taxing too much or we need to send some money back, period."

There may be a second part to what both men characterize as a "family feud."

Richardson announced plans to overhaul the state tax system.

"I'm going to lead an effort to repeal the property tax on every house, every piece of land, every car, truck, every real property," he said.

Ultimately, voters would have to approve a constitutional amendment that repeals property taxes and allows the state to depend solely on income and sales taxes for revenue.

But voters would get that opportunity only if Richardson's plan passed the legislature and won Perdue's approval.

That's a big "if."

"There never has been tax reform legislation without the executive branch being involved and, frankly, I would expect an integral part in that," Perdue says.

He told reporters he still hoped to fulfill his campaign pledge to extend the tax break on retirement income.

Richardson contends that tax cut would benefit only wealthy seniors.

Help wanted: state child advocate

Gov. Sonny Perdue has assembled a three-member team to search for the next state child advocate, who monitors the state's child welfare services. The current advocate, Dee Simms, became embroiled in controversy after she released a scathing report of the Fulton County child welfare office.

Perdue's chosen recruiters have close ties to his office. Rebecca Sullivan was his executive counsel. Joy Hawkins, now with the Atlanta Chamber of Commerce, served as Perdue's deputy chief operating officer. Abel Ortiz served as Perdue's health policy advisor and now works at the Annie E. Casey Foundation. They will nominate at least three candidates, and Simms could be among them. She has said that she would like to keep her post.

In March, Simms' office released a report charging the Fulton County child and family services department with bad leadership, high caseloads, and child neglect. The county director was re-assigned to a state office, but state leaders continue to defend the agency against the charges. During his first term, Perdue promised to reform the overburdened child welfare division.

Simms was first appointed to her post by Democratic Gov. Roy Barnes, and later re-appointed by Perdue. Her term officially expired in October.