Georgia Unemployment Rate In Double Digits

Nearly a half a million Georgians are out of work. The Department of Labor released its June unemployment figures today. The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate is at 10.1 percent—the highest ever recorded in the state.

"We are continuing to see lay off in construction, manufacturing, really across all sectors," says Labor Commissioner Michael Thurmond, "except of course health care and education."

In June, 483,394 Georgians were looking for work.

Thurmond calls on Georgia leaders to engage the private sector to create jobs. He also encourages the unemployed to seek more education and training to prepare for future jobs.

"Green jobs is a growing industry, ways to save energy, maximize potential in that arena," says Thurmond. "I think manufacturing, but with a more highly skilled work force will create employment opportunity in the future."

Right now about a third of jobless Georgians receive unemployment benefits from the state. Georgia's unemployment rate is worse than the nation's. It's at 9.5 percent.

State Ag Officials Look To Revoke Pest Company License

State agriculture officials are working to pull the license of a pest control company that treats more than 100 healthcare facilities in Georgia.

At issue is how the company, Biotech Systems of Georgia, applied the pesticide Termindor, says Jim Harron with the State Agriculture department:

"It's not a question of training in the case of Termidor, this material should not have been used indoors--period."

It's only an outdoor product, but Harron’s says his office found it in patient rooms and food areas in all eight of the first nursing homes tested in May.

Since then, officials found discrepancies in records the company sent to the state for review.

Now, with the help of state health care officials, Harron says work is being done to examine other nursing homes handled by Biotech:

"We'll work with the nursing homes in getting them proper cleanup procedures, and getting them advice on how they can clean them up."

Harron says the Georgia Agriculture Department is working towill revoke the company’s license.

Georgia Gazette Wednesday, June 24, 2009

Join host Rickey Bevington tonight for Georgia Gazette. On tonight's show… Skyrocketing health care costs in Georgia... a new reports explains why. Thousands of Georgia veterans at risk for HIV and other diseases. Is the VA to blame? We visit the Georgia Dome's first natural grass field.These stories and more tonight on Georgia Gazette at 6, 7 in Athens, re-broadcast at 11, hear our show any time at www.gpb.org/georgiagazette , and download a free podcast on iTunes.

Political Heavyweights Debate Health Care

Four political heavyweights sparred on Wednesday over whether creation of a government-run health care program would drive down skyrocketing costs. But they agreed that some overhaul of the nation's health system would make its way through the Democratic-led Congress.

Republicans Karl Rove, a former top adviser to President George W. Bush, and ex-Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist warned that a public health care plan could have a huge price tag and quash private-sector innovation. But former Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean and one-time Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle said a public plan could help bring down costs and insure more Americans. Dean proposed a 10 cent carbon tax on gasoline to pay for the costly overhaul, expected to cost at least $1.2 trillion.

The four debated the virtues of government-run health care at the 2009 BIO International Conference in Atlanta on Wednesday. The faceoff came as the battle over health care heats up in Washington.

Majority Democrats are aiming to bring health care overhaul bills to the floor of the House and Senate by August. It's a priority for President Barack Obama, a promise he made during his campaign.

Rove predicted that if the final bill contained a public health care system "it will pass with little or no Republican support."

I"m for choice," Rove said. "There is no reason you have to have a public plan to have competition and choice."

Frist, a heart surgeon before his election to the U.S. Senate, acknowledged that if the government comes to the table with a public plan it would bring costs down. But he said the bill for taxpayers would eventually swell as companies abandon private coverage for their employees and dump them on the government rolls.

But Dean said the GOP was missing the impact health care reform would have on America's ability to compete in the global marketplace.

"This is a business proposition," he said. "What are we going to do to make American businesses more competitive? Driving down the cost of health care will help."

Daschle said too much is paid on administrative costs in health care plans and any reform needs to look at how "to wring inefficiencies out of the system." He said the trick would be to strike the right balance between public and private coverage. Daschle had once been expected to lead the charge for health care reform in Washington as Obama's choice to lead the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. He withdrew from consideration amid questions about unpaid taxes.

Sparks flew at one point Wednesday as Rove jokingly referred to Dean's home state of Vermont as "dinky," smaller than some ranches in his own state of Texas. That led to Dean to chide Rove for years of budget deficits under Bush. Rove countered that Obama was only making matters
worse.

(Associated Press)

Rove, Dean, Daschle, Frist Debate Healthcare

Karl Rove, a former top adviser for President George W. Bush and former Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean will be on hand for the panel discussion in Atlanta. So will a pair of one-time Senate majority leaders - Democrat Tom Daschle and Republican Bill Frist. They will debate health care at the BIO International Conference on Wednesday. The faceoff comes as President Barack Obama launches a push to overhaul the nation's health care system to drive costs down and cover more Americans. Republicans have warned Obama's plan
would expand the size of government, and favor a market-driven approach.

(Associated Press)

Juvenile Advocates Say DOJ Pullout Too Soon

The U.S. Department of Justice has withdrawn its oversight of the state's juvenile detention facilities. Governor Sonny Perdue made the announcement earlier today, more than a decade after a scathing report citing physical abuses and massive overcrowding. But advocates say the reform is not enough.

In 1998, the Department of Justice found what it described as "egregious conditions violating the federal rights of juveniles" locked up by the state, including young people stripped and sometimes left naked for days, physical abuse by staff, overcrowding and inadequate mental health care.

Commissioner Albert Murray took the helm at Department of Juvenile Justice in 2004. Among his priorities … alternatives to incarceration.

"There were children being placed in the juvenile facilities on minor offenses who could be dealt with as effectively in the community. So, we made a heavier investment in community programs whereby children were being served outside of juvenile facilities."

When the state signed the Department of Justice Memorandum of Agreement in 1998, it promised better training and education for juvenile offenders. Today schools in Georgia's juvenile justice system are accredited by the Southern Association of College and Schools.

However, despite the gains being hailed, juvenile advocates say the Department of Justice pulled out too soon. Rick McDivitt heads the Georgia Alliance for Children.

"What they've done is basically cited them in '98 and then saw whether or not they adequately addressed what they were cited for. So, their oversight isn't current as if they reinvestigated. They haven't reinvestigated."

All requirements contained in the 1998 Memorandum of Agreement have been met and the U-S Department of Justice has closed its investigation here in Georgia.

Budget cutbacks forced the Department of Juvenile Justice to close one its long-term incarceration centers. However, agency officials say the other centers were able to absorb the overflow, making overcrowding a non-issue.

11 Year Fed-Oversight of State Juvenile Justice Department Ends

Federal justice officials have ended monitoring of Georgia's Department of Juvenile Justice. The announcement was made this morning by Governor Sonny Perdue and the state's Juvenile Justice Commissioner, Albert Murray.

In 1998, Georgia entered into a memorandum of agreement with federal justice officials. It was the result of a stinging federal report that detailed conditions of overcrowding, lack of staff training, poor medical care, and inmate abuse among the problems in the state's juvenile facilities.

The Governor today:

"...we have made strategic investments and placed a focus on improving the level of care these young people receive. Our goal in this agency is to ensure that every child coming through these facilities is treated as if they were our own son or daughter, and I want to thank Commissioner Albert Murray and the rest of the DJJ staff for making the needed changes and improvements to bring our system to the level Georgians expect and deserve."

The lead monitor for U.S. DOJ, Dr. David Roush, wrote in the final report that he has seen substantial improvement in many programs during his 10-year involvement with DJJ. Roush singled out DJJ’s Office of Medical Services and Office of Behavioral Health Services, which he wrote are used as models for juvenile justice systems nationwide.

Obama Names New CDC Chief

President Barack Obama has appointed Dr. Thomas Frieden as director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, turning to New York City's health commissioner to deal with the swine flu outbreak and other major health issues.

Frieden has served as NYC's commissioner for the past seven years, where he led a campaign to ban smoking in restaurants and bars, boosted the number of New Yorkers getting HIV tests and helped to distribute millions of free condoms.

In a statement announcing Frieden's appointment, Obama said the new CDC chief had been a "leader in the fight for health care reform, and his experiences confronting public health challenges in our country and abroad will be essential in this new role."

Frieden will inherit a looming decision on how best to manage a swine flu outbreak, including whether or how to produce a swine flu vaccine. The virus has infected more than 66-hundred people in 35 countries.

Health experts say the CDC needs to make immediate improvements in employee morale and organization as the Obama administration works to overhaul the national health care system.

The 48-year-old Frieden is expected to take office next month. His appointment does not require Senate confirmation. He will succeed Dr. Julie Gerberding, who resigned in January.

Dr. Richard Besser has served as acting head of the Atlanta-based CDC in recent months.

(Associated Press)

Athens Regional Looks To Cut Millions

One of the bigger hospitals in the state needs to cut millions of dollars from its budget in order to stay afloat. The financial struggles of Athens Regional Medical Center are much like other health care facilities across Georgia trying to hang-on.

Officials with Athens Regional are considering all options in trying to reduce costs, but yet spur new revenue. The Athens Banner-Herald says the hospital needs to cut $14-million from its budget, and layoffs may have to be part of the plan. The hospital employs 2,500 people full-time, with another 500 part-time.

The weak economy has affected hospitals and health care centers everywhere in Georgia, whether in large urban, or small rural areas.

Kevin Bloye is with the Georgia Hospital Association, which represents 170 hospitals and health care systems:

"We did a survey among our membership the first part of the year and we found three out of four hospitals in the state are experiencing pretty severe increases in bad debt and charity care since October of '08."

A spike in un-insured patients, and dramatic fall in money-generators like elective procedures are part of the equation.

Bloye says federal stimulus dollars in the state budget propping-up Medicaid is helping.

Savannah's mental health hospital to remain open

The new director of a new state agency for mental health is wasting no time making his mark on the state's mental health system. Governor Sonny Perdue appointed Doctor Frank Shelp to head the new Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities eight days ago. And today we learn that Shelp is reversing an unpopular decision to close a mental health hospital in Savannah

The decision last year to close Georgia Regional Hospital caused an uproar among local officials, who denouced the plan as a recipe for disaster. The plan would have left South Georgia without any place nearby to take the most seriously mentally ill patients. But that plan was made by the state Department of Human Resources. There's a new agency over mental health now, headed by Doctor Frank Shelp.

"I would say that it is a new course correction of about 35 to 40 degrees," says Shelp.

Shelp doesn't characterize the move to keep Georgia Regional open as a complete reversal because his vision for mental health keeps in place many aspects of D-H-R's proposal, known as "the game plan."

"The discussion became around closing a hospital or leaving a hospital open," says Shelp. "And that discussion reached such a level that it really precluded discussing other aspects of the game plan."

Shelp says, the plan was always to increase the continuum of care, such as with crisis stabilization programs, or C.S.P.'s, that promise more local services for most mentally ill patients, while none for the most seriously ill. Shelp says, a few patients might still be moved to the state's main mental health facility Milledgeville, but "the goal right now is to come up with a modification that will manage 95% plus of patient needs in their own region."

Shelp says, he's still developing plans for what to do with patients referred to the mental health system from the criminal justice system. He says, that part of the "game plan" was never fully explained. And just hearing that pleases advocates for the mentally ill. June Dipolito runs the Pineland mental health agency in Statesboro.

"I am excited beyond words," Dipolito says. "You cannot really run community mental health services without having the deep and intensive services of the acute psychiatric beds."

The new Commissioner of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities currently works at Georgia Regional in Savannah. Frank Shelp is set to move to Atlanta by July.

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Oxendine To Return Questioned Contributions

Republican gubernatorial candidate John Oxendine says he is returning more than $100,000 in campaign contributions brought into question by a recent investigative report by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. The report claims two insurance companies in the state headed by the same person directed $120,000 to Oxendine’s campaign. The paper says money was received from the insurance companies through 10 political action committees set up by an Alabama board member of both firms. Oxendine is Georgia’s Insurance and fire safety commissioner, and was the first Republican to announce his entry into the 2010 governor’s race.

Below is Oxendine's statement released Monday on his website:

"I appreciate all those who have expressed their support these past few days as our campaign has addressed an issue related to contributions made to our campaign.

As it appeared to us, these were not checks from an insurance company we regulate. Additionally, it appeared that these checks were from different entities, not controlled by the same person or people. Under those facts, as we understood them, accepting these contributions was perfectly legal. Based on facts that have recently come to light, previously unknown to us, we have concerns whether our understanding of the facts were complete. Last week, before these facts fully came to light, we filed an advisory opinion request with the Georgia State Ethics Commission.

Out of an abundance of caution, I decided to return the funds pending advice from the State Ethics Commission. Let me be transparent and direct with the taxpayers of Georgia. I have promised to transform Georgia government. Although my staff and legal counsel, Stefan Passantino of McKenna, Long and Aldridge, advise that we have done nothing illegal, based on the facts as we know them, I am concerned Georgia voters might see this as politics as usual. Therefore, last week, immediately after my initial awareness of this matter, I ordered the process be set in motion to return every single contribution in question and to seek advice as to our rights and obligations to the State Ethics Commission.

I have criticized this as a hit piece and the facts are thus: Mr. Passantino communicated via email with the AJC reporter last Friday that they were to speak today. It is unfortunate that the AJC elected to move forward with this piece before having spoken with Mr. Passantino to get our side of the story. Had this occurred, the story would not have been an issue because the AJC would have had the opportunity to report that the money had already been returned and that we had previously initiated a request for guidance and clarification from the State Ethics Commission.

The critics have questioned my personal integrity. I respect each of you as voters. I realize that many Georgians support our campaign and some oppose it. However, I am determined that those who do oppose my campaign, do so based on honorable disagreements on the issues and not based on a question of my integrity as it relates to campaign contributions.

I will run a non-traditional campaign and be a different type of Governor. I hope that today I have taken steps to demonstrate my sincerity to Georgia. It is my desire to have a campaign that is a positive, issue-oriented campaign based on traditional Reagan conservative values.

When reporters cover issues such as campaign contributions as opposed to covering the important issues before Georgia of transportation, education, water, health care, jobs, agriculture, and the Fair Tax, nothing is done to improve the lives of working families in Georgia.

I am pleased this matter is behind us and welcome the opportunity to listen to Georgians about those issues important to them and to talk about my Contract with Georgia."

GBPI: Tax Cuts Mean Service Cuts

A new report released Monday shows proposed tax cuts would cost Georgia some 1.5 billion dollars over the next five years.

The report comes from the Georgia Budget and Policy Institute, an organization that looks at how state spending impacts government services. The group is concerned
about a pair of legislative bills that would give companies that hire out of work employees a 2400 dollar tax credit and cut the capital gains tax in half.

Conservative lawmakers who designed this plan say it would create at least two thousand jobs in the state. It's now on the Governor's desk waiting for his approval. GBPI's Allen Essig says the Governor needs to continue "being a responsible budget Governor. If he signs these bills, it will guarantee the state will have untennable deficits in the future."

Essig says that would mean a reduction in education, road and health care funding. Governor Sonny Perdue has not indicated what action he will take. The Governor's press office did not return calls for comment.

Chatham Judges On Petition To Keep Mental Hospital Open

Judges in Chatham County have joined a petition urging state officials not to close Georgia Regional Hospital in Savannah. The petitions seek a delay in the Department of Human Resources’ plan to close some of the state's seven mental hospitals, move some patients to other facilities, and direct many would-be hospital patients toward community-based mental health care facilities.

The signatures of six Superior Court judges, and judges from State, Recorder's and Probate courts are among more than 10,000 expected to be on petitions for state Senator Lester Jackson to present to the Legislature. Judges and others are concerned the plan relies on community treatment options that are "lacking and uncoordinated."

Lawmakers Have Packed Schedule With Two Days to Go

Wednesday marks Day 39 in this year’s legislative session. And both chambers have a packed schedule.

The big issue for House lawmakers is the transportation governance bill. The measure no longer includes the creation of a new state agency – a plan backed by Governor Sonny Perdue. Instead, legislators would have more power when it comes to managing Department of Transportation dollars.

And there’s also a measure to curb property taxes. The legislation would put a 3% cap on property assessment increases.

In the Senate, next year’s budget is the hot topic. And there's a plan to do away with both the sales tax and the so-called birthday tax on car purchases. Instead, every sale would be subject to a title fee of up to $1500. Some of that money would be set aside for trauma care.

Below is a list of the bills that are on tap for the second-to-last day of the 2009 session.

House:
SB 27 - Confederate Heritage/History Month; create; encourages observances/celebrations; provide statutory construction
SB 49 - Georgia Registered Professional Nurse Practice Act; nursing education program
requirements; revise certain provisions
SB 85 - Georgia Aviation Authority Act; create; provide for membership, governance,
operation, power, duties
SB 114 - Education; provide for transfer of students who are military dependents into a local school system
SB 128 - Motor Vehicles; option of owner; permanent license plates for boat, utility,
noncommercial cattle/livestock trailers; provide for fees
SB 133 - Health Share Volunteers in Medicine Act; provide certain compensation; health care provider; sovereign immunity protection
SB 144 - Insurance Agent License; applicant shall be appointed by an authorized insurer prior to issuance of the license; repeal requirement
SB 163 - Human Resources Commissioner; authorize to appoint a diabetes coordinator
SB 164 - State Highway System; signs and signals; height limitations; allow owners to obtain permits to remove vegetation from the viewing zones
SB 172 - Victim Compensation; provide for recovery for serious mental and emotional
trauma; change definitions; provisions
SB 178 - Education; advance funding, exceptional growth, low-wealth capital outlay grants; embed/extend a sunset date
SB 194 - State Purchasing; benefits based funding projects; revise provisions; change
membership of an oversight committee
SB 195 - Professions/Businesses; clarify applications submitted in prescribed form not necessarily written document; provisions
SB 200 - Transforming Transportation Investment Act; create State Transportation Agency; definitions; purposes; abolish State Road/Tollway Authority
SB 201 - Health; provide voluntary contributions through individual income tax returns for cancer research
SB 207 - Proceedings; admit general public to hearings in juvenile court with certain
exceptions
SB 246 - Courts; provide notice of the release of child from detention under certain
circumstances; definitions
SB 253 - Sparklers; provide a definition for the term "indoors"
SR 1 - Appropriations; provide for prioritized funding requirements regarding certain
supplementary appropriations Acts - CA
SR 153 - Education Improvement Districts; provide creation and comprehensive regulation - CA
SR 176 - James H. Chandler, Jr. Memorial Intersection; dedicate


Senate:
HB 2 updates and clarifies many existing provisions in Georgia law related to illegal immigration.
HB 16 prohibits the use of an electronic tracking device to determine the location or movement of another person without that person’s consent, with several exceptions.
HB 56 revises provisions relating to distribution of proceeds and renegotiation of distribution certifications.
HB 63 deletes the chapter governing the Redevelopment Powers Law and replaces with some existing and new language. It also adds new language regarding the Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILOT) Restriction Act.
HB 64 specifies that a funeral director must file a death certificate within 72 hours.
HB 69 allows a physician to issue a Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) order without the concurrence of another physician so long as there is oral or written consent from an authorized health care agent operating under a durable power of attorney or pursuant to an advance directive.
HB 86 allows that absentee ballots must be counted by precinct, and separate returns must be made showing the results by each precinct.
HB 101 allows that a transit agency may authorize the placement, erection, and maintenance of commercial advertisements on or in transit vehicles or facilities owned or operated by that transit agency.
HB 119 makes and provides appropriations for the State Fiscal Year beginning July 1, 2009, and ending June 30, 2010.
HB 120 authorizes the annual sales tax holiday for school supplies and energy efficient appliances.
HB 141 is the annual housekeeping bill for the Department of Banking and Finance (the Department), which addresses the regulation of financial institutions and commercial paper in Georgia.
HB 147 relates to proceedings for forfeiture of bonds or recognizances, so as to relieve a surety from liability under certain circumstances.
HB 169 provides a notice of new or revised flood elevations to Georgia property owners affected.
HB 173 permits non-compete and non-solicitation clauses in employment and business contracts.
HB 184 directs the Department of Human Resources to prepare information for public dissemination on the department’s website describing the importance of obtaining a blood test for sickle cell disease.
HB 186 extends the income tax credit for teleworking through FY2012. It also increases the available credit to $2.5 million for Fiscal Years 2011 and 2012.
HB 189 revises the applicability of the Georgia Arbitration Code because the General Assembly finds that entities need to cooperate with each other to ensure parents with better options on child support obligations.
HB 217 sets forth the requirements for influenza vaccine protocol agreements between physicians and pharmacists or nurses.
HB 221 amends two statutes to require that writs of mandamus and writs of prohibition to compel the removal of a judge cannot be issued if a motion to recuse has not been filed first, nor where a motion to recuse has been denied after assignment to a different judge.
HB 243 provides conditions of employment of certificated personnel in elementary and secondary education for salary increase for persons receiving certification from the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards.
HB 258: Driver's license; minor of disabled guardian; restricted learner's permit; provisions
HB 278 allows local school system to waive the expenditure control requirements under the Quality Basic Education Act
HB 304 revises the rights of county appraisers and tax assessors and authorized agents of the county to go onto property to conduct official business.
HB 310 provides that the statewide recycling program for state agencies.
HB 318 defines several terms relating to the place of return for tax purposes of motor vehicles and mobile homes.
HB 321 relates to "group accident and sickness insurance" defined and "true association" defined, so as to provide for changes in the definitions of the terms.
HB 344 Probation; Department of Corrections; collections of additional fees; authorize
HB 349 Sales and use tax exemption; new construction of civil rights museum; provide
HB 371 Public Retirement Systems Investment Authority Law; increase in allowable fund investment; provisions
HB 379 Income tax; certain real estate investment trusts; disallow expenses paid
HB 388 The Option of Adoption Act
HB 395 Sales and use tax; personal property; construction of certain symphony halls; extend exemption
HB 406 Service delivery strategies; certain drinking water projects; funding limitation; provide exemption
HB 438 Income tax; tax credits for qualified jobs and projects; comprehensive revision
HB 439 Income tax; credits; business enterprises
HB 453 Superior courts; sunset dates for property filing fees; change
HB 455 Elementary and secondary education; annual contracts for certified personnel; extend certain deadlines
HB 473 Community Affairs, Department of; grants for clean energy property
HB 477 Retirement and pensions; creditable service; application requirement
HB 480 Taxation of motor vehicles; comprehensive revision
HB 483 Ad valorem tax; modernization and revisions of certain provisions
HB 485 Income tax; alternative credits for base year port traffic
HB 487 Superior Court Clerks' Retirement Fund of Georgia; employee contribution
HB 488 Superior Court Clerks' Retirement Fund of Georgia; eligibility criteria for creditable service
HB 492 Time-share projects and programs; private residence clubs
HB 493 Georgia Youth Conservation Corps; creation and purposes of the corps;
HB 509 Professions and businesses; regulation; change provisions.
HB 514 Judicial system; assignment of senior judges;
HB 528 Specialized land transactions; developers provide audits to homeowners
HB 549 Driver Services, Department of; information for purposes of creating juror lists
HB 568 Public Service Commission; members shall represent entire state
HB 575 Kidnapping; change certain provisions
HB 608 Time-share projects; estate shall include certain interests
HB 639 Special license plates; protect wild dolphins in Georgia
HR 161 White, Mr. John Jerome; compensate
HR 336 CPL Jonathan Ryan Ayers Memorial Interchange; dedicate

Massive Attendance at Atlanta Job Fair

Tens of thousands of job-seekers flooded a career expo and job fair held at The World Congress Center in Atlanta, Wednesday evening, Mar. 11, 2009. (Photo: Dave Bender)

Lines of job applicants dressed for success snaked across an entire floor of the exhibition center.

Applicants from across the southeast interviewed with representatives from over a hundred private and public employers, temp agencies, schools, training colleges and service organizations.


Dozens of banks of computers with internet access allowed applicants to upload resumes, and connect with potential employers at the career expo and job fair held at The World Congress Center in Atlanta, Wednesday evening, Mar. 11, 2009. (Photo: Dave Bender)

Georgia Department of Labor Commissioner Michael Thurmond says he’s encouraged by the conservatively-estimated 20,000-person turnout.

He says applicants’ willingness to accept work in new fields is key in finding a job in what he characterized as the roughest employment market since the Great Depression:

"The individuals who will be most successful in this economic downturn, in terms of finding jobs, will be the ones who are most adaptable to change, who are most flexible, who will look at the landscape and say, 'Look – this may be a temporary opportunity that will help me pay my bills, and better position myself for the opportunities that are in the near future.''

Job-seekers packed a dozen workshops in polishing jobs- seeking skills, starting a business, managing personal finances and health care, and coping with extended unemployment.

Click here for more GPB News coverage of the unemployment situation statwewide.

Tax Breaks Pushed to Spur Hiring

Unemployment is at a record high. To help create jobs, state House Republicans want to pass a series of tax breaks to businesses.

Businesses would get a $2,400 income tax credit for each unemployed person they hire before July 1 of next year and keep on the job for at least two years. The package also includes a $500 credit toward unemployment insurance taxes for those new hires.

House Republicans hope the measure will give businesses an incentive to hire out-of-work Georgians, as well as lure new companies to the state. Additionally, the state would reduce the 6 percent corporate income tax and eventually eliminate it.

The breaks could save businesses upwards of a billion dollars.

Opponents say there’s no guarantee the package will create good-paying jobs; the tax-breaks kick in even for those hired to work 30 hours a week.

They also criticize slashing revenue at a time when more Georgians rely on the state for health care, education and other services.

The bill will go to the House floor for a vote this week.

(The Atlanta Journal-Constitution)

Trauma Care An Economic Issue

A group of business leaders is pressuring the General Assembly to improve Georgia' trauma care system. They say it's not just a health issue, it's also about economic development. Members include Senator Don Balfour and Medical College of Georgia President Dr. Daniel Rahn. The group says Georgia will have trouble attracting business if we can't guarantee their employees will have access to emergency care. The group plans to work with lawmakers over the next several weeks. Experts studying the issue estimate that $80 million is needed each year to adequately fund a statewide network.

Federal Money May Nullify Plan to Raise Hospital Taxes

The federal stimulus package may nullify a state plan to charge hospitals and insurers new fees.

The addition of 1.73 billion dollars in federal money for Georgia’s Medicaid has almost certainly killed the proposed levy on hospital revenues, according to legislative leaders and health care industry officials.

A similar tax on health insurer revenues may die as well.

Governor Perdue proposed the fees to fill a projected 200 million dollar shortfall in Medicaid and to help fund the state’s trauma network.

However, Perdue’s spokesperson said earlier this week… the fate of the two taxes is still not finalized.

(The Atlanta Journal Constitution)

Study Says More than Half of Unemployed People Have No Health Insurance

More than half of unemployed people who are actively seeking work in Georgia have no health insurance, according to Families USA, a nonprofit watchdog of health care and insurance issues. The statistic is the same as the national average, according to the group, which released a study on the issue today. Families USA says the high uninsured rate could have serious consequences for the health of people who are not working, and also for the health of their families. The organization also says unemployed workers are not able to afford COBRA coverage, where they can continue their health insurance from employers by paying for it themselves, and that in some states, Medicaid coverage for low-income people is hard or impossible to get. The unemployment rate in Georgia was 8.1 percent in December.

CHC Commissioner Details Medicaid Woes; Supports Hospital Fee

Governor Sonny Perdue's controversial proposal to impose a fee on hospitals and health care providers across Georgia was questioned today by lawmakers. Community Health Commissioner Dr. Rhonda Meadows, who supports the plan, testified in budget hearings.

Perdue plans to tax hospitals 1.6 percent of their revenues to fill a more than $400 million shortfall facing Georgia's medicaid program. Meadows says that she has made cuts in Medicaid and Peachcare where possible, but without the tax the programs simply do not have enough money.

"If we don't have the tax, we still have that $423 million hole. That is huge, that is huge."

Meadows says that the fee would add roughly $60 dollars annually to the average health insurance plan. Meadows also projects that this year, 130,000 more people will enroll in Medicaid and Peachcare as a result of high unemployment rates.