Capitol watchers had anticipated a spirited debate and action in the House of Representatives on tax cap legislation on this tenth day of the 2009 session of the Georgia General Assembly, but those observers left without having seen either. Though the members of that chamber did take action on a bill seeking to provide options for the General Assembly as they wrestle with the much-discussed Homeowner's Tax Relief Grant (It passed.), the much-ballyhooed HR 1 did not come to the floor for a vote. The to-be-expected political rhetoric flowed, with some representatives criticizing groups like GSSA, GSBA, ACCG, and GMA for opposing HR 1 and for failing to be "for the taxpayers." In the end, though, the tax cap proposal contained in the legislation continues to be a source of controversy between the General Assembly and local governmental entities (who, in this author's opinion, are the primary providers of governmental services to citizens, but who continue to be in the cross hairs of legislative guns aimed at them), and further action on the proposal will be delayed while attempts continue to round up the necessary votes.
Bills of interest to the education community are beginning to drop with greater frequency, and, as promised, GSSA staff is reading and preparing summaries of them. Available for review today are:
HB 149 -- the "Move on When Ready" bill, pushed by Governor Perdue, and an outcome of his "Tough Choices, Tough Times" task force
HB 157 -- potential restrictions on the use of HOPE funds
HB 165 -- an attempt to grant TRS credit for teachers who have experience in private schools outside Georgia
HB 175 -- an attempt to repeal the "neo-voucher" tax credit made available during the 2008 session of the Georgia General Assembly
HB 193 and HB 198 -- both bills intended to allow four-day school weeks, but each with a little different slant
It is hard to believe that the General Assembly has used 25% of its available days in this session, but that is the case. Day eleven is scheduled for Monday, February 2. |