January 16, 2009

ATLANTA, Ga---

HEADLINES:
Gov. Sonny Perdue proposed a slimmed-down budget that slashes
spending to close a $2.2 billion budget hole. He also wants to
boost borrowing to stimulate Georgia's economy by creating 20,000
jobs building schools and libraries. Perdue is proposing a $19.2
billion amended budget for the current fiscal year, down from $21.2
billion, and a $20.2 billion spending plan for the fiscal year that
starts July 1. Lawmakers returned to the Capitol and are
constitutionally required to approve a budget before their 40-day
session ends. To soften the budget cuts, Perdue is proposing
pulling more than $600 million from the state's rainy day reserve
fund, which now stands at $1.2 billion.
ODDS & ENDS:
-- Perdue may have opened a political rift within his own party
when he proposed filling a $208 million Medicaid funding gap with a
new 1.6 percent fee on hospitals and health insurance plans. Some
conservative politicians immediately criticized the plan, which
they derided as a new tax.
-- Black lawmakers said they will push the Legislature again to
issue an apology for slavery, and NAACP Georgia chapter president
Edward DuBose said he sent a letter to Perdue asking him to "do
the right thing."
-- April would be designated Confederate Heritage and History
month under legislation introduced by Sen. John Bulloch,
R-Ochlocknee, and Rep. Alan Powell, D-Hartwell. The bill would
encourage governments, schools, businesses and citizens to
celebrate the Confederate States of America.
-- House Democrats introduced a bill that would ban police
officers from racial profiling and require state and local officers
to begin an annual training program on racial profiling that
instructs them not to use race or ethnicity as a pretext to stop a
vehicle.
-- Perdue proposed rewarding top high school principals with
$10,000 bonuses, and also tacking on a bonus for teachers who agree
to serve as mentors. He also said he wants to lure badly needed
math and science teachers by promising them higher pay.
-- The chairman of the Senate Transportation Committee wants
local governments to be able to band together to charge a 1-cent
sales tax to fund transportation projects. Residents in the
affected areas would have to vote to approve the tax hike,
according to the legislation from Sen. Jeff Mullis, R-Chickamauga.
-- Georgia Power customers would see their rates rise under a
bill filed by state Sen. Don Balfour, R-Snellville. The bill allows
Georgia Power to begin collecting interest early for the
construction of two nuclear reactors at Plant Vogtle near Augusta.
Balfour said the move would save residents money in the long run.
Consumer groups dispute that.
QUOTE OF THE WEEK:
"There's a lot more to be done...35 more days more to go. The
clock is running and Georgia's future is at stake." -- Lt. Gov.
Casey Cagle.
DAYS IN SESSION:
35 days remain in the 40-day session.
LOOK AHEAD:
The Legislature begins three days of hearings into the
governor's budget proposal. Perdue will testify. Agency heads and
the state's fiscal economist will also speak to legislators.

(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)