Georgia lawmakers left Atlanta early this month with significant accomplishments in hand and without approving some measures the Georgia Budget and Policy Institute flagged as troubling. Legislation to generate about $900 million more a year for transportation maintenance grabbed most
Georgia is home to the fifth most residents without health coverage of any state according to 2013 data, the latest available. Despite this poor ranking, Georgia’s leaders continue to refuse new federal funding to close Georgia’s coverage gap. Accepting this money could
As the 2015 legislative session comes to an end so does my time in Georgia. After 25 years in Georgia, the last 11 as executive director of the Georgia Budget and Policy Institute, I move to Michigan in a few
Education reform? Check. More revenue for transportation maintenance? Check. What’s missing here? Ahhh, Georgia’s ailing health care system didn’t get much attention from state lawmakers as they wound down the 2015 session this week. Kudos to House and Senate leaders
Gov. Nathan Deal’s proposal to create a statewide Opportunity School District (OSD) to take over persistently low-performing schools could pass out of the Georgia house and sent for the governor’s signature as soon as this week. This train needs to
As published in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution on March 24, 2015 The bill lawmakers are pushing to answer Gov. Nathan Deal’s call for more money to fix Georgia’s roads and bridges made a sharp turn in the wrong direction last week.
Georgia is now turning away people who apply for child care financial assistance through a state program designed to help low-income families due to worries the program itself could run short of money. Georgia’s Department of Early Care and Learning
Georgia’s state senators could inflict more than twice the pain contemplated by their House counterparts if they move forward with plans to fix roads and bridges with a raid on the general fund to the tune of $442 million. The version
The Georgia Senate is now considering House Bill 439, legislation supporters claim will help small businesses in low-income urban and rural areas. But the proposal is poorly designed and is unlikely to help Georgia businesses or the state’s economy. It
A new legislative proposal to create a statewide “Opportunity School District” aims to boost student achievement at Georgia’s most challenged schools. Close scrutiny of the measure is warranted before its proposed drastic and permanent remedies are passed into law. Georgia
The budget primer outlines the state budget for the year, recognizes substantial changes from the preceding year and provides a clear-eyed view on what lawmakers have prioritized for our state. This year, there will also be a focus on budget trends over the full eight years of Gov. Kemp’s tenure as we prepare for Georgia’s next leaders to take office.
Our budget primer is slated to be published the first day of the fiscal year, July 1. Join us for our virtual town hall to discuss our data, or request a physical copy of the primer to be sent to your address.
Submit public comment on Georgia’s Pathways to Coverage program extension by February 20th – just complete this easily fillable form:
