GBPI In The News School bus drivers: This job shouldn’t be a dead end March 26, 2019 / January 16, 2020 by GBPI Admin Georgia has been shifting more of the cost of student transportation, including bus driver health insurance, to school districts, many of which are still suffering from the recession. GBPI’s Stephen Owens offered his thoughts on how the state should reconsider its commitment to student transportation. Read the full story at the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Read more » K-12 Stephen Owens student transportation
GBPI In The News Medicaid waiver proposal clears Georgia House panel March 22, 2019 / January 16, 2020 by GBPI Admin Legislation authorizing Republican Gov. Brian Kemp to pursue a Medicaid waiver was recently approved by a state House panel, potentially giving Georgia more flexibility to use federal funding but also capping who’s covered by an expansion. GBPI’s Laura Harker said the bill should be amended to extend Medicaid benefits fully to levels called for under […] Read more » health Laura Harker medicaid
GBPI In The News Who’s On Medicaid In Georgia? It Might Not Be Who You Think March 8, 2019 / January 14, 2020 by GBPI Admin As originally broadcast on WABE 90.1 FM on Thursday, March 7, 2019 There’s lots of talk about Medicaid in Georgia these days, especially as state lawmakers consider whether to give Gov. Brian Kemp the ability to tweak and maybe expand the program. And there are lots of misconceptions about who actually qualifies for the federal […] Read more » health Laura Harker medicaid
GBPI In The News Ga. Senate Rejects School Voucher Bill March 6, 2019 / January 14, 2020 by GBPI Admin After a two-hour fiery debate, the Georgia Senate rejected a bill that would have essentially created a school voucher program. Senate Bill 173 would let parents put money the state allocates for their child in public school into an Education Savings Account (ESA). GBPI’s Stephen Owens said similar programs in other regions haven’t been successful. “We’ve seen […] Read more » Education K-12 school vouchers Stephen Owens
GBPI In The News Women, wages, wealth, health: Power at the polls must translate to policy change February 27, 2019 / January 14, 2020 by GBPI Admin During the 2018 elections, a record number of women engaged in the political process, many for the first time. They ran for office, turned out to vote and flexed their civic engagement muscles. Nearly two-thirds of all competitive state legislative races had at least one woman on last November’s ballot. Representation is critically important. Fresh leadership […] Read more » health Jennifer Owens wages women
GBPI In The News Senate committee approves Kemp’s health care waivers February 22, 2019 / March 5, 2021 by GBPI Admin The Senate Health and Human Services Committee passed legislation on Feb. 19 to allow Gov. Brian Kemp to pursue health care waivers from the federal government. During the hourlong hearing, no one spoke against the bill’s broad purpose – to cover more Georgians. Read the full story from The Albany Herald. Read more » health medicaid
GBPI In The News What Gov. Kemp plans for schools in budget proposal January 31, 2019 / May 19, 2020 by GBPI Admin Permanent pay increases for Georgia school teachers are just one of several items new Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp has proposed in a general fund budget to support public education across the state for the 2020 fiscal year that begins July 1. During the gubernatorial race last fall, Kemp promised certified teachers a $5,000 pay raise. Read […] Read more » Education K-12 teachers
GBPI In The News Report flunks Georgia on tobacco policy, urges higher cigarette tax January 31, 2019 / May 19, 2020 by GBPI Admin An annual tobacco control report gave Georgia failing grades for its anti-smoking efforts. The American Lung Association’s national report called on Georgia to increase its tax on a pack of cigarettes. At 37 cents, the levy is among the lowest in the country. Read the full story at the Gwinnett Daily Post. Read more » cigarette tax health
GBPI In The News Tax credits for private schools: the new lieutenant governor is a fan, but they remain controversial January 25, 2019 / May 19, 2020 by GBPI Admin Georgia’s new lieutenant governor says private schools are an important part of education, and he wants to expand a program that provides them indirect public support. But Georgia has little idea which students benefit from this program or how private schools serve those students. Read the full story from SaportaReport. Read more » Education K-12 Stephen Owens
GBPI In The News Is lottery money a good bet for getting children off Pre-K waiting lists? January 16, 2019 / May 19, 2020 by GBPI Admin Georgia’s lottery pays for both ends of student learning: pre- Kindergarten for four-year-olds, and HOPE scholarships for college and tech school students. But Pre-K fans complain waiting lists across the state for some 5500 children are proof the system is not as fair as it could be. Get the full story from CBS46. Read more » Education HOPE Scholarship Lottery Pre-K Stephen Owens
