Blog Cash and Safety Net Melissa Johnson Threats to Child Care Affordability Undermine Georgia’s Workforce March 5, 2015 / January 17, 2020 by Melissa Johnson An income tax shift proposal released last week proposes to eliminate Georgia’s credit for child and dependent care, the state’s second largest income tax credit. Many low-income parents trying to raise young children in Georgia struggle to afford the high cost of quality child care even under today’s tax rules. A new Georgia Budget and Policy […] Read more » child care Economic Security Safety Net
Cash and Safety Net Melissa Johnson Reports Worker Justice Increase Child Care Assistance to Strengthen Georgia’s Families, Economy March 5, 2015 / January 17, 2020 by Melissa Johnson Many low-income parents raising young children in Georgia are not able to afford the high cost of quality child care. Going without such care can prevent them from keeping jobs, focusing at work, and getting a job if they do not have one. Georgia offers a child care assistance program to help families afford child care, but […] Read more » child care
Author Blog Health Justice Timothy Sweeney Georgia Falls to Second Worst Uninsured Rate in U.S. March 3, 2015 / January 15, 2020 by Timothy Sweeney Georgia fell further behind nearly all other states in ensuring access to health coverage for its residents in 2014, according to a new Gallup Health-Ways Well-Being Index report. Georgia ranked sixth in the 2013 Gallup survey. More than 19 percent of adults in Georgia went without health insurance in 2014, which is more than 5 […] Read more »
Alan Essig Blog Budget and Taxes House Budget Squeezes Schools, Health Care Providers February 27, 2015 / January 15, 2020 by Alan Essig | 1 Comment on House Budget Squeezes Schools, Health Care Providers The Georgia House of Representatives this week rearranged the state’s 2016 budget plan for education, health care and human services from the one the governor unveiled in January. The new version still does not include budget cuts required to pay for a pending plan to raise $1 billion for road and bridge maintenance. House Bill […] Read more » Alan Essig Budget Budget & Taxes Budget Cuts Department of Human Services FY 2016 medicaid PeachCare State Budget
Author Blog Health Justice Timothy Sweeney Tossing More Than 20,000 Georgians off State Health Plan a Bad Remedy February 24, 2015 / January 15, 2020 by Timothy Sweeney Tossing non-certified school district workers who work less than 30 hours per week off the State Health Benefit Plan (SHBP) could unnecessarily push more Georgians into the insurance coverage gap. Gov. Nathan Deal’s proposal to remove more than 11,500 part time school district employees and 10,300 of their dependents from the plan threatens hardship for […] Read more »
Author Fact Sheets Health Justice K-12 Education Library Policy Areas Timothy Sweeney Health Plan Financial Challenges Remain if State Ends Coverage for Part-Time School Workers and Their Dependents February 24, 2015 / January 15, 2020 by Timothy Sweeney Georgia’s governor proposes in the 2016 fiscal year to eliminate State Health Benefit Plan (SHBP) coverage for bus drivers, school nutrition workers and other “non-certified” school district employees who work fewer than 30 hours per week. This move could take insurance away from more than 21,000 people while leaving the plan’s more substantial financial challenges […] Read more »
Author Blog Wesley Tharpe Worker Justice Lift Georgia’s Economy with a Higher Minimum Wage February 23, 2015 / January 15, 2020 by Wesley Tharpe This month I spoke to a state senate committee about the merits of Senate Bill 15, legislation that could boost Georgia’s minimum wage to $10.10 per hour from its current effective rate of $7.25. The senate bill is similar to a proposal GBPI described in 2014 in our report “Better Pay for Honest Work.” Our […] Read more »
Author Claire Suggs K-12 Education Library Reports Education Savings Accounts Carry Big Sticker Shock February 19, 2015 / January 15, 2020 by Claire Suggs Georgia lawmakers are considering legislation to allow parents to take state dollars for private educational use. House Bill 243 proposes to create Education Savings Accounts (ESA) to set public money aside for educational services, including private school tuition, textbooks and curriculum materials, private tutoring and contributions to a college savings plan. Kindergarten and first grade […] Read more » K-12
Author Blog Claire Suggs K-12 Education Higher Class Sizes, Enrollment Drops Still a Drag on Lottery-funded Pre-K, HOPE Programs February 11, 2015 / January 15, 2020 by Claire Suggs The governor’s proposed $978 million budget for Georgia’s lottery funded programs in the 2016 fiscal year falls short of meeting the needs of the state’s youngest students and some of its oldest. High class sizes and low teacher salaries threaten the quality of Pre-Kindergarten. Fewer students are getting the HOPE Scholarship and the HOPE Grant, […] Read more » K-12
Alan Essig Author Blog Budget and Taxes Swapping penny from schools, other state needs is not small change February 11, 2015 / January 15, 2020 by Alan Essig As published in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution on Feb. 11, 2015. Some powerful Georgia lawmakers are floating a plan to move $180 million out of the state account used for schools, public safety and other general needs to redirect the money solely for roads and bridges. The $180 million may not sound like a lot in […] Read more » State Taxes
