Blog Budget and Taxes Policy Areas Senate Adds $10 M Startup Fund, Boosts Nurse Pay in Revised Budget Today March 10, 2016 / January 15, 2020 by Timothy Sweeney The Georgia Senate passed the latest version of the state’s $23.7 billion budget for the fiscal year that starts in July, with the biggest addition a $10 million injection into the Invest Georgia economic development program. For the most part, senators only tinkered with the spending plan passed by the House of Representatives in February, […] Read more » State Budget
Blog Budget and Taxes Policy Areas Tax cut proposal to benefit wealthiest Georgians, jeopardize funding for schools, roads and more March 4, 2016 / January 15, 2020 by GBPI Admin | 1 Comment on Tax cut proposal to benefit wealthiest Georgians, jeopardize funding for schools, roads and more Twin income tax cut proposals that promise a big tax break for wealthy Georgians and little for everyone else are careening toward legislative approval this month. If enacted, House Bill 238 and Senate Resolution 756 will stymie Georgia’s investment in quality public schools, hospitals, services for children and seniors, and more for years to come. […] Read more » State Budget State Taxes tax cuts tax shift
Author Blog Cash and Safety Net Inclusive Economy for Immigrants Melissa Johnson Policy Areas Drivers’ ID Bill Would Squander Big Bucks to Target Immigrants February 26, 2016 / April 2, 2020 by Melissa Johnson A Senate bill threatens to spend hundreds of thousands of Georgia taxpayer dollars to compel work-eligible immigrants to carry both a drivers’ privilege card and a special identification card. If this bill passes, Georgia is obligated to waste effort and expense to address unproven problems while it further stigmatizes immigrants. Senate Bill 6, up for […] Read more »
Author Blog Budget and Taxes Policy Areas Wesley Tharpe Threat to Georgia’s Finances Gains Steam as Constitutional Amendment to Slash State Income Tax Nears Crossover Day February 26, 2016 / January 17, 2020 by Wesley Tharpe Most Georgia families stand to lose if twin proposals to slash the state income tax stay on track to pass the General Assembly this year. Midnight Monday Feb. 29, or crossover day, is the target for supporters of a constitutional amendment to drastically shift the state away from a balanced revenue system that consistently delivers […] Read more » State Budget State Taxes
Author Blog Budget and Taxes Inclusive Economy for Immigrants Policy Areas Wesley Tharpe Sensible Reforms Can Boost Undocumented Immigrants’ Tax Contribution February 25, 2016 / April 2, 2020 by Wesley Tharpe Undocumented immigrants in Georgia pay a significant share of state and local taxes each year and providing those families a path to legal status can increase their tax payments even more. That’s the key takeaway from a new analysis from the nonprofit, nonpartisan Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy (ITEP), which takes a close look […] Read more » Budget & Taxes State Taxes taxes Undocumented immigrants
Author Blog Budget and Taxes Policy Areas Timothy Sweeney School Workers, State Retirees Make Gains in 2017 House Budget Passed Today February 19, 2016 / January 17, 2020 by Timothy Sweeney | 2 Comments on School Workers, State Retirees Make Gains in 2017 House Budget Passed Today The Georgia House of Representatives today proposed increased benefits for state retirees and expanding raises to public school support workers as it put its own touches on the governor’s proposed $23.7 billion budget for 2017. State senators get a chance as soon as next week to insert their chamber’s priorities, as Georgia’s 2017 budget makes […] Read more » FY2017 State Budget Tim Sweeney
Author Blog Cash and Safety Net Melissa Johnson Policy Areas Bill Aims at Nonexistent Problem to Target Georgia’s Poor February 19, 2016 / January 17, 2020 by Melissa Johnson Georgia House Bill 1006 proposes to rip another hole in the state’s frayed safety net, cutting lifetime eligibility for cash assistance for the poorest of Georgia’s poor by 75 percent. Lawmakers assigned the bill to the House Health and Human Services Committee this week. At stake: Georgia parents could only receive cash aid from the […] Read more » Melissa Johnson TANF Temporary Assistance for Needy Families
Blog Wesley Tharpe Worker Justice State Minimum Wage Hearing Testimony, Feb. 11, 2016 February 12, 2016 / January 17, 2020 by Wesley Tharpe These written remarks in support of a higher state minimum wage reflect the full version of the abbreviated testimony provided by GBPI’s Wesley Tharpe at the Feb. 11, 2016 meeting of the Georgia Senate Insurance and Labor Committee. Thank you Mr. Chairman, members of the committee. My name is Wesley Tharpe and I serve as […] Read more » Economic Security Georgia Senate Minimum Wage Wesley Tharpe
Author Blog Cash and Safety Net Melissa Johnson Policy Areas Services for Georgia’s Vulnerable Lifted but Challenges Remain February 11, 2016 / January 15, 2020 by Melissa Johnson The evening news confronts us with the plight of Georgia’s most vulnerable people almost nightly, the fragile children, older adults and people living in poverty. The crafting of the state budget is one of few opportunities during the year for lawmakers to spell out concrete steps to protect and assist these Georgians. This year, according […] Read more » Department of Human Services FY2017
Blog Claire Suggs K-12 Education Pre-K and HOPE Rebound in 2017 Budget, Still Room to Improve February 4, 2016 / January 15, 2020 by Claire Suggs The nearly $1.05 billion for lottery-funded programs in Gov. Nathan Deal’s proposed budget adds money to increase Pre-Kindergarten teachers’ salaries and expands a grant program for technical college students. These are helpful steps to improve the quality of the Pre-K program and make college more affordable for some students. But more needs to done to […] Read more » Claire Suggs Education HOPE Scholarship Pre-K State Budget
