Alan Essig Blog Higher Education K-12 Education Opinion Editorial: Penny wise and pound foolish school budgets May 22, 2012 / January 16, 2020 by Alan Essig The Columbus Ledger Enquirer Editorial Board cites research from the Georgia Budget and Policy Institute in its recent editorial. Georgia’s deep cuts in education funding, affecting both K-12 and postsecondary schools, have been prominent topics of discussion and debate in the wake of the 2008 recession. Local school systems, including the MCSD and other area […] Read more » Cedric Johnson Columbus Ledger-Enquirer Education Higher Education K-12 Op-Ed Opinion Editorial
Blog Health Justice Timothy Sweeney Plan to Cut Medicaid Will Cost Georgia May 10, 2012 / January 17, 2020 by Timothy Sweeney Posted by Timothy Sweeney Georgia would lose billions of dollars and thousands of children, seniors and modest-income workers could lose access to needed health care under a plan to radically alter Medicaid that was recently passed by the U.S. House. If the House plan developed by Congressman Paul Ryan — to deeply cut federal funding […] Read more » Blog health medicaid Tim Sweeney
Blog Clare S. Richie Food Assistance for Georgians under Attack in Congress May 3, 2012 / January 17, 2020 by Clare Richie | 1 Comment on Food Assistance for Georgians under Attack in Congress Posted by Clare S. Richie Next week, the House of Representatives is expected to pass deep cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) – previously known as food stamps. Every Georgia family that participates in SNAP would see their food assistance eliminated or cut. Children, seniors, and people with disabilities would be among the […] Read more » Blog Clare Richie Economic Security Food Assistance Safety Net SNAP Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program
Blog Budget and Taxes Why Georgia Needs its Income Tax April 25, 2012 / January 17, 2020 by GBPI Admin | 1 Comment on Why Georgia Needs its Income Tax With Georgia’s economy still lagging behind, state leaders are desperate for solutions. In recent years, some have called for repealing or significantly reducing the state’s income tax, arguing that shifting toward a “consumption tax” – in other words, the sales tax – would make Georgia more competitive. While lowering income taxes might sound like a […] Read more » Blog State Taxes Wesley Tharpe
Blog Budget and Taxes Wesley Tharpe Getting Georgians’ Money Worth on Tax Expenditures April 19, 2012 / January 17, 2020 by Wesley Tharpe | 2 Comments on Getting Georgians’ Money Worth on Tax Expenditures Posted by Wesley Tharpe Looking to grow their economies and create jobs, lawmakers across the country spend billions each year on various tax credits, exemptions, and deductions for businesses in their state. Georgia is certainly no exception, with business tax incentives currently costing taxpayers more than $100 million each year. But according to a new […] Read more » Blog State Taxes Wesley Tharpe
Blog K-12 Education Taifa Smith Butler The Atlanta Journal-Constitution Features GBPI Op-ed: Less HOPE for those who contribute larger share of their income to the lottery April 16, 2012 / January 17, 2020 by Taifa Smith Butler | 5 Comments on The Atlanta Journal-Constitution Features GBPI Op-ed: Less HOPE for those who contribute larger share of their income to the lottery As posted in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution Posted by Taifa Smith Butler Georgia’s commitment to graduate 250,000 more college students by 2020 is a worthy goal — and a necessary one if the state wants to remain competitive in an economy that increasingly requires knowledgeable, highly skilled workers. Ensuring that Georgians can afford to attend universities […] Read more » Blog Education HOPE Scholarship Taifa Smith Butler
Alan Essig Blog Budget and Taxes The Atlanta Journal-Constitution Features GBPI Op-ed: Shot at real reforms fumbled yet again April 14, 2012 / January 17, 2020 by Alan Essig As posted in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution Posted by: Alan Essig As we look back at the 2012 legislative session, it’s clear that Georgia lawmakers missed opportunities to make much needed reforms. Instead of taking up comprehensive tax reform that would modernize the tax code and help grow Georgia’s economy, the General Assembly passed a bill […] Read more » Alan Essig Atlanta Journal-Constitution Op-Ed State Budget State Taxes
Blog Wesley Tharpe Many Georgians Paying Taxes to their Boss April 12, 2012 / January 16, 2020 by Wesley Tharpe | 1 Comment on Many Georgians Paying Taxes to their Boss To hard-working Georgians, it may come as a surprise that the state taxes many of them pay on their wages aren’t going toward local schools, roads, health care or public safety —they’re going right back into their employer’s pockets. Georgia is one of only 16 states that divert public money in this way to subsidize […] Read more » Blog State Taxes Wesley Tharpe
Alan Essig Blog Budget and Taxes March Revenue Review: Revenue Growth Insufficient to Fund Reserves April 10, 2012 / January 16, 2020 by Alan Essig | 1 Comment on March Revenue Review: Revenue Growth Insufficient to Fund Reserves In order to grow jobs and maintain a strong economy Georgia policy makers need to get Georgia’s fiscal house in order. Maintaining our AAA bond rating and making the investments in education, transportation, and healthcare are vital for a strong state economy and robust job growth. The March revenue report shows a slight increase in […] Read more » rainy day fund revenue report Revenue Shortfall Reserve RSR State Budget
Alan Essig Blog New Report Shows That Texas’ Economic Model Is Not All It Seems April 5, 2012 / January 16, 2020 by Alan Essig Some claim that Georgia’s public policies should emulate those of Texas; however, a review of the Texas economic model by the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities clearly shows why Texas is not a model Georgia can or should follow. Although Texas is out pacing most states in job growth, it’s important to point out […] Read more » Alan Essig economic policies Texas Economic Model
