Fact Sheets Higher Education Jennifer Lee Georgia Lawmakers can Maximize Lottery Effectiveness February 25, 2019 / May 26, 2020 by Jennifer Lee The Georgia Lottery is intended to support a more educated Georgia where everyone gets a good early start to their education and an affordable path to a college degree. Too many lottery dollars sit idle. The state averages more than $53 million in lottery surplus every year which builds up the reserves instead of supporting […] Read more » Budget Education Higher Education HOPE Scholarship K-12 State Budget
Blog Jennifer Owens Worker Justice Women, wages, wealth, health: Power at the polls must translate to policy change February 25, 2019 / April 25, 2023 by Jennifer Owens As published in SaportaReport on Sunday, February 24, 2019 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 […] Read more » gender equity wage gap women
Alex Camardelle Cash and Safety Net Reports Low Wages and Steep Cliffs February 22, 2019 / October 13, 2026 by Alex Camardelle | 2 Comments on Low Wages and Steep Cliffs Download PDF Recommendations to Eliminate the Cliff Effect in Georgia’s Safety Net Programs The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and the Childcare and Parent Services (CAPS) program act as safety nets for many hardworking Georgians by providing a line of defense against poverty, fulfilling basic needs and encouraging economic mobility. Specifically, these supports are essential […] Read more »
Blog Daniel Kanso, PhD Health Justice Senate Bill 106: Medicaid Waivers Could Reshape Georgia’s Health Care System & State Budget February 21, 2019 / May 26, 2020 by Daniel Kanso, PhD | 3 Comments on Senate Bill 106: Medicaid Waivers Could Reshape Georgia’s Health Care System & State Budget Last week, Georgia leaders announced an unprecedented plan to seek federal waivers that could extend health care access to hundreds of thousands of people across the state. Senate Bill 106, the Patients First Act, aims to make Georgia the first-ever state to receive a 90 percent match in federal funding for a partial Medicaid expansion.[1] […] Read more » health medicaid Medicaid Expansion Waiver
Blog Health Justice Opinion: Ga.’s start to expand healthcare access needs work February 18, 2019 / May 26, 2020 by Laura Harker As published in The Atlanta Journal-Constitution on Sunday, February 17, 2019 Georgia lawmakers appear poised to take action to address Georgia’s ongoing health care crisis following nearly seven years of debate over accepting additional federal funding to increase access to health insurance for hundreds of thousands of Georgians. There are currently two major paths before […] Read more » Economic Security health medicaid Medicaid Expansion
Fact Sheets Health Justice Medicaid Expansion and Waivers: Two Possible Paths to Extending Health Coverage February 14, 2019 / May 26, 2020 by Laura Harker Governor Brian Kemp is pursuing legislation that would allow the state to submit two types of waivers aimed at improving health care. The term “waiver” refers to a state opting out of certain requirements set by the federal health agency and trying new approaches to managing health care in the state. SB 106 – the […] Read more » health medicaid Medicaid Expansion Waiver
Higher Education Jennifer Lee Reports 3 Ways Georgia Can Make College More Affordable February 14, 2019 / October 13, 2026 by Jennifer Lee Download PDF In a few short years, more than 60 percent of Georgia jobs will require some postsecondary education1. Georgians with a bachelor’s degree earn nearly $17,000 more than those with some college or an associate degree and in excess of $22,000 more than those with a high school diploma only2. But many Georgians are […] Read more » college-tuition Georgia colleges Higher Education HOPE Scholarship need-based aid
Blog K-12 Education Stephen Owens Changes in Charter School Funding Explained February 14, 2019 / May 26, 2020 by Stephen Owens The enactment of House Bill 787 on July 1, 2018 guaranteed state charter schools additional funding to make up for the lack of local tax dollars. The amended budget for fiscal year 2019 and proposed 2020 increases the charter school supplement by $85.6 million.[1] Traditional public schools operate with state, federal and local funds. Local […] Read more » Charter Schools Education K-12
Budget and Taxes Cash and Safety Net Health Justice Laura Harker Reports Overview: 2020 Fiscal Year Budget for Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities February 11, 2019 / October 13, 2026 by Laura Harker Download PDF The governor’s budget proposal for the 2020 fiscal year adds $78.7 million more in state general funds for the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities than the 2019 budget. It directs $10.4 million in state funds toward home and community-based waiver programs and housing support services. These efforts are a part of […] Read more » Budget dbhdd Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities Safety Net State Budget substance abuse
Budget and Taxes Higher Education Jennifer Lee Reports Overview: 2020 Fiscal Year Budget for Lottery-Funded Programs February 11, 2019 / October 13, 2026 by Jennifer Lee Download PDF Governor Brian Kemp’s proposed 2020 budget includes an additional $47.7 million in lottery funds, bringing the total for Georgia’s lottery-funded pre-Kindergarten and HOPE financial aid programs to $1.25 billion. About $870 million is for HOPE and $379 million is for pre-K. The biggest changes to HOPE in the governor’s budget are a 3 […] Read more » Budget college Dual Enrollment Higher Education Lottery State Budget Technical College System of Georgia University System of Georgia