Author Blog Wesley Tharpe Worker Justice New Brief: Slow-Growth Stalls Georgia Economy May 8, 2014 / January 15, 2020 by Wesley Tharpe Georgia continues to face serious economic challenges more than four years since the start of the national recovery, despite some gradual movement in the right direction. Companies are adding new jobs and unemployment is declining these days, but relatively modest growth is leaving many workers and families behind. Georgia continues to wrestle with the fallout […] Read more »
Author Featured Library Policy Areas Reports Wesley Tharpe Worker Justice Georgia Still Climbing Out of Deep Economic Hole May 8, 2014 / January 15, 2020 by Wesley Tharpe State of Working Georgia: Spring Update, 2014 Georgia continues to face serious economic challenges more than four years since the start of the national recovery, despite some gradual movement in the right direction. Companies are adding new jobs and unemployment is declining these days, but relatively modest growth is leaving many workers and families behind. […] Read more »
Author Blog Budget and Taxes Wesley Tharpe Radical Tax Policies in Kansas Offer Georgia a Cautionary Tale April 24, 2014 / January 15, 2020 by Wesley Tharpe Trimming Georgia’s income tax rate is a hot topic of late and will likely be debated during the 2014 election season and next year’s General Assembly. But a recently released report by the nonpartisan Washington, D.C.-based Center on Budget and Policy Priorities (CBPP) about what is happening in Kansas should throw up a big “caution!” sign […] Read more » State Taxes
Author Blog Budget and Taxes Wesley Tharpe Income Tax Cap Resolution a Low Point for 2014 Legislature April 11, 2014 / January 15, 2020 by Wesley Tharpe A reckless constitutional amendment designed to tie the hands of future lawmakers and hamstring the state’s ability to meet its growing needs over time stands out as the worst tax legislation passed by the 2014 Georgia General Assembly. Senate Resolution 415 places a constitutional amendment on this November’s ballot asking whether Georgia’s income tax should […] Read more » State Taxes
Author Budget and Taxes Library Policy Areas Reports Wesley Tharpe Adding Up the Fiscal Notes: 2014 Session Recap April 11, 2014 / January 15, 2020 by Wesley Tharpe Tax Measures Further Whittle Away Revenues A collection of tax measures that could drain up to $286 million from Georgia’s state treasury and $207 million from its local governments over the next five years gained the approval of the General Assembly this year. Although not as large as some past tax packages, the foregone revenue […] Read more » State Taxes
Author Budget and Taxes Library Policy Areas Reports Wesley Tharpe Adding Up the Fiscal Notes: Crossover Day 2014 March 12, 2014 / January 15, 2020 by Wesley Tharpe Grab-bag of Tax Measures on the Table A slew of bills with revenue implications for Georgia’s state and local governments are in the hands of state senators, after House members passed them before Crossover Day, March 3, 2014. The House passed nine relevant tax bills before the day when legislation must move from one chamber […] Read more » State Taxes
Blog Budget and Taxes Wesley Tharpe Worker Justice Tax Resolution is Troubling and Unnecessary March 10, 2014 / January 15, 2020 by Wesley Tharpe The tax committee in Georgia’s House of Representatives is set to consider a recommendation to change the state’s constitution to permanently cap Georgia’s top income tax rate. This is a bad idea. Whatever you think about income taxes, putting a tax cap in the state constitution could deliver several unintended consequences and would help push […] Read more » State Taxes
Author Blog Budget and Taxes Wesley Tharpe Analyze Incentives Before Giving Tax Breaks February 26, 2014 / January 17, 2020 by Wesley Tharpe As published in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution A while back, my wife and I got word that Scarlett Johansson and Ryan Reynolds were taking a break from filming to eat at an Atlanta restaurant near our home. Like any rational human beings would do, we ran out the door to try and get a better look. […] Read more » State Taxes
Author Blog Budget and Taxes Wesley Tharpe Georgia Lawmakers Still Flirting With Dangerous Tax Shift Ideas February 10, 2014 / January 15, 2020 by Wesley Tharpe The debate over changing Georgia’s tax system is quieter than usual at the Georgia General Assembly this year. Still, some efforts are afoot to push Georgia in a radical tax direction over time. Two resolutions gaining traction would put new tax restrictions in the state constitution. Senate Resolutions 412 and 415, sponsored by Senate Pro […] Read more » State Taxes
Author Budget and Taxes Fact Sheets Library Policy Areas Wesley Tharpe Tax Resolutions Could Put Georgia Lawmakers in a Bind February 5, 2014 / January 15, 2020 by Wesley Tharpe Bill Analysis: Senate Resolution 415 Georgia legislators are proposing a constitutional amendment that would limit the state’s ability to adequately meet the needs of its people in the future. The proposal, Senate Resolution 415, would call for a referendum to create a permanent income tax cap in the state Constitution. Adopting this amendment could deliver […] Read more » State Taxes
