Author Blog Clare S. Richie Georgia’s Children and Families are Worth Fighting for February 2, 2012 / January 16, 2020 by Clare Richie This month Congress will address extending the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program through September 30, 2012. As of today, Congress has eliminated the TANF Supplemental Grant which leaves Georgia short $37.3 million for many health and human service programs. If Congress doesn’t restore the TANF Supplemental Grant, Georgia will lose vital services that […] Read more » Blog Clare Richie TANF Temporary Assistance for Needy Families
Blog Wesley Tharpe Worker Justice HB 718: Well-intentioned, well-designed, and must be paid for January 26, 2012 / January 17, 2020 by Wesley Tharpe Earlier this month, GBPI released a report evaluating a tax credit proposal called CAPCO that nearly passed the Georgia legislature last year. A poorly-designed piece of “model legislation” with a dismal track record in other states, CAPCO thankfully seems to have lost momentum. Although despite the fact the Senate voted down CAPCO this week, it […] Read more » Blog CAPCO HB 718 House Bill 718 State Budget Wesley Tharpe
Blog Jared Bernstein Guest Blogger: Jared Bernstein January 13, 2012 / January 16, 2020 by Jared Bernstein | 1 Comment on Guest Blogger: Jared Bernstein I’m very excited about visiting the Georgia Budget and Policy Institute next week and just wanted to quickly highlight the things I hope to talk about. I plan to start with some of the usual stuff: what’s up, what’s down with the economy, both nationally and in Georgia, the interactions between federal and state budgets, […] Read more » 2012 Policy Conference Blog Jared Bernstein
Alan Essig Blog Initial Thoughts on Budget and Tax Proposals January 11, 2012 / January 16, 2020 by Alan Essig | 1 Comment on Initial Thoughts on Budget and Tax Proposals For the first time in several years there are no dramatic cuts in the governor’s proposed budget, although there still are some cuts. We appear to have hit the bottom and have begun the process to, at least, stabilize the state budget. In FY 2013, Gov. Nathan Deal includes funding to implement several recommendations from […] Read more » Alan Essig Blog FY 2013 State Budget State Taxes
Alan Essig Blog The Time is Ripe for Criminal Justice Reform January 5, 2012 / January 17, 2020 by Alan Essig Criminal justice reform is long overdue in Georgia. Last fall the Governor, Lt. Governor, and Speaker of the House created a Special Council on Criminal Justice Reform. In November the Council released a special report, which contained an analysis of the criminal justice problem as well as recommendations. I was pleased to see that many […] Read more » Alan Essig Blog criminal justice Criminal Justice Reform
Alan Essig Blog Budget and Taxes Tax Breaks and Economic Development Programs, Are We Getting Our Money’s Worth December 15, 2011 / January 17, 2020 by Alan Essig | 2 Comments on Tax Breaks and Economic Development Programs, Are We Getting Our Money’s Worth Georgia is investing tens of millions of dollars in business tax incentives and subsidies without any idea as to the impact on jobs. In tight budget times, it’s imperative that all state expenditures whether through the state budget or through the tax code, are held accountable for results. The General Assembly passed legislation requiring the […] Read more » Alan Essig Blog business tax incentives State Taxes
Alan Essig Blog November Revenue Report: Even with Revenue Growth, We Can Expect a Shortage December 13, 2011 / January 17, 2020 by Alan Essig Job one for the governor and legislature is making sure Georgia takes every step possible to help create jobs and build a strong economy. Doing that requires investment in education, transportation, public safety, and other necessities. So last Friday it was good to hear that revenue rose by 7 % in November and is up […] Read more » Alan Essig Blog revenue report State Budget
Blog Cedric Johnson Higher Education K-12 Education A Ray of “Hope” for Students Pursuing Higher Education December 8, 2011 / January 17, 2020 by Cedric Johnson | 3 Comments on A Ray of “Hope” for Students Pursuing Higher Education Paying for college has often been a deal-breaker for many individuals desiring to pursue a post-secondary education. Georgia has long looked to its prized HOPE program as a resource for helping Georgia students finance a college education. While HOPE has helped many Georgia students pay for college over the years, it is important to recognize […] Read more » Blog Cedric Johnson Education Higher Education HOPE Scholarship
Blog Budget and Taxes Clare S. Richie Happy New Year? Congress to Decide Fate of Federal Unemployment Benefits December 2, 2011 / January 17, 2020 by Clare Richie On December 31st, everyone will gather together to welcome in the New Year. Yet thousands of jobless Georgians worry today if Congress will pull the rug out from under them and their families in 2012. In January 2012, nearly 70,000 Georgia workers, who lost their jobs due to no fault of their own, will be […] Read more » Blog Clare Richie Federal Budget & Taxes Federal Unemployment Benefits
Blog Cash and Safety Net Taifa Smith Butler Reality Check: Optimism in the Midst of Stark Realities November 23, 2011 / January 16, 2020 by Taifa Smith Butler | 1 Comment on Reality Check: Optimism in the Midst of Stark Realities As we prepare for the Thanksgiving holiday, some may travel great distances to spend time with family and friends. This Thanksgiving, my husband, daughter, and I will stay in Georgia and settle in for a simple quiet meal and think about all the things for which we are thankful. While we model an attitude of […] Read more » Blog Economic Security Safety Net Taifa Smith Butler