Author Budget and Taxes Reports Wesley Tharpe Menu of Revenue Options to Pave Way for Georgia’s Rebound January 28, 2013 / January 17, 2020 by Wesley Tharpe Low Revenues Putting Georgia on a Path to Mediocrity Georgia is one of the most under-funded states in the country, but state lawmakers can remedy structural budget shortfalls by implementing revenue options used successfully by other states. Annual deep cuts in state funding the past five years means fewer teachers in Georgia’s classrooms, roads and […] Read more » revenues State Taxes Wesley Tharpe
Fact Sheets Policy Areas Wesley Tharpe Worker Justice Georgia Still Adding Jobs, though Public Sector Lagging Behind January 9, 2013 / January 17, 2020 by Wesley Tharpe Though still not firing on all cylinders, Georgia’s economy continues to add jobs at a comparatively strong pace, according to new data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Georgia’s rate of job growth has exceeded the national average over the past 12 months (1.65 percent vs. 1.43 percent), and the state’s jobless rate has […] Read more » jobs count Wesley Tharpe
Blog Growing Inequality Threatens Georgia’s Economy December 19, 2012 / January 17, 2020 by Wesley Tharpe Posted by Wesley Tharpe We often hear about the social and cultural differences that divide Georgians of different backgrounds –but what about the economic differences that divide Georgia too? The state’s gap between the haves and have-nots has never been greater, and unless reversed, it will continue to undermine opportunity and economic growth. Georgia has […] Read more » Economic Security Education medicaid poverty Safety Net Wesley Tharpe
Press Releases & Statements State of Working Georgia 2012: Great Recession Wiped Out Two Decades of Progress for Georgia’s Poor and Middle Class November 20, 2012 / January 17, 2020 by GBPI Admin FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE ATLANTA – Everyday working Georgians saw two decades of economic progress disappear in the wake of the Great Recession and continue to struggle through its aftermath, a new report from the Georgia Budget & Policy Institute finds. “State of Working Georgia 2012” brings together a wide range of data on jobs, incomes, […] Read more » Economic Security Safety Net State of Working Georgia Wesley Tharpe
Blog Wesley Tharpe Job Growth Improving, Yet Still Too Slow to Make Up Lost Ground October 30, 2012 / January 17, 2020 by Wesley Tharpe Posted by Wesley Tharpe It goes without saying that jobs and the economy are on everyone’s minds these days. With the massive impact of the Great Recession still being felt, Georgians are worried about their families and livelihood. People have a strong desire to understand how the economy affects them, but it can sometimes prove […] Read more » Economic Security jobs count jobs creation Safety Net Wesley Tharpe
Blog Budget and Taxes Wesley Tharpe Georgia’s Revenue and Investment Fall to Nationwide Lows September 7, 2012 / January 16, 2020 by Wesley Tharpe When it comes to investing in a prosperous future, Georgia has gone from the middle of the pack in 1989 to near the bottom today. That’s the conclusion of a new report by Georgia State University’s Fiscal Research Center that should be required reading for policymakers who take pride in slashing revenue and spending to […] Read more » Budget Budget & Taxes Budget Cuts revenues State Budget State Taxes Wesley Tharpe
Fact Sheets Library Policy Areas Wesley Tharpe Worker Justice Georgia Still Recovering in Fits and Starts August 29, 2012 / January 17, 2020 by Wesley Tharpe Georgia continues to gradually recover jobs lost during the Great Recession, according to recently released data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Georgia kept pace with the national average in job growth over the past 12 month and created more jobs than all but six other states during the past three. While these are […] Read more » jobs count State of Working Georgia Wesley Tharpe
Blog Wesley Tharpe Sales Tax Holidays Are a Bum Deal for Georgians August 8, 2012 / January 17, 2020 by Wesley Tharpe | 2 Comments on Sales Tax Holidays Are a Bum Deal for Georgians Posted by Wesley Tharpe The thousands of Georgians who will head to shopping centers this weekend for the two-day sales tax holiday on back-to-school items will be getting much less than they bargained for. Despite all the media coverage of excited families stocking-up and elected officials patting themselves on the back for the politically popular […] Read more » Sales Tax Tax Holiday Wesley Tharpe
Blog Budget and Taxes Wesley Tharpe Lack of investment in education and quality of life impede Georgia’s ability to attract new businesses July 26, 2012 / January 17, 2020 by Wesley Tharpe | 3 Comments on Lack of investment in education and quality of life impede Georgia’s ability to attract new businesses Posted by Wesley Tharpe With the national economy continuing to sputter, states are wondering how best to attract new investment and create jobs. Governor Deal repeatedly states the goal of making Georgia the #1 place in the country – even the world – to do business, and state leaders emphasize lower taxes and slimmer government […] Read more » Economic Security investment Safety Net State Taxes Wesley Tharpe
Blog Cash and Safety Net Wesley Tharpe Welcome Back to ’92, Working Georgians June 29, 2012 / January 17, 2020 by Wesley Tharpe | 1 Comment on Welcome Back to ’92, Working Georgians Posted by Wesley Tharpe The year was 1992. An exciting Braves squad was playing toward its second World Series; a young governor from Arkansas was campaigning for president; “Seinfeld” was becoming a Thursday night mainstay; and Boyz II Men was the #1 pop artist in the country. On the economic front, the nation was emerging […] Read more » Blog Economic Security Great Recession Safety Net Wesley Tharpe
