This week’s Courier Herald column: While it may seem paradoxical, the further we move into a session of the Georgia General Assembly, the less certain the outcome of major initiatives. The beginning of a meeting of the legislature is marked by definitive statements of priorities in media avails with key leaders, speeches at the annual
Wild Hog, Family pictures during gaveling in, and Eggs and Issues are now in the rear view mirror. This morning at 11am, Governor Kemp will deliver the State of the State address. It’s the transition from the pageantry that opens the Georgia General Assembly session to the work that lies ahead. While Governor Kemp will
This week’s Courier Herald column: Legislators from across the state reconvened in Atlanta this week for the 2020 session of the Georgia General Assembly. Tensions remain higher than average among Georgia’s leaders as tight budgets force competition among everyone’s priorities. They’ll have to work harder than normal to present a unified front for the majority’s
This week’s Courier Herald column: The Georgia General Assembly will convene next week for the 2020 regular session in Atlanta. The legislature may meet for up to 40 days, but they get to decide which days count toward their limit. It’s usually safe to assume they’ll finish their business before Easter week and The Masters,
This week’s Courier Herald column: The muted lull between the Georgia General Assembly’s March Sine Die and the January 13th reconvening of legislators has been relatively quiet publicly. Behind the scenes, there has been a philosophical and practical struggle over Georgia’s budget – all within the ranks of the majority Republican party. In late summer,
This week’s Courier Herald column: If you want the right answers, it’s best to make sure you have asked the right questions. Presidential primaries have a tendency to set the tone on policy debates, as much as we have debates on actual policy anymore. It is through this lens we have accepted as a current
This week’s Courier Herald column: While theatrics in Washington have consumed virtually all of the political headlines over the past week, a two-day budget hearing in Atlanta framed the state of Georgia’s economy and tax policy. No immediate votes are scheduled, but the discussion provided a road map to future implications for the state’s politics
In documents obtained by the AJC, hundreds of jobs and state programs will be on the chopping block as the Kemp administration puts together a state budget that seeks to reduce the budget by 4% in Fiscal Year 2020 and by 6% in Fiscal Year 2021. The cuts prepare the state for an economic recession
First the old business: Governor Brian Kemp has asked for state agencies to prepare for across the board budget cuts of 4% to 6%. In order to ensure time and planning to analyze, prioritize, and implement possible spending reductions, Speaker David Ralston announced earlier this month that the House would commence budget hearings early this
Georgia’s tax revenues increased 24.2% during the month of April when compared by the same month one year ago, according to a press release from Governor Kemp’s office this morning. Income taxes made up most of the difference. The strong revenue performance for April means that the budget for FY 19, which ends June 30th,
