Legislators begin work on cuts with cutting remarks
With the opening budget hearings behind them, it's now Georgia legislators' turn to rewrite Gov. Brian Kemp's plan for spending cuts.
Judging by what they’re saying, the governor isn’t going to be happy.
"It's pretty obvious we're not excited about these cuts," state Rep. Butch Parrish, R-Swainsboro, told the head of one state agency during testimony before a House Appropriations subcommittee on health funding.
House Appropriations Chairman Terry England, R-Auburn, said "the brunt of the cuts" appear targeted at some of the General Assembly's most recent work, such as efforts over several years to alleviate the shortage of health care workers in rural Georgia.
Kemp in August ordered agencies to cut spending by 4% this fiscal year and 6% next year, which begins July 1. He made the move for two reasons: He wanted to pay for his top priorities, including a second raise for Georgia’s public school teachers. And, with the state’s tax collections slowing, the cuts could serve as a hedge against the possibility of an economic downturn.
The governor’s aides have described his proposals as surgical, and they say they worked to find the least intrusive way to reduce spending.
Proposed cuts of particular interest to rural lawmakers include funding for county health departments, which stand to lose $6.4 million this year and $9.24 million next year.
That's a significant blow, said House Appropriations Vice Chairman Clay Pirkle, who called the departments "the front line of health care in rural Georgia."
“There are many counties in this great state that don’t have a doctor,” the Republican from Ashburn said, “but every one of them has a county health department.”
Health care is not the only concern.
Republican state Rep. Sam Watson, a farmer from Moultrie, bemoaned reductions to the University System of Georgia's agricultural experiment stations and its Cooperative Extension Service. They're set for $7.6 million in cuts next year.
“That is the only thing that has gotten (farmers) through the hurricanes, the disasters, the trade wars and allowed them to be more efficient and effective,” Watson said.
University System Chancellor Steve Wrigley said he would work with lawmakers to avoid or mitigate the cuts to the two programs.
$1,000 raises. Yeah, about that …
From the Department of Don't Write a Check You Can't Cash: Gov. Brian Kemp's budget doesn't supply enough money to fund the $1,000 raises he is promoting for every state employee who earns less than $40,000.
The governor’s spending proposal didn’t set aside enough money to fund the raises for all 47,000 state employees who would qualify, said budget-writers in the Legislature and at least one agency head.
That’s because the state would only cover the portion of the payroll currently funded with state general fund money. Some employees receive at least part of their pay from federal funding or other sources. Federal tax money accounts for about $14 billion a year that’s added to the state’s budget of $28.1 billion.
About three-fifths of the workers in the Georgia Agriculture Department make less than $40,000. But Commissioner Gary Black told a House Appropriations subcommittee that he would only be able to bump up their pay by $970.
“If we tell them they are getting a $1,000 raise, they should get a $1,000 raise,” he said. “I am not telling an employee he is getting a $1,000 raise and it turns up $970.”
Pushing for a pension bump
As legislators begin the hard work of budget cutting, they're also considering a boost to their pensions.
House Bill 67 would make lawmakers eligible to receive pensions worth either 38% of their highest salary or $50 per month per year of service, whichever is higher. The lawmakers would also have to up their contributions into the system to help pay for the increase.
The legislation, which won the backing of the state House Retirement Committee could, at least, triple the pension of the House speaker.
The House approved a similar measure in 2018, but it stalled in the Senate after an Atlanta Journal-Constitution article brought attention to the proposal.
Currently, lawmakers vest into the pension system after eight years of service, and they receive $36 a month for every year they are in the House and/or Senate. So, for instance, a lawmaker who has served 20 years would be eligible for a $720-a-month pension when he or she reaches retirement age.
Under HB 67, a lawmaker who spent 20 years in the Legislature could receive $1,000 a month if he or she opted for $50 per month per year of service.
Using the 38% rule, Ralston — who makes $99,000 as speaker — would see a pension of about $37,600 a year.
Senate backs limits on dual enrollment
The state Senate voted to cap how many college classes Georgia high school students can take on the state's dime.
House Bill 444 would limit students in the dual enrollment program to a total of 30 credit hours, and primarily allow only 11th- and 12th-grade students to take the courses. If students wanted to take more classes, they would have to pay for them.
The program, once known as Move On When Ready, began in 1992 and has been highly popular. In fiscal 2016, about 27,000 students participated. By fiscal 2019, that had grown to nearly 52,000.
Supporters said the change was necessary to preserve the program after a state audit in 2018 found its costs had grown by more than 325% over the previous five years.
But several Democratic senators said the change will increase college costs for lower-income students who now earn credits by taking the courses at no cost.
Kemp’s anti-gang plans unveiled
Gov. Brian Kemp's office offered a look at the measures he's supporting to crack down on gangs.
One bill would allow judges, in cases involving multiple crimes associated with a gang, to add an additional 5-15 years in prison for each count. In many cases, they could amount to life sentences.
Murder cases involving gang activity could automatically be eligible for the death penalty.
A second piece of legislation would create a legal division within the GBI that, when requested, could provide lawyers to serve as special prosecutors. The biggest beneficiaries could be rural or understaffed district attorney’s offices that handle more gang cases, which are considered time-consuming and difficult to prosecute.
Kemp’s budget is also seeking nearly $2 million to fund seven new positions on the GBI’s Gang Task Force, as well resources to establish a statewide gang database.
Gambling might not cross finish line
First, Georgia Senate leaders said the chamber was unlikely to approve any gambling legislation this year.
Then a Senate committee postponed a vote on legislation to allow horse racing even after it voted last year to back the same proposals, Senate Resolution 84 and Senate Bill 45.
State Sen. Brandon Beach, R-Alpharetta, has been among the Legislature's biggest promoters of horse racing, saying it could boost economies in Middle and South Georgia. He's ready to make another run at it.
“This is a very fluid session,” he said. “Just because it isn’t a priority now doesn’t mean it won’t be a priority later.”
Many conservative organizations and religious groups oppose any expansion of gambling because they say it is immoral and addictive, and that it could breed crime.
STAT OF THE WEEK
9
What is it? That's the number of ongoing election-related cases that involve Georgia, including three lawsuits filed during the 2019-2020 election cycle. The state faced 31 cases during the 2018 election cycle.
Why is it relevant? Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr expects more cases to come, which is why he is asking for $200,000 to help pay the state's mounting legal expenses in election lawsuits. That would include adding a lawyer to the team of attorneys that handles voting cases.
“As we head into an election season again this year, followed by redistricting and subsequent elections in the future, the department needs additional support in order to continue to handle this increased workload,” Carr said.
QUOTE OF THE WEEK
“What I’d like to achieve is to educate people to the point where they can understand it so that it can never happen again.”
State Sen. Kay Kirkpatrick, R-Marietta, speaking about the goals behind the Holocaust memorial that was unveiled this past week at the state Capitol.
SCHEDULE
The Georgia General Assembly will be in session Monday through Thursday, bringing lawmakers to Day 13 of their 40-day schedule.
The state Senate has scheduled floor debate for a bill that would legalize chemical cremation methods – as well as a couple of resolutions expressing praise for President Donald Trump.
Senate and House committees will consider separate legislation that would curtail surprise medical billing. House committees will also consider bills to create party primary elections in special elections, end daylight saving time and revoke commercial driver’s licenses from human traffickers.
Meanwhile, lawmakers in both chambers are struggling to make hundreds of millions of dollars in cuts to the state budget. The fight over the budget will likely remain the primary focus of lawmakers, taking priority over other legislation.
LEGISLATIVE COVERAGE
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution has the largest team covering Georgia's Legislature and offers expertise on issues that matter to taxpayers. Get complete daily coverage during the legislative session at www.ajc.com/politics.
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