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Monday, June 9, 2008
Uh oh, bad news from the guv’s office
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
From Gov. Perdue’s press office…
ATLANTA - Governor Sonny Perdue announced today that net revenue collections for the month of May 2008 (FY08) totaled $1,473,892,000 compared to $2,140,232,000 for May 2007 (FY07), a decrease of $666,340,000 or 31.1 percent.
The percentage decrease year-to-date for FY08 compared to FY07 is 0.1 percent.
“These figures are not surprising given April’s sharp rise in collections due to processing improvements made by the Department of Revenue,” said Governor Perdue. “We will continue to monitor revenue collections and responsibly manage the state’s fiscal affairs.”
This is bad news, folks. The governor is correct that the stark decline in income tax collections over May 2007 — 41.8 percent for individuals, 32.8 percent for corporations — is largely a consequence of more of that money being collected and tallied in the April tax season.
However, the 8.3 percent decline in sales and use tax revenues compared to May ‘07 cannot be explained that way and might endanger the state budget.
More importantly, it tells us that the state economy is hurting worse than most of us thought.
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Drawing the line at Saxby Chambliss
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
from The Augusta Chronicle and Morris News Service:
ATLANTA — The chairman of the Republican Senatorial Campaign Committee says Sen. Saxby Chambliss will be a key part of the firewall the party wants to build against stronger Democratic control of Congress.
Sen. John Ensign, R-Nev., set a floor on the number of Senate seats the party must control: 41.
“The number that we get to is really, really important in the U.S. Senate,” he said. “That’s one of the reasons Saxby absolutely must hold his seat.”
… By holding at least 41 Senate seats, the GOP would prevent the Democrats from having the 60 votes required to end filibusters, which prevent votes on bills.
Wow. That’s a pretty low floor, considering that the GOP now holds 49 seats in the Senate. So they’re hoping not to lose more than eight seats, with Chambliss as their firewall?
I’m guessing that plans for that “permanent Republican majority” have been shelved for the time being.
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Perdue: Popularity vs. effectiveness
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
When historians sit down to write a paragraph or two about the accomplishments of Sonny Perdue’s eight-year period as governor, what will they have to talk about?
I’m afraid the account will look something like this:
He canceled school to save fuel for farmers….
He gave himself a $100,000 tax break….
The main initiative of his second term was “Go Fish Georgia.”
He prayed for rain and it rained…. a little.
Well into his second and last term, that’s about everything of note that you’ll find on his “Sonny Did” list.
Of course, as Perdue’s supporters would no doubt point out, the governor has remained personally popular with the voters of Georgia. In poll after poll, he continues to enjoy approval ratings of more than 60 percent.
Still, Perdue’s time as governor isn’t up yet, and he will still preside over two more sessions of the General Assembly. But there’s no sign that he’s going to be hit by a sudden burst of ambition. Read full column
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“Black guy asks nation for change”
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
CHICAGO—According to witnesses, a loud black man approached a crowd of some 4,000 strangers in downtown Chicago Tuesday and made repeated demands for change.
“The time for change is now,” said the black guy, yelling at everyone within earshot for 20 straight minutes, practically begging America for change. “The need for change is stronger and more urgent than ever before. And only you—the people standing here today, and indeed all the people of this great nation—only you can deliver this change.”
It is estimated that, to date, the black man has asked every single person in the United States for change.
“I’ve already seen this guy four times today,” Chicago-area ad salesman Blake Gordon said. “Every time, it’s the same exact spiel. ‘I need change.’ ‘I want change.’ Why’s he so eager for all this change? What’s he going to do with it, anyway?”
