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AJC.com > Legislature > Blog > Archives > 2007 > March > 15
Thursday, March 15, 2007
Committee backs reduced taxes for retirees
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Gov. Sonny Perdue’s plan to eliminate state income taxes on upper-income retirees won easy passage this afternoon from a key House committee.
The measure, which passed the House Ways & Means Committee, now heads to the House floor for a vote. Republican leaders are strongly in favor of the tax break, which was part of Perdue’s platform last year when he ran for and won re-election.
Under the bill, state income taxes on retirement earnings — such as stocks, pensions and 401 (k)s — would be eliminated. Seniors who work would continue to pay state income taxes on their earnings.
A law passed in 2003 will already exempt the first $35,000 in retirement income per person when it is fully phased in next year. Social Security is already generally not taxed, so under current law, many seniors with retirement income up to $55,000 or so or couples with twice that income will already be exempt from paying state income taxes.
The new law exempts retirement income above that.
A study by the Georgia Budget and Policy Institute, which supports higher social service spending, estimated only seniors in the top 10 percent of income would benefit from Perdue’s latest measure. The study said 96 percent of the tax cut would go to seniors with incomes of $100,000 or more.
The idea of the tax break is to make Georgia a haven for retirees and let the state compete with places like Florida, which doesn’t have a state income tax.
Perdue’s latest bill — to eliminate income taxes for upper-income retirees — would save retirees and cost state coffers about $140 million a year. However, the bill’s sponsor, Rep. Rick Golick (R-Smyrna), said it could boost the state’s economy by letting the state attract and retain high-income retirees who would spend money here.
“From an economic development standpoint, it will more than pay for itself,” Golick said.
Rep. Stacey Abrams (D-Atlanta), a member of the committee, said more retirees would mean higher government expenses for such things as health care for the elderly.
“This revenue projection doesn’t anticipate costs the state will incur over the next 10-15 years,” said Abrams, who voted against it.
Permalink | Comments (4) | Categories: politics
Bill on extracurricular activities for home schoolers is tabled
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
A proposal in the Senate to allow home-schooled children to participate in extra-curricular activities at public schools suffered a setback Wednesday.
Senate Bill 85 was tabled in the Senate Education and Youth Committee after a ”do pass’’ recommendation failed to gain a second.
Sen. Nancy Schaefer (R-Turnerville), the sponsor, fears time has run out for her legislation. “It may not come up again this year,” she said.
Schaefer’s bill would have allowed home-schooled children to play sports at public schools and participate in cultural activities such as band and drama.
Home-school parents, fearful of government intrusion into their lives and a backlash against home schooling, testified the bill isn’t needed because they don’t feel discriminated against.
Similar legislation, House Bill 359, is in the House Education Committee.
Permalink | | Categories: Education
Home schoolers could get new route to HOPE
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Home-schooled youngsters who scored in the 85th percentile on a national achievement test, such as the SAT or ACT, would qualify for a HOPE Scholarship before starting college, according to legislation that passed out of the House Higher Education Committee Wednesday.
Unlike high school graduates with B averages, home-schooled students receive first-year HOPE money retroactively after completing 30 hours in college and carrying at least a B.
Rep. John Lunsford (R-McDonough), the bill’s sponsor, said “what’s more important is what you’ve learned or absorbed,” not where you were educated. Lunsford’s bill also would apply to students who hold a general equivalency diploma.
His proposal now goes to the House Rules Committee.
Permalink | Comments (10) | Categories: Education
Study committee would weigh reproductive technology issues
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The Senate Judiciary Committee approved a resolution Wednesday that would create a study committee to examine whether the state needs new laws on property rights relating to reproductive technology involving frozen sperm and embryos.
Senate President Pro Tem Eric Johnson (R-Savannah) proposed the study committee because questions have arisen relating to ownership rights of donated sperm and frozen embryos in divorce actions. In addition, the resolution states there are some legal questions about whether a deceased donor of sperm or eggs should be recognized as a parent or whether children created from frozen sperm or embryos after a parent has died can claim inheritance rights, life insurance proceeds or Social Security benefits.
The study committee, if it is approved, must issue its findings and any recommendations by the start of the 2008 Legislative session. Senate Resolution 280 now goes to the Senate Rules Committee.
Permalink | | Categories: politics
Bill proposes revisions in sex offender law
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
A proposal to make changes to Georgia’s strict sex offender law passed a Senate committee Wednesday.
Senate Bill 249, sponsored by Sen. Jim Whitehead (R-Evans), would strengthen some provisions in the law, while relaxing others.
Last year, the Legislature passed a law prohibiting sex offenders from living, working or loitering within 1,000 feet of churches, schools, day care centers and other places where children congregate. SB 249 would require sex offenders to register in the counties where they go to school and work, in addition to where they live. They would also be required to submit palmprints, in addition to their fingerprints.
But the bill would also allow judges to ease residency restrictions on some registered sex offenders who are disabled, are seriously ill or live in hospices or nursing homes and do not appear to pose a threat of future crimes. Sex offenders 75 and older who are at least 10 years removed from their release from prison, or placement on parole or probation, can also be considered by judges for the eased restrictions.
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