Throughout the 2008 General Assembly House and Senate lawmakers have argued over two competing tax reform proposals: one to cut the taxes Georgians pay on how much they money make and the other to slash what they pay on value of their properties.

On Tuesday, Speaker Glenn Richardson (R-Hiram) told House lawmakers, "let's just give them both."

Ironically, two House votes to approve the property and income tax plans could jeopardize passage of both proposals. With only two working days left in the 2008 session there might not be enough time for House and Senate negotiators to reach a compromise. Those negotiations have been ongoing for weeks.

"There can be no further games," said Speaker House Richardson (R-Hiram.) "They [the Senate] can either vote to agree and accept this or they can disagree.

"If they disagree they will have voted against giving Georgians tax reform," Richardson said.

Richardson persuaded House lawmakers to strip Senate amendments out of legislation he'd championed, a proposal that had already been revised multiple times before it reached the Senate. It started as Richardson's GREAT plan, an ambitious proposal to wipe out all property taxes collected by cities, counties, schools boards and other local taxing authorities.

In a 166 to 7 vote, House lawmakers restored much of what was passed by that chamber. That includes the elimination of property taxes motorists pay for their cars, and caps in how much local governments can expand their budgets by assessing businesses and homes at higher values.

The House also cut Perdue's proposed elimination of a small portion of property tax bills that is collected by the state.

In a separate vote, the House approved a bill amended by the Senate to cut the state income tax.

But the House changed the bill to delay the tax cut until 2011. In another change to the legislation, the House voted to implement the income tax cut, only if voters approve the property tax cut referendum.

In urging House colleagues, took a swipe at Perdue and the Senate.

"It's fairly clear that the governor and the Senate really don't want to give [Georgians] tax relief," Richardson said.

Cagle responded Tuesday afternoon with this statement:

"With four days left, the General Assembly has a choice: the House and Senate can attack each other, or we can get serious about cutting taxes. It is my hope that the leadership of both chambers makes the choice to get serious about cutting taxes. The Senate will support a major tax cut, but we believe we should have the courage to cut state taxes instead of usurping the role of local officials. We also believe tax cuts should be accompanied by spending reductions, as Georgia's Constitution clearly requires. We stand ready to consider any plan presented by the House to cut state spending and lower state taxes. I believe that if we work together in good faith there is still time to achieve that goal."