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DEL.ICIO.USThe Legislature takes a breather, to see if Sonny can pin Uncle Sam
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
After today, the slowest-moving Legislature in years. Will. Get. Much. Slower.
The State Capitol will stand nearly empty for two weeks. Some committees will soldier on, but for the most part lawmakers will flee for home, to re-introduce themselves to the spouse and kids.
Already, this session has earned a reputation for lethargy — not necessarily a bad thing if you don’t like strangers peering into your bedroom or your wallet.
As of Wednesday, the 26th day of a 40-day gathering, the House had experienced only two full-fledged debates — one over gun legislation, and a second over a retirement fund investment bill.
The action in the Senate has been only slightly more exciting.
The main reason for the torpidity — as well as the recess until mid-March — can be laid at the feet of PeachCare, and Gov. Sonny Perdue’s wrestling match with the U.S. government.
Georgia’s health insurance program for 273,000 children of the working poor, in large part funded by the federal government, has a $131 million hole in it. Several other states are in the same situation.
Washington has vowed to fix it, but hasn’t said exactly how or when.
Both are important questions to a state that demands the Legislature approve a balanced budget each year. Without immediate cash from Congress, Georgia has a choice of filling the gap itself — which would have profound implications elsewhere in the budget — or subjecting a popular social program to severe cutbacks.
“I certainly can understand why the Legislature would want to wait until we have some certainty in our budget picture,” said Perdue spokesman Dan McLagan. “And hopefully that certainty will be forthcoming from Washington very soon.”
But it wasn’t really the Legislature’s decision. Coach Perdue is calling the plays on this one. He’s been to D.C. twice to urge feds — from President Bush on down — to come up with the cash.
Perdue thinks it bad policy to allow Washington to walk away from its obligations. He laid out his position to members of the state’s congressional delegation at a meeting at the Governor’s Mansion last week.
There are Republicans who question, rather quietly, the chances that a stare-down with Congress is likely to bear fruit.
Last week, U.S. Sen. Saxby Chambliss visited the Capitol, and in a speech to the state Senate, gently suggested the Legislature begin to consider some stop-gap funding.
The senior senator’s next stop was with the governor, who had seen the remarks on closed-circuit TV. Chambliss was informed the meeting had been canceled — to allow Perdue time to cool off, we’re told.
“The governor has been very specific, that he wants to work closely with Congress, to try and leverage those funds to come in. And he’s asked for that time to do it. As a result we’re still holding,” Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle said Wednesday.
Asked if he agreed with the tactic, Cagle replied, “That’s not my strategy. That’s the governor’s strategy.” But the lieutenant governor is willing to let Perdue play the hand out.
Word is that Congress has selected an emergency defense spending bill as the vehicle to also carry extra cash for the children’s health insurance program. Debate isn’t scheduled to start until mid-March.
That’s about when the Legislature is scheduled to reassemble.
So when 236 lawmakers come back, the PeachCare problem in all likelihood will be unchanged, and tough decisions will have to be made.
House Speaker Glenn Richardson has said he’s in favor of shrinking the number of kids that PeachCare covers by 30,000.
On Wednesday, Cagle strongly implied that he doesn’t want to see any children dropped from PeachCare rolls.
“If Washington does not act, we do have to act. I think we can reduce the deficits significantly. The House is in the posture of reducing eligibility. That issue is still out there and there is not a clear concensus,” he said.
In other words, a dull session could still have stirring finish.
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Comments
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By RJ
February 28, 2007 11:14 PM | Link to this
Another example of a lack of leadership by Perdue.
By Nicholas
March 1, 2007 10:42 AM | Link to this
So how exactly does our brilliant Speaker expect these 30,000 children to be covered by health care? I’m sure he is not for allowing them to be covered by Medicaid which would be even more expensive? Or does he just not care if they are covered at all? I wonder if he would subject his own children to this kind of treatment. This is one issue where I think the Governor is correct on; the federal government should not be able to walk out on its commitment to our children.
By Jim J
March 1, 2007 11:08 AM | Link to this
The data shows that the vast majority of children covered by Peachcare are white, with the largest single group living in Gwinnett County. Hmmmm.
Interesting how Perdue will get off his lazy butt when it’s little Atlanta Republican kids getting the shaft. Other kinds of kids — not so much.
By RJ
March 1, 2007 1:13 PM | Link to this
Nicholas, Get informed. Do not buy into Perdue’s BS. Part of the funding shortfall is attributable to Georgia’s failure to take action some years back regarding its elibibility criteria.
We are stuck with Perdue for the next four years, unless he is indicted for his land deals. We are in this position because people trusted him to do the right thing. Three months after his re-election factual revelations indicate the trust was misplaced.
By Jake
March 1, 2007 1:18 PM | Link to this
As a legislative aide in this 2007 GA Gen. Assembly, I can assure you that every effort is being made among state legislators to prevent substituting this $131M hole. Not to discredit Washington, but the current feeling around the capital is one of intolerance towards federal funding promises. State-wide programs and agencies of GA would be detrimentally affected if the state had to pull their otherwise budgeted monies to fund this necessary health care program. This recess will “buy” some time in anticipation of an expedited response from D.C.
By RJ
March 1, 2007 10:53 PM | Link to this
Jake, Once again, this situation exist in part because of decisions Perdue made, which were supported by legislative leaders. A leader acknowledges his or her responsibility. Perdue’s strategy is taken from the page of President Bush…” blame the Democratic Congress.” Perdue claims Bush as a friend, yet his juice was not strong enough to get help from him.
Did you know Bush wants to make his tax reduction for the rich permanent and Perdue supports it?
Being a legislative aide is one thing knowing the real deal is another.