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DEL.ICIO.USWalking and chewing gum at the same time: Speaker says yes, Senate leaders say probably not
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The two top leaders of the Senate on Thursday said that House Speaker Glenn Richardson’s proposal to eliminate property taxes in Georgia will probably swamp any talk of a new sales tax for fixing metro Atlanta’s transportation woes during next year’s session of the Legislature.
“There’s no question that the speaker’s proposal will dominate the session. And it could very well overshadow this issue of funding,” Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle said after addressing a House-Senate committee looking at transportation issues.
Senate President pro tem Eric Johnson said much the same thing a few hours later.
Richardson’s proposal, though the details have yet to be revealed, would eliminate property taxes levied by the state, local governments, and school systems in exchange for a single sales tax.
Piling on an additional sales tax, whether statewide or just in metro Atlanta, to address traffic woes, would be too much for lawmakers to tolerate — or so goes the thinking. Richardson disagrees.
He said the Legislature was entirely capable of walking and chewing gum.
“Surely we’re smart enough in this state to do more than one thing at a time. I hope we are. If we aren’t, we’ve got more problems than I thought,” Richardson said, after attending the same legislative committee meeting. “I think the Legislature is big enough and has enough backbone to take on more than one issue and put it out there for Georgians.”
Otherwise, Cagle and Richardson continued their unusual, hand-in-hand walk toward a reorganization of the way the state of Georgia approaches transportation — into territory usually reserved for governors.
Sonny Perdue addressed the group on Monday.
On Tuesday, both Cagle and Richardson dropped broad hints of big changes. Among Cagle’s points:
— “The thing that we have lacked is a vision,” he said.
— Federal cash for Georgia roads is currently divided equally among congressional districts. He wants that changed, with the implication that more money needs to be sent into metro Atlanta.
— “We cannot let a funding formula and a bureaucracy determine our needs,” he said.
Both Richardson and Cagle spoke up forcefully for low-cost HOT lanes — interstate lanes capable of taking traffic in either direction, depending on demand.
Richard’s statement to the joint legislative committee was shorter, and to the point. He was tired of proposals and counterproposals and counter-counter proposals.
“I do not intend to study transportation anymore,” the speaker said. “We’ve got to do something, even if it’s wrong.”
Richardson’s spokeswoman later called to make sure that reporters understood that he was using humor to make a point — that he’s frustrated by the lack of progress on transportation, and was not advocating the use of square wheels.
For transit insiders, the most important news may have come from Tommie Williams (R-Lyons), the Senate majority leader. Williams said he wants a reorganization of the state Department of Transportation — to create a more powerful head of the state road agency.
Currently, a legislatively appointed DOT board names a commissioner — as well as a chief engineer and treasurer. All four entities often have different and competing agendas.
Williams wants a transportation CEO, appointed by a DOT board. The CEO would name a chief financial officer, and a chief operating officer.
“I don’t know of any CEO that can function when he doesn’t have control of his subordinates,” Williams said. “Somebody needs to be riding herd there.”
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By Sonny
September 25, 2007 8:47 PM | Link to this
“Richardson disagrees. He said the Legislature was entirely capable of walking and chewing gum.“Surely we’re smart enough in this state to do more than one thing at a time. I hope we are. If we aren’t, we’ve got more problems than I thought,” Richardson said”.
Guess what Glenn, we’ve got more problems than you thought.
By Glenn
September 26, 2007 7:18 AM | Link to this
The biggest problem our state has sits upstairs (under the Gold Dome) and lives in fancy government housing on West Paces Ferry Road. Take that Big Boy!
By GOP Tertium Quid
September 26, 2007 10:38 AM | Link to this
Instead of pursuing the mythical and elusive unicorn of a tax reform through a sales tax on services, House Speaker Richardson and rest of the Gold Dome GOP leadership should push for a reduction in the state income tax by reducing the top marginal rate from 6% to, say, 5% while flattening the rate structure to include just two rates, 5% at the top and 2% at the bottom. I would also recommend increasing and indexing for inflation the standard deduction (used by the majority of taxpayers) and the personal exemptions in order to guard against bracket creep. Let people keep more of their own money and then you won’t need to increase the size of state government with programs to do what people would do for themselves if the government hadn’t made off with their wealth.
If this bogus proposal is passed under the guise of comprehensive tax reform, Georgia taxpayers will be stuck for all time with the worst of all worlds: a sales tax on services and an increasingly heavy state income tax burden. Beware, the taxman cometh for another shakedown, and his hand is reaching ever deeper into your wallet for whatever money he didn’t grab on the last pass. Are there any other Georgia Republicans out there who think the Speaker’s plan is a good one? If so, what say you?
By that anit right11
October 1, 2007 2:03 PM | Link to this
BALLLLLLIIIIIINNNNN
By that anit right11
October 1, 2007 2:03 PM | Link to this
BALLLLLLIIIIIINNNNN
By that anit right11
October 1, 2007 2:03 PM | Link to this
BALLLLLLIIIIIINNNNN