Home > Political Insider > Archives > 2008 > January > 15 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USThat $10 car fee for a trauma network? Maybe something else instead
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
It was just a small change in House Speaker Glenn Richardson’s delivery today. But even at 7 a.m., state Rep. Harry Geisinger (R-Roswell) picked up on it.
Weeks ago, Richardson proposed resolving the question of state funding for Grady and the other portions of a state trauma network with a $10 annual fee on car registrations.
On one level it makes sense. Auto accidents provide hospitals with much of their emergency business. On the other hand, the speaker also has his famous tax plan on the table, which includes the elimination of car taxes.
Many lawmakers have privately questioned the wisdom of eliminating a car tax, only to add a car fee.
So there’s Richardson this morning, speaking of his determination to see trauma care in Georgia funded — and, he said, he didn’t care how. With car fees, or telephone fees, or whatever.
Which means a) the speaker is saying he’s flexible on the funding idea; and b) the legislation that’s in Geisinger’s pocket is far from dead.
The bill doesn’t have a number yet, but Geisinger proposes funding a state trauma network through a $1 per month fee on all telephones — cell and land lines.
To make sure the uninsured pitch in, he would also add a 10 percent tax to all disposable cell phones, and another 10 percent tax on all minutes purchased for those phones.
Look for AT&T to activate that army of lobbyists it employed last year.
Comments