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DEL.ICIO.USSales tax for transportation dead. Trauma network dead. And tax cuts dead.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The sales tax for transportation package died in the last minutes of the 2008 session of the Legislature, near midnight on Friday — three votes short of the necessary two-thirds majority in the Senate.
With it died two other major efforts — a measure to fund a statewide trauma network, and dueling efforts to cut taxes.
The most prominent legislation passed Friday, other than the budget, may have been the measure to allow licensed concealed weapons in restaurants, on MARTA trains and in state parks.
The finish of the session was one of the most subdued in memory. No governor was at the Capitol to send legislators back home. Sonny Perdue is still time zones away.
Usually, the House and the Senate try to coordinate their cries of “Sine Die.” This time, House Speaker Glenn Richardson gaveled his chamber to a close five minutes before the Senate.
Senate President pro tem Eric Johnson (R-Savannah) captured a piece of the ennui in an e-mail:
“It is hard to call this session a resounding success. We reformed Georgia’s antiquated CON laws, but failed to provide long-term funding for trauma care.
“We passed a sweeping expansion of charter schools and tuition tax credits, but left children in chronically failing schools. We provided almost $500 million in property tax relief in the budget, yet failed to stop backdoor tax increases.
“We could have done better.”
The confetti of laws passed and dead are on the floor. There’s much to sweep up, literally and figuratively. Good night.
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Comments
By CVS
April 5, 2008 12:53 AM | Link to this
Just as George W’s compassionate conservatism has destroyed the national GOP, Lt. Governor Casey Cagle’s meandering moderate roadtrip this year has left the Georgia GOP DOA. Yes, Speaker Richardson acted like a spoiled brat, but Cagle has let the air out of the balloon. The Party (GOP) is over.
By SUBURBAN OVERLORD
April 5, 2008 2:51 AM | Link to this
The Guv and Lt. Guv’s henchmen are going to spin this hard, but at the end of the day they NEVER do anything other than take our tax money and then kick our backsides. Who would have thought Richardson would come out as the state’s only leader, even though he is probably crazy?
Perdue is awful, shouting bellicose pronouncements to the legislature while dining with his god-hating commie pals in Red China. I wonder who Perdue hates more, Tibet or metro Atlanta? It is probably a tie.
For you history geeks… Has there been a more incompetent, arrogant, example of “executive” leadership in Georgia history?
By Churchill
April 5, 2008 3:42 AM | Link to this
Right. Sure. Yes. Jimmy Carter!!! Not only was he a state wide disgrace. He added to his popularity and “evolved” into a national disgrace. Not to be out done by himself, he decided to launch an effort to become an international disgrace (north Korea). The GOP donors are waiting to donate, en masse. When it happens, and it will after our convention, the libs will cry foul. For at that time, most of the over-zealous libs will have been tapped out. Do you guys honestly think that you will outspend the GOP? Please keep that “hope” alive. Peace.
By Darrell
April 5, 2008 6:43 AM | Link to this
Kiss My Bumper Cagle!!!
By Darrell
April 5, 2008 6:48 AM | Link to this
Kiss My Bumper Cagle!!!!
By ageofpaper
April 5, 2008 7:06 AM | Link to this
Every year theses buffoons claim they are going to do away with the car tax, every year they lie. Why do we keep voting these same morons in? We need state wide referendums to put an end to these idiots. Here it is, to much growth, not enough water, horrible schools, and horrible traffic with no public transportation to the city. 7% income tax and with the rest of the fees and taxes its outrageous. First to go is Governor Potato head that spends thousands flying first class to China and comes back with 20 jobs, this man is an idiot. I bet Mr. Potato head gave huge tax breaks and free facilities to the commie B#sterds.
By ageofpaper
April 5, 2008 7:08 AM | Link to this
Every year theses buffoons claim they are going to do away with the car tax, every year they lie. Why do we keep voting these same morons in? We need state wide referendums to put an end to these idiots. Here it is, to much growth, not enough water, horrible schools, and horrible traffic with no public transportation to the city. 7% income tax and with the rest of the fees and taxes its outrageous. First to go is Governor Potato head that spends thousands flying first class to China and comes back with 20 jobs, this man is an idiot. I bet Mr. Potato head gave huge tax breaks and free facilities to the commie B#sterds.
By Baker
April 5, 2008 8:49 AM | Link to this
The most profitable business now is private schools. Of course the assembly is going to pass legislation to subsidize private schools and their lobbying franchises.
Corruption survives gridlock, Watson.
By PJ from Cobb
April 5, 2008 9:14 AM | Link to this
I’m all for tax cuts, but the car tax is one that would have benefited the rich with multiple expensive and exotic cars. The reassessment freeze would have most benefited owners of large corporations outside the state of Georgia. Tax cuts should provide a similar benefit to all Georgians! I’ve been a Republican all of my adult life and I have never been more embarrassed by our state “leaders”. I plan to vote against my State Senator and Representative. Good people need to run for office to oppose these who are ego-driven and blinded by their own self importance. I hope the voters in Paulding send Richardson packing. He can throw his tantrums somewhere else.
By Baker
April 5, 2008 10:07 AM | Link to this
The queen of mean once said that only the little people pay taxes. Then they wisked her off to prison. I’m a little peoples. I pay taxes. And pay and pay. prison would be a picnic compared to my life of tax servitude. all those prison mess halls riots I’m missing out on, i dont know, you know?
By SUBURBAN OVERLORD
April 5, 2008 10:15 AM | Link to this
Anyone else notice the resemblance of Perdue to former Soviet dictator Nikita Sergyeyevich Khrushchev?
Speaking of commies, while in Red China pimping rural Georgia (“economic development”) let’s hope he can at least get a decent price for Albany and Vidalia. Those clever commie God-hatin’, monk-beatin’, lead-paintin’, protester-shootin’ pagans will own Sonny’s shirt before he gets back.
By CandlestickMaker
April 5, 2008 10:33 AM | Link to this
I think I know what overlord means: woverlord is trying to say that if Sonny Perdue were in the Kitchen Debate with Nixon, he would’ve won the pie eating contest?
But lets honor our own heroes first, and maybe we can enjoy nostalgia later.
By John
April 5, 2008 10:34 AM | Link to this
Cagle was not alone in thinking the proposed tax cut did not make sense - the Senate seemed to think the same thing.
Richardson had several proposals for cutting taxes (and thereby buying votes) - but how many passed? How many had support? Frankly, I’d love to see him out of office, let alone any leadership role.
Good for Cagle - the GOP needs someone to reign in the current set of idiots we currently have in the House. I’m GOP all the way, but I look at the current crop in the House and just think - “what were voters thinking?”
By CandlestickMaker
April 5, 2008 10:42 AM | Link to this
We cant cut taxes. We cant cut spending. We cant vote anyone out of office either.
We cant do anything to save ourselves. It’s bigger than any of us. I just found out something: the 2008 inventory of flu vaccine? It’s made from people!
It’s made from people!!
By tom ga hunter
April 5, 2008 10:47 AM | Link to this
I never thought anyone could run Georgia worse than the Democrats, boy was I wrong. If we could just bring back the good old pre Barnes days.
By RJ
April 5, 2008 11:20 AM | Link to this
This ruling crowd has demonstrated its leadership abilities and a few months from now the electorate gets the opportunity to express how they feel about them. Some in the crowd will escape scrutiny and accountability and others will not be so lucky. Isn’t our Democratic system great?
As a consumate observer of the behavors and actions of those who govern, from this session I must conclude that human beings will be human beings regardless of party affiliation. The “checking effect” of competing ambitions and viewpoints is the saving grace for our democracy.
Let the race for election and re-election begin!!!
By AC
April 5, 2008 11:53 AM | Link to this
I say out of office for anyone who denies our voices… Sunday alcohol sales, tax cuts, school choice! Purdue and Cagle must go!
By MW
April 5, 2008 11:54 AM | Link to this
I have never understood why the legislature always has upteen bills to make a decision on during the waning hours of each years legislative session. Just what are they accomplishing during the first few weeks of sessions anyway?
So pretty much nothing got accomplished this year —with exception to persons being able to carry concealed weapons onto Marta, into restaurants and other public places. I understand the right to bear arms —but I don’t think it was a good idea to pass this. Oh yes, the legislature did manage to cost itself several thousands of dollars by eliminating license plates for alum of out of state univerities —morons!
By You're A Retard
April 5, 2008 1:28 PM | Link to this
People, People. By reading this series of posts I understand why 70% of the United States has SIGNIFICANT credit card debt. Richardson is just a loud mouth and thinks if he is the loudest, people will listen. It seems to have worked. If you make $15,000 a year, you can not spend $23,000 a year and just hope that it will work out in the end. Likewise, you cannot just frivolously cut taxes and expect to have a balanced budget each year. Creating meaningful tax cuts means you have to cut spending. Sorry folks, just own up the fact that that is true and quit pointing fingers. Richardson needs to own up to that hole in his pocket.
By catlady
April 5, 2008 1:43 PM | Link to this
New bumpersticker: The Georgia Legislature: Much Ado about Nothing. Right behind our governor in leadership ability.
Did they do anything except pander? And isn’t pandering illegal?
Vote every one of the pandering fools out, and lock em up!
As a state employee, I still burn over their per diem, which is at least twice what mine is. What fools we are to vote them in again (and many will, out of apathy). Many of them, including the AWM (angry white men) in leadership are not worth a plug nickle, and they cost us a lot more!
By White Trash
April 5, 2008 4:35 PM | Link to this
Churchswill it’s all about the money with you. Human rights equals disgrace in your bloated mind it’s all about the benjamins. Carter won the Nobel and travels the globe fighting for faire elections while you sit on your fat white pimple infested a* eating your cheese doodles and pretending your a big shot
By Disbelieving Wrecker
April 5, 2008 8:53 PM | Link to this
Yes, and remember this later, when some idiot member of the General Assembly tells you that there was plenty of time to deal with trivial issues like university car tags, instead of tending to the voters’ priorities.
I expect the Republicans to lose several seats in both houses at the next election. Sad truth is, it will be some poor schmucks in marginal seats who actually were running scared and trying to tend to the voters’ business, not the idiotic leaders who set the agenda and picked the nonsensical fights.
By sickofit
April 6, 2008 11:15 AM | Link to this
Every year I hope that they will do what is good for all the people of the state. Every year they don’t. They only think to do is to keep voting them out, limit terms where you can. Senator Judson Hill is on my list after what he did to the state retirees he can kiss his seat goodbye.
By American worker
April 6, 2008 11:48 AM | Link to this
Jason Pye…”inestimable”? ( I assumed that was another word for “a self-important snooze”. It’s not - but he is:inestimable One entry found.
inestimable
Main Entry: in·es·ti·ma·ble
Pronunciation: (ˌ)i-ˈnes-tə-mə-bəl\ Function: adjective Etymology: Middle English, from Middle French, from Latin inaestimabilis, from in- + aestimabilis estimable Date: 14th century 1 : incapable of being estimated or computed 2 : too valuable or excellent to be measured or appreciated — in·es·ti·ma·bly -blē\ adverb What a hoot!
By taxpayer
April 7, 2008 9:24 AM | Link to this
What a sorry excuse for an Elected official Casey Cagel is. His statement of he care for the poeple of Georgia is so worng. He sold the taxpayers of Georgia short by holding up legislation for Tax reform that House members and Senate member had agreed on. Shame on the Senators not to have the Back Bone to Call this man out. It will be hard to work and defend you this election season.
By Mama4
April 22, 2008 10:38 AM | Link to this
About the only thing that did pass was a pay raise for state employees, and perks for the legislature. Can we vote them out?