Home > Political Insider > Archives > 2008 > August > 19 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USA letter requesting House members to trim that other white meat
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Gov. Sonny Perdue and leaders in the House and Senate are in the midst of deciding whose tax breaks to repeal in order to balance this year’s state budget.
Hint: Pig farmers, insurance companies and donors to private schools will be allowed to keep theirs.
Bigger hint: You homeowners probably won’t.
But others are sacrificing, too. Appropriations Chairman Ben Harbin (R-Evans) has written this letter to fellow House members, asking them to go through a $3 million wish-list of local projects that was approved this spring, and pick out the expendable items.
Not an easy task, especially when you consider that these projects — ballfields, building expansions, whatever — are the items that lawmakers point to when they’re up for re-election. Which is only two-and-a-half months away.
“While we are all aware of the importance of these projects to our constituents, I am compelled to request that you follow my lead by reviewing your attached grant(s) and weigh the need for that funding on the local level against the developing crisis on the state level,” Harbin writes.
“Any portion of the $3 million in total local House projects that we return to the general fund may assuage draconian cuts in jobs and services that our citizens depend on for their quality of life.”
The letter went out Aug. 8, and House members have until tomorrow to respond. Silence will be interpreted as permission to cut.
Same thing is happening in the Senate, right? Well, no. My colleague James Salzer writes in today’s AJC:
Staffers at the Department of Community Affairs, which handles the grants, said Senate officials told them to proceed with giving out grants proposed by senators, about $3.25 million worth.
Comments
By Benji
August 19, 2008 1:04 PM | Link to this
Is that the same Ben Harbin who’s been dodging a DUI charge, when he was busted more than two hours from his home, wife and kids while alledgely leaving the apartment of a cute lobbyist??? Dude was drunker than a skunk that night. Could have killed someone walking on the sidewalk or in another vehicle if he wasn’t so lucky that night.
By dank
August 19, 2008 1:52 PM | Link to this
With all due respect Rep. Harbin you are asking our legislators to cut certain items that were awarded to our communities in order to make up a three million dollar “short fall”. It seems to me that just a few weeks ago we as a state paid two women $150,000.00 to settle a sexual discrimination case for a GADOT board member. That is five percent of the cuts you are asking us to sacrifice. Where does this make any sense what so ever?
By dank
August 19, 2008 2:04 PM | Link to this
With all due respect Rep. Harbin you are asking our legislators to cut certain items that were awarded to our communities in order to make up a three million dollar “short fall”. It seems to me that just a few weeks ago we as a state paid two women $150,000.00 to settle a sexual discrimination case for a GADOT board member. That is five percent of the cuts you are asking us to sacrifice. Where does this make any sense what so ever?
By dank
August 19, 2008 2:07 PM | Link to this
With all due respect Rep. Harbin you are asking our legislators to cut certain items that were awarded to our communities in order to make up a three million dollar “short fall”. It seems to me that just a few weeks ago we as a state paid two women $150,000.00 to settle a sexual discrimination case for a GADOT board member. That is five percent of the cuts you are asking us to sacrifice. Where does this make any sense what so ever?
By RJ
August 19, 2008 7:54 PM | Link to this
Where are the bloggers who constantly post or rather brag about conservatism and the values of Republican party?
Special interests tax breaks included in this year’s state budget will cost tax payers, and save those who will benefit, about $150 million a year. Perdue and Legislative leaders are preparing a list of items for the cutting block and in response to a question posed by James Salzer, AJC, about whether the special interests tax breaks are included, House Appropriations Chairman Ben Harbin (R-Evans), said, “It’s not money we’re looking at right now.”
On the other hand, Gov. Sonny Perdue has placed a hold on the $428 million homeowners tax relief grant program, a measure passed in the 2008 session.
These actions are the latest in a series that evidence who these Republican leaders favor.
The door to knowledge and insight is always open…it only takes a step inside to partake. A company cannot survive long with none or poorly performing employees and neither can America.
By Provacateur
August 19, 2008 10:15 PM | Link to this
Where are the bloggers who constantly post or rather brag about conservatism and the values of Republican party?
Conservative bloggers tout conservative values.
Republican bloggers tout Republican values.
Sometimes there’s a difference—especially when it comes to government spending. I object to politicians who blow the budget—especially when they claim to be Republicans.
But what are Democrat values?
Blown budgets. Higher payroll taxes. Higher death taxes. Higher dividend taxes. Higher taxes on capital gains. Higher social security taxes. Higher corporate taxes. Obama’s “global tax” (look it up). Global warming tax. Choose to lose in Iraq. More Government dependence. 40 million abortions. Infanticide (google Obama and infanticide). Gay marriage. No prayer in schools. No free trade. Unions (no secret ballots). The “Fairness” Doctrine. No strict constructionist judges on the Supreme Court. No school choice/failed education system. No drilling for oil. No nuclear power. No oil shale. No new natural gas. Higher gasoline prices.
I’ll admit, you’ve got us on spending. We way overspent and shouldn’t have. But you will too—and on the other issues, it isn’t even close.
Financial bankruptcy is bad. But moral bankruptcy added to it isn’t a good thing. Today’s Democrats aren’t the same as JFK.
By Provacateur
August 19, 2008 10:23 PM | Link to this
One more thing: as a practical matter, eliminating $3 million in pork (which I favor) won’t cover $428 million in tax relief for homeowners.
We need term limits for all politicians. Period.