Equal Time: Work on budget, jobs, housing made session a success

Many who “hang around” the Capitol too long have a skewed view of what really matters to Georgians. Pundits, lobbyists and editorial writers often promote issues they deem most important to judge the Legislature.

How many times do we need to read about the issue of where beer is sold on Sunday? Surely it’s important to some, but most Georgians have more pressing issues on their minds.

Jobs and the economy are what matter most in 2009. Hopefully Georgians judge the Legislature on what was accomplished to help create jobs, strengthen our economy and live within our means. If so, this legislative session was a major success.

First, we passed not one, but two, balanced budgets despite the worst revenue decline in state history. Many wonder how Washington can’t balance its budget within $1 trillion but Georgia does so twice in three months. The answer is simple: Cut spending!

We cut spending by nearly $3 billion. Yes, government actually shrank! We realize taking more money from the people who earned it is exactly the wrong thing to do. So we rejected every proposed tax increase.

Georgians should celebrate the drastic contrast between Georgia’s budget and the one in Washington. Georgia’s budget contains not a single “pork” project.

Second, we passed the Georgia JOBS bills. A number of national organizations consider these the best pro-growth policies put forward by any state. At a time when every state is searching for ways to create jobs, Georgia took the lead. The JOBS bills, all awaiting the governor’s signature, include:

• A “new business” holiday with all business startup fees waived for one year.

• Income tax credit of $2,400 for hiring a person who has been unemployed for at least four weeks.

• Quarterly credit against employers’ unemployment insurance for hiring a person currently receiving unemployment benefits.

• Elimination of the Georgia inventory tax on business.

• A 50 percent reduction in the Georgia long-term capital gains tax.

• Gradual refund and elimination of Georgia sales tax deposits.

• Ending the Georgia intangible tax on business assets.

Instead of more wasteful government spending, the JOBS bills empower Georgia businesses to invest and hire more people.

Third, we addressed unfair property taxation. While market values sink, a record number of homeowners file property tax appeals because tax values remain artificially high.

The Legislature responded by capping property assessment increases at zero percent for the next two years. This allows tax assessments to go down, but they cannot go up. Additional legislation requires that assessors take into consideration all properties, including distressed properties, when establishing values. This ensures the tax assessment will be real market value and not inflated. A third measure creates a low-cost, expedited method of challenging property assessments, which finally puts taxpayers and government on equal footing.

Finally, we addressed housing, passing an $1,800 income tax credit for purchase of a home during the next six months. Instead of another senseless government bailout, Georgians are empowered to buy a home.

Regardless of what we do there will always be critics. Yet criticism alone will not solve problems. Greater economic freedom and true fiscal discipline will fix our ailing economy. This legislative session we took a number of steps toward delivering that cure.

• Sen. Chip Rogers (R-Woodstock) is Senate majority leader.