Over the weekend, the New York Times pointed to eight Republican governors (out of 31) who have backed tax increases or backed off promises to reduce public levies.
Thus far, Gov. Nathan Deal isn’t among them.
Your NYT head count:
-- In Nevada, Gov. Brian Sandoval, a Republican, has proposed a $1.1 billion tax increase for education;
-- In Kansas, Gov. Sam Brownback, whose tax cuts sent state government services into a tailspin, is advocating increases in taxes on liquor and cigarettes;
-- Gov. Rick Snyder of Michigan is pushing a ballot measure that would raise $1.9 billion by increasing the sales tax and gas tax;
-- In South Dakota, Gov. Dennis Daugaard wants a gas tax and other fees increased to supplement highway funding;
-- Gov. Gary R. Herbert of Utah has increased the tobacco tax, and wants the levy extended to e-cigarettes. He’s said he’ll consider an increase in the gas tax;
-- Gov. Nikki R. Haley of South Carolina last week said she would allow the state to raise its gas tax;
-- Gov. Doug Ducey of Arizona, elected only last November, is putting distance between himself and his campaign pledge to eliminate the income tax;
-- And in Maine, Gov. Paul R. LePage has endorsed an increase in the sales tax and extending its reach, to allow a decrease in the income tax and elimination of an estate tax.
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In a similar vein, there's talk in Washington that, with gasoline prices at lows we haven't seen in a decade, now is the time for a Republican-led Congress to raise the federal gas tax and replenish the Federal Highway Fund.
But in a column in the Daily Caller, Paul Blair of Americans for Tax Reform – this is Grover Norquist’s outfit – not only says, “Hell, no,” he signals that the group is likely to insert itself in Georgia’s transportation funding debate.
Blair declares there to be no appetite for a tax increase in Georgia:
This astronomical figure would represent a 20 percent increase in the total state budget. Less than 3 years ago, Georgia voters overwhelmingly rejected a sales tax hike designed to fund more transportation investments by a margin of 63-37.
Atlanta-region voters, who experience the worst congestion in the state and some of the worst congestion in the nation shot down the tax hike because even they agreed that tax hikes weren't the answer to bad traffic.
That $5.4 billion-a-year figure, by the way, is hokum. Yes, a December report has said that pricey need is out there. But in public discussions, no state lawmaker has ventured beyond $1.5 billion a year. And Gov. Nathan Deal has used the phrase “hundreds of millions” of dollars.
At our subscriber site, AJC colleagues Aaron Gould Sheinin and Kristina Torres take a look at GOP factionalism in the Legislature, and how it impacts the debate over transportation funding. In doing so, he notes that 31 House members signed the Grover Norquist's no-tax-increase pledge in 2014, along with nine senators.
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Also at our paid site, the AJC's Ernie Suggs points to some mobilization among part-time state employees threatened with the loss of health care coverage by Gov. Nathan Deal's budget proposal.
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Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle and Republican leaders of the state Senate will hold a press conference upon adjournment of its rules committee to outline their agenda for the session.
As happened last year, GOP senators intend to pick a fight over health insurance coverage for some children with autism. But there's also this named priority: "Ensuring that the founding principles of our constitutional republic are taught to our students so that they are equipped for self-government and able to maintain their heritage of freedom."
Legislation to mandate civics education -- for instance, requiring high school graduates to pass the test given to naturalized citizens -- has been introduced in other states. This could be another one.
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In an interview with Denis O'Hayer at WABE-FM 90.1, U.S. Sen. David Perdue, R-Ga., expounded on his views on climate change following the Senate's amendment votes last week. From the wide-ranging 15-minute conversation:
"This amendment was a great example of our bipartisan efforts here on both sides, frankly, that we got language in this bill that basically said we all in the Senate agree that climate change is real. We want to be responsible. Let me take the utility industry as an example. The alternative energy technology is not yet ready to be a base load source. And so because of that we just can't overnight make the conversion. So this is an attempt right now by the Senate to show that we're in agreement that climate change is real."
O'Hayer then jumps in to ask if humans are at all responsible for the changing climate. Perdue, who voted against that declaration, replies:
"I think that's the debate. Science, from what I can see, is not in total agreement on that. I know one of the co-founders of Greenpeace is actually writing now about his views on this that aren't like what they were a few years ago. I think that's where the debate is."
Perdue is referring to Patrick Moore, who was involved in Greenpeace's early days but left in 1986 and ended up working as an advocate for nuclear energy. Moore testified in the Senate last year that there is no scientific proof of human-caused global warming.
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The timing of President Barack Obama's planned visit to Selma is bothering some black leaders there. Obama is set to be there March 7, the exact 50th anniversary of Bloody Sunday, but the big march traditionally takes place on a Sunday -- in this case March 8.
From the Birmingham News:
And it's that tradition that people have planned around for the last year, Sanders said -- targeting March 8 for the 50th anniversary march. Sanders said Obama's announcement has thrown things into a state of confusion, and that people from all over the nation -- people with plans, reservations and travel schedules -- have been calling local organizers with questions.
Tuskegee Mayor Johnny Ford said he called the office of Obama's senior adviser, Valerie Jarrett, and urged the White House to reschedule.
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Jerry Gonzales of the Georgia Association of Latino Elected Officials reports that recently elected council member Lenoard Gomez will serve as mayor pro-tem for the city of Grantville in Coweta County. He's the first Latino to serve in that capacity, Gonzales says.
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