When the gavel falls Monday to open the 2012 legislative session, ceremony is expected to quickly give way to business, as a desire for a fast start appears in order at the Republican-dominated state Capitol.
To set the tone, Gov. Nathan Deal will unveil parts of his agenda Tuesday and is expected to unwrap by week’s end his proposed 2013 budget.
It’s anybody’s guess how soon that will translate into action by the state Senate and House, but there appears to be an appetite in both chambers to vote early. Smaller bills left over from last year are likely to see much of the initial activity, although there was little consensus last week on which major issues will come first.
“We should start our business on Day One, setting ceremony aside,” said Senate Majority Leader Chip Rogers, R-Woodstock. “We don’t need to waste taxpayer money.”
Lawmakers expect an overhaul of the state tax code, more cuts to state government and economic incentives meant to spur job growth to all rise quickly to debate. Other major issues likely to be taken up in the 40-day session include caps on gifts to lawmakers by lobbyists, a proposal to amend the state constitution to protect charter schools and changes in criminal sentencing.
Georgia voters, in a poll conducted last month for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution and other members of the Georgia Newspaper Partnership, identified jobs and economic development as the issue they most wanted legislators to tackle this session. Other concerns highlighted in the poll included health care, state taxes and spending, and education.
Continued cuts to Georgia’s budget -- which has shrunk by billions of dollars over the past several years -- are possible in the next year. Despite an uptick in revenue, both lawmakers and Deal have said they want to put the money back into the state’s rainy day fund.
While budget discussions will be a work in progress, leftover legislation and some new items such as an ethics bill could surface more quickly.
Lawmakers in both chambers said it was a plus that Deal has had a year to work with legislative leaders and develop relationships to smooth the process.
This is the second year of the two-year session, meaning bills filed in 2011 but not passed, such as zero-based budgeting, are ready for action. Deal campaigned on implementing zero-based budgeting, which requires departments to justify line-item spending periodically, and both chambers approved bills but could not reach a compromise.
“Zero-based budgeting is a big item. I expect that one to move quickly,” said House Majority Whip Edward Lindsey, R-Atlanta.
Legislative leaders have also talked about moving quickly on business-friendly legislation that would eliminate taxes on energy and give local governments an option to do away with inventory taxes. Georgia is one of few states to tax energy, but those bills may be rolled into an omnibus package on a tax overhaul or economic development.
“I expect some of that will be part of the governor’s proposal,” Lindsey said.
Senate President Pro Tem Tommie Williams, R-Lyons, agreed that the economy will draw a lot of attention. “Everybody wants to do something about jobs,” he said.
The tea party movement is pushing for a quick introduction of a stronger ethics law for legislators, but resistance is expected.
House Speaker David Ralston, R-Blue Ridge, downplayed the need for more ethics legislation last week, saying lawmakers must report gifts quickly and voters can easily track gifts with the click of a mouse. He believes they will let legislators know whether they are unhappy.
Said Ralston: “I trust the people of Georgia to make decisions.”
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