Archive By Section - Opinion
Live from Trump Broadcasting
Every time I turn on the news, which is almost never anymore, I get something to laugh about. My biggest laugh of the week is President Obama's vow to reduce the budget by $4 trillion over the next 12 years. What. Ever. First of all, I don't see him getting re-elected, but stranger things have happened. I don't think he's a bad guy, I just think he's not the right guy. If he was gonna ...
There is still time to get tax reform right
Perhaps the most important issue hanging over the heads of the General Assembly in the final three legislative days of the 2011 session is tax reform. What started out as a well thought out, although not perfect, comprehensive tax reform proposal from the Special Council on Tax Reform and Fairness for Georgians has morphed into a much narrower legislative proposal that has hit a political roadblock in the General Assembly over perceived winners and losers. ...
Tax reform tops issues list
Though both the tax reform and immigration initiatives continue to change as the 2011 session enters its final week, a number of major features and the rationales behind them have remained in place throughout the legislative process, and will likely end up in the final bills as well.
Addressing tax reform, immigration
The first full week in April, also known as Masters Week throughout most of Georgia, is the traditional spring break period for K-12 schools in our state. For similar reasons, the General Assembly also took a brief break this week.
Once upon a mattress
Well, we knew it had to happen. There would be no way we could get another move off without a hitch. I was thinking that things were going good, we were getting stuff packed and loaded and no one had pulled a muscle or hamstring or whatever. The bull in the china shop hadn't dropped, kicked or shoved anything so hard that it caused a chain reaction of broken items. Hubs can be really rough ...
Prescription abuse bill passes
To our readers: State Sen. Buddy Carter (R-Pooler) will be reporting each week during the Legislative Session. The session began Jan. 10 and is expected to last until the middle of April.
DOT is delivering projects and accountability
Some three years ago, a seemingly never-ending series of studies, audits and reports criticized the Georgia Department of Transportation on a variety of fronts. Harsh comments made headlines across the state. Georgians were left to wonder if the DOT was an unaccountable, broken, unfixable bureaucracy.
Tax reform proposals create a stir under the Gold Dome
The Georgia General Assembly has completed its 37th day of a 40-day session. On March 31, the Georgia General Assembly recessed and will reconvene on April 11.
Senate approves budget
On Wednesday the Senate approved its version of HB 78, the FY2012 budget, by a vote of 47-4. This concludes the Senate stage of the process, and the bill will now go to conference committee for finalization.
Putting limit on prescription abuse
As this session draws to a close, the General Assembly continues to debate and vote on issues of importance to our state. Most of what my colleagues and I passed in the House were bills whose intent was to increase safety for Georgians in several professional fields.
Just call me Mrs. Buzzkill
So I'm getting ready to turn things down for the night, you know the routine: shut off the lights, turn off the TV, make sure nothing is "on" in the kitchen, when my little DJ. takes his headphones off and says, "Ma, you gotta listen to this song. It is so cool...".
Affordable Care Act is still a good deal for Georgia
Last week marked the one-year anniversary of the passage of the national health reform law, the Affordable Care Act. Several provisions have gone into effect such as eliminating pre-existing condition exclusions for kids, allowing young adults to stay on their parents' coverage until they are 26, the creation of a new pre-existing conditions insurance pool, and a program to help employers (including the state of Georgia) offset retiree health care costs. The bulk of the ...
Not-so-happy birthday for Obamacare
The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) commonly referred to as ObamaCare was signed into law on March 23, 2010. One year later, the law remains unpopular with the public and a core fiscal concern for many voters, while many are learning just how intrusive are the government mandates.
Statewide drug courts are still much debated
To our readers: State Sen. Buddy Carter (R-Pooler) will be reporting each week during the Legislative Session. The session began Jan. 10 and is expected to last until the middle of April.
Slow progress on tax reform
The Special Joint Committee on Revenue Structure met to discuss possible changes to Georgia's tax laws in response to the report published earlier this year by the Special Council on Tax Reform. Currently, there are four House Bills, HB 385-388, that contain the recommendations of the council, and these have caused some confusion and consternation as of late. The fact of the matter is that these bills and the recommendations in them were required to ...
Articles by Section - Opinion
Revenues starting to climb
State revenues grew some 5 percent for the month of March over 2011 and with three-fourths of the fiscal year complete, Georgia is on target to meet revised revenue projections. Revenues totaled $1.16 billion for the month producing $54.9 million in increased tax revenues.
School officials show honesty in numbers
Shortly before he left office at the end of 2010, Sonny Perdue flew around the state holding several news conferences to take credit for an alleged increase in Georgia's high school graduation rate during his two terms as governor.
Shepherd Spinal Center rebuilds lives, uplifts spirits
Those of you who regularly check this space know this, but to the newcomers out there: I am a whiner. Like Goldilocks, I whine when the porridge is too hot. I whine when the porridge is too cold. But unlike Goldilocks, I whine even when the glop is just right.
Living in a small town
I used to do a lot of fun things at the holidays. I know I shouldn't give it all up, but sometimes I just don't have the gumption to go "all out."
Laws cover wide range of issues
This week we will begin a review of legislation passed in the 2012 session of the General Assembly and include an effective date for the legislation to take effect. This first week, major issues will be covered with following weeks covering issues by category.
Session could have been worse
The yearly property tax that you pay when you renew your car tags will be gradually eliminated. On the other hand, you will also have to start paying sales tax on much of that merchandise you purchase online.
Dreaming of clouds and headlines
I tend to daydream. Sometimes I look at the shape of the clouds above me and I can see a tea kettle or maybe the little fat guy who runs North Korea. And then sometimes I just close my eyes and think of headlines I would like to see, such as:
Taking a blast to the past
For one night last week, it was 1994 again.
Too much time on my hands
Sometimes I feel like I'm so busy that I can't remember to eat, and other times I sit thinking about the dumbest things, and when I "snap out of it!" I realize a couple of hours have passed. Times when I'm not quite so busy, obviously.
Session was good for state, business
It is official. The 2012 session of the Georgia General Assembly is over. Forty working days have come and gone, and over 500 pieces of legislation are on their way to Governor Deal for him to sign or veto. Those who follow these things will spend the next several weeks analyzing what passed, what didn't, and what the impact will be on our state's future.
Budget sails through Senate
The FY 2013 budget passed the Senate unanimously. This $19.342 billion budget funds state growth and economic development. Bolstered by $112 million in additional revenue, both the legislative bodies agreed on the FY 2013 budget and sent it to the governor for his signature. Governor Deal raised the revenue estimate by $117.5 million by amending in $95 million in foreclosure settlement funds that the state will receive over the next few months. The ...
Lawmakers have to say goodbye
We can wave goodbye to another General Assembly session as legislators head back to their home districts, most of them planning to run for another two-year term as part of the circus under the Gold Dome.
Not always living up to their word
Do you really think if the state takes control away from local school boards to establish charter schools as the upcoming constitutional amendment proposes, they will do it better? If so, you are smoking rope. Once our legislators get control of the process, there is no guarantee that they will do what they say.
'Sine Die' ends successful session
To our readers: State Sen. Buddy Carter (R-Pooler) has been reporting each week during the Legislative Session. The session began Jan. 9.
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