Next year’s state budget will fall short by $1 billion to $2 billion, the Georgia Budget and Policy Institute, an Atlanta think tank, said in a report released today.
GBPI Executive Director Alan Essig is fond of pointing out that, when politicians talk about trimming fat and cutting taxes, the money will inevitably come out of popular health care, education and public safety programs, which make up the vast majority of state government expenses. In particular, Gov. Sonny Perdue’s proposed 3.5 percent across-the-board cut would mean $287 million slashed from schools, $80 million from higher education, $80 million from Medicaid and PeachCare and $40 million from prisons, Essig said.
Essig recommends raising the cigarette tax $1 per pack, eliminating the state property tax refund and some other tax breaks, repealing a 2.5 percent raise for state employees and spending half the state’s rainy-day fund. Combined, those measures would save $1.4 billion.
Of course, that makes too much sense to ever happen.
Campaign garage sale
Former Senate candidate Rand Knight sent an e-mail to supporters Monday night thanking them and asking them to vote for Jim Martin in the runoff. He also asked for help retiring his $20,000 campaign debt and offered up some gently used goods in exchange:
“(L)et me know if you want to buy one of our 33 almost-new cell phones (Four [4] AT&T Wireless phones available and 29 MetroPCS wireless [only $25/month unlimited minutes]) or one of our three portable air-conditioners.
Please consider helping out today:
Knight for U.S. Senate
3340 Peachtree Rd., NE
Suite 1800
Atlanta, GA 30342
http://www.actblue.com/entity/fundraisers/18096
I can be reached at 404-254-2870, and I look forward to your ideas for a clean, green and profitable Georgia.”
Also available: one Southern accent and several corny catchphrases. The sun is setting on these great deals. It’s Knight time!
Live-blogging the Senate debate
It’s at 7 p.m. on Georgia Public Broadcasting. Log on here for my incisive analysis. Just kidding – I’ll probably be smarting off as usual. It’ll be fun though.
- Blake Aued's blog
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It’s at 7 p.m. on Georgia
It’s at 7 p.m. on Georgia Public Broadcasting. Log on here for my incisive analysis. Just kidding – I’ll probably be smarting off as usual. It’ll be fun though..
Damn, man, I'd really like to do that, just so that I could say that I was there for you when no one else was.
But I'm afraid we'll be at Red Lobster, having the snow crab special, as sort of an opening ceremony to the new season of The Most Dangerous Catch.
Thanks for your support.
Thanks for your support.
Fat Chance
Maybe we can get RL to turn the bar t.v. to the debate, and I can be there with you in the spirit.
On the original comments, I've seen some criticism of the big nearly bald headed guy. The criticism is along the lines that we elect him to be a leader, the implication there being that he will actually "lead". Ordering an across the board cut of a certain percentage when the checkbook doesn't balance isn't showing much leadership.
There are some state agencies that are more important than others, or to which a 5% cut will have more impact, and it's pretty lame to duck those decisions.
If all we need is a bookkeeper to tell us that we need to cut expenses because we won't have enough money next month to pay the bills, then let's get one of those instead of a governor.
Enlighten Me
"Gov. Sonny Perdue’s proposed 3.5 percent across-the-board cut would mean $287 million slashed from schools, $80 million from higher education, $80 million from Medicare and PeachCare and $40 million from prisons, Essig said."
I didn't know the state had anything to do with Medicare. Am I just out of touch?
Correction
I meant Medicaid.
Like PeachCare, Medicaid is administered and partially funded by the state.
Maybe the feds can bail out
Maybe the feds can bail out Georgia.
Sanderlinsghost, that is an
Sanderlinsghost, that is an eloquent sentiment on which we can both agree. A first, I think.
A case in point-
I work in two local libraries, both of which are facing drastic budget restrictions in the coming FY, like everywhere else. Just yesterday I heard an NPR piece about how many public libraries across the country have seen a huge increase in use and circulation these last few months, with many patrons coming in for the first time in years, and many of them stating outright that their increased library use was because they're broke.
Think about it--when you've got to lower household expenses, you might cut--new books, newspaper and magazine subscriptions, home internet usage, technology purchases. You might be out of work, in which case you need resume help and a place to print applications. If your house is being foreclosed on, you might head to your local Reference collection for do it yourself legal advice. ETC. This is just one example of how silly a blanket tax cut is. In hard times, we should be giving MORE money to institutions like libraries, particularly if you believe that it is each individual's responsibility to improve their own situation and not look to the government for support. In order to self-improve, you need the tools to do so. The library has them.
Sanderlinsghost, that is an
Sanderlinsghost, that is an eloquent sentiment on which we can both agree.
I must be losing my touch.
On the subject of government
On the subject of government bailouts, from this week's Flagpole.
http://flagpole.com/Comics/TomTheDancingBug/2008-07-30