NEWS . . . FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Monday, March 31, 2008
From: Martin Hawley, the Office of State Representative Calvin Hill

Daily View From The Hill:

Calvin Hill

The Session's Last Week

This is the last week of the 2008 session of the Georgia General Assembly and it’s the most dangerous of all. This is the dreaded time when bills get amended in a quick committee meeting and passed when no one is listening.  

It is also the time when budget items are bounced back and forth like ping-pong balls and the losers are the ones who did not have a powerful enough – or quick enough - ally at the table.

The Senate has decided they do not like the removal of the vehicle “birthday tax” and want to cut a few dollars a year from state income tax. Not a bad idea, but with only about half of the people in Georgia paying state income tax, this will only help the wealthy.

Similar issues separate the two chambers on how to balance the budget.

With the Governor taking off to China this last critical week, we will be without his guidance to help mediate these disputes. Just when we need leadership the most, the Governor, Lt. Governor and Speaker can’t seem to agree on anything.

Yet, with all of these public differences, most of us will be working quietly to bridge the chasms and pull things together at the last minute. Amendments will be made and conference committees will iron out disputed language in hastily called meetings and by Friday all will be well and the streets of Atlanta will be safe again as the Legislature packs up and heads home.

But, remember, we will be back next year to do it all over again!