Since 1971, Georgia Public Broadcasting Television has produced a special newscast every day the Georgia General Assembly is in session. “Lawmakers” concludes its 39th season today, Friday, April 3. Join David Zelski and Nwandi Lawson for a one hour live presentation of the Lawmakers Sine Die Special at 11 PM.
In addition to highlights of the day’s most important House and Senate action, we’ll bring you the latest on the Four T’s: Taxes, Transportation, Trauma and Teachers.
TAXES
There are still several measures yet to achieve final passage this year in regard to taxes. Proposals that failed this session include: SB 83, a bill that would have increased the statewide homestead exemption by doubling the ad valorem tax exemption failed in the House back on March 25; HB 39, the co-called “Pass the Buck” bill that would have added $1 excise tax per pack on cigarettes or tobacco products; SB 91, the so-called “sin tax” that would have added a $5 surcharge for patrons of adult entertainment clubs; and HB 67, which would have brought back sales taxes on groceries. Some proposals are still undecided: HB 261 would give an income tax credit for the purchase of a single family home of either 1.2% or $3600, whichever is less; the House agreed to a Conference Committee report just before 9 PM; the Senate would still have to agree; HB 439, a corporate tax break proposal backed by Governor Perdue passed the Senate by substitute Wednesday, the House still needs to agree; HB 480 would eliminate of the ad valorem tax on cars, but add a significant title fee onto cars purchased after the act would go into law, that legislation was tabled in the Senate on Wednesday and although it could come up for a vote, it may be dead for the session. HB 482, which would provide an ad valorem tax exemption for property constituting the inventory of a business has passed both chambers and is headed to the Governor.
TRANSPORTATION
In the Transportation arena, the House and Senate have dueling proposals in regard to funding transportation. While the House favors a statewide 1% sales tax to fund a specific list of transportation projects, the Senate favors a T-SPLOST, or Transportation Special Local Option Sales Tax, which aims to provide funding solutions for local traffic woes by asking voters to approve a regional 1% sales tax. The vehicle for a funding solution is HB 277, originally titled the Georgia 2020 Transportation Act. Conferees have met numerous times to come to an agreement on a compromise between the two plans. Lawmakers’ Valarie Edwards has been following this issue all session and will bring us the latest.
TRAUMA
With the third T, Trauma, we’ll be taking a look at Georgia’s lack of a Statewide Trauma Care network. Currently, there are no trauma centers south of Macon to almost the Florida State line. There are several issues that pose problems here: funding, staffing and emergency transport. SB 156 would extensively revise the duties and powers of the Georgia Trauma Care Network Commission, abolishes the existing Georgia Trauma Trust Fund and establishes a new State Office of EMS/Trauma. The real sticking point is funding. HB 160, the so-called Super Speeder legislation, will increase fines for those driving in excess of 85 MPH on highways or 75 MPH on two-lane roads by $200. It will also increase the fee to renew a driver’s license. The $23 million expected to be generated by the new fines and fees is intended to go towards funding trauma, but the monies will go into the general fund rather than a specific fund for trauma care.
TEACHERS
The final T is Teachers but really that is education in general. There are several education proposals that have already failed this legislative session: SB 90, Senator Eric Johnson’s universal school voucher bill failed to make it out of the Senate Rules committee before crossover day; SB 93, an initiative of Governor Sonny Perdue which would have established a program to reward high performing principals with $10,000 bonuses also failed to make crossover day; and HB 282 which would have created the Georgia Master Teacher Program and provided a bonus for those master teachers also failed to make crossover day and appears to be dead for the session. Of the proposals that are still alive at this point in the session are: HB 243, legislation that repeals the salary increase for teachers that gain National Board Certification, that bill will likely go to a conference committee as the Senate passed the bill by substitute on Wednesday; HB 251, legislation that would have allowed students to attend any public school as long as the school board approved the transfer the new student- State funding would accompany that student to the new district; the House agreed to the Senate substitute, but amended the bill on the floor- it goes back to the Senate and may end up in Conference Committee. One measure that affects Georgia’s educators has passed and goes to Governor Perdue: HB 280, legislation that provides additional compensation for “highly qualified” math and science teachers.
You can also expect an update on HB 119, the FY 2010 budget. A Conference Committee report has been adopted by the House and Senate on that $18.6 billion spending plan.
We’ll also be joined live by the National Editor for CapitolImpact.com, Tom Crawford.
And in celebration of the conclusion of the 39th season of Lawmakers, we’ll take a look back at episodes from the past four decades.
All that and more on the Lawmakers Sine Die Special at 11 PM tonight!
The Lawmakers Sine Die Special repeats Saturday morning on GPB Knowledge at 7 AM. GPB Knowledge is available to those with digital television receivers at .3 of your local GPB transmitter, for example 20.3 in Augusta, or 8.3 in Atlanta. You can also watch a repeat of the Lawmakers Sine Die Special on Monday, April 6 on GPB television at 5 AM.
Friday, April 3, 2009
Day 40- April 3, 2009
Tonight on Lawmakers at 7 PM, a joint Conference Committee works to come to an agreement on the $18.6 billion budget; negotiations on a transportation funding solution go down to the wire; compensation for the wrongly convicted John Jerome White narrowly passes the Senate; National Editor of Capitol Impact dot com, Tom Crawford, joins us live for the latest Capitol news and the Senate attempts to amend House legislation to require the use of seatbelts in pickup trucks. Also tonight at 11 PM, the Lawmakers Sine Die Special!
It’s the 40th and final day of the Georgia General Assembly’s 2009 session. Join David Zelski and Nwandi Lawson at 7 PM for our half hour Lawmakers program as we review the day's action thus far and return to GPB at 11 PM for a one hour live presentation of the Lawmakers Sine Die Special.
Many issues remain unresolved as we approach the end of the session, perhaps most importantly the 2010 budget and transportation funding solutions. We’ll have the latest from the Conference Committees on HB 119, the FY 2010 budget and HB 277, the Georgia 2020 Transportation Act.
We’ll also be wrapping up this legislative week in fine Lawmakers fashion by checking in with the venerable Tom Crawford, National Editor of CapitolImpact.com for his thoughts on the action under the gold dome as the clock ticks down to midnight.
All that and the latest Capitol news- including live coverage of the House and Senate- tonight on Lawmakers at 7 PM.
It’s the 40th and final day of the Georgia General Assembly’s 2009 session. Join David Zelski and Nwandi Lawson at 7 PM for our half hour Lawmakers program as we review the day's action thus far and return to GPB at 11 PM for a one hour live presentation of the Lawmakers Sine Die Special.
Many issues remain unresolved as we approach the end of the session, perhaps most importantly the 2010 budget and transportation funding solutions. We’ll have the latest from the Conference Committees on HB 119, the FY 2010 budget and HB 277, the Georgia 2020 Transportation Act.
We’ll also be wrapping up this legislative week in fine Lawmakers fashion by checking in with the venerable Tom Crawford, National Editor of CapitolImpact.com for his thoughts on the action under the gold dome as the clock ticks down to midnight.
All that and the latest Capitol news- including live coverage of the House and Senate- tonight on Lawmakers at 7 PM.
Two Live Lawmakers Programs tonight!
Friday, April 3 marks the 40th and final day of the Georgia General Assembly's 2009 session and Georgia Public Broadcasting's Lawmakers program brings you two live broadcasts. Join David Zelski and Nwandi Lawson at 7 PM for our half hour Lawmakers program as we review the day's action thus far and return to GPB at 11 PM for a one hour live presentation of the Lawmakers Sine Die Special.
All that and more tonight on Lawmakers at 7 PM and the Lawmakers Sine Die Special at 11 PM.
The Lawmakers Sine Die Special repeats Saturday morning on GPB Knowledge at 7 AM. GPB Knowledge is available to those with digital television receivers at .3 of your local GPB transmitter, for example 20.3 in Augusta, or 8.3 in Atlanta. You can also watch a repeat of the Lawmakers Sine Die Special on Monday, April 6 on GPB television at 5 AM.
All that and more tonight on Lawmakers at 7 PM and the Lawmakers Sine Die Special at 11 PM.
The Lawmakers Sine Die Special repeats Saturday morning on GPB Knowledge at 7 AM. GPB Knowledge is available to those with digital television receivers at .3 of your local GPB transmitter, for example 20.3 in Augusta, or 8.3 in Atlanta. You can also watch a repeat of the Lawmakers Sine Die Special on Monday, April 6 on GPB television at 5 AM.
Thursday, April 2, 2009
Lawmakers Final Shows for 2009 Tomorrow
Lawmakers returns tomorrow, Friday, April 3, for the final two programs of the 2009 session.
Join us at 7 PM for our standard half-hour program and then at 11 PM, return to GPB for our one-hour Lawmakers' Special Sine Die coverage.
That's two Lawmakers programs for the final day of the Georgia General Assembly's 40 day sessions at 7 and 11!
Join us at 7 PM for our standard half-hour program and then at 11 PM, return to GPB for our one-hour Lawmakers' Special Sine Die coverage.
That's two Lawmakers programs for the final day of the Georgia General Assembly's 40 day sessions at 7 and 11!
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
Day 39- April 1, 2009
Tonight on Lawmakers, Georgia’s $18.6 billion budget passes the Senate with some changes, a Conference Committee is next; a bill that restructures the State’s transportation agencies narrowly passes the House; a bill allowing for the children of military personnel to transfer into local schools passes the House; the Senate passes a measure allowing for the adoption of embryos; and a bill that cuts raises for National Board Certified teachers passes the Senate.
Monday, March 30, 2009
Day 38- March 30, 2009
Tonight on Lawmakers, the Senate Appropriations Committee passes its version of the 2010 budget; looking for a compromise on the Transforming Transportation Investment Act; the Senate approves a bill that would allow parents to send their children to any public school provided there is adequate space at the school; an amendment is offered to a House bill to legalize Sunday sales of alcohol; and, final passage of the Governor’s initiative to increase salaries for Georgia’s math and science teachers.
The Senate Appropriations Committee today approved its version of the 2010 State budget. The $18.6 billion spending plan is expected to go to the full Senate for a vote on Wednesday, the 39th legislative day. With the final day of the legislature scheduled for Friday, leaving roughly 48 hours for House and Senate negotiators on the expected Conference Committee to reach a compromise.
On Friday, the House Transportation Committee said no to a proposal backed by the Governor to re-align the State’s transportation agencies. Senate Bill 200, the Transforming Transportation Act did pass the Committee by substitute, but with substantial changes. Lawmakers’ Valarie Edwards reports.
Legislation dealing with several alcohol sales provisions was debated but eventually tabled in the Senate today. The issues within House Bill 115 include alcohol sales at the Gwinnett County Braves stadium and opening a new package store within 500 yards of an existing package store. However, today’s debate centered on an amendment by Senator Seth Harp which would allow local municipalities to vote on whether to allow alcohol sales on Sundays.
An education initiative of Governor Sonny Perdue received final passage today. House Bill 280 hopes to address Georgia’s shortage of math and science teachers by increasing compensation levels. This measure would move a teacher certified in math or science up in salary equal to six years of credible service.
The State’s 2,500 National Board Certified Teachers will continue to receive a 10% salary bonus when the State can afford it. But House Bill 243, would eliminate the incentive for future recipients of the certification. That legislation failed to pass the Senate today, but will be reconsidered. Lawmakers’ Tiana Fernandez has more.
A bill that would allow parents to send their children to any public school, provided there is adequate space at that school, passed the Senate this afternoon. House Bill 251 is sponsored by Representative Alisha Morgan. Lawmakers’ Brittany Evans reports.
The House today voted to require foreclosure deeds to be recorded within 90 days. Representative Mike Jacobs’ explained the need for Senate Bill 141 in the current economic climate.
The House also approved a new option for property tax assessment appeals. Supporters of Senate Bill 240 say the current process is “unfriendly to tax payers”. Under provisions of the legislation, taxpayers would get the option of a “binding arbitration appeal” of their property tax assessment. Lawmakers’ Emily Banks has that story.
All that and more tonight on Lawmakers at 7 PM.
Lawmakers repeats on GPB Radio at 8 PM tonight and tomorrow morning on GPB television at 5:30 AM. You can also watch a repeat of Lawmakers tomorrow morning on GPB Knowledge at 7 AM. GPB Knowledge is available to those with digital television receivers at .3 of your local GPB transmitter, for example 20.3 in Augusta, or 8.3 in Atlanta.
The Senate Appropriations Committee today approved its version of the 2010 State budget. The $18.6 billion spending plan is expected to go to the full Senate for a vote on Wednesday, the 39th legislative day. With the final day of the legislature scheduled for Friday, leaving roughly 48 hours for House and Senate negotiators on the expected Conference Committee to reach a compromise.
On Friday, the House Transportation Committee said no to a proposal backed by the Governor to re-align the State’s transportation agencies. Senate Bill 200, the Transforming Transportation Act did pass the Committee by substitute, but with substantial changes. Lawmakers’ Valarie Edwards reports.
Legislation dealing with several alcohol sales provisions was debated but eventually tabled in the Senate today. The issues within House Bill 115 include alcohol sales at the Gwinnett County Braves stadium and opening a new package store within 500 yards of an existing package store. However, today’s debate centered on an amendment by Senator Seth Harp which would allow local municipalities to vote on whether to allow alcohol sales on Sundays.
An education initiative of Governor Sonny Perdue received final passage today. House Bill 280 hopes to address Georgia’s shortage of math and science teachers by increasing compensation levels. This measure would move a teacher certified in math or science up in salary equal to six years of credible service.
The State’s 2,500 National Board Certified Teachers will continue to receive a 10% salary bonus when the State can afford it. But House Bill 243, would eliminate the incentive for future recipients of the certification. That legislation failed to pass the Senate today, but will be reconsidered. Lawmakers’ Tiana Fernandez has more.
A bill that would allow parents to send their children to any public school, provided there is adequate space at that school, passed the Senate this afternoon. House Bill 251 is sponsored by Representative Alisha Morgan. Lawmakers’ Brittany Evans reports.
The House today voted to require foreclosure deeds to be recorded within 90 days. Representative Mike Jacobs’ explained the need for Senate Bill 141 in the current economic climate.
The House also approved a new option for property tax assessment appeals. Supporters of Senate Bill 240 say the current process is “unfriendly to tax payers”. Under provisions of the legislation, taxpayers would get the option of a “binding arbitration appeal” of their property tax assessment. Lawmakers’ Emily Banks has that story.
All that and more tonight on Lawmakers at 7 PM.
Lawmakers repeats on GPB Radio at 8 PM tonight and tomorrow morning on GPB television at 5:30 AM. You can also watch a repeat of Lawmakers tomorrow morning on GPB Knowledge at 7 AM. GPB Knowledge is available to those with digital television receivers at .3 of your local GPB transmitter, for example 20.3 in Augusta, or 8.3 in Atlanta.
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