2012 Capitol Update - Week 3

The General Assembly completed its third week of the 2012 legislative session on Thursday, January 26 with a challenge by Speaker Ralston to cut red tape on small business. The Speaker charged Representative David Knight, Chair of the House Special Committee on Small Business Development and Job Creation to lead this effort toward serious regulation reform to help spur our state economy and create jobs for Georgians.

The initiative, called “Red Tape Watch,” seeks input from small business owners and operators throughout the state. That is why I am personally asking anyone in House District 106 or the surrounding areas who is burdened by oppressive and outdated state regulations to please visit http://www.house.ga.gov/redtapewatch and make your experiences known.  With your help, we can make it easier for small businesses in our community to thrive and hire new employees.

The Special Council on Criminal Justice Reform concluded an in-depth review of our state’s current justice system and those of other states and published their report here - http://www.legis.ga.gov/Documents/GACouncilReport-FINALDRAFT.pdf. 

According to the report, non-violent drug and property offenders represent almost 60 percent of prison admissions.  With each prisoner costing taxpayers $49 a day, it is no surprise that Georgia spends one billion dollars a year on our corrections system.  Instead of sending these low-risk, non-violent, first offenders to an expensive prison, where they often learn to become hardened criminals, the council’s report recommends cost effective alternatives, like community treatment at a Day Reporting Center for $16 a day or probation supervision for $1.50 a day.

Legislation I authored last session would prohibit the billing of non-tax fees (sanitation, storm water, etc) on your property tax bills. The bill was amended weakening its intended purpose and ultimately failed to pass.

I am pleased to report that Ways and Means Chairman Mickey Channell’s office has prepared a substitute putting HB 291 back into its original language as I introduced.

Last week both the Georgia Association of Realtors and the Mortgage Bankers Association joined in support of HB 291 in its original form. Realtors and Mortgage Bankers also recognize the negative impact of the practice of placing non-tax fees on ad valorem property tax bills including increased difficulty qualifying for a home, higher monthly mortgage payments, and possible liens against your home for non-tax fees.

As always, I remain appreciative that you allow me to serve as your state Representative. Please contact me with any issue of state importance to you.

Best regards,

Brett

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