WEEKLY LEGISLATIVE REPORT - March 6, 2009

House approves transportation funding proposal

The House of Representatives voted overwhelmingly Tuesday to approve legislation that proposes a one-cent statewide sales tax for transportation projects, if approved by voters in the 2010 general election. The proposed funding package would generate up to $25 billion over the next decade for construction of new highways, bridges and transit facilities across the state.

HR 206, a proposed constitutional amendment, was approved 151-15 by House members and still needs a two-thirds majority approval in the Senate before going to the voters next year. The Senate had earlier passed a transportation funding proposal of its own, calling for a regional sales tax plan under which counties could join together to generate funding for specific transportation projects in those counties. Reconciling the competing proposals will likely be debated by a joint House- Senate conference committee later in the session.

The enabling legislation for the House plan, HB 277, includes a list of the transportation projects that would be built with the statewide tax. HB 277 was approved 149-18.

Democratic leaders successfully amended the legislation on the House floor, ensuring bipartisan support. The amendments include an assurance of minority representation in the oversight structure for spending the sales tax revenue, a provision that the Department of Transportation would be the designated recipient of federal highway funds and that one cent from the four-cent state sales tax on gasoline would be designated for transportation projects.

In a third transportation measure Tuesday, House members passed an amended version of SB 39, which would give MARTA, the Atlanta rapid transit system, more flexibility in its handling of sales tax revenues. Under SB 39, up to 60 percent of MARTA sales tax funding could go toward operations, with the remainder for capital expenditures. Current law requires MARTA to comply with a 50/50 split between operations and capital expenses with regard to sales tax funds.

Legislation that would increase the state's homestead tax exemption from $2,000 to $4,000 failed to receive the required two-thirds majority approval in the House on Wednesday. Proponents of SB 83 said it would provide additional and needed tax relief to homeowners, but opponents were concerned about the impact the bill would have on the revenues of local governments, which would likely be forced to raise millage rates and cut vital services as a result.

The following day, a simple majority of House members voted to reconsider the legislation later in the session. But Wednesday's outcome was 22 votes short of the 120 needed for passage.

A majority of House members voted to approve HB 45, which would require Georgians to provide proof of their U.S. citizenship when they are registering to vote. A driver's license, birth certificate, passport and naturalization documents are acceptable for proof of citizenship. Opponents of the measure said there is no significant evidence of a problem with non-citizens trying to register to vote, and this requirement would be an unnecessary impediment for eligible voters to register and exercise their right to vote. HB 45 goes to the Senate for its consideration.

Thursday, March 12, will be the 30th day of the 2009 legislative session, which is the final day for legislation to pass either the House or the Senate and be considered by the other chamber this session. Among the measures passed by the House and sent to the Senate this week were:

HB 86, which would require county election boards to tabulate and report the totals of absentee and advance ballots by precinct.

HB 280, which addresses the state's shortage of math and science teachers. Under the legislation, new educators in Georgia public schools who certified in math or science would receive higher pay.

This week, I introduced HB 599, which would change the elections for Gwinnett County Board of Education members to nonpartisan campaigns. The education of our children transcends partisan politics, and the policy decisions that guide our local schools will be better served with partisanship removed. HB 599 was referred to the House Governmental Affairs Committee for its consideration.