Working Families Legislative Caucus Sounds Alarm
on Budget Crisis, Calls 4 CommonSense
Thursday, March 25, 2010 at 9:30pm
ATLANTA (March 25, 2010) – Sen. Nan Orrock (D-Atlanta), Rep. Virgil Fludd (D-Tyrone) and Rep. Debbie Buckner (D-Junction City) joined members of the Working Families Legislative Caucus today to sound the alarm on Georgia’s budget crisis and call for common sense remedies that provide relief. In the face of current budget proposals that balance the state budget on the backs of Georgia’s working families, children, sick, the elderly, people with disabilities, students, teachers and public servants, caucus members called for strategies to raise more than $1 billion to avoid cuts threatening millions of vulnerable Georgians.
“In Fiscal Year 2009, we passed a balanced budget of over $20 million based on state revenues alone,” said Orrock. “Due to declining revenues in FY 2010 and FY 2011, we are facing an annual shortfall of over $4.5 billion, with proposals to cut more than $2 billion in essential state programs and services each year. The picture is even worse for next year, when we will be facing cuts of $3 billion if we don’t act now. These numbers may be mind numbing, but the real pain these cuts are inflicting across this state are very real. Just a few examples paint a stark picture of a safety net for Georgia’s families that cannot be sustained at a time when needs are soaring.”
Last year, the demand for food stamps increased by one third, yet eligibility caseworkers were not increased. These workers were furloughed for 12 days and struggled to carry the expanded caseloads in fewer days with less pay. This year, leadership is proposing to slash eligibility workers such as TANF assistance, Medicaid and food stamps even further. The effect is to choke off assistance at the start and leave people out in the cold in their time of greatest need.
For seniors and people with disabilities languishing in institutions, help is being cut off and funds for community supports have been decimated. Last week, more cuts were announced when the Alzheimer’s respite program was slashed an additional 20,500 hours, Adult Protective Services that protects disabled adults and elders from abuse were reduced, 34,200 trips for seniors to medical care and other desperately needed transportation were eliminated, and funds to help seniors leave nursing homes to return to their communities ended.
Teachers and other public servants have been bearing the weight of the budget cuts by enduring more than a week of furlough days, with thousands of teachers and public servants facing the loss of their jobs in FY 2010 across the state.
Domestic violence shelters, county health departments, health care for children aging out of foster care, home and community based services all face more cuts when they are already unable to meet basic needs for women and children.
Education, which is often touted as our top priority, has suffered billions in cuts every year. The effect on Georgia’s achievement scores that are already competing for last place among the states is immeasurable for our children growing up during the years of this recession. We are failing to invest in our children’s future. We are cutting education at every level from pre-K through higher education, stunting the growth and development of an entire generation.
“Three simple measures would raise over $1 billion this year alone. House Bill 1066 would adopt a temporary 1 percent surcharge on the wealthiest 1 percent of Georgians’ earnings over $400,000 each year,” said Fludd. “This measure alone would generate $225 million each year. This approach of a surcharge on the wealthiest earners was adopted by eight states last year, including North Carolina.”
Fludd further proposed that “Georgia should stop the inequitable policy of allowing taxpayers who itemize to deduct their state income taxes. This would generate $450 million per year and allow Georgia to join the 32 states that disallow this practice. It is a particularly irrational policy since it benefits those taxpayers who need it least.”
Buckner supported HB 39, which increases Georgia’s tobacco tax by $1 per pack. This tax increase would raise over $350 million in new revenue and bring Georgia up from 45th in the U.S. to reach the national average.
“This measure would reduce smoking and deter teens from beginning to smoke with immediate and lasting health benefits,” said Buckner. “This increase would help offset the more than $537 million in Medicaid funds Georgia spends every year on tobacco related illnesses.”
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Sen. Nan Orrock represents the 36th Senate District which includes portions of Fulton County. She may be reached by phone at 404.463.8054 or via e-mail at nan.orrock@senate.ga.gov.
Rep. Debbie Buckner represents the 130th House District which includes portions of Harris, Muscogee and Talbot Counties. She may be reached by phone at 404.656-6372 or by email at Debbie.buckner@house.ga.gov.
Rep. Virgil Fludd represents the 66th House District which includes portions of Fulton and Fayette Counties. He may be reached by phone at 404.656-0314 or by email at vfludd@mindspring.com.
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