2008 Legislative Update
By Chris Farris | May 5, 2008
Its been a little over two weeks now since the gavels came down and the legislature adjourned Sine Die, and we’re sifting through the dust of that hectic day to see the good and bad to come out of the 2008 session of the Georgia General Assembly.
Media reports of the session focused on the conflicts between the Senate and house leadership and the bitterness between Speaker Glenn Richardson and Lt. Governor Casey Cagle. Those who look to always find fault called it a do-nothing session, but this session was anything but.
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Topics: General Assembly, Legislation | No Comments »
Supreme Court to hear Second Amendment case
By Jason Pye | March 17, 2008
This column originally appeared in the Covington News on Friday, March 14, 2008.
On Tuesday, the United States Supreme Court will begin hearing oral arguments in District of Columbia v. Heller (known as Parker v. District of Columbia in the lower court), the most important case concerning the Second Amendment to come before the court in nearly 70 years.
Allow me to give a very brief history of this case. A challenge was filed on behalf of six residents of the District of Columbia in February 2003 against a 1976 law that effectively banned firearms inside the city and required that any guns owned before the ban be registered and “unloaded, disassembled, or bound by a trigger lock or similar device” inside the home. The lawsuit was filed in hopes that the courts would throw out the ban and that Second Amendment rights would be restored inside the District.
The District of Columbia has defended the law on grounds of home rule and echoed a familiar notion from the anti-gun crowd, which is that the Second Amendment only applies to militias and there is no individual right to own a firearm for any purpose. Other supporters of the ban have argued that since DC is not a state then the right would not apply there, an argument that is laughable considering the push last year to give DC a vote in Congress.
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Take Action on Property Tax Reform
By Chris Farris | March 4, 2008
Tomorrow a critical piece of legislation will be addressed on the floor of the Georgia State House. Senate Resolution 796, sponsored by Sen. Chip Rogers, is going to be debated and voted upon as part of Speaker Richardson’s tax reform package. While the RLC Georgia isn’t endorsing the entire package, we strongly support SR796.
SR796 will do two things to directly reduce the tax burden of Georgia Citizens. First it will limit the amount a city, county or school board can increase the assessed value of your home. The current way local governments raise revenues is by decided that your $100,000 house is now worth $200,000 and double tax bill. This is perfect for big government Republicans because they can raise revenues without ever voting to raise taxes. SR796 would limit reassesments to 2% for residential and 3% for commercial property. The most a $100,000 house could be reassesed to is $102,000.
The other aspect of SR796 is that it will limit revenue growth without voter approval. If this passed the most a county commission or city council can raise tax is by inflation plus new construction. Any additional increase in taxes would require a voter referendum. And unlike the deficit laden federal budget, local budgets must be balanced. By capping revenue growth, they also cap spending growth - a critical component missing from GOP rhetoric the past few years.
SR796 is a Constitutional Amendment and will go before the voters in November as a ballot question. It passed the Senate with the 2/3rd majority needed. House Democrats, looking to score partisan points are threatening to vote against the measure. That is why EVERY VOTE COUNTS! Please call or email your state representative THIS MORNING and tell them you want property tax relief.
Topics: Action Alerts, FrontPage | No Comments »
RLC Endorses SB 12 - Zero Based Budgeting
By Chris Farris | March 4, 2008
Republican Liberty Caucus of Georgia Supports the Zero Based Budgeting Act.
ATLANTA, GA, March 04, 2008 – The Republican Liberty Caucus of Georgia, a grassroots organization promoting individual freedom, limited government and fiscal responsibility, urges the House Ways & Means Committee to pass Senate Bill 12 – Zero Based Budgeting.
This bill would require during the mid term of a Governor’s term, all departmental spending be assumed to be zero, and that the entire budget must be approved by the General Assembly - not just the increases. This will lead to cutting wasteful or unnecessary line items saving the taxpayers money.
The highlights of the bill:
* SB 12 calls for budgeting accountability for all state agencies on
a regular rotating basis.
* SB12 requires evaluation of each state agency’s core mission to
eliminate agency overlap.
* SB12 requires agencies to provide at least 3 alternative funding
levels and what they could accomplish with each.
* SB12 requires a prioritized budget of each agency.
* SB 12 avoids the appearance of political punishment or favoritism
by establishing a regular schedule of budget analysis.
Topics: Budget, FrontPage, Legislation | No Comments »
Make it Flake!
By Chris Farris | February 15, 2008
The Republican Liberty Caucus of Georgia endorses RLCer U.S. Rep. Jeff Flake (R-AZ) for the open House Appropriations Committee seat.
Like Ron Paul, Jeff Flake is a member of the RLC and Flake and Paul are both members of the liberty caucus in the U.S. House, the genuinely fiscally conservative complement to the much larger Republican Study Committee.
Topics: Endorsements, FrontPage | No Comments »
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