Whirlwind Week
It was another whirlwind week at the State Capitol as we enter the final phase in the 2015 Legislative Session. After a brief recess on Monday and Tuesday, my colleagues and I returned to the Gold Dome on Wednesday to resume the state’s business.
I had the privilege of supporting Senate Resolution 454, which recognized March 18, 2015, as Law Enforcement Appreciation Day at the Capitol and commended all law enforcement officers in Georgia. We welcomed men and women from all across Georgia and acknowledged their unwavering commitment to the safety of all Georgians. These brave men and women put themselves in harm’s way on daily basis, and it was an honor to stand beside them on their special day.
Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush appeared in the chamber and urged the Senate to focus on moving towards a child-centered education system. His remarks included the idea that there is nothing more important than making sure our nation has a system where every child has a chance to read, write and calculate math. Gov. Bush thanked the Senate for their service to the state of Georgia. It is always a pleasure to meet individuals like Gov. Bush, men who have dedicated themselves to the betterment of all Americans.
We also passed Senate Resolution 399, commending the Keep Georgia Beautiful Program for their efforts to improve Georgia communities. The Keep Georgia Beautiful Program is a nonprofit focused on building sustainable communities through litter prevention, waste reduction, recycling, water resource management and community greenspace.
In the last 10 years, the Keep Georgia Beautiful Program reduced the amount of litter collected in Georgia by 75 percent. These kinds of organizations are invaluable to our communities and I look forward to seeing the continued impact of programs like this for years to come.
The senate also took up House Bill 170, which was introduced based on recommendations from last year’s Joint Study Committee on Critical Transportation Infrastructure. The original version of this bill would have been detrimental to the 25th District and stripped many of our counties of essential funding while also raising gas prices. I’m proud to say that the version we passed removed the majority of language that was of concern to me and our district.
Our version includes a 24 cents-per-gallon state excise tax on gasoline and diesel (which is significantly lower than the house version), removes state sales taxes on motor fuel, creates a special joint committee to study Georgia’s current revenue structure, and instructs future General Assemblies to make annual payments of $250 million toward debt service for the Department of Transportation.
As it passed, HB 170 removes any reference to a highway user fee but applies a $5 fee per day on rental car purchases. Local authorities may continue to collect sales taxes on motor fuel based on distributor prices up to $3.39 per gallon without restrictions on how they spend that revenue. Our transportation infrastructure is without a doubt one of our state’s most valuable resources.
This bill ensures we allocate enough funds to maintain our current roads and bridges while making essential investments in the future. I applaud my colleagues in both chambers for recognizing the need for a bill of this magnitude. I look forward to a productive conference committee so that the senate and house can work out our minor differences and can get this bill to Gov. Nathan Deal’s desk for his signature.
The Georgia Senate also approved more than $21.7 billion in state funding for the 2016 Fiscal Year General Budget with the passage of HB 76. The Senate version includes significant increases to K-12 education in regards to instructional days and reductions of furlough days with increases to teacher pay and additional funding for economic development projects. Passed with a vote of 52 to 1, HB 76 will now go to conference committee.
I remain committed to supporting policies that promote business growth and gets Georgians back to work. It remains a pleasure to serve you, the constituents of the 25th Senate District. If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact my office at 404.656.0082 or via email at burt.jones@senate.ga.gov.
Sen. Burt Jones represents the 25th Senate District which includes Baldwin, Butts, Greene, Jasper, Morgan and Putnam counties and portions of Bibb, Jones and Walton counties. He may be reached at 404.656.0082 or via email at burt.jones@senate.ga.gov.