Last week's Legislative Round Up

Last week, in a joint session of House and Senate Appropriations committees, legislators questioned agency heads about their budgets. The Departments of Human Resources and Community Health presented their FY09 and FY10 state budget proposals. For a list of budget cuts that will impact people with disabilities, go to the Unlock the Waiting Lists Action Alert page. There will be no new community supports for people with disabilities waiting in community for help for at least 18 months if the House and Senate accept this budget proposal.

The Department of Human Resources has proposed FY2009 budget cuts to the Governor that will leave our most vulnerable families and individuals even more at risk. While there supports for 150 DD services and 100 persons with physical disabilities to transition from institutions to the community, there are no disability supports for the over 6,900 people current on Georgia’s waiting list. We are afraid that with no new supports for these community waiting lists, we will be cutting Georgia's ability to support our most vulnerable.

We are asking Governor Perdue and our legislators to not cut funds for existing disability supports or contracts, rate increases, or developmental disability waiver slots in the Department of Human Resources or Community Health Budgets. Please help to protect these much needed supports for people with disabilities by encouraging Georgia’s General Assembly to look for revenue solutions to serve our most vulnerable citizens during these hard economic times.

Lawmakers also heard troubling state tax revenue forecasts. Economist Kenneth Heaghney projected that even if Georgia cuts its budget by $2 B (about 10%), tax revenues will still produce $600 M less than is needed in FY 2011 (beginning July 2010). He believes such shortfalls will continue for at least three years and says officials could have to decide whether to cut further or raise revenues. Georgia Budget and Policy Institute experts point to structural deficiencies in the taxation system they say must be addressed. See The Georgia Budget and Policy Insitute.

The federal stimulus package could bring Georgia $5.6 Billion. President Obama’s American Recovery and Reinvestment Plan could bring some near-term relief, and experts say it could create 143,000 jobs here. Now being marked up in the U.S. Senate Finance Committee, the plan includes such measures as tax cuts, spending on infrastructure projects, unemployment insurance, fiscal relief for Medicaid, and help with COBRA coverage for people losing jobs. The President wants a bill by mid-February, although it is drawing opposition in some quarters, including from some of Georgia’s delegation.

The General Assembly reconvenes today, January 26th. The House opens at 10:00 a.m. and the Senate begins at 1:00 p.m.