Inside insights into what could happen during the General Assembly, scheduled to reconvene Monday, were revealed to members (including this writer) of the Atlanta Lawyers’ Chapter of the Federalist Society at a Wednesday Alston & Bird law firm forum featuring state House Majority Leader Larry O’Neal, R-Bonaire, and state Sen. Majority leader Bill Cowsert, R-Athens.
* When asked about raising either the gasoline or sales tax to help pay for costly transportation/infrastructure projects, both lawmakers said they had no idea what could unfold. They didn’t want to predict if the necessary votes were there for those options. O’Neal did acknowledge “the (Republican) base” is not happy with tax increases. Cowsert noted all “spending proposals have to be originated and passed first in the House” before Senate consideration— and then half-joked that “the Senate will just wait and see what the House does.”
* Questioned whether Delta Air Lines would continue to get a generous fuel tax break in light of “record billions of dollars in profits” by the company, O’Neal answered “yes.” He said “federal pre-emption” and “a complicated formula” essentially ties the hand of the Legislature “for this year.”
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