InsiderAdvantage interviewed several attendees who report that state Senate President Pro Tem David Shafer and ex-state Rep. Geoff Duncan clashed yesterday at a Georgia Chamber of Commerce candidate forum in Brasstown Valley. Both are running in the 2018 GOP primary for lieutenant governor.
Duncan, who has slammed Shafer for supporting transportation funding initiatives advanced by the Chamber, is accused of backpedaling on his signature opposition to House Bill 170. One attendee— GOP Sen. Steve Gooch, R-Dahlonega— says:
“Duncan tried to explain his position on his vote against the Transportation Funding Act of 2015. While he has repeatedly chastised his opponents in the race for lieutenant governor for voting for the much-needed additional funding for infrastructure investment in Georgia, today he tried to win favor with the Georgia Chamber of Commerce’s Government Affairs Committee by stating that he was actually in favor of the funding measure up until the conference committee added the $5 nightly hotel fee. He was quickly challenged on that statement by a lobbyist in the room who reminded Duncan that he actually voted against the original bill on the floor of the House chamber prior to the addition of the hotel fee language. And moments later he was called out by David Shafer…”
Shafer pounced by “complimenting” Duncan for his “amazing ability to morph into whatever type candidate is required at the moment.” And then came Shafer’s coup de grace:
“At Tea Party meetings, Duncan denounces the Chamber of Commerce and brags about defying the business community over the tax increases. Now he is here at the Chamber meeting saying he only voted against the gas tax increase because it was not big enough. He brags about wanting to drain the swamp but here he is begging lobbyists for money.”
Shafer turned to Duncan and concluded with this zinger at the former pitcher for the Kade County Cougars: “You may not have made the major leagues as a baseball player but, in politics, you are a real pro.”
In response, however, Duncan flatly says: “As I stated earlier today, I voted no on HB 170 twice in 2015. Let’s keep having this discussion about the largest tax increase in the history of Georgia for the next seven months.”
To refresh memories about House Bill 170 that was passed and signed into law by Gov. Nathan Deal, it shifted the tax on gasoline from sales tax to excise tax. Gasoline excise taxes are constitutionally required to be spent on roads and bridges. Sales tax, even on gasoline, goes into the general fund and can be used for any purpose. By repealing the sales tax on gasoline and replacing it with an excise tax, a steady stream of revenue dedicated to transportation was created.
