The Georgia Senate will rev up the drama Friday, voting on the transportation spending plan and the appropriations bill for Fiscal Year 2016.
The $21.8 billion fiscal year budget includes 4 percent pay raises for Supreme Court and Court of Appeals judges and 2 percent increases for Superior Court judges and district attorneys. Other state workers are slated for 1 percent raises. The bill also includes $100 million in bonds for fixing bridges and the same amount for transit projects.
The Senate version of the transportation bill would convert existing state gasoline taxes into a single state excise tax of 24 cents a gallon. Along with ending tax exemptions for electric cars and the aviation fuel tax for airlines, the bill would add fees on alternative fuel vehicles. It would also charge highway impact fees of $25 for passenger cars, $50 for big commercial trucks and buses and $10 for motorcycles.
The House version of the bill, with a fuel excise tax of 29.2 cents a gallon, unexpectedly passed easily in the House. Despite the lower tax amount, the bill could have a tougher time in the Senate, where black members have criticized the bill for a lack of goals for minority participation in state projects and the Senate plan to switch $250 million from the general budget to the DOT for debt relief.
Medical marijuana bill clears committee: Rep. Allen Peake, R-Macon, expressed gratitude to Senate Health and Human Resources Committee Chairman Renee Unterman, R-Buford, after the committee passed legislation that preserves most of his bill allowing the medical use of cannabis oil.
The Senate bill allows the cannabis oil use for eight medical conditions and gives immunity from prosecution for possession of the marijuana derivative. The bill also sets up a state commission to study marijuana cultivation in Georgia to develop medical products and preserves a previously passed Senate bill setting up clinical trials for use of the drug. Now the full Senate will consider the bill.
“We took a giant leap today,” Peake told reporters. He cautioned that he wants to read the committee’s bill after it approved several amendments, but he feels that he can recommend the legislation to the House for final passage to be sent to the governor.
He said he was disappointed that the committee voted against an amendment to include fibromyalgia, because one of his constituents has the condition. Epileptic seizures, ALS, cancer, MS, Chron’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, mitochondrial disease and sickle cell disease are included in the bill.
Bush, Ludacris visit Capitol: Former Florida Gov. and expected GOP presidential candidate Jeb Bush excited the Georgia Capitol Thursday, meeting privately with Gov. Nathan Deal and then briefly addressing the House and Senate.
In the House, Bush crossed paths with rapper and media mogul Chris “Ludacris” Bridges. Although they took different roads to success, they gave similar messages, that the country must give impoverished children a chance to succeed through improved education.
Bush acknowledged Bridges’ success as a rapper, actor, entertainment executive and philanthropist. “There’s a successful guy who’s giving back,” Bush said. “I appreciate that.”
After speaking to the House, Bush posed for photos then held an impromptu news conference. Although he looked like a candidate in the glow of the bright lights, he remained noncommittal on whether he’ll seek the Republican nomination.
Known for his education reform efforts while Florida’s governor, Bush told legislators they have “the chance to change the course of the life of a child.” After reciting familiar statistics about the ills of American education, Bush said, “our system hasn’t worked. We haven’t had the courage to move to a child-centered system.”
Ludacris told the legislators that his Ludacris Foundation is striving to change children’s lives, through leadership training and education, community programs and efforts to improve nutrition and battle childhood obesity. “We help young people fulfill their dreams and encourage principles of success,” he said.
