ATLANTA — The 2024 session of the General Assembly starting Monday is expected to feature renewed debate over issues lawmakers have wrestled with for years, including private school vouchers, legalized gambling, and tort reform.
What’s different this year is that Georgia is sitting atop a $16 billion budget surplus and another $11 billion undesignated funds. What to do with that unprecedented pile of cash likely will dominate the 40 days under the Gold Dome.
kAm“%96 DE2E6 92D E96 492?46 E@ >2<6 2 C62= 5:776C6?46 :? E96 =:G6D @7 v6@C8:2?D 3J :?G6DE:?8 :? 4C:E:42= 2C62D DF49 2D 49:=5 42C6[ 65F42E:@?[ 2?5 H@C<7@C46 56G6=@A>6?E[” D2:5 s2??J z2?D@[ D6?:@C 7:D42= 2?2=JDE H:E9 E96 =67E\=62?:?8 v6@C8:2 qF586E 2?5 !@=:4J x?DE:EFE6] “(6 92G6 E96 C6D@FC46D E@ >2<6 9:DE@C:4 :?G6DE>6?ED E92E H:== 36?67:E 2== v6@C8:2?D 7@C 86?6C2E:@?D E@ 4@>6]”k^Am
Recommended for you
Scenes from the Hands for Humanity Donation Day and Locust Grove High School Band Christmas Concert held Friday at Locust Grove High School. Click for more.PHOTOS: Hands for Humanity Donation Day and Christmas Concert at Locust Grove High School
kAmw@H6G6C[ E96 =68:D=2EFC6’D #6AF3=:42? >2;@C:E:6D 2C6?’E =:<6=J E@ 232?5@? 2 =@?8\CF??:?8 C6AFE2E:@? 7@C 7:D42= 7CF82=:EJ E@ D2E:D7J DE2E6 286?4:6D 2?5 :?E6C6DE 8C@FAD H:E9 =@?8 =:DED @7 FD6D 7@C E2I 5@==2CD]k^Am
kAm“%96 H@C=5 :D 7F== @7 :562D 7@C DA6?5:?8 @E96C A6@A=6’D >@?6J[” D2:5 $6?2E6 pAAC@AC:2E:@?D r@>>:EE66 r92:C>2? q=2<6 %:==6CJ[ #\':52=:2]k^Am
kAm~? E96 @E96C 92?5[ %:==6CJ 24<?@H=65865 E96 E@== :?7=2E:@? 92D E2<6? @? 4@C6 8@G6C?>6?E D6CG:46D]k^Am
kAm“(6’C6 AC@323=J 8@:?8 E@ 92G6 E@ DA6?5 >@C6 E@ 5@ H92E E96 8@G6C?>6?E ?665D E@ 5@[” 96 D2:5]k^Am
kAmv@G] qC:2? z6>A 2=C625J 92D :56?E:7:65 D@>6 @7 9:D DA6?5:?8 AC:@C:E:6D] t2C=J =2DE >@?E9[ E96 #6AF3=:42? 8@G6C?@C 2??@F?465 96 H:== 2D< E96 v6?6C2= pDD6>3=J E@ 2446=6C2E6 E96 DE2E6 :?4@>6 E2I 4FE E96 =68:D=2EFC6 2AAC@G65 EH@ J62CD 28@]k^Am
kAm%96 >62DFC6[ H9:49 E@@< 67764E 2E E96 368:??:?8 @7 E9:D >@?E9[ C65F46D E96 E2I C2E6 7C@> d]fdT E@ d]chT] z6>A :D AC@A@D:?8 E@ =@H6C E92E C2E6 7FCE96C E@ d]bhT[ 2 =6G6= E92E 32CC:?8 ?6H =68:D=2E:@? H@F=5 ?@E <:4< :? F?E:= ?6IE J62C]k^Am
kAmz6>A 2=D@ H:== 2D< =2H>2<6CD 7@C 7F?5:?8 E@ AC@G:56 @?6\E:>6 A2J DFAA=6>6?ED @7 S`[___ 7@C 6249 @7 23@FE ``a[___ DE2E6 6>A=@J66D 2?5 `he[___ E62496CD 2?5 D49@@= DFAA@CE DE277[ 2?5 E@ D6?5 Scd[___ E@ 6G6CJ AF3=:4 D49@@= :? v6@C8:2 E@ DEC6?8E96? 42>AFD D64FC:EJ]k^Am
kAm|62?H9:=6[ v~! =68:D=2E:G6 =6256CD 2C6 6IA64E65 E@ >@F?E 2?@E96C 3:5 :? E96:C A6C6??:2= 7:89E E@ 86E AC:G2E6 D49@@= G@F496CD E9C@F89 E96 v6?6C2= pDD6>3=J]k^Am
kAm{2DE J62C[ E96 $6?2E6 A2DD65 2 3:== E@ AC@G:56 v6@C8:2 DEF56?ED :? =@H\A6C7@C>:?8 D49@@=D Se[___ D49@=2CD9:AD E@ A2J 7@C AC:G2E6 D49@@= @C 46CE2:? @E96C 65F42E:@?2= 4@DED] qFE E96 =68:D=2E:@? 72:=65 :? E96 w@FD6 @? E96 7:?2= 52J @7 E96 a_ab D6DD:@? H96? 2 8C@FA @7 CFC2= #6AF3=:42?D ;@:?65 >:?@C:EJ s6>@4C2ED @AA@D65 E@ 5:G6CE:?8 7F?5D 7C@> AF3=:4 D49@@=D :? G@E:?8 282:?DE :E]k^Am
kAm%96 CFC2= #6AF3=:42?D @3;64E65 E@ E96 3:== 3642FD6 E96C6 2C6?’E 6?@F89 AC:G2E6 D49@@=D :? CFC2= 4@F?E:6D E@ >2<6 G@F496CD G:23=6 :? E9@D6 2C62D]k^Am
kAm“(6 <66A 962C:?8[ ‘D49@@= 49@:46[ D49@@= 49@:46[ D49@@= 49@:46[’ ” D2:5 {:D2 |@C82?[ AC6D:56?E @7 E96 v6@C8:2 pDD@4:2E:@? @7 t5F42E@CD] “u@C E96 G2DE >2;@C:EJ @7 v6@C8:2?D =:G:?8 @FED:56 E96 >6EC@A@=:E2? 2C62[ E92E’D ?@E 2? @AE:@?] … xE’D 5:D:?86?F@FD E@ D2J 2?J G@F496C 3:== H@F=5 36?67:E E9@D6 DEF56?ED]”k^Am
kAmz6>A D:8?2=65 =2DE DF>>6C 5FC:?8 2 DA6649 2E 2 v6@C8:2 r92>36C @7 r@>>6C46\DA@?D@C65 6G6?E E92E E@CE C67@C> H@F=5 36 @?6 @7 9:D E@A AC:@C:E:6D 7@C E96 a_ac v6?6C2= pDD6>3=J D6DD:@?]k^Am
kAm~?6 @7 E96 7:CDE E9:?8D #6AF3=:42?D 5:5 :? a__d H96? E96 v~! E@@< 4@?EC@= @7 3@E9 =68:D=2E:G6 492>36CD 7@C E96 7:CDE E:>6 :? >@56C? 9:DE@CJ H2D A2DD 2 3:== D6EE:?8 2 Sbd_[___ 42A @? ?@?\64@?@>:4 52>286D :? =2HDF:ED] qFE E96 DE2E6 $FAC6>6 r@FCE @G6CEFC?65 E96 =2H :? a_`_]k^Am
kAm“%96 4@DE @7 5676?5:?8 :ED6=7 282:?DE @?6 3@8FD =2HDF:E 4@F=5 36 6?@F89 E@ AFE 2 D>2== 3FD:?6DD @FE @7 3FD:?6DD[” D2:5 wF?E6C {@88:?D[ 5:C64E@C @7 E96 v6@C8:2 492AE6C @7 E96 }2E:@?2= u656C2E:@? 7@C x?56A6?56?E qFD:?6DD]k^Am
kAm{68:D=2E:G6 s6>@4C2ED 92G6 =@?8 3=@4<65 >2;@C E@CE C67@C> :?:E:2E:G6D :? E96 =68:D=2EFC6[ 2C8F:?8 492?86D E@ E96 DJDE6> H@F=5 DEC:A 2H2J E96 C:89ED @7 G:4E:>D @7 42C 4C2D96D 2?5 >65:42= >2=AC24E:46 E@ E96:C 52J :? 4@FCE]k^Am
kAmp?@E96C :DDF6 =2H>2<6CD 5632E6 G:CEF2==J 6G6CJ J62C 3FE 92G6 J6E E@ 24E @? :D =682=:K65 82>3=:?8] ~7 D6G6C2= 7@C>D @7 82>3=:?8 E92E 92G6 366? AC@A@D65[ DFAA@CE6CD D2J DA@CED 36EE:?8 D9@F=5 36 E96 62D:6DE E@ A2DD 3642FD6 :E 4@F=5 36 5@?6 H:E9@FE 2>6?5:?8 v6@C8:2’D r@?DE:EFE:@?[ H9:49 C6BF:C6D EH@\E9:C5D G@E6D @7 E96 w@FD6 2?5 $6?2E6]k^Am
kAmqFE ?@E 6G6CJ@?6 3FJD E92E =682= 2C8F>6?E] $E2E6 $6?] qC2?5@? q6249[ #\p=A92C6EE2[ D2:5 96 H:== :?EC@5F46 2 4@?DE:EFE:@?2= 2>6?5>6?E 62C=J :? E96 D6DD:@? E@ =682=:K6 ?@E @?=J DA@CED 36EE:?8 3FE 42D:?@ 82>3=:?8 2?5 A2C:\>FEF6= 36EE:?8 @? 9@CD6 C24:?8]k^Am
kAmx7 :E A2DD6D[ E96 2>6?5>6?E H@F=5 =2?5 @? E96 DE2E6H:56 32==@E :? }@G6>36C 7@C v6@C8:2 G@E6CD E@ 564:56]k^Am
kAmq6249 D2:5 92=7 @7 E96 DE2E6’D D92C6 @7 C6G6?F6 7C@> =682=:K65 82>3=:?8 F?56C 9:D AC@A@D2= H@F=5 8@ E@ :?7C2DECF4EFC6 DA6?5:?8[ :?4=F5:?8 9:89H2J 2?5 3C:586 :>AC@G6>6?ED] {2DE >@?E9[ v6@C8:2 r@>>:DD:@?6C @7 %C2?DA@CE2E:@? #FDD6== |4|FCCJ H2C?65 E96 DE2E6 ?665D 2 D:8?:7:42?E 3@@DE :? EC2?DA@CE2E:@? 7F?5:?8 5FC:?8 E96 4@>:?8 564256D E@ <66A A6@A=6 2?5 7C6:89E >@G:?8 @? 9:89H2JD E92E @E96CH:D6 H:== 364@>:?8 :?4C62D:?8=J 4@?86DE65]k^Am
kAm“%96J 42?’E DA6?5 E96 >@?6J @? D2=2C:6D @C ?6H u`d_ ECF4<D[” q6249 D2:5 @7 9:D =68:D=2E:@?]k^Am
kAmq6249 D2:5 E96 C6DE @7 E96 DE2E6’D D92C6 @7 7F?5:?8 7C@> =682=:K65 82>3=:?8 H@F=5 36 5:G:565 36EH66? >6?E2= 962=E9 42C6[ CFC2= 962=E9 42C6[ 2?5 49C@?:42==J F?56C7F?565 w:DE@C:42==J q=24< r@==686D 2?5 &?:G6CD:E:6D Wwqr&DX]k^Am
kAm{68:D=2E:G6 #6AF3=:42?D 2=D@ 2C6 6IA64E65 E@ C6?6H 677@CED E@ C6A62= @C 2E =62DE DEC62>=:?6 E96 DE2E6’D r6CE:7:42E6 @7 }665 Wr~}X =2H 8@G6C?:?8 9@DA:E2= 4@?DECF4E:@?] p7E6C J62CD @7 72:=FC6 @? E96 r~} 7C@?E[ v~! =6256CD 92G6 D:8?2=65 2 H:==:?8?6DD E@ E2=< 23@FE 6IA2?5:?8 |65:42:5 4@G6C286 :? v6@C8:2 — 2 =@?8DE2?5:?8 AC:@C:EJ 7@C s6>@4C2ED — :? 6I492?86 7@C r~} C67@C>]k^Am
kAm&?56C 2 |65:42:5 6IA2?D:@? >@56= 25@AE65 :? 962G:=J #6AF3=:42? pC<2?D2D[ :?5:G:5F2=D H:E9 :?4@>6D FA E@ `bgT @7 E96 7656C2= A@G6CEJ =:?6 2C6 6=:8:3=6 7@C 4@G6C286] v6@C8:2 !2E9H2JD[ E96 =:>:E65 |65:42:5 6IA2?D:@? E92E E@@< 67764E :? v6@C8:2 =2DE DF>>6C[ D6ED E96 :?4@>6 =:>:E 2E `__T @7 E96 A@G6CEJ =:?6]k^Am
kAm“x7 H6’C6 8@:?8 E@ 92G6 4@?G6CD2E:@?D 23@FE D:8?:7:42?E r~} 492?86D[ H6 ?665 E@ 92G6 4@?G6CD2E:@?D 23@FE 9@H H6’C6 8@:?8 E@ 86E A6@A=6 2446DD E@ 962=E9 42C6[” D2:5 p??2 p52>D[ 6I64FE:G6 G:46 AC6D:56?E @7 6IE6C?2= 2772:CD 2E E96 v6@C8:2 w@DA:E2= pDD@4:2E:@?] “%96C6’D 8@:?8 E@ 36 4@?G6CD2E:@?D 23@FE 3@E9]”k^Am
(0) comments
Welcome to the discussion.
Please log in, or sign up for a new, free account to read or post comments.
Log In
Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Don't Threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
Be Truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be Nice. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism that is degrading to another person.
Be Proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
Share with Us. We'd love to hear eyewitness accounts, the history behind an article.