Georgia
Georgia Shows Contrasting Direction Of Federal & State Tax Burdens
Whereas Congress is on the brink of increase federal taxes by a whole bunch of billions of {dollars} as a part of the Inflation Discount Act (IRA), it hasn’t gone unnoticed that lawmakers in lots of state capitals are doing the other, enacting tax aid. “Widespread tax breaks within the nation’s statehouses stands in distinction to what’s occurring in Washington,” Bloomberg reported on August 9, including that almost “two dozen states slashed private or company income-tax charges up to now two years and greater than a dozen enacted short-term aid in 2022.”
Along with slicing revenue tax burdens, there was a current pattern of states shifting from progressive to flat private revenue tax charges. Georgia was among the many states the place laws was enacted in 2022 to go to a flat tax. The revenue tax minimize signed into regulation by Governor Brian Kemp (R-Ga.) in April, which can transfer Georgia from a progressive revenue tax code with a prime price of 5.75% to a flat 4.99% revenue tax over the subsequent seven years, was enacted with the help of most Democrats within the Georgia legislature. Actually, of the 99 Democrats within the Georgia Home and Senate, 84 of them voted in favor of the revenue tax minimize.
“Lots of my caucus colleagues voted no on this invoice, however as soon as the invoice was improved, many people are voting sure to present Georgians again hard-earned cash,” mentioned Georgia Home Minority Whip David Wilkerson (D) of why most Democrats voted for the flat tax.
Georgia highlights how revenue tax cuts are being handed in state capitals with help from each Democrats and Republicans. The Peach State’s two U.S. Senators, in the meantime, exhibit how federal lawmakers are doing the other, elevating tax burdens on party-line votes.
Just a few months after Democrats and Republicans in Georgia got here collectively to supply aid to households from all revenue ranges, Senators Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.) and Jon Ossoff (D-Ga.) voted for the IRA, which didn’t obtain a single Republican vote. The IRA did not obtain any GOP votes largely as a result of the invoice, in response to evaluation from the non-partisan Joint Committee on Taxation, ends in the next federal tax burden for households in practically each revenue stage, together with on those that make lower than $10,000. It’s counterintuitive, however the identical state the place most Democratic legislators just lately joined Republicans in slicing and flattening the state revenue tax is now represented within the U.S. Senate by two males who forged the deciding votes to impose a whole bunch of billions of {dollars} in larger federal taxes, doing so amid the best inflation price in 4 a long time.
Along with voting for tax hikes that may hit thousands and thousands of households making far under $400,000, breaking President Biden’s oft-repeated tax pledge, Senators Warnock and Ossoff additionally voted to fund the hiring of 87,000 new IRS staff. That’s sufficient new IRS staff to fill Mercedes-Benz Stadium, residence of the Atlanta Falcons, to capability and nonetheless have greater than 16,000 brokers ready exterior unable to get in.
Stacey Abrams Attacked A Federal Tax Trial Balloon Supported By One Senator, However Is Mum On Huge Tax Hikes About To Hit Biden’s Desk
Stacey Abrams, the Democratic nominee working to take Governor Kemp’s job this November, hasn’t mentioned whether or not she helps the IRA. However does a state-level workplace seeker really want to weigh in on a federal tax proposal? It’s unclear if most Georgians suppose so, however Stacey Abrams herself definitely does.
Abrams’ silence on the a whole bunch of billions of {dollars} value of tax hikes that Senators Warnock and Ossoff just lately handed stands in distinction with Abrams’ criticism of a 12 level coverage platform launched by U.S. Senator Rick Scott (R-FL) in March. Specifically, Abrams attacked considered one of greater than 100 bullets in Scott’s platform as a result of it seemed like it could end in a tax hike. Abrams latched onto that vaguely worded piece of Senator Scott’s platform and sought to tie Governor Kemp to the proposal, though Kemp had by no means commented on the Senator Scott’s platform or indicated that he was even conscious of its existence.
Because the Washington Put up truth checker famous on the time, “not a single different Republican in Congress has embraced Scott’s particular tax proposal.” That didn’t cease Abrams from making an attempt to tie Kemp, a state stage official, to the federal coverage platform of Florida’s junior senator. Abrams needs Georgians to suppose Kemp is supportive of a federal tax proposal that was by no means beneath severe consideration and about which Kemp by no means mentioned a phrase. In the meantime Abrams refuses to say what she thinks of the a whole bunch of billions of {dollars} in federal tax hikes that her fellow Democrats truly handed out of the Senate and can quickly ship to President Biden’s desk. When contacted, Abrams’ marketing campaign declined to touch upon the matter.
Critics contend the context for such a big federal tax hike is sub-optimal. The IRA, which is anticipated to be handed by the Home on Friday, August 12, will impose a whole bunch of billions of {dollars} in larger taxes after consecutive quarters of financial contraction and at a time when federal tax collections are on monitor to hit a document excessive.
“Whole collections are working 25% larger in fiscal yr 2022,” William McMcBride, an economist on the Tax Basis, famous about present federal tax collections. “If that sample holds, whole federal tax collections will hit $5.04 trillion in fiscal yr 2022, or 21.0 p.c of GDP—a brand new all-time excessive in each nominal phrases and as a share of GDP.”
Throughout the April invoice signing for the state revenue tax minimize, Governor Kemp mentioned the bipartisan tax reform bundle was “designed to place more cash into hardworking Georgians’ pockets.” In distinction, the IRA that Georgia’s two senators handed on a party-line vote is designed to place more cash into federal coffers.
The Related Press asserted on August 7 that the invoice “retains to Biden’s pledge to not increase taxes on these incomes lower than $400,000 a yr.” The AP repeated that assertion once more extra just lately, reporting on August 10 that “supporters of the invoice didn’t vote for tax will increase on individuals incomes $30,000.” Nonetheless, because the Joint Committee on Taxation distributional evaluation reveals, the IRA will enhance the federal tax burden for tens of thousands and thousands of households, not simply on these making lower than $400,000, but additionally for these making lower than $50,000 and even under $10,000.
Regardless of the JCT’s distributional evaluation displaying that enactment of the IRA will end in the next federal tax burden, even for these on the lowest ranges of revenue, there are nonetheless those that dispute whether or not the President has damaged his tax pledge.
“There are not any direct taxes on individuals making lower than $400,000,” mentioned Marc Goldwein, senior vice chairman and senior coverage director on the Committee for a Accountable Federal Finances. Eric Toder, co-director of the City-Brookings Tax Coverage Heart on the City Institute, mentioned “Biden’s assertion is right should you embody solely adjustments in particular person revenue taxes.”
But Biden didn’t restrict his tax pledge to revenue taxes alone and even an oblique tax hike nonetheless leaves households worse off financially. “The joint committee’s evaluation reveals that there are lots of people within the decrease revenue brackets who maintain shares, both immediately or not directly, in US corporations,” added the Tax Basis’s McBride.
“The Administration has been very cautious to say that the ‘particular person revenue tax price’ wouldn’t change for anybody making lower than $400,000 per yr, but everybody is aware of that the company tax burden falls on staff and shoppers, in addition to house owners,” Senate Finance Committee Rating Member Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) mentioned of the JCT projections. “This evaluation reveals that burdens of the proposed tax will increase within the Democrats’ reckless invoice could be so substantial and so widespread all through all revenue classes that no quantity of short-term well being credit, or subsidies for $80,000 luxurious SUVs, will overcome the tax enhance burdens that will be overwhelmingly felt by lower- and middle-income Individuals.”
Anticipate deceptive stories concerning the IRA’s tax results to proceed to be unfold by different media retailers, the White Home, and congressional Democrats. False or deceptive statements from politicians or campaigns should not shocking. Although it’s exhausting for a lot of to know why media retailers just like the AP would report such verifiable falsehoods concerning the IRA’s tax impression, it does assist clarify why Gallup just lately discovered solely 16% of U.S. adults say they’ve “a terrific deal” or “rather a lot” of confidence within the media. That’s a historic low, however as protection of the IRA demonstrates, it’s deserved.
Georgia
Sugar Bowl Kickoff Time Again Adjusted for Notre Dame vs. Georgia Showdown
The postponed Sugar Bowl between Notre Dame and Georgia is changing times again.
Instead of being played at 8:45 p.m. ET on Thursday night the game is now going to kickoff at 4:00 p.m. ET instead. This comes after both coaching staffs reportedly requested an earlier start time following the announcement of the game being pushed back a day. The game is still set to be broadcast on ESPN.
Pete Thamel of ESPN was the first to report the news on Wednesday afternoon.
The move makes sense for Notre Dame and Georgia, as the winner gets advances to take on Penn State in the Orange Bowl on January 9 in Miami.
Penn State already had extra rest going into the Orange Bowl as it played and defeated Boise State in the Fiesta Bowl on Tuesday night. The Nittany Lions will now have nine days rest before the national semi-final while the winner of the Sugar Bowl will have just a week.
In the relm of things a roughly four hour difference in kickoff times might not seem like much but certainly every hour is valuable when you get to this point in the season.
We will continue to keep you updated here at Notre Dame on Sports Illustrated throughout the day.
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Georgia
Georgia Tech's Dani Carnegie leads women's basketball starting five for Week 7
These women’s basketball players posted big-time performances and were named to the NCAA.com starting five this week.
Dani Carnegie, Georgia Tech
For the third straight week, and fourth time overall this season, Georgia Tech freshman guard Dani Carnegie was voted Atlantic Coast Conference Rookie of the Week, after recording her fourth 20-plus point game in Tech’s lone outing this week.
Carnegie scored 24 points and added five rebounds and two steals in Georgia Tech’s 100-61 home win over Pittsburgh on Sunday. It marked her second straight game with 20-plus points, and third in the last four games. Overall, Carnegie has logged 12 double-figure scoring games with a personal-high against the Panthers. Carnegie had four three-pointers to match her season-best, which she has done six times this season. The freshman has hit multiple three-pointers in 11 games to highlight her impressive freshman debut.
Carnegie leads Georgia Tech offensively on the year, averaging 15.1 points per game. She also leads the Yellow Jackets in three-point field goals made (39) and three-point field goal percentage (39.4). She ranks fourth in both statistical categories in the ACC. Carnegie continues to lead all freshmen in scoring in the league and ranks 12th nationally among the freshmen class.
With Georgia Tech’s win against Pittsburgh, the Yellow Jackets moved to 14-0 on the season and 2-0 in conference play. Tech remained steady at No. 13 in the Associated Press Top 25 poll, also released on Monday.
The Yellow Jackets return to action on Jan. 2, welcoming Syracuse to McCamish Pavilion.
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Delanie Crawford, Tulsa
Tulsa’s Delanie Crawford put on a brilliant performance in the Golden Hurricane’s 93-84 home win over East Carolina on opening day of the American Athletic Conference season, scoring a career-high 36 points.
The senior guard connected on 14-of-20 shots from the field, including a 3-for-7 tally from 3-point range, and a perfect 5-for-5 mark from the free-throw line. She collected a team-high seven rebounds and added four steals and two assists for a record-setting day in the Donald W. Reynolds Center.
The 36 points by Crawford ranks as the third-highest total scored by a Tulsa player in program history, just four points shy of the single-game record 40 by Cheryle Meppelink (vs. John Brown, Jan. 10, 1987). The 36 points also marks the second-most scored in a conference game for Tulsa. In addition, Crawford had 26 first-half points, tying Kendrian Elliott’s (2016-20) Reynolds Center record for most points scored in a half. Elliott had 26 in the second half against Arkansas State in 2019. Crawford also finished with 14 made field goals, the second-best single-game effort in Tulsa history. It ties the record for the most recorded in a conference game for the Hurricane.
The Hurricane, 7-6 overall, will spend New Year’s Day in Denton, Texas, where they’ll face North Texas.
Harsimran Kaur, Rhode Island
Senior Harsimran “Honey” Kaur shot lights out in the Atlantic 10 Conference opener for Rhode Island, pouring in a career-best 27 points leading the Rams to an 83-63 win over Saint Louis on Dec. 29.
The center connected on 10-of-16 shots from the floor and was 5-of-7 from the 3-point line, with the five threes establishing a new career-high. Kaur added 10 rebounds for her fourth double-double of the season, and second in as many games.
Named A-10 Player of the Week, Kaur leads the Rams this season in scoring, averaging 12.5 points per game over the first 14 games.
The Rams, 6-8 overall, are back in action on Jan. 2 at St. Bonaventure.
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Olivia Miles, Notre Dame
Notre Dame point guard Olivia Miles produced a historic performance on Sunday against Virginia with an 11-point, 10-rebound, 14-assist triple-double as the third-ranked Fighting Irish rolled to a 95-54 victory over the Hoos. The 14 assists tied a career-high for Miles.
The 5-10 junior achieved her third triple-double of the season and sixth of her career. Miles is now tied with Maryland great Alyssa Thomas for most career triple-doubles in ACC history, and she is the first ever ACC player to notch back-to-back triple-doubles. Miles had 18 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists against Loyola Maryland on Dec. 22. Additionally, Miles joins Jackie Young as the only Notre Dame player to post a triple-double in Atlantic Coast Conference play. Young also did it against Virginia.
But the triple-double accolades weren’t the only lines added to the All-American’s resume last weekend. When Miles grabbed rebound No. 9 on Sunday, she reached 500 in her career. She is now one of just three players in Notre Dame women’s basketball history to have 1,000 points, 500 rebounds and 500 assists, joining Skylar Diggins and Lindsay Allen.
On the season, Miles is leading the ACC with 7.2 assists per game. She is also the NCAA’s active leader in career assists per game at 6.8.
Miles and the Irish, 11-2 overall and 2-0 in ACC play, will return to action on Sunday at No. 17 North Carolina.
Maddy Skorupski, Oakland
Oakland improved to 3-0 in Horizon League play as junior guard Maddy Skorupski finished with a career-high 29 points (11-of-20 field goals), five steals and four assists in an 86-85 overtime win over Northern Kentucky on Dec. 29.
Skorupski had given Oakland a two-point lead with 14 seconds remaining in regulation only to see Northern Kentucky tie the game and send it to overtime. In overtime, the Golden Grizzlies would put the game away, as Skorupski’s and-one layup put Oakland ahead 82-75 with 34 seconds left, giving them enough to secure an eventual one-point win, behind a team-effort, going 6-8 (.750) from the field in overtime.
Through 12 games this season, Skorupski is averaging a team-best 17.2 points per game, while shooting 41.9 percent from the floor.
Oakland, 5-7 overall, will look to stay perfect in conference play when they host Cleveland State on Jan. 3.
Georgia
Georgia judge is found dead in courtroom on final day on bench
This story discusses suicide. If you or someone you know is having thoughts of suicide, please contact the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988 or 1-800-273-TALK (8255).
Police are investigating after a Georgia state judge was found dead in a courtroom on Tuesday.
The Effingham County Sheriff’s deputies said in a release that they found State Court Judge Stephen Yekel, 74, on Tuesday morning.
He appears to have died by suicide, with a self-inflicted gunshot, the sheriff’s office said.
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His death is being investigated by the Effingham County Sheriff’s Office and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation will perform the autopsy.
Authorities said Yekel died sometime late Monday night or early Tuesday morning.
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Yekel, who was appointed to the bench two years ago by Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp, lost his election bid earlier this year.
His term was scheduled to end Dec. 31, 2024.
In a statement, the Effingham County Board of Commissioners said that they were “deeply saddened” by Yekel’s death.
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“The Effingham County Board of Commissioners and staff are deeply saddened by the tragic death of Judge Steve Yekel at the Effingham County Courthouse today, and we offer our condolences to his family and loved ones,” they said.
Fox News Digital has reached out to the Effingham County Board of Commissioners for comment.
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