Georgia
Georgia’s Kemp seeks tax breaks, rebutting Abrams on economy
ATLANTA (AP) — Georgia GOP Gov. Brian Kemp will unfurl his first main coverage proposals of his reelection bid Thursday, pledging one other state earnings tax rebate and revival of a long-dormant state property tax break whereas contending with Democratic challenger Stacey Abrams over who’s greatest for the state’s economic system.
After Abrams argued this week that “miserly” Republicans are denying primary companies and ignoring inequities in pursuit of low spending and tax cuts for the wealthy, Kemp began swinging at Abrams as he celebrated record-high financial growth numbers Wednesday.
“If anybody needs to counsel we aren’t delivering on jobs and alternatives for everybody on this state, they need to get their information straight earlier than commenting on issues that they merely don’t perceive,” Kemp mentioned.
Abrams is looking for traction in opposition to a Republican incumbent she narrowly trails within the polls in an important swing state. The challenger argues that not solely Kemp’s fiscal insurance policies however his assist for abortion restrictions, unfastened gun legal guidelines and even tighter controls on what’s taught in colleges threaten the expansion of a $683 billion state economic system.
Kemp is sticking to the script Georgia Republicans have adopted in 20 years in energy. He’ll inform voters Thursday that in the event that they reelect him, he’ll search a second spherical of earnings tax rebates just like the $1.1 billion in funds issued this 12 months, in response to a Kemp marketing campaign official with data of plans who spoke on situation of anonymity. This 12 months’s funds gave dual-earner households $500, single adults with dependents $375, and single adults $250.
The governor additionally will search to revive a property tax break that succumbed in 2009 amid the state funds disaster brought on by the Nice Recession, the official mentioned in previewing Kemp’s announcement. The tax break, created by Democrat Roy Barnes in 1999, value the state $428 million in its final 12 months in 2008, saving householders $200 to $300 on tax payments.
Kemp mentioned Wednesday that he needs to “assist Georgians additional combat by a 40-year excessive inflation and intensely excessive prices that our residents are experiencing” specializing in the unpopularity of Democratic President Joe Biden.
Kemp can hand out money as a result of Georgia’s coffers are fats. The state ran a roughly $5 billion surplus within the 12 months ended June 30, with greater than $2 billion in surplus nonetheless banked from the 12 months earlier than.
The governor has additionally repeatedly renewed a fuel tax break over 5 months. His administration plans to attract from the excess to channel cash to roadbuilding instead of what’s already $750 million in foregone gasoline taxes. Kemp additionally signed a state earnings tax minimize that begins in 2024 and will ultimately cut back taxes by greater than $2 billion.
Abrams already known as for an additional spherical of earnings tax rebates. She’s additionally known as on Kemp to droop the fuel tax by the tip of 2022, and has pledged to not attempt to roll again the earnings tax minimize, regardless that she criticizes advantages to the rich.
“Whereas Brian Kemp is following Stacey Abrams’ lead in calling for tax rebates, he’s nonetheless pushing an excessive and harmful agenda that threatens Georgia households and places our economic system in danger,” mentioned Abrams spokesperson Alex Floyd.
Kemp accuses Abrams of backing his insurance policies solely as a result of they’re in style.
“She criticized all these issues earlier than she got here out and is now supporting them,” he mentioned.
Abrams slammed the property tax break in a speech Tuesday, calling it “paying off the property taxes of mansion homeowners and millionaires.” The Census Bureau says 66% of Georgians personal houses, however Abrams focuses on housing affordability and the Kemp administration’s stuttering payout of federal COVID-19 aid to renters.
Kemp used the ability of incumbency to stomp Republican challenger David Perdue, delivering advantages and legislative accomplishments earlier than the Might main. However he must wait till after any reelection for legislative approval of his new plans, barring an election-season particular session.
The governor can be constructing off Georgia’s file $21.2 billion in state-incentivized enterprise investments final 12 months, with firms committing to create 51,000 jobs. Georgia additionally has a record-low unemployment price.
Abrams argues many, particularly in rural Georgia, are lacking out. She notes Georgia’s earnings rankings have fallen throughout 20 years of Republican rule.
“Most Georgia households are doing every part proper,” Abrams mentioned Tuesday, arguing for extra state funding in schooling and well being care to spice up everybody. “They work full-time jobs. They’re placing slightly away once they can regardless of rising costs. But center class households are struggling.”
Kemp argues solely Democrats are guilty for financial instability.
“The one cause Georgians are fearful about going into poverty in rural Georgia proper now could be as a result of Stacey Abrams helped Joe Biden get elected president,” he mentioned Wednesday, “and now we have 40-year-high inflation and every part that they’re shopping for — whether or not it’s butter, eggs, milk, meat, another protein — is astronomical proper now.”
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Observe Jeff Amy at http://twitter.com/jeffamy.
Georgia
U.S. News & World report says this Georgia favorite is one of the best restaurants to work for
Former Georgia football coach Mark Richt discusses “Chick Fil A Dawg Bowl 2024”
Former Georgia football coach Mark Richt discusses “Chick Fil A Dawg Bowl 2024” and his fundraiser to raise money for Parkinson’s and Chron’s research.
Chick-fil-A has been recognized as one of the best companies to work for in Georgia and the United States, according to U.S. News and World Report.
The company, which was founded in 1946, has been praised for its employee benefits and its commitment to creating a positive work environment.
Chick-fil-A is known for its friendly customer service and its delicious chicken sandwiches. The company has over 10,000 employees and is a major employer in the state of Georgia.
Why is Chick-fil-A the best restaurant to work for in Georgia?
According to the report, the top benefit that is provided is medical insurance. On a scale from 1 to 5, here are some of its ratings:
- Quality of pay: 3
- Stability: 4
- Work life balance: 5
Who founded Chick-fil-A?
The trio behind Chick-Fil-A is the Cathy family and siblings are Bubba, Dan, and Trudy.
For more information, visit usnews.com.
Vanessa Countryman is the Trending Topics Reporter for the the Deep South Connect Team Georgia. Email her at Vcountryman@gannett.com.
Georgia
Your Georgia Power bill will increase in January. State says hike necessary ‘to keep grid going.’
ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) – In January, your Georgia Power bill will increase by 3.5%.
That adjustment equates to a $5.85 increase on each monthly bill for the average resident using 1,000 kilowatt hours of energy, according to a Georgia Power spokesperson.
The Georgia Public Service Commission approved the rate increase in mid-December, following similar rate increases in 2023 and 2024.
These annual rate increases were orchestrated as part of a 2022 agreement between the commission and the utility company.
“No one wants a rate increase, but in order to keep the grid going, we have to fund it,” said Commissioner Tim Echols.
Echols said the board negotiated the rate increases to occur annually rather than all at once in 2022, to help limit the impact on Georgia consumers.
He said the state approved 60% of what Georgia Power was seeking in their proposed rate adjustments.
Echols commiserated with customers experiencing higher energy bills.
“We’ve had too many rate increases over the last three years,” Echols said.
Some customers voiced frustration over a separate bill bump this summer.
Georgia Power is expected to make $306 million in additional revenue from the January rate hike, down from the originally projected $400 million estimate in 2022, according to a state spokesperson.
“Another increase in January, so I’m mentally preparing and trying to budget for that to kind of see what that shock is going to be like,” said one Georgia Power customer named Marcus.
A Georgia Power spokesperson told Atlanta News First the company is committed to keeping utility bills affordable and said the average Georgia Power customer pays 15% less than the national average on their energy bills.
“As much as you hate having your power bill going up a few dollars, you would really hate rolling blackouts,” said Echols, who said maintaining a reliable power system is his top priority as a commissioner.
The rate increase comes as Southern Company, Georgia Power’s parent company, is reporting notable profits.
In an October earnings report, Southern Company reported earnings of $3.9 billion, compared with $3.1 billion for the same period in 2023.
The company said those earnings were partially offset by increased expenses and taxes.
A Georgia Power spokesperson also recognized the profit earnings by Southern Company, attributing the “high performance throughout the year” to weather and growth across the system, they said in a statement to Atlanta News First.
“Our parent company, Southern Company, has reported high performance throughout this year, largely due to weather and growth across our system,” the Georgia Power spokesperson said.
Said Echols: “I feel like the investments have made Georgia a more reliable place to live and to work.”
On Tuesday, a Georgia Power spokesperson pointed to customer assistance programs for those struggling to keep up with their energy bills.
Earlier this year, the utility company expanded an income-qualified discount program for those with limited incomes and in need of financial resources.
Copyright 2024 WANF. All rights reserved.
Georgia
2 Georgia men among federal death row inmates spared by President Joe Biden
ATLANTA – Two of the federal inmates on death row whose lives have been spared by President Joe Biden are from the state of Georgia.
Biden commuted the sentences of 37 of the 40 people on federal death row on Monday morning, converting their punishments to life imprisonment.
PREVIOUS STORY: Biden gives life in prison to most federal death row inmates: What to know
Those two inmates from Georgia are Meier Jason Brown and Anthony Battle.
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Battle was convicted and sentenced to death in 1997 for killing a prison guard. He was the first Georgia man to receive a federal death sentence after Congress restored capital punishment in 1988.
Battle was sentenced to die after he killed 31-year-old guard D’Antonio Washington. Battle, who was serving a life sentence for the 1987 murder of his wife, repeatedly struck Washington in the back of the head with a hammer at the Atlanta Federal Penitentiary.
According to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, when Battle was given a chance at the end of his trial to ask jurors to spare his life, he told them that Washington “died like a dog.”
Brown was convicted and sentenced to death in 2003 for the fatal stabbing of a postal worker.
Brown was sentenced to death by a federal jury in Savannah.
On Nov. 30, 2002, Brown killed 48-year-old postmistress Sallie Gaglia during a robbery. He reportedly stabbed her 10 times.
In a statement, Biden said, “I’ve dedicated my career to reducing violent crime and ensuring a fair and effective justice system.”
“Today, I am commuting the sentences of 37 of the 40 individuals on federal death row to life sentences without the possibility of parole,” Biden continued. “These commutations are consistent with the moratorium my administration has imposed on federal executions, in cases other than terrorism and hate-motivated mass murder.”
Biden also said that he condemns the murders and grieves for the victims, but he was guided by his conscience and his experience as a public defender, chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, vice president, and president. He added that he is “convinced more than ever that we must stop the use of the death penalty at the federal level.”
With Biden’s move, there are now just three federal inmates still facing execution.
They are Dylann Roof, who carried out the 2015 racist slayings of nine Black members of Mother Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, South Carolina; 2013 Boston Marathon bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev; and Robert Bowers, who fatally shot 11 congregants at Pittsburgh’s Tree of Life Synagogue in 2018, the deadliest antisemitic attack in U.S. history.
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