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Perspective on the ‘08 Session

Paula — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 19:36:47 +0000

The Capitol Report – Final Report
April 17, 2008
Vol. 4 No. 13

Perspective on the ‘08 Session: Success, Failure and Lessons Learned

The metro Atlanta business community identified two very important goals through the Regional Business Coalition’s 2008 Legislative Agenda – passing a State Water Plan and passing legislation to improve our transportation network by providing new funding options and better delivery of projects.

On the subject of water policy, the session can only be considered a success. Legislators approved the State Water Plan submitted after three years of work by the State Water Council and beat back a number of attempts to tie the metro region’s hands when it came to managing its water. In addition, legislation was passed to simplify the reservoir permitting process and $120 million was included in the state budget for reservoir, water and sewer projects.

This string of accomplishments should be attributed to the leadership of Governor Perdue, Lt. Governor Cagle, Speaker Richardson and the chairs of the Natural Resource Committees, Representative Lynn Smith and Senator Ross Tolleson. They all worked together towards a common purpose and the outcome demonstrates what happens when these leaders unite.

When it comes to transportation, it was a very different story.

House and Senate leaders agreed on a compromise for a constitutional amendment allowing a regional transportation SPLOST but the Governor’s opposition to the legislation and the inability to find common ground on a plan to cut taxes led to the Senate Republican leadership opposing the plan. Combined with the four Democrats who either voted against the plan or did not vote, the end result was a narrow loss and another year of frustration for those that have worked so hard to find a solution to our transportation problems.

The failure to get the regional SPLOST legislation to final passage should not obscure some very important victories in the effort. Those achievements include:

• For the first time, an incredibly diverse coalition of stakeholders – representing large and small communities, transit advocates and road builders, environmentalists and the business community – united around a set of common principles and were able to maintain that unity through the entire session, even as the legislation changed and attempts were made to split the group apart.

• The House of Representatives passed Senate Resolution 845 with majorities exceeding the 2/3 requirement not once, but twice. There were some who doubted whether that was actually possible. The vote demonstrates once and for all that the will to enact a solution to our transportation funding crisis does exist in the General Assembly.

The lesson from the different outcomes to the water and transportation efforts is clear: A coordinated approach from state leadership is critical – whether the issue is tax reform, transportation funding or water.

The business community should not ignore the successes of the 2008 session as it contemplates its next steps. And the state’s leadership should not ignore the lessons learned from this session as it formulates its plans for next year.

**The Capitol Report is provided by the Cherokee County Chamber of Commerce in partnership with the Regional Business Coalition. The Regional Business Coalition (RBC) is comprised of 16 local chambers of commerce and business organizations in the metro Atlanta region representing over 16,000 businesses. To learn more, please visit www.rbcatl.com.

Transportation Funding Bill Comes Up 3 Votes Short

Paula — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 20:00:51 +0000

The Capitol Report
April 4, 2008
Vol. 4 No. 12

Transportation Funding Bill Comes Up 3 Votes Short in Senate with Just Minutes Left on the Clock

After hours of intense negotiations between the House and the Senate, a compromise was reached on the transportation funding resolution, SR 845, and companion legislation late in the evening on Friday. Unfortunately it was all for naught as the State Senate could only muster 35 votes for the resolution with time running out on the clock. The legislation needed 38 votes to pass because constitutional amendments require a 2/3 margin to pass. The House had just passed the legislation with 136 votes in favor minutes before.

Despite the setback, the progress that was made on transportation funding in the 2008 session was remarkable. The leadership exhibited by Transportation Committee Chairmen Vance Smith and Jeff Mullis, along with Rep. Donna Sheldon, Rep. Mark Hamilton, Sen. Doug Stoner, Sen. Don Balfour and others made the difference in getting the legislation so close to passage.

There is no question that traffic congestion and the funding needed to provide real relief will continue to be the number one issue that the metro Atlanta region faces in the future. It remains to be seen if our state’s leaders will have the courage to address this threat to our quality of life and economic growth.

**The Capitol Report is provided by the Cherokee County Chamber, in partnership with the Regional Business Coalition. The Regional Business Coalition (RBC) is comprised of 16 local chambers of commerce and business organizations in the metro Atlanta region representing over 16,000 businesses. To learn more, please visit www.rbcatl.com.

SR 845: Compromise Must Be Worked Out by Friday or the Bill Dies

Paula — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 15:51:35 +0000

The Capitol Report
March 31, 2008
Vol. 4, No. 10

SR 845: Compromise Must Be Worked Out by Friday or the Bill Dies

The House of Representatives passed the Regional Transportation Funding legislation last week by a vote of 136-35. There was bipartisan support for the issue with 72 Republicans and 64 Democrats voting yes.

The House version of Senate Resolution 845 provides for a constitutional amendment this November which would allow regions to create a regional transportation plan through their RDC. The regions would then take the plans to their voters in a separate regional referendum for approval along with up to a 1% sales tax to pay for it. A project list would be required to be published before the vote and the tax would have a sunset to ensure that voter’s have accountability.

The Senate version provides for a constitutional amendment as well. That amendment would allow two or more counties to form their own region through an intergovernmental agreement before moving forward with their own SPLOST. Enabling legislation would be required to be passed by the General Assembly before a vote could take place.

SR 845 is now in the hands of a conference committee of Senate and House members. Senate leaders have expressed concern over a regional vote. House leaders don’t believe counties will voluntarily join with other counties to complete projects. They’re also concerned that a county by county vote would lead to a “patchwork quilt” of projects as counties that voted no would have their projects taken out of the plan.

With significant differences remaining, the conference committee will have to work diligently to come up with a compromise that the two houses can agree to by 2/3 vote. Complicating matters is the fact that the Session is scheduled to finish this Friday. If the legislation does not get worked out and voted on by both chambers by that day, the regional transportation funding mechanism will fail to pass.

To send an e-mail to your legislators asking them to make sure that SR 845 passes this year, please go to www.getgeorgiamoving.com and click the Contact Your Legislators button at the top of the screen.

**The Capitol Report is provided by the Cherokee County Chamber, in partnership with the Regional Business Coalition. The Regional Business Coalition (RBC) is comprised of 16 local chambers of commerce and business organizations in the metro Atlanta region representing over 16,000 businesses. To learn more, please visit www.rbcatl.com.

Regional Transportation Funding Bill

Paula — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 13:45:04 +0000

The Capitol Report
March 21, 2008
Vol. 4, No. 9

Regional Transportation Funding Bill Scheduled for Floor Vote Thursday

The House Rules Committee added three amendments to SR 845 Thursday morning and then included the bill on the debate calendar for next Thursday, March 27th. That will be the 35th Day of the 40 Day session.

Senate Resolution 845 provides for a constitutional amendment this November which would allow regions to create a regional transportation plan through their RDC. The regions would then take the plans to their voters in a separate regional referendum for approval along with up to a 1% sales tax to pay for it. A project list would be required to be published before the vote and the tax would have a sunset to ensure that voter’s have accountability.

Amendments were added to include an opt-out mechanism for counties prior to a regional vote and to exempt off-road fuel from the tax. A third amendment requested by the Democratic caucus as well as some conservative Republicans dedicates the fourth per cent that is currently taxed on motor fuel to transportation purposes including transit. Currently the fourth per cent on gasoline is not dedicated to DOT but instead goes to the general fund and may be used in any part of the state budget.

The opt-out mechanism would allow a county to opt out of a regional vote by a majority vote of the county commission. The vote must occur within 45 days of the region setting its transportation list to be valid. If a county commission votes to opt out, they would then have 15 additional days to reconsider that vote. If a county commission does not vote, they are deemed to have agreed to the transportation list and to participate in the regional vote.

SR 845 needs to receive 120 votes on the House floor to move to the Senate. It is expected that the Senate will move to disagree to the House version in order to send the legislation to a conference committee where final details will be worked out. The resolution will then be reported out of conference to the Senate and House where it will again need a two-thirds majority to become law.

Will a House Floor Vote on Transportation Funding Happen?

Paula — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 18:13:56 +0000

The Capitol Report
March 17, 2008
Vol. 4, No. 8

Will a House Floor Vote on Transportation Funding Happen? Only If YOU Get Involved

Last Wednesday the House Transportation Committee attached language onto Senate Resolution 845 that would allow regions to fund critical transportation needs by implementing a transportation sales tax after a successful voter referendum. This week the question is when – and whether – the full House will vote on the legislation.

The measure will require 120 votes from the 180 member House to pass because constitutional amendments require a 2/3 majority. It is unlikely that House leaders will allow the measure to come to the floor without some assurance that there will be at least 120 legislators or more willing to support it.

A number of legislators have expressed support but many are still deciding how they will vote on the bill. Phone calls and e-mails from constituents have a tremendous impact on these legislators.

If traffic congestion is hurting your quality of life or impacting your business, please visit GetGeorgiaMoving.com to send an e-mail to your state representative supporting the regional transportation funding bill (SR 845).

**The Capitol Report is provided by the Cherokee County Chamber of Commerce, in partnership with the Regional Business Coalition. The Regional Business Coalition (RBC) is comprised of 16 local chambers of commerce and business organizations in the metro Atlanta region representing over 16,000 businesses. To learn more, please visit www.rbcatl.com.

House Transportation

Paula — Fri, 07 Mar 2008 16:33:38 +0000

The Capitol Report: March 6, 2008 — Vol. 4, No. 7

House Transportation Chair Endorses Regional Approach

House Transportation Chairman Vance Smith has released a new draft of his transportation funding legislation that mirrors the recommendations of the Get Georgia Moving Coalition, which includes the Regional Business Coalition and over 40 other transportation stakeholder groups.

Under the revised language, a constitutional amendment will be voted on in November 2008 that allows regions, through their Regional Development Centers, to propose up to a 1% general use sales tax to fund transportation projects in that region. The regional development center for the metro area is the Atlanta Regional Commission.

A region would then be able to hold a referendum asking voters to approve the tax through a ballot question that lists the projects to be completed, the maximum amount to be collected, and the date at which the tax would end. Regions would be able to hold referendums beginning in July 2009.

Senate leaders have indicated that they are supportive of the approach although there are still some final details that would have to be worked out. Senate Transportation Chair Jeff Mullis said at a press conference Thursday morning that the two sides were close to an agreement.

House Leaders Gearing Up for Transportation Funding Vote as Crossover Day Looms

Paula — Thu, 06 Mar 2008 19:13:23 +0000

The Capitol Report

February 29, 2008

Vol. 4, No. 6

House Leaders Gearing Up for Transportation Funding Vote as Crossover Day Looms

The casual observer of the State House might have concluded that the transportation funding initiative had fallen to the wayside after a lack of action on the bills this week. Nothing could be further from the truth.

House leaders have been gauging support and working with members to address concerns prior to HB 1139 and HR 1226 being brought to the floor of the House for a vote. It is likely that some of those concerns will be addressed in amendments to the legislation when it is brought up.

Changes and vote counting will have to be finalized some time next week if the measures are to pass, however. Day 30, also known as Crossover Day, could come as early as next Friday and any bills which have not passed over to the Senate by the end of that day will not be available for consideration for the rest of the Session.

Transportation Funding Measures Pick Up Steam

Paula — Fri, 22 Feb 2008 19:39:43 +0000

The Capitol Report

February 21, 2008

Vol. 4, No. 5

Both the House and Senate made significant advances on their respective transportation funding measures on Wednesday.

The Senate voted 51-4 to pass Senate Resolution 845 which allows counties to form regions voluntarily and bring a one percent SPLOST to their voters to fund transportation projects. Senator Doug Stoner (Cobb – D) added an amendment to the bill to ensure that 90% of the money generated in the region would stay within the region. The original language only guaranteed 80% of the funding would stay within the region. The amendment passed without dissent.

The House proposal, HB 1139 and HR 1226, received “do-pass” recommendations from the Transportation Committee by a vote of 21-5 after a four hour debate that lasted well into Wednesday evening. Representative Mark Hamilton (Forsyth – R) made the case during the debate for requiring DOT to publish a project list before the referendum. The committee agreed that the increased accountability for DOT was important to the success of the referendum and passed the amendment by voice vote.

The House proposal would bring a referendum to the state this November for a one percent sales tax to fund transportation projects. 90% of the funding would be required to be spent within the region where it is generated and the other 10% would be available for inter-regional or statewide projects.

With the Senate Resolution now passed over to the House and the House legislation in position for a floor vote, the focus now turns to determining if the House and Senate can agree on a common approach that combines the best elements of both proposals.