Thank you for your interest in the 2012 Senate Page Program.
Due to overwhelming requests to page during the 2012 session, we have compiled a waiting list. After you submit your information below - we will add you to the waiting list and contact you as soon as there is an opening.
As an alternative, you can contact your local State Senator or State House Representative to seek an available page slot with their office.
You can find your State Senator or Representative here.
Thank you for your patience.
The Page program provides a unique opportunity for students to get a first hand experience of their state government. As a page, the student will work for one legislative day. Every page must be twelve years old or older.
The hours vary depending on when you page. Most legislative days run from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. A Page is paid $10.00 for their days service.
Pages are responsible for their own transportation to and from the Capitol. All pages must report to the Page Desk by 9:00 a.m.
The Page Desk is located directly in front of the Senate chamber on the third floor. An orientation session is held at 9:30 in room 341 for all pages. Here students will have explained the layout of the Capitol, where legislative offices are located, and provide a general overview of what they will be doing. It is recommended that every page be neatly dressed in comfortable shoes and clothing.
A certificate of service will be presented to each page at the end of the day. This certificate will serve as an excuse from school.
If the page program is something you would like to do, then please fill out this application. The Lieutenant Governor has a limited number of pages per session. You may be put on a waiting list for next year or you may get to pick a day this session. You will notice within the application that three choices of dates are listed. This is to provide the Lieutenant Governor's office staff with the ability to search other dates to find a vacancy if it is available. If there are none, you may reach out to your local state senator or representative.
Minimum age requirement is twelve (12) years of age.
If you have any other questions, please contact Kim Crowell (404) 656-5030.
Atlanta, GA – September 13, 2011 – Tackling the problem of financial illiteracy among Georgia teenagers head-on, Lieutenant Governor Casey Cagle, Atlanta Falcons Wide Receiver Roddy White, and Visa Inc. today announced the statewide rollout of an effort to improve the money management skills of high school and middle school students. This free educational video game and classroom curriculum called Financial Football was developed by Visa Inc.
Lieutenant Governor Cagle kicked off this new financial literacy campaign today in the Falcons’ locker room at the Georgia Dome with help from
The centerpiece of Visa’s nationwide educational initiative with the NFL and NFL PLAYERS, Financial Football helps students and adults tackle their financial futures. This free game is accompanied by a classroom curriculum and is being distributed by Lieutenant Governor Cagle to every public middle and high school in
“Financial Football is a wonderful way to get students interested in personal finances and give them a financial playbook they can use the rest of their lives. This is a valuable program and a great partnership between my office, Visa and the NFL,” said Lieutenant Governor Cagle.
“Kids need to know how to make smart money management decisions early in life,” said White. “It takes the combined efforts of parents, teachers and mentors within the community to give teenagers a strong background in personal finance.”
Available online, at www.georgia.financialfootball.com, Financial Football puts students’ fiscal knowledge to the test in an online simulation game environment by combining the structure and rules of the NFL with financial education questions of varying difficulty. Visa has also released the game as a free iPhone app on iTunes, along with an optimized HD iPad version.
Each year the Lieutenant Governor’s Office offers an internship during the legislative session and then a summer semester and fall semester intership. These internship gives students or recent graduates a firsthand experience with the Georgia Legislature. Ideal candidates are individuals who have taken political science, public policy, and/or government classes, and would like to see in person how state politics work. Because there is only one position available each time period we encourage you to submit your resume early.
Please note that Georgia General Assembly also offers an internship program that is separate from the Lt. Governor’s program. This program offers around 30 students from
If you are interested in becoming an intern with the Lt. Governor’s Office, please fill out the following application.
From CBS Atlanta
By Danielle Powell
Lieutenant Governor Casey Cagle and Ford Motor Company Fund will announce a $20,000 contribution Monday that will fund grants for local school systems to implement Ford PAS Next Generation Learning.
The first two grants will be awarded to the Newton County School System and the Hapeville Charter College and Career Academy.
A competition for three additional grants will be held this fall for schools interested in implementing the Ford PAS curriculum.
Ford PAS offers interdisciplinary, inquiry-based and team-focused learning for high school students.
Currently, Floyd, Newton and Effingham counties are affiliated with the Ford PAS Next Generation Learning Network.
Lt. Governor Cagles Remarks:
Full video including additional remarks by Senator Renee Unterman and others:
Interview with Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle
from The Gainesville Times
by Carolyn Crist
Posted December 20, 2010
http://www.gainesvilletimes.com/multimedia/1497/ - Interview Video
Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle believes he has achieved the American dream, and he wants to help Georgia residents do the same.
Cagle is taking on his second term as the No. 2 official in the state, knowing this year’s priorities will focus on budget cuts amid increased demand for education, water and transportation solutions.
“Obviously the state has less revenue, and we have to tighten our belts, shrinking government and making it more efficient and more effective,” Cagle said during a recent interview at the Capitol. “We need to outsource more, privatize and cut out duplicate services. There’s a lot of it. Government is big, bloated and this is our moment in time to redefine the way state government will look for generations to come.”
As lieutenant governor, Cagle presides over the state Senate and will oversee the day-to-day operations of the 40-day legislative session that starts Jan. 10. Cagle sees his position as a “great platform” to talk about his top priorities for the state — job creation and education.
“I’ve experienced the American dream. I was raised by a single mom and had the great opportunity to be in business and have some success and now be in the No. 2 position in the state,” he said. “It’s about making sure every person has the same opportunities.”
After 12 years as a Republican state senator for District 49 and four years at the 11th lieutenant governor, Cagle decided to go for another campaign.
“It’s to continue the efforts we’ve undertaken. The campaign was exciting, but the best parts, as I tell people, are when it’s actually over and you’re victorious,” Cagle said with a laugh. “You like to be done because campaigns are brutal. It’s a different environment than it was a decade ago. There are a lot of personal attacks, and it’s tough for you and tough for your family.”
Former Sen. Lee Hawkins, who battled his own tough campaign this election season, said he is looking forward to watching Cagle’s leadership at the Capitol.
“I’ve always been impressed with his ability to relate to people and understand subject matters,” Hawkins said Monday.
“He works tirelessly on projects, and he’s spent more time in that office, even between sessions.”
Hawkins met Cagle in the Gainesville area before Cagle first ran for the Senate, and he’s seen firsthand how Cagle handles his presiding position in the chamber.
“He’d often come into the Senate caucus before we went to the floor to discuss legislation, and sometimes he’d give his opinion, but he’d always tell us that if the caucus felt differently, then we should express it on the floor,” Hawkins said.
“Last session was tough, and this session will be tough for passing a balanced budget. It’ll affect citizens, and it takes great responsibility, but it’s something we must do and look forward to the future. I know they will accomplish it.”
As an incumbent, Cagle is picking back up at the Capitol where he left off. His transition period isn’t as daunting as the governor’s, but he’s trying to help where he can.
“I’ve been meeting with Gov.-elect (Nathan) Deal and Speaker (David) Ralston on a regular basis,” Cagle said. “We’ve tried to stay consistent in meeting as we talk about issues that are important to each of us. We want to work together to move this state forward.”
These issues will all come back to the budget, which will include cutting services and possibly even state jobs, Cagle said.
“Real certainty comes from the expense side of the ledger, not the revenue side. Any time you try to raise taxes or raise revenue, you don’t always know how that’s going to come in,” he said. “We need to downsize state government ... and get out of some services we’ve been involved in during previous years.”
That’s why Cagle’s solution boils down to job creation.
“That’s what everyone is most concerned about when we have a 10 percent unemployment rate, which is unprecedented.
People are concerned about whether they’ll have a job and what the prospects are for generations to come,” he said.
“Georgia has the 10th largest economy, and we’re sitting in a state ripe for opportunity.”
Job creation hinges on education, which will prepare students for the hot jobs in the future.
“We need to move away from this one-size-fits-all model to a model centered around the needs of our individual students and allow flexibility at the local level,” said Cagle, who has supported charter schools and career academies across the state. “Career academies are the wave of the future, and if we really want economic opportunities, we should put the focus on getting students on a path that motivates and challenges them and addresses our dropout rate.”
Cagle plans to stay dedicated to his goals, pushing aside the notion that his leadership duties were stripped during the Republican Senate Caucus meeting in Macon just a few days after the Nov. 2 election.
“In politics, nothing stays the same. It’s always a fascinating process under the Gold Dome ... you do have egos and individuals rising to the occasion,” Cagle said about the formation of the Senate Committee on Assignments. “Only one guy was elected to be lieutenant governor, and that happens to be me.”
Until the next election, Cagle plans to keep fighting for his issues — which includes keeping the Capitol in Atlanta.
“Gov.-elect Deal early on wanted to move the Capitol to Gainesville, and I told him we couldn’t do that,” Cagle said with a laugh. “No, the truth is this is history by having the governor and lieutenant governor from the same county. Reality is, he’s his own man, just like I am.”
Though Cagle, a seventh generation Hall County resident, is connected to Deal by location, he believes both will fight for the state.
“We are connected geographically and philosophically in many respects, but at the end of the day it’s less about where you come from and more about the issues you want to champion and how you bring meaningful solutions,” he said. “But Gainesville will always be home. It’s all I know. I love Gainesville, and I always will.”
After taking up triathlon training this year, Cagle also keeps health and fitness on his mind. He has run five triathlons this year, including two in Gainesville, and he said he hopes it sets an example for his Lieutenant Governor’s Healthy Kids Challenge.
“After my neck surgery, which was a very, very big deal for me, I had the realization that I take things for granted and take my health for granted,” Cagle said. “It was a turning point physically, spiritually and mentally to change a lot of my lifestyle ... I’m in the best physical shape of my adult life, and it gives me something to wake up for every morning and get busy doing.”
His sons — Jared, 21, Grant, 18, and Carter, 15 — may laugh at their dad for wearing spandex, but they’re proud he’s taken up a new athletic challenge. The Healthy Kids Challenge brings a national program to 200 Georgia schools to change nutrition and physical activity in the classrooms.
“We have an epidemic in this state with childhood obesity, and we need to change that,” Cagle said, referring to the state’s 33 percent obesity rate. “I won’t stop until every school is focused on stamping out childhood obesity. It’s so easy to eat healthy, and it doesn’t require that much more effort to build a routine for physical activity.”
As he looks toward the future, Cagle said he is eager to set guidelines for the “contentious” reapportionment discussions that will start as census numbers are released.
“Everyone is looking out for themselves and their district. It’s hard for the lieutenant governor who presides over 56 senators to ensure fairness and equity,” he said. “We need to keep communities of interest aligned and not split counties and precincts, which lends itself to gerrymandering.”
When Cagle was first elected as a state senator, his mentor Sen. Johnny Isakson joked with him during the redistricting talks.
“He told me he had good news and bad news. The good news was I still had a district, but the bad news was that I didn’t know anybody in it,” Cagle said. “Obviously, that was only a joke, but the truth is these things do happen, and when we look at the demographic shift in Georgia, we’re going to see fewer districts in the southern region because of population growth.”
Sen. Butch Miller, who first met Cagle when volunteering with him at their children’s schools, said he is looking forward to his first session under the lieutenant governor.
“Here’s a guy who took on one of the best known names in Georgia politics — Ralph Reed,” Miller said. “Nobody gave Casey a chance, but he demonstrated that he was willing to outwork his opponent, and now he’s legendary in Georgia politics.
Cagle’s leadership will especially peak during upcoming tough budget talks, Miller added.
“If it were easy, anybody could do it,” Miller said. “It reflects on his leadership and commitment. In past sessions, we’ve seen difficult issues, and he’s faced them head on.”
From the The Union Recorder
By Vaishali Patel
December 8, 2010
http://unionrecorder.com/homepage/x622290416/Annual-Mayor-s-Motorcade-spreads-cheer
MILLEDGEVILLE — As Tuesday’s 45-degree temperature and cold winds froze those outdoors, a few hundred residents and state officials fought the chill to spread the spirit of Christmas to the consumers of Central State Hospital (CSH) during the 52nd annual Mayor’s Motorcade.
Milledgeville residents Leo and Debra Nelson set up their chairs on the front lawn of the Powell Building an hour before the start of the day’s holiday celebration, keeping warm with coffee, coats, gloves and earmuffs.
“I’ve been coming to watch the Mayor’s Motorcade for at least eight years. There are [fewer] people here [than past years] since things have slowed down here,” said Leo, a CSH employee, of the future of the hospital. “Central State has been here for a long time, longer than any hospital around, and I hate to see it downsize like it has.”
“[The M-Day event] is 100 percent important. It gives clients a lot to look forward to and it gives them time to get out,” Debra added. “We’re here to support [family, friends] and the hospital. Atlanta needs to keep looking at Milledgeville; we need all the help we can get because there’s too many people without jobs.”
The parade featured CSH staff and volunteers, Baldwin County Fire Rescue, the Sandersville Fire Department, Old Capital Car Club, Central Care, Georgia Military College Prep School and Baldwin High School bands and NJROTC, representatives from the Georgia Municipal Association (GMA), mayors from various Georgia cities, and other business representatives who made their way to the Powell Building from the Nursing Home Center on floats and vehicles as they waved and threw candy into the passing crowd.
“This is a very important event ... because it gives [clients] something to look forward to,” said Nita Cagle, wife of Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle, after the parade. “The staff and volunteers came together with their enthusiasm and made an extra effort for today’s events.”
As the parade concluded, those in attendance headed to the auditorium to enjoy a holiday-themed musical performance titled “Christmas Memories” in which CSH staff, volunteers and clients and community members danced and sang.
“This year is called ‘Christmas Memories’ to communicate the joy and memories of the holiday season,” Regional Hospital Administrator Dr. Larry Latham said during his opening remarks to the musical display. “This is my first [Mayor’s Motorcade] and it’s been wonderful. This is a great kickoff to the season.”
Since M-Day began in 1958 by former First Lady of Georgia, Betty Vandiver, to ensure CSH clients were remembered on Christmas, thousands of gifts and funds have been collected to support the effort.
“We do have an increase of donations from last year. We are sorting through all of the donations now. Each client has a wishlist, and we will fulfill their top three choices on Christmas Day,” CSH Communications Director Kari Brown said Tuesday afternoon. “I would say this year was very successful. We had a nice turnout and everyone seemed to have a great time. It’s a great start to the holiday season.”
The Milledgeville-Baldwin County community is encouraged to donate even more items for future M-Day events.
“We spend our time to gather here to make sure ... folks in the county who are less fortunate ... are remembered at this time. For the last 50-plus years, Central State staff have taken the time to make sure our clients are taken care of,” Milledgeville Mayor Richard Bentley said. “Clients are part of this community, and this is what a loving community does.”
Tax incentives for businesses are secret ingredient
From the Gainesville Time
Carolyn Crist - ccrist@gainesvilletimes.com
Posted December 9, 2010
http://www.gainesvilletimes.com/section/203/article/42571/
The economy was the common theme at Thursday morning's Greater Hall Chamber of Commerce Eggs & Issues breakfast where participants discussed balancing the state budget and creating jobs.
After a brief welcome from Gov.-elect Nathan Deal and announcement that Hall County Commissioner Ashley Bell is switching to the Republican Party, Hall County's state legislative delegation turned to the ongoing economic upheaval at hand.
"There is no question that these are very challenging times," said Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle. "This great challenge affords us an opportunity ... and I believe without a doubt that greatness is in store if we stay focused on the fundamentals and allow the engines to get cranking and moving at a fast pace."
Echoing remarks he made to the South Hall Rotary Club on Wednesday, Cagle pointed to tax incentives for businesses as the secret ingredient, noting that education, transportation and water issues will also be part of improving the economy.
Chamber President Kit Dunlap presented questions from the audience to Sen. Butch Miller, and Reps. James Mills, Carl Rogers, Doug Collins and Tommy Benton.
After the breakfast, the group of five spent the day at Lanier Technical College, hearing from 16 area groups during the annual pre-legislative conference.
Representatives of Northeast Georgia Health Systems, Hall County Schools, Gainesville City Schools, the chamber, Hall County Board of Commissioners, Gainesville City Council, the courts, Tax Assessor's Office and colleges expressed their concerns about ongoing budget cuts.
"The budget is bad, bad, bad, but I believe we're getting better," Collins said at the breakfast meeting. "Georgia has to have a balanced budget ... and economic times are coming along with the sales tax, but is it still going to be easy? No."
As chairman of the Appropriations Committee, Mills noted that 25 of 27 months between May 2008 to March 2010 were negative for state revenue. In the past five months, the state has seen a small uptick.
"The governor's economic advisers are seeing a 5 or 6 percent growth, and if that continues on a regular basis, that will fill a little bit of the hole but not all," he said. "We're still $1.5 billion off, so we have tough decision to make. Seven agencies make up 90 percent of the budget, and education is 50 percent. So as much as we want to support it, it's tough when one chunk takes up 50 percent."
In terms of job creation, the state must create tax incentives for small business, Mills said.
"About 70 percent of job creation comes from small business," he said. "Texas just eliminated the income tax, which created half of its jobs in the past year, and we have a very similar economy ... We have great assets we can incentivize, and we ought to go down that road quickly."
From the Gainesville Times
by Carolyn Crist - ccrist@gainesvilletimes.com
December 8, 2010
http://www.gainesvilletimes.com/section/6/article/42523/
Job creation is the top priority for the upcoming legislative session, Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle told the South Hall Rotary Club on Wednesday afternoon.
"This is a challenging time for us, and Gov.-elect (Nathan) Deal is going to face a tough budget cycle," he said to a room of 30 educators and business people.
"Candidly, people are looking for certainty, and I think November was a pathway to end policies that were impeding the process for the state to move forward."
Cagle cracked a few jokes with familiar faces, calling this his "home week" as he visited the South Hall Rotary Club Wednesday and speaks at the Greater Hall Chamber of Commerce Eggs & Issues breakfast this morning.
But when the economy and talk about taxes came to the table, Cagle changed his tone to strict seriousness.
"With the runaway costs associated with health care, corporations are holding back capital. There is money on the sidelines, but the circumstances have to change," he said.
"We need to be a business-friendly state and convince businesses that Georgia is the best place to locate."
Tax incentives are the big key for both big and small businesses to get back into gear, Cagle said. "Government doesn't create jobs, but it sets the right circumstances and environment," he added. "The corporations who want to locate here and put their capital at risk lead to job creation."
Though the state government has cut back expenses, investment is the true avenue to pulling the economy back on track, he said.
"You cannot cut your way to prosperity. Think about that," he said. "Business is what I know, and in the businesses I've been involved in, you have to grow your way to prosperity. That's the real secret."
With another $1 billion budget hole looming in 2012, Deal's office will also need to address education cuts, the tri-state water issue and transportation with less money than ever before.
"A big aspect there is the HOPE scholarship, where we're going to start hitting our triggers. First, only half of books will be covered, then books will be removed completely and then fees," Cagle said.
"We need to restructure HOPE in a way that it will always be merit-based, which was the original intent. It cannot be an entitlement program, and we can't allow this entitlement mentality to continue to exist in this country."
Despite the change in his job role through the Republican Senate Caucus creation of the Committee on Assignments, Cagle is eager to get started with the legislative session.
"All I can say is, I was elected by a good margin, and our priorities are not going to be stopped," he said.
"I've always felt that greatness is not in a title or position. People come and go, as do egos and motivations. But if we stay focused on serving, that will benefit us all."
Following Tuesday's announcement that his longtime chief of staff Bart Gobeil will now become Deal's deputy chief operating officer, Cagle is hopeful about the relationship between the lieutenant governor and governor offices.
"We're excited about the opportunity Bart brings with institutional knowledge. As Gov.-elect Deal and I travel across the state, people joke that we're going to move the Capitol to Gainesville," he said.
"I thought it would create more of a stir, and I usually tell people he's closer to White County, and I'm closer to Gwinnett County, so we're OK."
"It's nice not to have to deal with the complete transition," he said with a laugh.
"We've been able to aid Deal in the process, and I think we're in a good position to help him get the legislative agenda going as he comes into a challenging time with the budget and getting up to full speed."
From Access North Georgia
By Marc Eggers
Posted December 8, 2010
http://www.accessnorthga.com/detail.php?n=234375
OAKWOOD - In less than five weeks the top job in Georgia will be experiencing a face change, as Governor-elect Nathan Deal is sworn in to replace outgoing Governor Sonny Perdue. But the number two position will remain unchanged; Lieutenant Governor Casey Cagle will be returning.
Today Cagle was the featured guest speaker at the South Hall Rotary Club luncheon held at Royal Lakes Golf and Country Club.
Being able to span the transition taking place at the Governor's Mansion gives Cagle a unique perspective on what his fellow Hall-Countian, Nathan Deal, will be facing.
"The biggest challenge he's going to face is the budget cycle," Cagle advised.
But, to the approximately thirty Rotarians listening intently, that almost goes without saying in light of the current economic environment, one of the tightest in memory.
Then Cagle got more specific, “We’ve had to cut so much out of state spending; we needed to do that. But you cannot "cut" your way to prosperity."
"Think about that for a moment," he counseled his audience.
"I'm a business man...I don't know that much about politics," Cagle laughed as he continued his argument. "There is no business I have ever been involved in that you could "cut" your way to prosperity. You've got to grow your way to prosperity!"
Cagle said that he has learned much about bringing jobs to Georgia during his first four years in office.
"Business needs to know what the playing field is going to look like for the future. It's very, very critical."
“ There is a lot of money sitting on the sidelines (waiting). And as I travel around the country and talk to CEO's, I'm told that we have all the tangible assets that they are looking for to locate here...but, they say, the circumstances have got to change," Cagle said with emphasis.
Cagle did mention looming troubles for the HOPE Scholarship program, childhood obesity, transportation, and immigration as items that will need to be addressed by soon-to-be Governor Deal, but his focus was clearly on Georgia's economy and creating an environment that is business-friendly.
"Government doesn't create jobs. But what government does do is create the right circumstances and the right environment...so that corporations want to locate here and put their capital at risk," Cagle averred.
"That's what lifts all boats: job creation. And that's our number one challenge!"
From the Times-Herals.com
By Alex McRae
Published Wednesday, December 08, 2010
http://www.times-herald.com/local/Cagle-joins-Central-s-birthday-party-1429123
Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle was in Newnan Tuesday to help wish the Central Educational Center a happy 10th birthday and praise the Coweta County School System's pioneering charter school, which is now recognized as a national model for education success.
Cagle was speaker at the December "Eggs & Issues" breakfast, presented by the Newnan-Coweta Chamber of Commerce. The CEC celebration included the presentation of a custom-made cake and the singing of "Happy Birthday."
Mark Whitlock, CEO of the CEC, opened the program with remarks about the founding of the CEC. Whitlock praised former Coweta School Superintendent Richard Brooks, who was in attendance. Whitlock said Brooks' unwavering vision to create a new model for integrated education led to the CEC's founding and ultimate success.
Whitlock also recognized current Coweta School Superintendent Blake Bass and Dr. Steve Barker, who will replace Bass this spring. Whitlock said continued input and support from senior school administration remains critical to CEC's success.
Whitlock recognized others -- including Newnan resident Dr. Joe Harless -- who helped create the CEC's educational model and oversee its original implementation.
Chad Ramey, a Northgate student who studies technology at the CEC, spoke briefly. Ramey praised the CEC, saying the school "gives students everything they need to succeed and then expects them to do so."
Cagle opened his remarks by reminiscing about the inception of the CEC and praising Whitlock for "creating a roadmap that made this happen."
Cagle noted that years ago schools like the CEC were referred to as trade schools or technical schools, but that the concept has drastically changed. He noted that because of the technical and career training and college courses available, that CEC graduates will "make twice as much as those with a high school degree."
"If you want educational excellence," Cagle said, "the key is designing a program around student needs." Cagle said the CEC program continues to excel because it offers programs "that are relevant to students."
Cagle noted one of Georgia's greatest challenges is job creation and said the CEC and other institutions following the CEC model make Georgia more competitive by supplying a well-trained, highly skilled work force for potential employers and new business looking to locate in Georgia.
Cagle concluded by saying, "Every child has purpose and value and should be given every chance possible to follow the American dream."
Coweta's delegation to the Georgia General Assembly spoke briefly and outlined what they believed will be the most pressing items on state lawmakers' 2011 agenda.
Rep. Billy Horne said the session will be dominated by budget talks, and lawmakers will have to trim from $1 billion to $1.3 billion from next year's spending to balance the budget as required by law.
Horne said redistricting will also be a major project, with legislators expected to redraw voting districts for the state House and Senate and redraw the state's U.S. congressional map to reflect population shifts and the possible addition of a new congressional seat.
Rep. Lynn Smith agreed budget and redistricting will dominate the 2011 session. Smith also said a resolution must be reached in the ongoing water dispute between Georgia, Florida and Alabama. Smith said all three states have new governors and getting everyone up to speed could slow the negotiations.
Sen. Mitch Seabaugh said he expects an effort to overturn vetoes issued by outgoing Gov. Sonny Perdue. One Perdue veto killed legislative efforts to adopt a line-item budget process. Another veto killed a bill that would give legislators more input into creating revenue estimates for upcoming fiscal years.
From macon.com:
by JENNIFER BURK
Posted on Fri, Nov. 19, 2010
http://www.macon.com/2010/11/19/1346391/houston-dedicates-first-charter.html
WARNER ROBINS -- As a father of three children, Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle said he knows education isn’t one size fits all.
That’s why he said he is such a supporter of career academics, which are designed not only to meet the needs of the students, but also the communities they live in.
Cagle made the remarks at Thursday’s dedication of the Houston County Career Academy -- the county’s first charter school. About 100 business, community and political leaders filled a newly renovated engineering classroom to celebrate the event.
A partnership between the Houston County Board of Education, Middle Georgia Technical College, Robins Air Force Base and the business community at large, the school aims to prepare students to meet local needs, either by directly entering the work force or continuing education in college, Houston schools Superintendent Robin Hines said.
Hines said the idea was first studied in 2008, and the school system received a $3 million grant from the state to create the academy, which was formerly the Houston County Career and Technology Center.
Cagle, who Hines said has been a driving force behind career academies in Georgia, said there are 21 career academies across the state, and six more are being added next month.
Career academies boast a 98 percent graduation rate, and a 100 percent placement rate in either the work force or college, Cagle said. And once those students enter the work force, they earn on average $32,000 -- double that of the average high school graduate, he said.
About 80 percent of the work force of tomorrow needs technical training, Cagle said. A career academy is one way to fill that need, he said.
“This is one tool in the tool box,” he said.
To contact writer Jennifer Burk, call 256-9705.
From RN-T.com
By Karissa Stewart
Posted December 2, 2010
Gordon County Schools and Georgia Northwestern Technical College have received a go-ahead on the county’s Charter Career Academy in the form of a joint $3.16 million state grant.
“This means opportunities for our children and access to high-skilled jobs,” said school superintendent Bill McCown Thursday after Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle made the grant announcement. “It’s not just an opportunity for Gordon County Schools, but the whole community.”
The career academy will offer students the opportunity to attend high school while earning technical skill training in fields including medicine and agriculture at GNTC. It’s open to students from other school districts and home-schooled children, as well, according to McCown.
A similar school has been formed in Floyd County with GNTC.
The academy, which is planned to open in the 2011-2012 school year, will be housed at the Gordon County campus of GNTC.
McCown said students would be transported from the two county high schools, Gordon Central and Sonoraville High, by bus. Students not enrolled in county schools must find their own transportation, he said.
“We are currently working with our high school staff on how to best schedule for next year,” McCown said. “There may be options for students who are old enough, with parents’ permission, to drive to the career academy.”
The state money must be matched with local funding.
“The grant will cover our startup costs,” McCown explained.
He said the school system will earn funding from the state based on the number of students attending the career academy.
Financial needs that may not be covered in the grant will also be supported by the recently-passed education special purpose local option sales tax, he said.
Cagle launched the Career Academy program in 2007 to create relevant learning environments that he said have proven to increase graduation rates and ensure job placement or post-second opportunities. Gordon County School officials first began looking into charter school and career academy options in June of that year.
“I applaud the Gordon County school system, Georgia Northwestern Technical College and the many community partners that came together to provide this important tool to ensure our students are prepared to enter the 21st century workforce,” said Cagle after the grant announcement.
The Technical College System of Georgia evaluated six career academy proposals from across the state and approved funding that will go toward two new academies besides Gordon County, including Baldwin County Schools, partnered with Central Georgia Technical College; and a multi-district award to the City of Dublin Schools, Dodge County Schools and Wheeler County Schools, partnered with Heart of Georgia Technical College. There are currently a total of 26 college and career academies in Georgia.
A total of $9.5 million was awarded, according to Jenny Williams, director of partnership with the Technical College System of Georgia.
State Sen.-elect Barry Loudermilk, R-Cassville, said the grant was highly competitive and the college and career academy has the potential to be a model for how best to prepare the 21st century workforce needs in Georgia.
Copyright 2010 RN-T.com. All rights reserved.
© romenews-tribune.com 2010
From 13WMAZ:
By: Amy Aubert
Posted November 25, 2010
http://www.13wmaz.com/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=100095
Houston County celebrated the dedication of its new Career Academy on Thursday afternoon.
The school opened three months ago and has more than 500 students enrolled.
About 100 parents, students, and teachers listened as Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle spoke about the importance of designing curriculums to meet the needs of every student.
He says Houston County is one of 21 Career Academies in Georgia, with six more scheduled to open within the next month.
He says the average Career Academy graduate starts out making twice as much as regular high school grads.
"If we really want to get our economy going back strong, it comes through jobs, and by having a quality educated workforce is what's really going to help us lead there," he says.
Lieutenant Governor Cagle says Career Academies have a 98 percent graduation rate and a 100 percent job placement rate.
"It is true that 80 percent of the jobs tomorrow are going to need technical training. And these kids need to be on a technical path to training. And it shows them and gives them relevance in the classroom," he says.
From 13WMAZ:
Lt. Governor Casey Cagle today announced $3.16 million in College and Career Academy funding for the Baldwin County Career Academy, a partnership between the Baldwin County school system and Central Georgia Technical College.
The school was among 3 chosen today by the State Board of The Technical College System of Georgia to receive a grant that will be matched with local funding.
In a news release from the State of Georgia's Office of the Lieutenant Governor, Lt. Governor Casey Cagle said, "As Lt. Governor, I am committed to providing every student in Georgia access to a college and career academy. Their proven success at providing our children the relevant, job-related skills they need is more important than ever in these tough economic times."
According to the news release, The Technical College System of Georgia evaluated six career academy proposals from across the state and selected three new academies. Because of Cagle’s initiative, there are currently a total of 26 college and career academies in Georgia.
“I am excited for Baldwin County School System’s achievement in winning this grant,” said State Senator Johnny Grant. “The creation of a Career Academy will further enhance the system’s ability to prepare our community’s children for the future.”
State tax reform panel filled
Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle appointed two
D.E. “Skeeter” McCorkle, president and CEO of McCorkle Nurseries Inc. near
Last week, House Speaker David Ralston, R-Blue Ridge, named banking consultant A.D. Frazier of Mineral Bluff, who served as a top executive on the Atlanta Olympics organizing committee, and real estate executive Roy Fickling of Macon to serve on the council.
The 11-member committee also will include Gov. Sonny Perdue, four leading university economists, the chairman of the Georgia Chamber of Commerce and the chairman of the state chapter of the National Federation of Independent Business.
By Jim Tharpe - jtharpe@ajc.com and Aaron Gould Sheinin - asheinin@ajc.com
Gov. Sonny Perdue said Thursday he will appoint a “special attorney general” to challenge federal health care legislation signed into law this week by President Obama.
Perdue made the announcement a day after state Attorney General Thurbert Baker, a Democrat running for governor, told Perdue, a Republican, he would not pursue a lawsuit.
“He’s refusing to do that and I can’t force him to do that,” Perdue said of Baker.
Meanwhile, Georgia Democratic Party chairwoman Jane Kidd this morning sent Perdue a lengthy Open Records Act request, demanding copies of correspondence between his office and Republican organizations around the country.
The governor said the state constitution gives him the leeway to appoint a special attorney general if the elected attorney general fails to carry out the wishes of the governor.
Perdue said several groups of attorneys have volunteered to handle the state’s lawsuit free. He said he expects to make a decision on a team as soon as possible, but did not set a deadline. Perdue has the support of Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle and the Senate Republican Caucus, all of whom said late Wednesday they support the governor’s efforts.
The governor said the state will probably go it alone on the suit to avoid any costs. If
When asked if Baker broke the law by refusing to carry out his instructions to initiate a lawsuit, the governor said, “I think the (state) Constitution is clear. I think the people of
Asked about talk in the state Legislature that Baker should be impeached, the governor said impeachment is a legislative prerogative and declined further comment.
Perdue appeared at a Buckhead press conference with former U.S. House Speaker Newt Gingrich.
Gringrich condemned attacks on Democratic congressman who support the health care bill, and urged voters to funnel their outrage toward the ballot box in the November elections.
The former congressman said “there’s no place in
However, he said Democratic leaders must take some responsibility for the recent outbursts of anger. He blamed Democrats in
He accused some Democrats of being “disingenuous.”
“This is a game they are playing,” Gingrich said.
The Democrats’ Open Records request to Perdue is for all documents “between the office of the governor and the Republican National Committee, the Republican Governors Association, Republican Attorneys General Association, FreedomWorks, American Solutions, National Republican Congressional Committee, National Republican Senatorial Committee, Republican National Conservative Caucus and insurance companies related to opposition to the federal health care reform legislation signed by the president on March 23.”
Perdue is embroiled in a showdown with Georgia Attorney General Thurbert Baker over Baker’s refusal to sue the federal government to block implementation of the national health care overhaul. Perdue wanted Baker to either sue on his own or join 14 other attorneys general in the country in their joint lawsuit.
Baker, a Democratic candidate for governor, said in a letter to Perdue Wednesday that the lawsuit is almost surely to fail and would be costly in a time of plunging state revenues.
“
In response to the Democrats’ request, Perdue spokesman Bert Brantley said the governor’s office will “be glad to search for documents and respond, but given that many, many attorneys have offered to take up this case pro bono, which means free of charge for any Democrats who are reading this, we do not expect any state resources to be spent in this effort.”
By Dan Chapman
The
If a judge cuts off
By a 51-0 vote, the Senate passed a bill requiring the state to come up with emergency interbasin transfer plans for the 15-county water district in and around
The proposed study is no mere legislative window-dressing. Senior U.S. District Judge Paul Magnuson ruled last summer that
Without a deal, Magnuson could greatly limit water withdrawals from the federally managed reservoir. Metro
“This study will give us a lot of information as to how the metro
Interbasin transfers have historically been frowned upon by legislators who see big, bad
That’s already done in North Georgia. Water systems across the Metro North Georgia Water Planning District transfer water from the Coosa, Chattahoochee and other rivers to communities that then dump the water into different river basins.
The bill passed Wednesday would further investigate ways to share the water during an emergency (i.e., Magnuson puts Lanier off-limits). An amendment to tighten language prohibiting the possible transfer of water into the metro water district failed, prompting concerns by environmentalists and others that
“Emergency planning is a good idea, although the cities and counties in metro
But Tolleson said SB 442, along with a water conservation bill awaiting Perdue’s signature, will show Magnuson that Georgia is seriously planning for any eventuality involving less water. The senator added that his committee may hold a hearing next week to study “all the facts” surrounding interbasin transfers, including transfers beyond metro
Governor, attorney general in tense showdown over health care
By Jim Tharpe and Aaron Gould Sheinin
The
The polarizing politics of the national health care debate echoed through the state Capitol on Wednesday as Republican Gov. Sonny Perdue and Democratic Attorney General Thurbert Baker staked out opposing positions in a bruising public fight.
Perdue had asked Baker to join more than a dozen attorneys general from across the country — all but one Republicans — who are suing to block the federal health care legislation President Barack Obama signed this week. Perdue said the health care bill will devastate the already strapped state budget due to increased Medicaid costs.
But Baker, who is a candidate for governor, declined to challenge the president and the Democrat-controlled Congress. Baker said
“I cannot justify a decision to initiate expensive and time-consuming litigation that I believe has no legal merit,” Baker wrote in a two-page letter to Perdue. “In short, this litigation is likely to fail and will consume significant amounts of taxpayers’ hard-earned money in the process.”
That immediately drew howls from state Republicans, who accused Baker of playing partisan politics. Democrats applauded the attorney general for saving the state money and for standing up to the governor.
“It’s pure politics,” said House Majority Leader Jerry Keen (R-St. Simons). “There was never any consideration of policy. If we had an attorney general not running for office, I think this would have been handled differently.”
Keen said Baker’s decision reinforces his belief that politicians seeking higher office should resign their current positions.
Sen. George Hooks (D-Americus) said Baker made a courageous decision that will save Georgians desperately needed revenue.
“It would serve us well if we let the other states move ahead with this and we saved our money,” Hooks said. “Let
Rep. Earl Ehrhart (R-Powder Springs) praised Perdue for taking on national Democrats. And he blasted Baker.
“I would hope we can find an attorney general who represents the majority of Georgians,” Ehrhart said.
Perdue has labeled the federal health legislation as a "colossal unfunded mandate." The governor said it would force an additional billion dollars of Medicaid spending per year and harm small businesses by extending the Medicare tax.
Democrats have accused Perdue and Republicans of vastly exaggerating new costs, and constitutional scholars have questioned the state’s ability to challenge the federal legislation.
That didn’t stop state lawmakers on Wednesday as they kept trying to constitutionally ban the health care legislation from taking effect. That proposal failed in the Senate, but it is up for reconsideration in the House, where it would need a difficult-to-get two-thirds majority to pass. It failed on its first try in the House earlier this week.
Perdue spokesman Bert Brantley said Wednesday that the governor is considering new options in wake of Baker’s decision. Perdue and former U.S. House Speaker Newt Gingrich (R-Ga.) will hold a joint news conference Thursday to further blast the federal overhaul of health care.
Brantley told reporters the governor’s office is considering “going it alone” and filing a separate lawsuit, or joining the other states’ lawsuit without Baker’s participation.
Brantley said a number of lawyers have volunteered to take the case free of charge. He said the governor’s office believes it can move forward on the litigation without legislative approval.
“It’s clear that the governor can direct the attorney general to file a lawsuit. It’s not clear, if he doesn’t choose to do so, what happens then,” Brantley said.
Late Wednesday, Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle and the Republican members of the state Senate issued a joint statement urging Perdue to join the lawsuit filed by the other states.
Brantley said Perdue might also decide simply to let the other states pursue the challenge without getting directly involved. He said the governor’s office has received numerous calls expressing concerns about the health care legislation and calling on the state to join the suit.
Why does it often seem like our government is only so-so? Simple, SOSO.
When we talk about government waste, the picture that often comes to mind is one of offices that are overstaffed with workers who spend lots of tax dollars accomplishing very little. Let’s not rule out that possibility. But there is a more pervasive type of waste.
I’m talking about SOSO waste: same old methods, same old organizational structures, same old expenses. Same old, same old: SOSO. That is how we end up with so-so government.
This is not to disparage the creative abilities of our civil servants, only their motivation — and sometimes their latitude — to seek out innovative new ways of doing things. Stasis is in the nature of the bureaucracy, with its budgets rolled over from year to year and its work force largely held over from regime to regime. This is true the world over.
And it’s not unique to the public sector. Corporate chieftains and middle managers know all about turf wars, about spending every dime of this year’s budget to keep every dime in next year’s budget.
But there’s a key difference. Businesses face competitive pressures that break their lulls more frequently than do public bureaus. The market regularly wrings out the waste that comes with stasis.
That’s why you can always count on a panel of business experts to spot government’s lingering inefficiencies, as a group convened by Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle just did.
From a state budget that is already $3 billion slimmer since the recession began, the panelists found a further $3 billion, at least, in savings for the next five years. Their report comes at a crucial time: Another $1.5 billion in cuts is needed for the 2011 budget, and 2012 stands to be even worse.
The panelists told Cagle there are ways to cut the budget by ending the same old, same old practices, minimizing the effects on the public.
The biggest item relates to employees’ health benefits. Companies like Whole Foods and Safeway have cut their employee health costs by providing financial incentives for state workers to live healthier lives: keeping their weight or cholesterol down, for instance.
An actuary tapped by the panelists projected immediate savings for
The panelists also recommended expanding community health centers for indigent patients and adding a small co-pay for Medicaid recipients who visit emergency rooms, rather than primary care clinics, for nonemergencies.
More ways to stop SOSO, and fast: Expand the use of shared back-office services like payroll and accounting among agencies and schools (saving some $30 million a year); allow agencies to sign leases longer than one year, giving them the flexibility to negotiate lower rents ($20 million); make wider use of virtual education, so that students can study physics or calculus without their schools having to hire teachers for those subjects (at least $4.5 million).
Also: Have teachers put another 1 percent of their salaries toward their pensions ($39 million) and reduce the use of furloughs or layoffs.
Not all these changes will be easy. But doing the easy and SOSO has brought us the so-so.
Editorial
Posted: March 21, 2010 - 3:15am
A BUDGET task force commissioned by the Georgia Senate has returned an impressive report containing 50 recommendations that deserve further legislative consideration.
Of those, the ideas listed in three broad categories seem most promising: K-12 and higher education, indigent care and revenue collection.
Primary and secondary education account for nearly half of
While the committee agreed with Gov. Sonny Perdue's push to change teacher pay to a merit-based system, its members also suggested some less controversial (and more easily enacted) cost-cutting procedures that could yield good returns.
One of these was outsourcing or expanded reliance on "Regional Education Service Agencies" for shared services such as accounting, human resources, transportation, maintenance, janitorial and food services.
This is a smart move that would consolidate services that support running a school system, but aren't classroom instruction.
Another idea was to allow voters to approve the use of special purpose local option sales tax dollars for school operating expenses, instead of only capital expenses as the state constitution now requires.
With local school systems hurting for cash, they need this spending flexibility. What good are new buildings if you can't make payroll?
In higher education, the task force suggests having four-year institutions partner with two-year colleges, which can provide remedial education at a much lower cost. Universities would also be held accountable for drumming up their own donations to private endowments, with fund-raising goals set for each institution.
And here's a biggie that lawmakers should take to heart: The task force recommends the state require the Georgia Lottery to pay out the amount it is actually mandated to.
In fiscal year 2008, the lottery posted sales of $3.5 billion, however it only remitted $867.7 million - or 24 percent - to education funds. Had lottery officials paid the state the requisite 35 percent, that figure would have risen to $1.23 billion.
In the area of indigent care, the report found the state should promote the use of federally funded community health centers and nonprofit federally qualified health centers, which reduce the costs of Medicaid for emergency room care.
To encourage the use of these clinics that charge little or nothing for care, the task force suggests modest co-pays or other fees for patients who show up in emergency rooms for non-emergency care.
Here's another smart idea: For the state to provide matching grants to
This is an instance of spending a little to save a bundle, because emergency rooms are the most expensive mode of treatment. Regular care in these clinics could also reduce the expensive-to-treat complication of chronic diseases such as diabetes.
The task force also supports Senate Bill 344, submitted by Sen. Lee Hawkins, R-Gainesville, which would extend liability protection to healthcare professionals who volunteer at nonprofit clinics.
On state revenue collection, action items include making sure businesses are properly filing their taxes. The study pointed out
To help make sure each business pays its fair share, the state should follow the task force suggestion to contract with private auditors and partner with local governments to identify scofflaws.
The group also advised lawmakers to adjust fees for state services annually to reflect market changes and the rate charged for comparable services in peer states. Sen. Greg Goggans' bill, SB 381, would effect these changes.
If the state were to implement all the cost-cutting measures recommended in the study,
That's a dollar-wise prescription for getting
http://savannahnow.com/opinion/2010-03-21/balanced-approach
Editorial
As the Georgia General Assembly has toiled looking for ways to balance the state's budget and streamline government, a group of private sector veterans of corporate finance has been poring over government operations looking for ways to save public money.
This week that group made about 50 recommendations it says could save taxpayers $3 billion during five years. This group was appointed by Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle. Upon seeing the recommendations Cagle seemed to somewhat distance himself from some of the recommendations. He said many of the recommendations will hit political roadblocks.
Unfortunately, we've heard that before when private sector management practices come head to head with the political arena.
"There are many of them (recommendations) that are very viable and some that are going to be very politically enviable," said Cagle. "I'm not endorsing this plan. This is a recommendation that we will take up with every senator and representative."
That's fair enough.
We liked the idea of Cagle appointing the business leaders to look at government, and we agree these are just recommendations. We do hope Cagle and all of our legislators will take a serious look at all 50 recommendations. We won't get into the specific recommendations at this time.
However, lawmakers say government can not keep functioning as it has been. They say change is inevitable. If that's the case, certainly an intense look at the report of these private sector corporate financial leaders should be worthwhile. After all, as one of the private sector leaders said, most large businesses have already embraced many of the concepts.
If many of these recommendations work in the private sector, they should be explored in the public sector.
Atlanta Business Chronicle
by Dave Williams
A task force of business leaders formed by Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle Tuesday recommended more than $3 billion in savings the state government could put in place within five years.
The panel, tasked by Cagle in January to find opportunities for greater efficiencies in state spending, made 50 suggestions covering a wide range of actions.
The committee identified possible savings by changing internal state operations, including sharing and consolidating services, ways to reduce the costs of education and health care and the potential to bring in additional revenue.
“Many of the recommendations are viable and some are going to be politically non-viable,” Cagle told reporters during a briefing at his Capitol office. “It’s the right mind-set as we’re looking to right-size state government.”
In its report, the task force found the largest potential for savings – $1.9 billion – in health care, including putting more emphasis on preventive health care for enrollees in the State Health Benefit Plan.
The panel found smaller potential for savings in k-12 and higher education, but some of its more controversial recommendations came in those areas.
Among the suggestions was freezing automatic “step” increases to align teacher and other state employee compensation models, and increasing teacher contributions to their retirement fund.
Cagle emphasized that he’s not endorsing any of the recommendations at this point but, considering the state’s budget crisis, he wants the General Assembly to consider them.
“Most of these are long-term strategic solutions to get the legislature focused on where we need to go,” he said.
After cutting over $2 billion out of the state budget in the 2009 session and while facing an additional $1.5 billion shortfall Cagle, along with Senate leadership, announced early in the legislative session the formation of a Budget Task Force. The Budget Task Force brought together experienced business leaders and accounting professionals who held a total of 7 meetings and participated in extensive work sessions and presented a final report outlining 50 recommendations focusing on long-term budget solutions. If all recommendations were fully implemented, the projected cost savings would total over $3 billion. The group was tasked with identifying new ways to cut state spending without drastic cuts to essential services or raising taxes in this economy.
Associated Document(s): |
Ga State Senate Budget Task Force Final Report.pdf |
By ERRIN HAINES , 03.16.10, 05:24 PM EDT
ATLANTA -- Business leaders are offering dozens of suggestions on how to streamline Georgia state government but most won't help this year's budget crisis and some would be political nonstarters, Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle said Tuesday.
Cagle announced the creation of a seven-member budget task force in January that was charged with bringing fresh ideas to Georgia's fiscal crisis. On Tuesday, he acknowledged that the majority of the 50 ideas the group offered could not be immediately implemented.
"This is a road map for how we can gain significant savings," Cagle said. "It's a pathway that could take, in some cases, up to five years. But it's the right type of mindset as we are looking to ... redefine state government. These are foundational changes that will impact us systematically for years to come."
Cagle said some of the recommendations were "politically unviable," including suggested changes for K-12 education and indigent and state healthcare. Other proposals include selling off government-owned real estate and consolidating state agencies.
"There are some things that are going to be very politically difficult to deal with," said Cagle, who is seeking re-election in November. "These people are looking at this without having political lenses on."
Some of the suggestions have already been pitched during this legislative cycle, such as moving to a paperless document system, allowing agencies to enter into multiyear lease contracts on government properties and encouraging public-private partnerships in government programs.
But with 16 days left in the current legislative session, Cagle estimated that 80 percent of the recommendations were "long-term solutions." According to the task force, the recommendations would save more than $3 billion over the next two to five years if they are fully implemented.
The task force - which included executives from Georgia Power Co., Atlanta Gas Light, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Georgia and Deloitte and Touche - met seven times over a period of about two months.
Georgia has already made $3 billion in cuts and is looking at a shortfall of more than $1 billion as revenues continue to decline. Budget solutions have stymied lawmakers as they juggle concerns including education, transportation and hospitals.
Legislators spent half of last month trying to figure out how to trim the state's spending plan for the upcoming fiscal year and are faced with few options that are less than palatable to those they would affect.
Alan Essig, executive director of the Georgia Budget and Policy Institute, said there are many ideas in the report that could lead to better management and more efficient government. He said the document overall was positive and that the state could generate revenue now by adopting recommendations such as broadening the sales tax base and eliminating some tax exemptions, but said there was no silver bullet to solve the immediate budget crunch.
"There are things that could be done today if they wanted to do it," Essig said. "But there's nothing in here that's going to get us $2 billion tomorrow to close the budget gap."
Copyright 2009 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed
AJC
by James Salzer
3:15 pm March 16, 2010
Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle’s budget task force has come up with ways for the state to save big money, but some of their proposals are likely politically radioactive.
Among them: freezing longevity raises for the state’s 150,000 teachers and making them pay more into their retirement system. New teachers also would be shifted to things like 401-K retirement plans rather than the current pension system. The task force report, released today, backs Gov. Sonny Perdue’s recommendation to create a “merit pay” system for teacher raises.
The task force calls for a review of college tuition “to ensure they are analogous with comparable institutions nationwide.” For schools like Georgia Tech and the
The task force recommends that a higher percentage of lottery ticket sales go for HOPE scholarships and pre-kindergarten classes. Currently, about 24 percent of sales go for those programs, with the rest spent on prizes and lottery overhead. If 35 percent went for education programs, the state would have taken in an additional $363 million, the task force said.
The task force recommended a series of changes in health care programs for state employees and the poor that it says would save $1.9 billion in five years.
It also calls for slashing state jobs. It notes that the state budget fell 23 percent over the last fiscal year, but the state workforce only fell 7 percent. It said if the state, excluding colleges, cut its workforce by 10 percent, it could save up to $367.5 million in the first year.
Cagle told reporters he was not endorsing all the task force’s recommendations.
“There are many of the recommendations that are very viable and there are some that will be politically un-viable,” said Cagle, who is running for re-election this year. “These people (the task force) are looking at this without political lenses on.”
Atlanta (AP) - Senate leaders are expected to get dozens of ideas for saving billions of dollars from a group of business leaders assembled to bring fresh ideas to Georgia's fiscal crisis.
Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle announced in January the creation of a seven-member Budget Task Force in January that was tasked with looking at how to further slash the state's budget without drastic cuts to essential services or raising taxes.
Most of the recommendations, which will be submitted on Tuesday, are focused on long-term budget solutions, though some of the recommendations will bring immediate cost savings. Others may take between two and five years to fully implement.
According to the task force, the recommendations would amount to more than $3 billion if they are fully implemented.
Senate unanimously passes property tax bill
By Ernie Suggs
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
In the months that Senate Majority Leader Chip Rogers has been working on a state property tax overhaul, he said the main theme he has heard is that the system and process were broken.
On Thursday, Rogers and 53 of his Senate colleagues took a big step, they say, toward fixing it. The Senate voted 54-0 to pass SB 346, a property tax bill that would assure every taxpayer and property owner receive an annual assessment notice.
“This bill brings credibility to the process,” Rogers said. “Assessments were not keeping pace with fair market value, and if someone is paying a tax on something they don’t own, that is not fair.”
The substitute bill, which was 47 pages and went through more than 60 revisions, would also assure that all property owners get information on when to file an appeal. Under the substitute bill, each county would now send an annual assessment to each property owner. Homeowners currently receive a notice only when their property has been reappraised. An early version of the bill would have given homeowners a year to file an appeal. But critics of the bill felt that a year-round process would overwhelm some counties while making it hard to balance local budgets and pay for the process. In a compromise, homeowners now have up to 45 days to file an appeal. That annual assessment notice to homeowners would include a pro forma tax bill. The bill would use the property owner’s millage from the past year, multiplied by the current year’s tax assessment, but it would not include any exemptions.
“Simply put, many citizens are taxed far more than the value of their home, and the appeals process is often daunting and confusing,” Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle said. “Today, the state Senate took real steps to bring fairness to a broken system.”
The bill, which now goes to the Georgia House of Representatives, received wide bipartisan praise. Sen. Steve Thompson (D-Marietta), who worked on the bill in the Senate Finance Committee, said the bill is “far-reaching.”
“The timing is perfect for us to approach it. Maybe we should have done it earlier,” Thompson said. “The situation has been such that the majority leader has been fair, open and inclusive. I would just say -- as bad as I hate being in this position -- the majority leader has done a great job on this.”
The Senate’s drive to reform the state’s property tax system comes after an investigation by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution last fall showing that thousands of metro Atlanta properties are overvalued for tax purposes. After studying more than 500,000 tax and sales records for five counties, the newspaper concluded that county appraisers either ignored, or failed to keep pace with, the collapse of real estate prices.
Property tax meltdown - As property values in parts of metro Atlanta collapsed during the recession, tax appraisers did not keep up, meaning many homeowners were taxed on value their property no longer held. See “Property Tax Meltdown” at www.ajc.com/news/.
Governor Perdue, Lt. Governor Cagle and Speaker Ralston sat down recently to discuss the on-going budget issues.
(L to R) Lt. Governor Casey Cagle, Governor Sonny Perdue, and Speaker David Ralston
Associated Document(s): |
State Leaders.jpg |
| Photo by: Alana Joyner, Governor's Photographer |
Click here to view the recent article in Golf Georgia Magazine featuring Lt. Governor Cagle and his son's Jared and Grant. Golf Georgia is the official magazine of the Georgia State Golf Association
Associated Document(s): |
PDF of Golf Georgia Article.pdf |
| PDF of Golf Georgia Article |
Click here to enjoy the March/April 2010 edition of H Magazine. Lt. Governor Cagle's cover article appears on page 18.
http://www.hmagazine.biz/marchapril2010.php
Lt. Governor Cagle joins the Junior Leagues of Georgia for the main event of the Million Minute Read Week, a celebration of the Million Minute Read Initiative and reads The Very Hungry Caterpillar to a group of 3-5 year olds coming over to the Capitol from Sheltering Arms, Georgia's oldest nonprofit early childhood education program.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LPWJ8tUA6xs
Senate bill would overhaul Georgia property tax system
By Ernie Suggs
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Published 7:24 p.m. Monday, February 1, 2010
A “much-needed” overhaul of Georgia’s property tax system might be on the horizon. On Monday, Senate Majority Leader Chip Rogers (R-Woodstock) introduced a 47-page bill that features more than 40 changes in the current property tax system and would, according to Rogers, grant homeowners more power.
“The collection of taxes should be fair, transparent and easy to understand. Sadly, the property tax system in Georgia accomplishes none of these things,” Rogers said. “This legislation attempts to bring fairness to an unfair system.”
Rogers added that changes are needed because of the recent downturn in the housing market. He said that while home values have dipped across the state, property tax assessments have remained artificially high. His bill, for example, proposes that homeowners can be taxed only for the price of their home.
"If you buy a home this year and you don't do anything to it, whatever you paid for it should be your assessment for that year,” Rogers said.
In December, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported that county tax appraisers are setting higher values on residential properties than they sold for. The AJC found during an eight-month review of sales values and tax appraisals in Cobb, Clayton, DeKalb, Fulton and Gwinnett counties that assessors routinely ignore sales when they fall below tax appraisals. The study found ZIP codes all over metro Atlanta where median sales fell more than 30 percent but median tax appraisals dipped between 5 percent and 10 percent.
John O’Callaghan, president of the Atlanta Neighborhood Development Partnership, said Rogers’ bill would provide needed relief to homeowners, especially those in poor neighborhoods.
“State law requires that when we tax you, it should be based on the value of your house,” O’Callaghan said. “For a homeowner in a high-foreclosure neighborhood, they are overpaying their property taxes up to $1,600 a year.”
The bill, SB 346, includes:
Year-round property appeals.
Making sure that every property receives an annual notice of assessment.
Statewide uniformity of assessment notices and appeal forms.
Allowing counties to accept payment plans for property taxes and discounts for early payments.
Establishing time limits for assessor action in response to appeals.
Requiring a unanimous vote by Board of Equalization members to increase assessed value.
“Georgians from all over the state created this legislation,” said Rogers, who held several hearings on property tax reform. “We have had hundreds of suggestions for change. The more than 40 changes represented in this bill represent the will of the people and the will to bring needed relief to property owners.”
Fulton County Commissioner Robb Pitts said that he has been doing independent research on property tax reform for months now and supports the premise of the bill.
“I think it is a huge step in the right direction, which would lead to fairness,” Pitts said. “It makes a lot of sense and gives relief to taxpayers.”
In announcing his bill, Rogers acknowledged that some counties might bring in less money on appraisals -- but added that as long as taxpayers were being taxed fairly, he could live with it.
Pitts said adjustments would be in order.
“Would it mean adjustments from the county point of view? Yes, it would,” Pitts said. “But if we have been taxing unfairly and spending what we shouldn’t have been spending, that is a problem. This would serve to correct the situation. This may be a bitter pill to swallow, but what is fair is fair.”
Rogers said more than 30 senators have signed the bill, which has been assigned to the Senate Finance Committee. Rogers said he has no plans to fast-track the bill.
Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle said the current system is “broken,” antiquated and subjective. One of the major complaints with the current system is that any appraiser can come and visually look at a piece of property and offer an assessment value not based on any scientific or mathematical equations.
“Georgians do not pay higher taxes when the value of their cars decrease, and property taxes should be no different,” Cagle said.
Representatives of tax assessors’ offices in Fulton and Gwinnett counties said they had not read all of Rogers’ bill yet and would not comment.
Staff writer Shane Blatt contributed to this article.
Cagle: Let's encourage 'angel investors'
Savannah Morning News, Published 2.21.10
CASEY CAGLE
While government can't create jobs, we can create the right environment for business to thrive and grow. The first step we must take is to provide a balanced budget that will keep our taxes low and control spending.
The facts are stark:
Although we have our challenges, our state is weathering the storm better than most other states, we are one of only seven states with a AAA bond rating and our fiscal conservatism is going to lead us through this downturn.
States like
Instead, you will see Senate Republicans investing heavily in making jobs a top priority. Recently, we rolled out a jobs package for the 2010 legislative session.
This legislation includes tax incentives to create jobs for out-of-work Georgians and for businesses to relocate to
A piece included in the package that I have been pushing for includes an "Angel Investor Tax Credit."
Research proves that 80 percent of new jobs in
In this current economy, it is extremely difficult for new businesses to find the capital necessary to expand and grow. Angels fill a critical role in financing and many businesses stay open and stay in
Twenty-one other states have implemented programs to incentivize Angels and
This is bigger than a simple tax credit, however; it is an investment in emerging technologies and a way for
This targeted approach will lead the way to job creation as
One
Casey Cagle is lieutenant governor of
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Lt. Governor Cagle talks about the benefit of Career Academies. Watch the latest Georgia Career Academy Video and learn more about Career Academies Project here. Georgia Career Academies Project
Spreading cheer
Vaishali Patel
The Union-Recorder
December 02, 2009 02:01 pm
Fifty-one years ago, Betty Vandiver, former First Lady of Georgia, wanted to help enhance the lives of clients at
With Tuesday’s good weather, a crowd came together to celebrate the festivities at CSH. The Georgia Municipal Association sponsored mayors throughout
“They raised $23,000 and it’s divided between all seven regional hospitals based on the number of beds needed,” Tanner said. “Local governments usually mostly donate gifts and the larger government donates larger items.”
The Southern Cruisers Riding Club Oconee Chapter First Officer Darlene Brantley said the club has been donating gifts to CSH clients for four years now. She also said members plan to continue to ride their motorcycles in the parade for the coming years, all the while honking their horns, roaring their engines and tossing candy into a crowd of joyous faces.
“This feels really good. I hope they continue it for the next few years. It’s really become a Milledgeville tradition now,” Brantley said.
More than 120
“Wow! That’s awesome. I want to be a Marine when I grow up,” a young boy from Blandy Hills said.
The wife of Lieutenant Governor Casey Cagle, Nita Cagle, attended the annual event as grand marshal for the 2009 M-Day parade. She expressed her gratitude and appreciation to cities and residents across the state for their spirit and support this year to make this holiday special for CSH clients.
“I am extremely proud of the staff at
Milledgeville Mayor Richard Bentley, along with other city officials from surrounding areas, were generously welcomed from the community as they rode along the parade route, passing crowds of cheering individuals.
“It’s very instrumental in encouraging the community to participate to serve clients and citizens of the community,” Bentley said. “We ask the community to try to get everyone involved to donate.”
“This is fantastic. It’s very exciting to see the love and support from everyone,” Eatonton Commissioner Jacqueline Reid said. “Sometimes institutions such as this are often forgotten. It’s always good to give back.”
M-Day festivities began in the
This year’s spectacle, “The Magic of Christmas,” paid tribute to the men and women of the armed forces and took the audience on a journey around the world.
The Baldwin County/Milledgeville community is encouraged to donate even more items for next year’s Mayor’s Motorcade. Items such as: snacks, tote bags, cards, stationary, hair accessories, watches, cosmetics, deodorant, socks, tennis shoes and underwear are welcomed and appreciated. Planning for M-Day 2010 will initiate in August or September.
Augusta Chronicle - Procter & Gamble added products, jobs to
Procter & Gamble unveiled recent expansions at its south Augusta powder detergent facility. About 150 people have been added to its staff to make a Bounce Dryer Bar and Gain laundry detergent in a bag.
Augusta is the only facility in the world making either product, said plant manager Marian Futrell.
Both products are now available on store shelves.
The dryer bar replaces the need to use dryer sheets for every load. The product sticks to the inside of a consumer’s clothes dryer and works as a dryer sheet for two months. There is also a four-month dryer bar being produced.
The bags of Gain, and a sister product called Ariel, is meant to target the Hispanic community. Ariel is a known brand name in Central and South America.
“The product is currently on the shelf on the West Coast, East Coast and Gulf region in the United States,” Ms. Futrell said.
Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle said P&G has been a stable force within the state.
“We want to see more expansions and more job creations,” he said during the ceremony. “What you have accomplished is very promising. You can see it in the employees’ eyes when you walk in.”
Juan Bailey, the plant’s HR manager, said the company added $5 million in annual payroll through the added products.
The plant now has 240 P&G employees and 360 contractor workers, said Ms. Futrell. The new lines resulted in 15 new company employees and 135 contractor positions, filled by their light industry labor supplier, MarketPlace.
“We’ve hired what we needed to hire. Our goal is to continue to expand, but we can’t predict the future,” Ms. Futrell said.
Ms. Futrell said the dryer bar production began in May, but the Gain in a bag got started in September.
The facility spent $1 million installing the new production lines.
“These products have come to life here in Augusta because the people at our site are making a difference every day by working safely, providing excellent customer service, quality for the customers, and being a capable, agile manufacturing organization,” Ms. Futrell said.
Walter Sprouse, director of the Development Authority of Richmond County, said it took two years to convince the corporate headquarters to make the products in Augusta. He said his organization assisted the local P&G leadership’s effort to win the additional production.
“What a week for Augusta. On Monday, Forbes magazine recognized us as the number five city in the nation in regards to bang for your buck,” said Augusta Mayor Deke Copenhaver. “On Tuesday, your local government for the third straight year was able to approve a budget with no millage rate increase, which I know is music to the ears of the business community. And then today, 150 new jobs.”
http://chronicle.augusta.com/stories/latest/lat_703752.shtml?v=1418#
Potentially crippling blow
Washington Times; Published Thursday, November 26, 2009
Casey Cagle
As the focus of the health care reform debate in Washington has shifted from the U.S. House of Representatives to the U.S. Senate, the "public option" government-run insurance program continues to command the pundits' attention. While the public option warrants significant discussion, I believe the media's fixation on it obscures one of the most dangerous aspects of this legislation.
In its current form, the House Democrats' health care bill would create a huge increase in the number of Americans eligible for government-run Medicaid health care. But these increased costs would not be covered by the federal government. Instead, they would be passed onto the states in the form of unfunded mandates - with Georgia being one of the most negatively impacted states.
Georgia would be one of just 14 states that would see the Medicaid-eligible population balloon by 45 percent. In fact, if the bill passes, the Heritage Foundation research indicates that as many as 1 in 5 Georgians would have access to a government-run health care entitlement.
Estimates indicate that over the five-year life span of the bafflingly titled Affordable Health Care for America Act, more than $2.4 billion in new expenses would be added to our state's budget. Even a "watered down" alternative also being proposed could cost as much as $2 billion for Georgians.
This additional financial burden would crush our state budget. In Georgia, we have already witnessed a massive state budget shortfall caused by deteriorating economic conditions and dramatically lower tax revenue. Unlike Washington, our state constitution requires us to balance the budget each year.
As elected officials, we have two basic tools to achieve balance: Cut spending or increase taxes. I'm proud that Georgia state Senate Republicans addressed recent shortfalls without raising taxes during the 2009 legislative session. Together, we have cut billions from the budget, requiring state employee furloughs and state agencies sustaining cuts as high as 50 percent. We are already identifying additional budget cuts that will be necessary during the 2010 legislative session.
I recently sent a letter to Georgia's U.S. Sens. Saxby Chambliss and Johnny Isakson, both Republicans, expressing my deep concern about the bill in its current form. I applauded their ongoing efforts to defeat this bill, and thanked them for their recent procedural vote against the bill, which I believe threatens to short-circuit our state's potential for growth and progress.
The unfortunate reality is that if health care reform in its present form passes, no amount of cutting will bring our state budget into balance. While the Obama administration misleadingly states that tax increases in the bill only target the top 1 percent of wage earners, the truth is the health care bill will force an increase in taxes for all Georgians.
There are better health care solutions than trillions in new spending, increased taxes, and increased government intervention. In Georgia, we have made progress without raising taxes or increasing government interference. Those who are most at risk and cannot afford insurance can receive care through our Safety Net Clinics initiative, and the Senate passed a Health Care Marketplace initiative that offers insurance policy portability and small-business tax deductions for health insurance.
I'm confident that through the efforts of everyday citizens, business owners and elected officials, our nation will rebound from this economic downturn. Our state is poised to benefit tremendously as businesses considering relocation view Georgia as an attractive destination because of our low taxes, unmatched quality of life and thriving communities.
However, I fear our best efforts to prepare for success can be undermined by a massive unfunded mandate from the federal government that will cripple our state budget as never before.
Casey Cagle, a Republican, is lieutenant governor of Georgia.
Please follow the link below.
Associated Document(s): |
MAG, Oct 2009, Newsletter.pdf |
Click here to view WSB’s interview where Lt Governor Cagle exposes millions in wasted taxpayer dollars in interest payments on delinquent tax refunds.
http://www.wsbtv.com/video/21241765/
Below is FEMA contact information for flood victims:
If you are a recent flood victim and reside in one of the 17 declared counties, you could be eligible for Individual Assistance which provides funding to help pay for temporary housing, home repairs and other serious disaster-related expenses. The counties that have been declared disaster relief counties are Bartow, Carroll, Catoosa, Chattooga, Cherokee, Cobb, Coweta, DeKalb, Douglas,
If you reside in one of these counties and are in need of assistance, register with FEMA by going online at http://www.DisasterAssistance.gov or call 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) or 1-800-462-7585 (TTY) for the hearing and speech impaired. The toll-free telephone numbers will operate from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. (local time).
Those who are interested in helping victims are asked to donate to Red Cross (http://www.redcross.org/) or Salvation Army (http://www.salvationarmyusa.org).
Letter to Senators
Lt. Governor Cagle's Letter to the Georgia State Senate.