Quick Poll

When was the last time you've been summoned for 'Jury Duty' – within the last 0-6 or 7-12 months or 1-3, 4-5 or over 5 years or never?

Blogs

Angela McRae

Tea with friends

Deberah Williams

Everyday Finesse

Lorrie Lynch

Who's News

Published Saturday, January 21, 2012 in Local

Legislation to cap state spending dead in the House, chairman says

By WALTER C. JONES

Morris News Service

ATLANTA -- Legislation to cap state spending championed by conservative activists will stall in the House, a powerful House committee chairman predicted Friday.

Senate Republicans included the spending limit earlier in the week when they unveiled their legislative agenda. Passing it has been a 10-goal of Senate Republican Leader Chip Rogers of Woodstock.

But House Appropriation Committee Chairman Terry England, R-Auburn, told a social-services conference he sees little likelihood of passage in his chamber.

"I'm not exactly sure what appetite for that there will be on the House side," he said. "... It sounds good in theory, but it's really hard to make work."

Speaking to the Georgia Budget and Policy Institute think tank, England said Colorado's experience with a similar law known as the Taxpayers Bill of Rights was a failure that led to public calls for repeal.

Rogers' bill would limit state spending growth to the inflation rate plus the percentage change in population growth. If more is collected in taxes than is needed for that level of funding, the surplus would be banked for emergencies or refunded.

Critics say spending caps restrict the ability to make long-term investments and catch up with needs that have not received adequate funding in prior years. They also particularly hobble government during recessions when tax collections fall and demand for social services rise. Also, health costs -- a major spending area for state government -- is generally growing twice the overall inflation rate.

Comment On This Story

Times-Herald.com does not necessarily agree with the comments posted below. Responsibility of comments rests solely with the writer. Comments posted in ALL CAPS will be deleted.

Submission of a comment does not guarantee publication. Comments will be posted by a moderator after being scanned for abusive language, relevance, etc. See our Comments FAQ for more details.