Crossover Day at the Capitol
3/17/2009

As I mentioned last week, we reached Crossover Day this past Thursday. This is the last day that we can pass Senate Bills that the House will take up this session. As you can imagine, it was quite hectic, with both chambers working into the evening.

This is the most critical time of the session, as we work to perfect bills and send them to the Governor for his signature.

Among other critical measures we handled this week, I was pleased to help craft a compromise on the Senate embryo bill to prevent their destruction while still allowing a loving father and mother who can't conceive naturally the ability to use in vitro to have a family.


Sincerely,

John Wiles

Many Bills Pass on Hectic Crossover Day

On a very busy Crossover Day, almost 100 bills passed the two chambers.

The Senate passed two important measures on Thursday. One would ensure that members of the legislature who don't pay their taxes have their names released. The second would protect human life by safeguarding embryos created for couples going through in vitro fertilization.

By rule, revenue measures must start in the House, so they handled many tax bills on Thursday. Among other measures, a bill to eliminate the "Birthday Tax" on cars passed with bi-partisan support. The House also passed a true stimulus package to provide tax incentives for hiring, and a tax credit for home buyers.

"I'm looking forward to working on these House measures in the Senate," said Sen. Wiles. "It will be a pleasure to support a real, conservative Stimulus package, unlike the borrow and spend version we got out of Washington."


Amended 2009 Budget on Governor's Desk


This week, the House and Senate passed the final version of HB 118, a $18.9 billion revision to the budget that cuts about $2.5 billion from the version passed last year. The budget was immediately transmitted to the Governor.

"This was a difficult budget to pass," said Sen. Wiles. "While there were some programs that I hated to see cut, we are in difficult times, and we were committed to fully fund the Homeowner Tax Relief Grants."

With a revised revenue estimate from the Governor, the Senate will now accelerate work on the 2010 budget. As a subcommittee chairman on the Appropriations Committee, Sen. Wiles will be part of the team ensuring Georgia has a balanced budget that addresses citizen's needs without raising taxes.