Session Enters Final Week
4/17/2009

We enter the final week of the legislative session with many accomplishments and much work left to do.

I'm proud we were able to balance the 2009 budget without borrowing or increasing taxes, and was proud to work with other leaders of the General Assembly to achieve that goal. I'm especially proud we saved the already promised Homeowner Tax Relief Grants. The JOBS Act, mentioned below, is a real conservative stimulus package, and one of the best bills we have passed in my years in the legislature.

However, a very busy week awaits us. While we are making a lot of progress on the budget, transportation, and other issues, final compromises are not quite completed as I write this. I am confident that we will work through the final sticking points and deliver legislation to the Governor that will help all Georgians weather these difficult economic times.

As always, thank you for giving me the opportunity to serve.


Sincerely,

John Wiles


JOBS Act Passes State Senate

A package of bills designed to stimulate Georgia's economy with tax incentives and credits passed the Senate on Wednesday. The Jobs, Opportunity, and Business Success (JOBS) Act of 2009 was overwhelmingly approved by a vote of 43 to 7 on House Bill 481 and 46 to 6 on House Bill 482.

Senate Majority Leader Chip Rogers (R-Woodstock) carried the JOBS Act in the Senate and praised the measure as the most pro-business legislation the General Assembly has ever considered and believes its focus on protecting the small business will be the key to bringing Georgia through the current recession.

HB 481 provides a one-year filing fee holiday for new businesses, a $500 credit towards the unemployment insurance tax for each newly hired employee who was receiving unemployment benefits, a $2,400 income tax credit for each eligible employee hired, the refund of $186 million in state held sales tax deposits, and the gradual elimination of the Business income tax for Georgia-based corporations. HB 482 is a referendum to eliminate the state inventory tax on all Georgia businesses.

"I am proud to have been an early proponent of a real stimulus package, and would like to congratulate leaders in the House and Senate who helped put this package together," said Sen. Wiles. "Unlike the borrow and spend crowd in Washington, when we were faced with economic problems in Georgia, we developed a conservation solution based on business tax breaks."


Vital Measures Await Final Action as General Assembly Heads Toward Sine Die

Entering the last scheduled week of the General Assembly, progress is being made on many important bills, including the 2010 Budget, a plan to fund transportation, trauma care, and the car tax.

Senate leaders are putting the final touches on their version of the 2010 budget. It is expected to pass the full Senate on Wednesday, at which point Houses and Senate leaders will meet to reconcile differences and turn it over to the Governor.

Competing plans to fund transportation and to improve the governance of transportation projects continue to come closer as leaders compromise to develop the most effective solutions. A Senate passed version passed the House Transportation Committee last week, and hopefully a final negotiated version will pass this week.

Bills to solidify trauma funding and eliminate the "birthday tax" on automobiles continue to come closer to final passage. A Senate Committee this week passed a bill to eliminate the current annual tax on cars and replace it with a onetime title fee.

Finally, Sen. Wiles' legislation continues to make its way through the General Assembly. His tort reform bill passed the House this week, and his bill to license laser cosmetic practitioners is schedule for a House vote on Monday. Senate Bill 207, which Sen. Wiles authored to improve our Juvenile Court system, passed House committee Friday and will be eligible for a vote on the House floor next week. Also, Sen. Wiles made the "Do Pass" motion in committee on Rep. James Mills' bill to allow for embryo adoptions in Georgia.