♪ ♪ >> BLACK PEOPLE FIGHTING TO BE TREATED LIKE HUMAN BEINGS IS NOT THE EQUIVALENT TO YOUR FIGHT TO NOT PROTECT YOUR COLLEAGUES.

>> MORE FALLOUT FROM A GEORGIA HOUSE MEMBER BOOTED FROM THE CHAMBER FOR REFUSING TO GET TESTED FOR THE CORONAVIRUS, AND HIS COMPARING HIS REMOVAL TO WHEN BLACK LAWMAKERS WERE KICKED OUT AFTER THE CIVIL WAR.

GOOD EVENING, AND WELCOME TO "LAWMAKERS" ON THIS SIXTH DAY OF THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

I'M DONNA LOWRY IN ATLANTA.

WE WILL HAVE MORE IN JUST A MOMENT ON THE CONTROVERSY OVER REPRESENTATIVE DAVID CLARK'S DEFIANCE TO GET TESTED FOR COVID-19.

THE AMENDED BUDGET THAT ENDS ON JULY 1ST IS EXPECTED TO GO BEFORE THE GEORGIA HOUSE TOMORROW.

WE HAVE TWO BUDGET EXPERTS JOINING US.

AND WE WILL TALK EDUCATION.

WHAT ARE THE CHANCES OF TEACHERS BEING MOVED UP ON THE VACCINE PRIORITY LIST?

BUT FIRST, CAPITOL CORRESPONDENT BRENDA WATERS JOINS US WITH ANOTHER IMPORTANT EDUCATION ISSUES.

LEGISLATION THAT IS THIS WEEK THAT WOULD ALLOW DR.

RECIPIENTS TO ATTEND COLLEGE.

HI, BRENDA.

>> Brenda: HEY, DONNA.

YOU KNOW IT IS A SPECIAL THING WHEN YOUR BILL HAS BIPARTISAN SUPPORT, AND I'M TALKING ABOUT HOUSE BILL 120, WHICH WAS ASSIGNED TO THE HOUSE HIGHER EDUCATION COMMITTEE TODAY.

NOW, THE BILL IS SPONSORED BY REPRESENTATIVE KASEY CARPENTER, A REPUBLICAN FROM DALTON COUNTY.

ONE OTHER REPUBLICAN IS ALSO PUSHING FOR THIS BILL, AS WELL AS TWO DEMOCRATS.

>> IT IS VERY SIMILAR TO THE BILL I DROPPED LAST YEAR THAT WOULD ALLOW GEORGIA DACA RECIPIENTS TO RECEIVE IN-STATE TUITION RATES AT CERTAIN UNIVERSITIES AND COLLEGES IN GEORGIA.

FOR ME, AS A REPUBLICAN, IT IS A WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT ISSUE.

WE HAVE ALL THESE HIGH ACHIEVERS THAT ARE WANTING TO CONTINUE THEIR EDUCATION SO THEY CAN BECOME BETTER TAXPAYERS, HIGHER TAXPAYERS, BUT WE ARE LIMITING THEIR ABILITY TO DO THAT, SO WE ARE SEEING THESE KIDS MOVED TO OTHER STATES, ESTABLISH RESIDENCY IN A YEAR, AND THEN GET IN-STATE IN THOSE STATES, AND THEY DON'T COME BACK TO GEORGIA, SO WE ARE TRYING TO RETAIN OUR BEST AND BRIGHTEST.

>> Brenda: REPRESENTATIVE CARPENTER SAYS THERE ARE 21,000 DREAMERS IN THE STATE OF GEORGIA, AND 6,000 IN HIS DISTRICT.

NOT WHAT HE WANTS IS FOR DREAMERS TO LEARN IN GEORGIA, GET A JOB IN GEORGIA, AND REINVEST IN THE GEORGIA ECONOMY.

WHAT REPRESENTATIVE DAVID CLARK SAID YESTERDAY WHEN HE WAS REMOVED FROM THE HOUSE CHAMBERS BECAUSE HE REFUSES TO BE TESTED FOR COVID TWICE A WEEK, WELL, IT IS DRAWING SOME STRONG CRITICISM.

HE COMPARED HIS DISMISSAL TWO AND 33 BLACK LAWMAKERS WERE EXPELLED FROM THE CHAMBER'S POST-CIVIL WAR BECAUSE OF THEIR SKIN COLOR.

WELL, TODAY, REPRESENTATIVE DR. JASMINE CLARK, NO RELATION TO REPRESENTATIVE DAVID CLARK, BEGAN HER RESPONSE WITH A LITTLE HISTORY LESSON.

>> 33 BLACK OR MIXED RACE LEGISLATORS, DULY ELECTED, AFTER THE CIVIL WAR, IN 1858 181868, THATWERE EXPELLED FROM T GENERAL ASSEMBLY BECAUSE THEY WERE BLACK.

THE ORIGINAL 33 WERE NOT EXPELLED BECAUSE OF SOME SELF-SERVING, ATTENTION SEEKING, PERSONAL PROTEST ABOUT FOLLOWING SAFETY PROTOCOLS.

THEY WERE EXPELLED BECAUSE THEY WERE BLACK.

PERIOD.

AND IT IS NEVER ACCEPTABLE FOR ANYONE TO CO-OPT OR MISAPPROPRIATE THE PAIN, SUFFERING, OR OPPRESSION OF BLACK PEOPLE TO SCORE POLITICAL POINTS.

>> Brenda: I REACHED OUT TO REPRESENTATIVE DAVID CLARK EARLIER TODAY.

NO RESPONSE.

HE ALSO DID NOT ATTEND TODAY'S HOUSE SESSION AND WAS MARKED "EXCUSED" DURING ROLL CALL.

THE GEORGIA HOUSE BUDGET WRITERS QUICKLY APPROVED A MIDYEAR SPENDING PLAN TODAY, AND IT INCLUDES EXTRA MONEY FOR PUBLIC HEALTH PROGRAMS.

NOW, IT WAS -- THIS WAS AFTER THE OUTBREAK OF COVID.

THERE HAS BEEN CRITICISM, THOUGH, THAT NOT ENOUGH MONEY HAS BEEN APPROPRIATED TO FIGHT THE VIRUS.

HERE IS REPRESENTATIVE TERRY ENGLAND.

>> AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, YOU KNOW, BEEN A LOT OF TALK -- AS A MATTER OF FACT, I THINK THERE WAS AN ARTICLE YESTERDAY TALKING ABOUT YOU ARE NOT SEEING A WHOLE LOT IN THE BUDGET AS IT RELATES TO PUBLIC HEALTH.

STATE DOLLARS GOING THERE.

I WOULD REITERATE, THEY HAVE HAD A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF MONEY COME TO THEM ON THE FEDERAL LEVEL.

RIGHT NOW, I THINK THEY ARE SETTING SOMEWHERE AT ABOUT A BILLION DOLLARS IN FEDERAL MONEY THEY WILL BE RECEIVING IN THE NEXT WEEK OR SO.

THAT WILL BE GOING TO THE COVID RESPONSE.

>> Brenda: THE MIDYEAR BUDGET FOR FISCAL 2021, WHICH RUNS THROUGH JUNE 30TH, IS UP FOR A VOTE BY THE FULL CHAMBER TOMORROW.

AS YOU KNOW, THE BUDGET IS TOP PRIORITY, JUST IN CASE THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY IS FORCED TO TAKE A BREAK BECAUSE OF THE PANDEMIC, AS THEY HAD TO DO LAST YEAR.

THE STATE SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT ADDRESSED THE ISSUE OF A TEACHER RETENTION WHEN HE SPOKE TO MEMBERS OF A SENATE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION AND YOUTH THIS AFTERNOON, SAYING THE FOCUS RIGHT NOW IS KEEPING TEACHERS IN PLACE, ALREADY EMPLOYED BY THE STATE, AS OPPOSED TO RECRUITING MORE TEACHERS.

>> WE LOOK AT TEACHER RECRUITMENT, BUT I'M THINKING TO LOOK AT TEACHER RETENTION.

WE LOSE 1 OUT OF 2.

IF WE CAN JUST CUT THAT NUMBER IN HALF, WE SHOULD PUT A DENT IN THE TEACHER ROLE, AND I THINK WE LOOK AT TEACHER MENTORS, THAT IS SOMETHING WE NEED TO LOOK AT THE >> Brenda: DONNA, I KNOW YOU WILL HAVE MORE WITH THE SUPERINTENDENT IN YOUR LATER NEWSCAST.

THAT IS MY CAPITAL REPORT.

BACK TO YOU.

>> Donna: THANK YOU SO MUCH, BRENDA.

NOW, AS BRENDA MENTIONED, THE GEORGIA HOUSE IS EXPECTED TO VOTE ON THE AMENDED 2021 BUDGET TOMORROW.

AS THE STATE BUDGET PROCESS MOVES VERY QUICKLY, WE ARE JOINED BY TWO IMPORTANT PLAYERS IN THE BUDGET PROCESS, HOUSE MINORITY LEADER JAMES BEVERLY, AND SENATE FINANCE COMMITTEE CHAIR CHUCK HUFSTETLER.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> GREAT TO BE HERE.

>> Donna: GLAD TO HAVE YOU HERE.

LEADER BEVERLY, WE WILL START WITH YOU.

LET'S TALK ABOUT THE AMENDED 2021 BUDGET EXPECTED TO HIT THE FLOOR TOMORROW.

WHAT ARE YOUR CONCERNS ABOUT WHAT IS NOT IN THE BUDGET AT THIS POINT?

>> WELL, WE NEVER REALLY RESTORED -- AND THE BIG CONCERN I HAVE IS ALTHOUGH THE GOVERNMENT WILL TOUT THAT THERE IS MONEY THAT HAS GONE BACK TO EDUCATION, STILL $400 MILLION SHORTFALL.

$400 MILLION PLUS.

WE HAVE, YOU KNOW, RAINY DAY FUND.

THAT WE ARE NOT EVEN TALKING ABOUT.

IT IS A REVENUE SHORTFALL RESERVE.

THERE IS ALREADY AN 11% OF WHERE IT COULD GO.

IT COULD GO TO 50%.

IT'S AN 11%, AND WE ARE NOT TALKING ABOUT THE RAINY DAY FUND TO SUPPLEMENT THE STUFF THAT WE LOST.

SO THERE ARE SOME STRUCTURAL PROBLEMS I THINK WE SHOULD BE HAVING A REAL CONVERSATION ABOUT AND I'M GLAD TO BE ON THE SHOW FOR THAT.

>> Donna: YOU THINK IT IS IMPORTANT NOW BECAUSE WHAT WE HAVE EXPANSE OF THE PANDEMIC?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

WHEN YOU LOOK AT WHERE WE ARE TODAY IN THE AMOUNT OF MONEY WE HAD TO CUT BACK OUT OF THE BUDGET, THERE'S TALK ABOUT A BILLION DOLLARS CAME OUT OF EDUCATION.

YOU HAVE KIDS WHO ARE NOW IN A GAP YEAR.

TEACHERS ARE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT THEY ARE GOING TO DO.

WE SHOULD NOT BE IN A POSTURE WHERE WE'RE JUST GOING TO DO 60% OF IT, WHEN A HUNDRED PERCENT HAS TO GET US BACK TO JUST SOME TYPE OF NORMALIZATION.

AND WE NEED TO HAVE A CONVERSATION.

SO IT FALLS SHORT.

ARE CAUCUS LAST YEAR VOTED AGAINST THE BUDGET BECAUSE OF THOSE PROBLEMS, SO TOMORROW WE WILL SEE WHERE IT GOES.

THERE'S NOTHING STRUCTURAL IN THE BUDGET AT THIS PARTICULAR POINT THAT SAYS WE SHOULD MOVE FORWARD OF THE SUPPLEMENTAL IF WE ARE NOT GOING TO LOOK AT AN OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE UP THE SHORTFALL.

>> Donna: OKAY.

CHAIRMAN HUFSTETLER, I WOULD LIKE YOUR THOUGHTS ON THE BUDGET AS IT IS NOW.

>> WELL, FIRST OF ALL, MY JOB ON THE BUDGET AS FINANCE CHAIR IS TO BRING IN THE REVENUE, AND CHAIRMAN TILLERY SPENDS IT, LIKE THE SAME ROW I HAVE AT MY HOUSE.

>> Donna: [LAUGHS] >> HE'S GOT A TOUGH JOB, AND HE IS VERY CAUTIOUS AND CONSERVATIVE.

WE HAVE A HALF BILLION PLUS IN THE AMENDED BUDGET HAS ABOUT FIVE MORE MONTHS TO GO AND OVER A BILLION IN THE BUDGET THAT WOULD START IN JULY.

IT'S STILL A LITTLE BIT EARLY.

I HOPE SOME MORE THINGS CAN BE RESTORED, BUT WE ARE STILL LOOKING AT THE REVENUE COMING IN.

THERE IS A BELIEF WE MAY HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF A DOWNTURN IN THE FIRST QUARTER OF THIS YEAR, AND I KNOW WE ARE LOOKING AT THOSE NUMBERS AS WELL AND CONTINUE TO FOLLOW.

>> Donna: TO CONTINUE WITH YOU, I WANT TO TALK ABOUT SOMETHING THAT TURNED OUT TO BE VERY IMPORTANT, A BILL YOU SPONSORED, MARKETPLACE FACILITATOR LAW.

KICKED IN RIGHT BEFORE THE PANDEMIC, AND THAT IS THE MONEY FROM INTERNET BILL.

TALK ABOUT HOW IMPORTANT THAT HAS BECOME TO THE STATE.

>> WELL, WHEN WE DID THAT, I KNOW ECONOMISTS SAID IT WOULD BRING ABOUT 80 MILLION, AND THE TAX WAS ALREADY OWED.

I JUST DIDN'T HAVE A WAY TO COLLECT IT.

THAT WAS MARKETPLACE FACILITATOR, WE HAVE A FRAMEWORK FOR AMAZON AND GOOGLE AND eBAY AND ALL OF THEM DO COLLECT IT, AND THROUGH EIGHT MONTHS, IT ENDED DECEMBER 31ST, IT BROUGHT IN $455 MILLION, AND WE OF COURSE HAVE SIX MONTHS TO GO HERE, SO I THINK IT IS ON TRACK FOR, YOU KNOW, $700 MILLION PLUS THREE QUARTERS OF A BILLION DOLLARS IMPACT.

PEOPLE FROM CHINA ARE NOW PAYING THROUGH THESE FRAMEWORKS AND OTHER COUNTRIES, PEOPLE FROM OUT OF STATE, AND IT LEVELS THE PLAYING FIELD FOR OUR IN-STATE BUSINESSES, AS WELL.

I'D LIKE TO SAY THE TIMING WAS PLANNED, BUT IT WAS A LITTLE BIT LUCK INVOLVED, BUT STARTING APRIL 1ST, WAS PERFECT FOR THIS, AND CERTAINLY BEEN A HUGE HELP TO OUR STATE REVENUE SHORTFALL.

>> Donna: RIGHT, THERE IS NO WAY YOU COULD HAVE PLANNED THE PANDEMIC, BUT YOU KNOW, IT ALL WORKED OUT.

I WANT TO TALK ABOUT RAISING REVENUES WITH BOTH OF YOU.

YOU ARE ON THE SAME PAGE WHEN IT COMES TO RAISING THE CIGARETTE TAX, AND REPRESENTATIVE BEVERLY, YOUR REQUEST OF A FISCAL NOTE ON WHAT RAISING THE TOBACCO TAXES WOULD LOOK LIKE, SO LET'S LOOK AT THAT A LITTLE.

HERE ARE SOME OF THE ELEMENTS OF THAT PROPOSAL.

TO RAISE THE FOLLOWING TAXES, JULY 1ST, BASED ON RAISING CIGARETTE TAX FROM $0.37 A PACK TO $2 A PACK COME ALONG WITH RAISING TAXES ON CIGARS, LOOSE TOBACCO, SMOKELESS TOBACCO, AND VAPING PRODUCTS.

GEORGIA STATE UNIVERSITIES FISCAL RESEARCH CENTER ESTIMATES IT COULD RAISE BETWEEN $691.702 MILLION IN THE UPCOMING BUDGET YEAR.

LET'S TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT.

HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT THE CIGARETTE TAX AT THIS POINT?

>> BEFORE WE -- THERE HAS BEEN A CONVERSATION, I KNOW SENATOR HUFSTETLER IS THINKING ABOUT THIS, AS WELL, BUT WE WANT TO GET A REAL NUMBER, AND SEE WHAT HAPPENS IF WE RAISE IT TO THE NATIONAL AVERAGE, HOW MUCH MONEY CAN WE PULL IN?

AND WHAT THAT MONEY COULD POTENTIALLY BE USED FOR.

AND THEN, WHAT IS ALSO THE CHILLING EFFECT YOU HAVE WHEN YOU START RAISING THE PRICE, HOW DOES THAT THEN IMPACT PEOPLE WHO SMOKE?

ONE OF THE THINGS WE REALIZE THIS 50% OF KIDS WILL STOP USING TOBACCO PRODUCTS IF YOU GET IT TO THAT $2 MARK, BOWS VAPING MARKS.

NOW THOSE PEOPLE ON THE PRODUCTS, YOU INCREASE REVENUES, AND YOU START TO FILL IN GAPS OR EXPANDING HEALTH CARE COVERAGE TO ALL OF THE GEORGIANS COVERING THEIR EDUCATION GAP, THERE IS A LOT OF REASONS TO DO IT, AND I THINK THERE'S GOING TO BE SOME BIPARTISAN SUPPORT.

I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO MOVING THAT ALONG.

>> Donna: I KNOW YOU SUPPORT THIS, TOO.

>> WE PASSED THE BILL OUT OF OUR FINANCE COMMITTEE LAST YEAR, DIDN'T MAKE IT THROUGH THE WHOLE PROCESS.

IT'S PROBABLY AN AMOUNT EQUAL TO MARKETPLACE, BUT THE BIGGER ISSUE IS IT IMPROVES OUR HEALTH CARE IN MANY WAYS.

ONE OF THE WAYS WE HAVE SEEN AND OTHER STATES HAVE DONE IT IS IF YOU EXTRAPOLATE WHAT HAPPENS THERE TO GEORGIA, 28,000 CURRENT YOUTH WOULD NO LONGER DIE OF AN EARLY TOBACCO DEATH, WHICH IS BECAUSE OF 1 OF 3 CANCER DEATHS, AND WE ARE SPENDING ON MEDICAID ALONE FOR THE EXTRA COST OF CIGARETTES, SO IF YOU PUT THE FULL COST, ANY TIME YOU BUY A PACK OF CIGARETTES, IT'S $5 A PACK THAT IT COST ALL OF US AND INCREASED HEALTH CARE, AND WE NEED TO -- IT IS A TOUGH, ADDICTIVE DISEASE, AND WE NEED TO HELP PEOPLE GET OFF OF IT.

PEOPLE SAY, WELL, THEY'LL QUIT, IT WOULD GO AWAY.

THE DOLLARS WE WOULD SAVE WOULD BE WAY MORE THAN THE TAX WE COLLECT, AND I WOULD LOVE THAT TO HAPPEN.

>> Donna: AND GEORGIA HAS ONE OF THE LOWEST PRICES ON CIGARETTES.

>> WE ARE, I THINK, SECOND-MOST IN THE COUNTRY.

WE'VE BEEN THERE FOR A WHILE.

>> Donna: LEADER BEVERLY COME I WANTED TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT THE FACT THAT DEMOCRATS ARE NOT IN FAVOR OF A CIGARETTE TAX.

THAT HAS CHANGED.

>> YEAH, I THINK PART OF IT IS THE FACT, YOU KNOW, I SAY BACK IN THE DAY, I AM AGING MYSELF, BUT A LOT OF THE COMMERCIALS -- YEAH, A LOT OF COMMERCIALS WERE AROUND TARGETING POOR COMMUNITIES, BLACK COMMUNITIES, WITH THESE TOBACCO ADS AND THE CAMEL THING AND SO FORTH.

THAT HAS CHANGED, AND I THINK THERE IS A NEW SENSIBILITY AROUND IT.

YES, WE WANT TO DO WITH THE ADDICTION FOR TOBACCO, BUT WE ALSO REALIZE TIMES HAVE CHANGED AND WE NEED TO MOVE ON TO TAKE CARE OF OUR HEALTH CARE SYSTEM AND OUR CITIZENS.

I THINK PART OF THAT HAS CHANGED, SOMEWHAT.

>> Donna: LET'S TALK ABOUT ANOTHER REVENUE STREAM, TAX CREDIT.

A LOT OF ATTENTION ON GEORGIA FILM TAX CREDIT LAST YEAR, BUT THERE ARE MORE THAN ABOUT A BILLION -- $9 BILLION IN TAX CREDITS RIGHT NOW, AND SENATOR HUFSTETLER, I KNOW AS CHAIRMAN OF THE SENATE FINANCE COMMITTEE, YOU HAVE HAD A CHANCE TO LOOK AT -- >> RIGHT.

WE PASSED A BILL THAT REQUIRES A FULL AUDIT NOW OF ALL OF THE FILM TAX CREDITS, WHICH IS A FIRST STEP, BUT THERE'S ABOUT $9.5 BILLION.

I THINK SOME OF THEM ARE WORTHY, SOME OF THEM MAY NOT BE.

WHEN YOU COLLECT $14 BILLION IN INCOME TAXES IN A YEAR, YOU CAN SEE MAY BE THE RIGHT COULD BE DIFFERENT IF THOSE THAT ARE NEEDED THERE.

NOW, BACK IN 2010, THEY DID A STUDY OF THIS, A TWO-YEAR STUDY, AND SOME OF THE THINGS THAT CAME OUT OF THAT COMMITTEE, THEY HAD COLLEGE PROFESSORS THEY ARE, GOVERNOR, THE PAST GOVERNOR, MARKETPLACE FACILITATOR, BELIEVE IT OR NOT, WAS RECOMMENDED BACK THEN.

THE TOBACCO TAX INCREASE, ENERGY TAX TOOK EFFECT, TRANSPORTATION, THE CHANGING THE WAY WE DO THAT.

SO A LOT OF THOSE THINGS HAPPEN, SOME OF THEM DIDN'T.

BUT WHEN IT'S BEEN 11 YEARS, WE NEED TO HAVE A BIG PICTURE, LONG-TERM STUDY AND SAY, "WHAT IS OUR TECH STRUCTURE IN GEORGIA?

IS IT SUSTAINABLE?

AND WHAT WE NEED TO CHANGE FOR CHANGE WITH IN THE WORLD IS CHANGING?"

>> Donna: YEAH, I'VE GOT TO ASK ABOUT A BILL THAT CAME OUT TODAY.

THAT CAME OUT OF COMMITTEE TODAY THAT YOU ARE SPONSORING.

TALK ABOUT THAT A LITTLE.

>> THAT BILL -- I AM A COSPONSOR OF IT, SENATE BILL 6, GOT CAUGHT UP WITH SOME THINGS THAT HAPPENED LAST YEAR WITH COVID, BUT IT WOULD SAY THAT MYSELF AND THE HOUSE CHAIRMAN COULD STUDY FIVE BILLS EACH YEAR.

WE TRY TO COME ON ALL OF THE BILLS THAT HAVE HAPPENED SINCE THEN, TO PUT A FIVE-YEAR SUNSET ON THEM SO THEY GET REVISITED, NOT JUST FORGOTTEN ABOUT.

THIS WOULD LET US LOOK AT THESE EACH YEAR, PICK OUT CERTAIN ONES, AND HAVE AN ECONOMIC ANALYSIS DONE ON IT.

IS THIS DOING GREAT FOR GEORGIA?

MANY OF THEM ARE, BUT SOME OF THEM MAY NOT BE, AND WE NEED TO HAVE AN ONGOING PROCESS.

A THIRD OF THE STATES TO A REALLY GOOD PROCESS, WHICH WE FOUND OUT, A THIRD OF THEM DO, SOMEWHAT, AND GEORGIA IS IN THE THIRD THAT REALLY DOESN'T DO ANYTHING.

AND WE NEED TO PUT DATA TO THESE AND MAKE SURE THEY ARE STILL BRINGING THE BANK FOR THE BOOK THAT MAKES THEM A GOOD INCENTIVE.

>> Donna: OKAY.

REPRESENTATIVE BEVERLY COME I HAVE TO ASK YOU WHAT HAVE DEMOCRATS FEEL ABOUT SOME OF THE TAX CREDITS, ARE THERE SOME TAX RATES YOU ARE MORE INTERESTED IN?

>> YEAH, OF COURSE.

ONE OF THE THINGS WE HAVE TO LOOK AT, AND WE ARE NOT IN POWER YET.

SO WE ARE GOING TO LEAVE IT TO THEM TO TRY TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO RAISE PEOPLE'S TAXES.

AND TO RAISE REVENUE.

BUT THE REALITY IS THERE ARE SOME CORPORATE LOOPHOLES WE NEED TO DEAL WITH, AND I THINK YOU CAN'T GIVE AWAY CORPORATE WELFARE AND NOT TALK ABOUT THESE TAX CREDITS THAT THEY HAVE, AND YOU ARE STILL RAISING MONEY ON THE BACKS OF PEOPLE, INCOME TAX -- WE ARE NOT EVEN TALKING WITH THE INCOME TAX CODE AND MAKING IT A FAIR TAX ACROSS THE BOARD FOR CORPORATE CITIZENS IN GEORGIA, SO YEAH, I'M INTERESTED IN THE WAY THAT IT COMES OUT, BUT I'M NOT INTERESTED IN RAISING TAXES ON PEOPLE.

LET THEM DO THAT FOR NOW.

[LAUGHS] >> WE ARE NOT RAISING ANY OF THEM.

BUT I UNDERSTAND THE POINT.

SENATOR JIM JORDAN AND I AND A COUPLE OF OTHERS WORKED ON THIS IT'S GOING TO BE A BIPARTISAN EFFORT TO LOOK AND SEE WHAT LOOPHOLES ARE THERE THAT MAYBE SHOULDN'T BE THERE.

>> AND TO THAT -- TO THAT END, I THINK THERE ARE SOME PLACES.

THE FILM TAX CREDIT, I THOUGHT, HAS DONE A TREMENDOUS JOB FOR GEORGIA AND BRINGING THE FILM INDUSTRY HERE, SO THERE ARE SOME PLACES I WOULD LIKE TO SEE WHAT THEY'RE LOOKING AT, BUT SOME PLACES WE PROBABLY WON'T TOUCH.

>> Donna: YEAH.

BEFORE WE ARE ABLE TO LEAVE THIS SEGMENT, YOU ARE WORKING ON IN INDIGENT CARE BILL.

TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT.

>> WELL, THAT BILL IS REALLY JUST A PILOT.

I KNOW Y'ALL LOOKED AT IT IN THE HOUSE LAST YEAR, THAT WOULD SAY, IF YOU ARE IN RURAL GEORGIA AND YOU HAVE THESE INDIGENT CARE PATIENTS, AND IN A HOSPITAL BUT MAYBE DOESN'T HAVE THAT BUT A PRETTY GOOD BALANCE SHEET, IT WOULD SORT OF BE A CREDIT SYSTEM WHERE EVERYONE EVENS OUT THE INDIGENT CARE ABOVE THE HOSPITAL.

SOME OF THEM ARE REALLY AVOIDING TAKING CARE OF THOSE PEOPLE, AND THE FIRST YEAR WOULD ACTUALLY JUST BE A STUDY.

IT WILL BE NO MONEY CHANGING HANDS, IT WOULD BE A WHAT IF SITUATION.

AND THEN WE GO FORWARD.

WE ARE LOOKING AT THAT IN BOTH THE HOUSE AND SENATE AND CONTINUE TO WORK ON THAT.

>> Donna: OKAY.

WELL, I APPRECIATE HAVING BOTH OF YOU HERE.

VERY INTERESTING STUFF.

WE ARE GOING TO ACTUALLY TALK MORE ABOUT THE BUDGET COMING UP.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> GREAT TO BE HERE.

>> Donna: NEXT, ON "LAWMAKERS," WE TALK ABOUT EDUCATION WITH A LAWMAKER WAS A FORMER SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT, AND WE'LL HAVE A VETERAN LAWMAKER WHO IS ON THE SENATE EDUCATION COMMITTEE.

WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK.

♪ ♪ >> "LAWMAKERS" IS MADE POSSIBLE WITH THE GEORGIA FARM BUREAU.

EVERYONE UNDERSTANDING THE IMPORTANCE OF AGRICULTURE IN OUR STATE.

AFTER ALL, EGG IS GEORGIA'S NUMBER ONE INDUSTRY.

FOOD AND FIBER REPRESENT 74 BILLION IN OUTPUT OF GEORGIA STRONG ECONOMY.

GEORGIA FARM BUREAU LEGISLATIVE TEAM WORKS TO REPRESENT PRODUCERS ACROSS GEORGIA AND THE STATE CAPITAL, DURING THE SESSION AND YEAR-ROUND.

GEORGIA FARM BUREAU, THE VOICE OF GEORGIA FARMERS.

♪ ♪ >> Donna: WELCOME BACK TO "LAWMAKERS" ON GPB, I'M DONNA LOWRY.

WE ARE GOING TO CONTINUE OUR DISCUSSION ON THE GEORGIA BUDGET BY FOCUSING ON WITH THE LARGEST CHUNK OF MONEY GOES, EDUCATION.

WITH ME TO TALK ABOUT A VARIETY OF EDUCATION ISSUES ARE REPUBLICAN REPRESENTATIVE CHRIS ERWIN OF HOMER, VICE CHAIR OF THE HOUSE EDUCATION COMMITTEE, AND I MIGHT ADD, A FORMER SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT.

AND DEMOCRATIC SENATOR LESTER JACKSON OF SAVANNAH.

WELCOME, THANK YOU FOR COMING ON "LAWMAKERS."

>> THANK YOU.

>> Donna: LET'S START WITH WHAT IS UPPERMOST ON EVERYONE'S MIND WITH K-12 EDUCATION, AND THAT IS THE SAFETY OF TEACHERS IN THE CLASSROOM FOR THOSE RETURNING TO THE CLASSROOM DURING THIS PANDEMIC.

I SPOKE TO STATE SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT RICHARD WOODS TODAY ABOUT MOVING TEACHERS UP TO THE ONE A-LIST OF THOSE ELIGIBLE FOR THE VACCINE.

HE SAYS THE STATES SHOULD CONTINUE TO LOOK AT THE SCIENCE WHEN IT COMES TO PRIORITIZING WHO IS IN THE TOP VACCINE CATEGORY.

SPEAK OF THE DISCUSSION WILL BEHOOVE YOU TAKE OFF?

YOU KNOW, THAT WOULD BE A BIG QUESTION.

SOME, BECAUSE WE HAVE A SUPPLY DEFICIT ACROSS THE STATE AND ACROSS THE NATION, AND I THINK FOR US, AS A STATE, WE NEED TO COME TOGETHER.

WE DON'T NEED TO LET THIS BECOME A POLITICAL, YOU KNOW, TIME BOMB.

JUST WITH THE ASSURANCE WE ARE GOING TO HANDLE THIS AND BE SUCCESSFUL IN THE DAYS TO COME.

>> Donna: I WANT TO ASK YOU BOTH ABOUT THAT.

I AM GOING TO START WITH YOU, REPRESENTATIVE ERWIN.

HOW DO YOU FEEL MOVING THE TEACH UP?

>> I THINK IT IS VITAL.

THEY ARE OUT THERE, MUCH LIKE A FIRST RESPONDER IS, WORKING WITH THE CHILDREN, WHICH MANY OF THEM ARE THE AGE -- THE AGE BUS DRIVERS.

THE ABILITY TO CATCH IT IS GREATER.

SO YES, I BELIEVE WITH WHAT RICHARD WOODS SAID THAT WE NEED TO LOOK AT THE SCIENCE, BUT WE ALSO NEED TO CONSIDER THE SITUATION THAT OUR TEACHERS AND OUR BUS DRIVERS AND SERVICE WORKERS ARE PUT IN RIGHT NOW.

>> Donna: OKAY.

YOUR THOUGHTS?

>> I HAPPEN TO AGREE WITH DR. WOODS.

FIRST OF ALL, TEACHERS ARE SO IMPORTANT, NOT ONLY FOR GEORGIA, BUT THE CHILDREN.

WE NEED CHILDREN BACK IN THE CLASSROOM.

BUT ALSO, WHEN WE HAVE CHILDREN BACK IN THE CLASSROOM, THE CHILDREN NEED TO BE PROTECTED.

THE CHILDREN AND TEACHERS NEED TO BE PROTECTED.

SO GIVING THEM, THE TEACHERS, ACCESS -- JUST LIKE FIRST RESPONDERS, SO VITAL.

THIS IS CRUCIAL, AND WE NOT ONLY NEED TO LOOK AT TEACHERS, WE NEED TO LOOK AT THE CAFETERIA WORKERS AND THE SCHOOL BUS DRIVERS, THE JANITORS, BECAUSE THEY ARE PROTECTING OUR MOST PRECIOUS RESOURCE, AND WE NEED TO PROTECT THEM.

>> Donna: FROM THE MOMENT THEY GET ON THE BUS, THOSE BUS DRIVERS.

SO THE AJC REPORTED THIS MORNING THAT ELBERT COUNTY HAS ALL READY GIVING VACCINES TEACHERS AFTER PROVIDING THEM FOR THE FIRST RESPONDERS, BUT THEN WE FOUND OUT, IT MAY HAVE BEEN AFTER THAT ARTICLE, LATER ON TODAY, THAT THE GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH DECIDED TO SUSPEND VACCINE SHIPMENT TO ELBERT COUNTY BECAUSE OF WHAT THEY WERE DOING WITH THAT.

I JUST WANTED YOUR THOUGHTS ON THAT?

I GUESS IT'S BECAUSE THEY DO NOT FOLLOW THE RULES.

>> WELL, I WOULD THINK RIGHT OFF THE BAT, WE NEED TO LOOK AT THE RULES AND REGULATIONS THAT ARE PUT IN PLACE AND CHANGE THOSE.

AND THEN GET TO THE TEACHERS, GET TO THE SCHOOL WORKERS THAT WE NEED TO, AND THEN GO COMMUNICATE THAT TO WHOEVER IS TRYING TO PULL THAT DOWN THERE IN ELBERT TO.

BUT AGAIN, LOOK AT THE RULES.

LET'S MAKE THE CHANGE THAT WE NEED TO MAKE.

>> Donna: I SHOULD SAY THAT IS ONLY FOR SIX MONTHS, THE SUSPENSION ON THE VACCINES FOR THAT.

SUPERINTENDENT WOODS HAS CREATED THIS VACCINE TASK FORCE.

INCLUDE SUPERINTENDENT'S.

IS THAT THE WAY TO GO?

>> THAT'S THE WAY TO GO.

WE HAVE RULES, BUT ALSO, WE HAVE TO DO WHAT IS RIGHT, PROTECTING TEACHERS IS WHAT IS RIGHT FOR GEORGIA.

PROTECTING CHILDREN AND BUS DRIVERS AND JANITORS AND CAFETERIA WORKERS.

THIS TASK FORCE IS A GOOD IDEA.

BUT IN GEORGIA, WE NEED TO DO THE PEOPLE'S BUSINESS, AND DO WHAT IS RIGHT FOR TEACHERS, BECAUSE WE PUT THEM ON THE FRONT LINES, AND WE EXPOSED THEM TO ELEMENTS, AND WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO PROTECT THEM.

>> Donna: YES, HAVING SUPERINTENDENTS, AS A SUPER FORM SUPERINTENDENT, HONEST TASK FORCE, VERY GOOD IDEA.

>> VERY GOOD IDEA, BUT WE NEED TO WATCH THE TIME I'M ON THE TASK FORCE.

NEED TO MOVE QUICKLY WITH THIS.

>> Donna: OKAY.

WELL, LET'S LOOK AT THE PROPOSED BY GOVERNOR BRIAN KEMP.

RESTORING ABOUT 60% OF WHAT LAWMAKERS CUT FROM K-12 SCHOOL FUNDING AND THIS YEAR'S BUDGET, OVER TWO YEARS, THEY WILL RESTORE ABOUT $1.2 BILLION, PROVIDING ONE TIME, $1,000 BONUSES TO ALL SCHOOL STAFF.

THAT IS VERY POPULAR.

AND WE LEARNED TODAY FROM THE ASSOCIATED PRESS THAT THAT WILL INCLUDE PRE-K AND CHILD CARE TEACHERS, AND THAT MONEY, OF COURSE, COMES FROM THE CARES ACT, AND PURCHASING 500 NEW SCHOOL BUSES, BECAUSE OF CURRENTLY 15,000 BUSES STATEWIDE HAVE EXCEEDED THEIR LIKES END.

AND THEY ARE DONE.

SO, SENATOR JACKSON, HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT THOSE BUDGET ITEMS THAT ARE PROPOSED?

>> WELL, THINK WE SHOULD NOT CUT BUDGET.

LAST YEAR, AND IT CAME TO PRE-K THROUGH FOURTH GRADE, IT WAS 40% OF OUR BUDGET.

IT'S BEEN CUT BACK DOWN FOR COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES AND TECHNICAL SCHOOLS, IT'S A CUT BACK DOWN 14%.

NOW, I REALIZE THAT 74% OF OUR BUDGET GOES TOWARD EITHER HEALTH CARE AND EDUCATION, BUT WE SHOULD NOT CUT OUR BUDGET WHEN IT COMES TO HEALTH CARE AND WHEN IT COMES TO CHILDREN, BECAUSE WHEN IT COMES TO CHILDREN AND QUALITY EDUCATION, BECAUSE THAT IS THE FUNDAMENTAL PURPOSE OF GEORGIA, NOT ONLY IMPORTANT TO FAMILIES, BUT IT'S IMPORTANT TO OUR STATE, TO EDUCATE AND PROTECT OUR PEOPLE.

>> Donna: REPRESENTATIVE ERWIN COME ON WHAT IS PROPOSED?

>> WELL, ABSOLUTELY, I'M ECSTATIC WITH THE FACT THAT WE ARE KEEPING A FOCUS AT A PRIORITY ON EDUCATION, AND SO RESTORING THOSE FUNDS HAS GOT TO HAPPEN, AS LONG AS OUR ECONOMY IS COMING BACK, WE'VE GOT TO KEEP OUR FOCUS ON OUR PRECIOUS PRODUCT, AS WE TALK ABOUT, WHICH IS OUR CHILDREN, AND IT IS THE MOST PRECIOUS PRODUCT WE HAVE, SO AGAIN, LET'S RESTORE AS MUCH AS WE POSSIBLY CAN NOW AND CONTINUE TO LOOK AT THE NEXT BUDGET WE ARE ABOUT TO LOOK AT AND RESTORE MORE, IF THE ECONOMY AS THEY ARE.

>> Donna: ACTUALLY, IT LOOKS LIKE THE BUDGET, WE ARE LOOKING BETTER THAN WE THOUGHT WE WERE GOING TO, SO THAT MAKES A DIFFERENCE.

>> DOING BETTER, BUT WE CUT $14 MILLION FROM EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION.

WE CUT $393 MILLION FROM EDUCATION.

WE CAN'T SURVIVE -- I WOULD TEACHERS, OUR STAFF, OUR STATE CAN'T SURVIVE CUTTING VITAL FUNDS FOR OUR SCHOOL DISTRICTS.

>> Donna: YEAH.

I WANT TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT SOME OF THE EFFECTS OF THE PANDEMIC, AND ONE OF THEM, AS THE SUPERINTENDENT TALKED ABOUT TODAY, WAS LEARNING LOSS.

HE SAID THAT OF COURSE WON'T END WITH THE PANDEMIC AND POSSIBLY TALKING ABOUT, MAYBE EXTENDING THE SCHOOL YEAR INTO THE SUMMER, IN ORDER TO HELP THOSE CHILDREN WHO ARE SUFFERING BECAUSE OF THAT LEARNING LOSS.

WOULD YOU BE IN FAVOR OF SOMETHING LIKE THAT?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

IF THE CHILDREN NEED SOME MORE ATTENTION, WE NEED TO GIVE IT TO THEM.

WE NEED TO OFFER THAT THEY ARE.

, EXTENDING THE SCHOOL YEAR -- MOST LIKELY, THAT WOULD BE A LOCAL CONSIDERATION, AND ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH DURING THE YEAR, AND WHERE YOUR CHILDREN ARE AT, BUT IF NEEDED, I WOULD BE ALL FOR IT.

>> Donna: OKAY.

YOU?

>> WE HAVE SOMETHING IN GEORGIA CALLED THE BLACK BELT, AND I DO KNOW THAT EXTENDING EDUCATION IS AN OPTION, BUT WE'VE GOT TO REALIZE, THERE ARE 69 COUNTIES THAT DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO HIGH-SPEED INTERNET.

THERE ARE 67 SCHOOL DISTRICTS THAT DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO HIGH-SPEED INTERNET.

WE NEED TO CONTINUE, AS A STATE, TO WORK ON BROADBAND AND HIGH-SPEED INTERNET, BUT ALSO, WE NEED TO DO OTHER THINGS, LIKE MOBILE HOT SPOT, SO THAT CHILDREN CAN GET ACCESS -- GET ACCESS TO INTERNET, SO THEY CAN LEARN, BY VIRTUAL LEARNING, BUT WE NEED TO DO MORE, AND NOT JUST TALK ABOUT EXPANDING TIME IN THE SUMMER, BECAUSE, LIKE MOST 16 YEARS OLD, LIKE I WAS WHEN I WAS 16 COMING HAVE TO GO TO WORK AND YOU HAVE TO DO OTHER THINGS, YOU PLAY SPORTS AND ACTIVITIES.

EXPANDING IS AN OPTION, WE NEED TO LOOK AT OTHER THINGS LIKE EXPANDING HIGH-SPEED INTERNET.

>> Donna: RIGHT.

SO, IN BANKS COUNTY, HOW DID IT DO WITH VIRTUAL LEARNING AND THE INTERNET?

>> WHAT WE KNOW AS THE FACE-TO-FACE LEARNING IS BETTER.

NUMBER ONE, WE ARE BETTER PRACTICED AT IT.

AND WE ARE LEARNING A LOT WITH VIRTUAL LEARNING, AND IN THE VIRTUAL LEARNING IS A TOOL THAT WE NEED TO HAVE, BUT FACE-TO-FACE IS BETTER, RIGHT NOW, FOR OUR STUDENTS, SO BANKS COUNTY WOULD TELL YOU, I THINK REAL QUICK, THAT WE NEED THEM MORE IN PERSON, IN FRONT OF THE TEACHERS.

HOWEVER, WE NEED TO USE THE VIRTUAL LEARNING THE WAY WE KNOW IS BEST FOR STUDENT LEARNING.

>> Donna: YEAH.

SENATOR JACKSON, I DO WANT TO GET THIS IN.

YOU HAVE A BILL -- I GUESS YOU SPONSORED LAST YEAR, BRINGING IT BACK, TO RAISE THE AGE FOR MANDATORY -- TO GO TO SCHOOL, MANDATORY ATTENDANCE, FROM 16 TO AND YOU ARE STILL PUSHING FOR THAT.

WHY IS THAT SO IMPORTANT TO YOU?

>> BECAUSE IT IS DEPLORABLE THAT WE LET YOUNG MEN AND YOUNG GIRLS BE ABLE TO DROP OUT OF HIGH SCHOOL IN GEORGIA AT 16.

WHEN WE LET THAT HAPPEN, THEY CAN'T FIND A JOB THAT PAYS A LIVABLE WAGE.

THEY CAN FIND -- THEY CAN'T EVEN JOIN THE MILITARY.

AS A STATE LEGISLATOR, WE ALL AGREE, OUR FUNDAMENTAL JOB IS TO HELP THE LEAST OF US.

HELP YOUNG PEOPLE -- HELP YOUNG PEOPLE BE PREPARED FOR TOMORROW, AND RAISING HIGH SCHOOL AGE FROM 16 TO 17 PREPARES THEM -- PREPARES THEM FOR THE WORKFORCE.

AND AS A LEGISLATOR, OUR JOB IS TO HELP YOUNG PEOPLE PREPARE FOR THE WORKFORCE, AND LETTING THEM DROP OUT WITHOUT GIVING THEM A SKILL, IT HURTS US.

>> Donna: OKAY.

WE WILL SEE HOW THAT GOES.

WE WILL SEE HOW ALL OF THIS HAPPENS.

THANK YOU BOTH FOR BEING HERE TODAY.

WE APPRECIATE IT.

AND WE WANT TO THANK YOU FOR JOINING US TONIGHT FOR "LAWMAKERS."

PLEASE BE SURE TO JOIN US TOMORROW FOR LEGISLATIVE SESSION DAY 7.

HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.

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