tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9533794401967665362024-03-05T03:32:47.948-08:00Georgia Senator Cecil StatonGeorgia Senator Cecil Staton represents the 18th district, which includes portions of Bibb, Houston, Monroe, Jones, and Crawford counties. Senator Staton is the Majority Whip of the Georgia Senate.Georgia Senator Cecil Statonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13895021334162860532noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-953379440196766536.post-50193861393952852992012-01-27T05:55:00.000-08:002012-01-27T05:55:08.671-08:00The challenges of the State Budget<a href="http://www.warnerrobinspatriot.com/view/full_story/17277120/article-Budget-overview-for-FY-2012-and-FY-2013?"></a><br />
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ATLANTA (January 24, 2012) – Although the Georgia General Assembly recessed for an entire week only five days into the 2012 legislative session, it was to enable a very important task: reviewing Governor Deal’s budget recommendations for FY 2013, alongside the amended FY 2012 budget.<br />
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As required by law, Georgia must have a balanced budget and cannot allow any sort of deficit spending. These meetings are an essential part of the legislative process; allowing for a careful line-by-line review of the proposed budget and providing an open forum for conversation between legislators and state agency officials.<br />
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The FY2013 General Budget recommendation presented by the Governor called for a spending plan of approximately $19.2 billion. Governor Deal’s budget does not include any tax increases and is built on $929 million in revenue growth from existing sources. Tax revenue is projected to grow 5% over the FY12 Amended budget. While this might seem like a lot, it is less than 2007 when revenues approached their peak at $19.9 billion. In testimony before the committee, Dr. Ken Heaghney, the state’s economist, projected that the state would not reach the 2007 peak again until at least 2015.<br />
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The majority of the increased revenue went to cover growth due to population increases as well as to close projected deficits. K-12 enrollment growth of .36% required $59 million and teacher step increases for training and education required $56 million. Enrollment growth of 3.05% in the University System and 6.6% in Technical Schools resulted in a combined $93 million recommended for these agencies.<br />
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In order to meet our retirement obligations, $154 million was added to the budget. This increase was required primarily due to stock market losses, as well as the increase in state employees and teachers retiring. Not only does this “annual required contribution” keep the retirement plans fiscally sound, it is an important factor for bond raters as they assess the state’s Triple AAA bond rating. Deficits and enrollment growth in Medicaid and deficits in the State Employee Health Benefit plan claimed approximately $300 million of the increased growth revenue. Other deficits in the budget claimed an additional $100 million.<br />
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It is important to remember that though revenues have dropped since 2008, the State has seen an increase in the demand for services. The university system has seen 17% growth over this time. Technical schools have seen an increase of 46% from 2008 to 2011. Medicaid and PeachCare recipients grew 17% during this time as well.<br />
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Georgia needs to focus on pro-business incentives that will spur job creation and put Georgians back to work in order to propel further economic growth. Strategic tax reform is necessary rather than the quick alternative of simply raising taxes. The quickest way to turn Georgia’s economy around is to provide incentives for businesses seeking to relocate or expand operations in our state. In turn, these businesses will provide the jobs that will put Georgians back to work.<br />
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Highlights of Governor Deal’s Budget:<br />
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Education<br />
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Governor Deal has appropriated $58.7 million to fund enrollment growth in K-12 schools, along with $55.8 million for training and experience salary step increases for teachers. In addition, Governor Deal has included $8.6 million for the State Special Charter Schools in order to cover the state and local funding lost when the Georgia Supreme Court declared the Charter School Commission unconstitutional in May 2011.<br />
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Higher Education<br />
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The HOPE scholarship program will maintain the same award levels and grants as FY 2012, and the state will continue to appropriate $20 million for the needs-based one percent student loan program. In an effort to keep medical residents in Georgia, the Governor has proposed $5 million to create a second National Cancer Institute designated Cancer Center at Georgia Health Sciences University and $3.64 million to develop new graduate medical education programs.<br />
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Public Safety<br />
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The FY 2013 budget will utilize $10 million to create new Accountability Courts (drug, DUI, mental health and veteran courts), a proven method of reducing costs and recidivism rates, and also $35.3 million to add more beds to our prisons. Another $1.4 million will be used to create positions for parole officers to implement re-entry supervision for offenders serving their maximum service.<br />
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Bonds<br />
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The addition of $46.7 million in bonds to complete the Savannah Harbor Expansion Project will keep our state globally competitive, while $177.8 million will fund infrastructure needs for K-12 schools, including the $25 million purchase of 320 buses.<br />
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Sen. Cecil Staton serves as Senate Majority Whip. He represents the 18th Senate District, which includes portions of Bibb, Crawford, Houston, Jones, and Monroe counties. He may be reached at 404.656.5039 or by email at cecil.staton@senate.state.gov<br />
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Read more: The Warner Robins Patriot - Budget overview for FY 2012 and FY 2013Georgia Senator Cecil Statonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13895021334162860532noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-953379440196766536.post-30569211109800879042012-01-27T05:53:00.000-08:002012-01-27T05:53:10.118-08:00Legislative Priorities for 2012 and the Budget<a href="http://www.warnerrobinspatriot.com/view/full_story/17124411/article-2012-Legislative-Priorities?"></a><br />
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The 2012 Legislative Session is officially underway, and lawmakers wasted little time in getting down to work with ambitious goals for the session that will help secure the future prosperity of Georgia. Hot-topics up for debate this year include tax and criminal justice reform, economic development, job creation, government oversight, higher education and transportation.<br />
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The opening day of the 2012 legislative session was anything but ceremonial as the Ga. Senate passed two significant pieces of legislation aimed at advancing student achievement and ensuring the right people are in place to teach our students and lead our education efforts. In a 38-15 vote, the Georgia Senate passed Senate Bill 184, authored by President Pro Tempore Tommie Williams. Following implementation of this new law, school boards cannot simply fire employees based on their date of hire. Instead, the new law will require local school boards to consider a teacher’s effectiveness in the classroom when considering whom to lay off during a workforce reduction.<br />
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Senate Bill 38, authored by Sen. Majority Leader Chip Rogers, also passed the Senate on Monday in a unanimous vote. Senate Bill 38 allows the State School Superintendent to hire and fire staff members at the Georgia Department of Education and State Schools for the Deaf and Blind. These measures are paramount in securing the State School Superintendent’s efforts to advance positive educational reform in Georgia.<br />
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In a key step towards creating a more streamlined and efficient university system, the Board of Regents approved the merger of Macon State College and Middle Georgia College, as well as several other colleges throughout the state. This historic plan is aimed at placing taxpayer money back into the classroom where it can truly make a difference. As chairman of appropriations sub-committee on Higher Education, I applaud Georgia’s university system chancellor and the board of regents on their decision to consolidate eight of Georgia’s institutions of higher learning to meet the ever-changing demands of the 21st century.<br />
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This year, lawmakers will focus on balancing the state budget, amidst a projected $1 billion dollar budget shortfall. Comparatively to other states, Georgia operates under a traditionally conservative fiscal process and boasts a balanced budget as required by our Constitution. In an effort to reduce state spending, legislators will have to make some tough decisions in Fiscal Year 2013 as stimulus funds, reserves and one-time funds are no longer available. In addition, deep cuts in federal spending will require innovative solutions to meet the needs of Georgians while living within our means.<br />
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Comprehensive tax reform continues to be an important issue up for debate this legislative session. During last year’s session, the Special Joint Committee on Georgia’s Tax Structure considered several pieces of legislation including a sales tax exemption for energy used in manufacturing, which is important for Georgia to remain competitive in recruiting new manufacturing businesses.<br />
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In addition to balancing the state budget and pushing tax reform measures, one of our top priorities this session will be focused on strengthening Georgia’s economy through job creation. Over the past several years, Georgia has quickly become an attractive destination for companies to do business. With accessibility to one of the nation’s busiest airports and proximity to some of the nation’s leading Fortune 500 companies, including Home Depot, Delta, and Coke, Georgia has become one of the top 10 states to conduct business.<br />
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As a member of the Appropriations, Transportation, Banking and Financial Institutions and Finance committees, I will continue to support pro-business policies that put more Georgians back to work and provide incentives for companies to do business here in the Peach State.<br />
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To build a world-class workforce here in Georgia, we must continue to develop cost effective strategies that boost Georgia’s competitiveness in the global marketplace and thereby increase our ability to attract an innovative and highly skilled workforce.<br />
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During the 2012 legislative session, I look forward to working with my colleagues in the Senate to support legislation aimed at cultivating an environment advantageous to the future growth and development of Georgia.<br />
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Sen. Cecil Staton serves as Senate Majority Whip. He represents the 18th Senate District, which includes portions of Bibb, Crawford, Houston, Jones, and Monroe counties.<br />
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Read more: The Warner Robins Patriot - 2012 Legislative PrioritiesGeorgia Senator Cecil Statonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13895021334162860532noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-953379440196766536.post-45916879574113650642012-01-16T05:43:00.001-08:002012-01-16T05:46:51.878-08:00Senator Staton's Legislative Priorities for 2012Here is a link to coverage of our legislative priorities for 2012<br />
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<a href="http://www.warnerrobinspatriot.com/view/full_story/17124411/article-2012-Legislative-Priorities?instance=special_coverage_bullets_right_column"></a>Georgia Senator Cecil Statonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13895021334162860532noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-953379440196766536.post-10930946558283339182012-01-16T05:41:00.000-08:002012-01-16T05:41:50.816-08:00The 2012 Session beginsThe 2012 Legislative Session is officially underway, and lawmakers wasted little time in getting down to work with ambitious goals for the session that will help secure the future prosperity of Georgia. Hot-topics up for debate this year include tax and criminal justice reform, economic development, job creation, government oversight, higher education and transportation.<br />
<br />
The opening day of the 2012 legislative session was anything but ceremonial as the Ga. Senate passed two significant pieces of legislation aimed at advancing student achievement and ensuring the right people are in place to teach our students and lead our education efforts. In a 38-15 vote, the Georgia Senate passed Senate Bill 184, authored by President Pro Tempore Tommie Williams. Following implementation of this new law, school boards cannot simply fire employees based on their date of hire. Instead, the new law will require local school boards to consider a teacher’s effectiveness in the classroom when considering whom to lay off during a workforce reduction.<br />
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Senate Bill 38, authored by Sen. Majority Leader Chip Rogers, also passed the Senate on Monday in a unanimous vote. Senate Bill 38 allows the State School Superintendent to hire and fire staff members at the Georgia Department of Education and State Schools for the Deaf and Blind. These measures are paramount in securing the State School Superintendent’s efforts to advance positive educational reform in Georgia.<br />
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In a key step towards creating a more streamlined and efficient university system, the Board of Regents approved the merger of Macon State College and Middle Georgia College, as well as several other colleges throughout the state. This historic plan is aimed at placing taxpayer money back into the classroom where it can truly make a difference. As chairman of appropriations sub-committee on Higher Education, I applaud Georgia’s university system chancellor and the board of regents on their decision to consolidate eight of Georgia’s institutions of higher learning to meet the ever-changing demands of the 21st century.<br />
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This year, lawmakers will focus on balancing the state budget, amidst a projected $1 billion dollar budget shortfall. Comparatively to other states, Georgia operates under a traditionally conservative fiscal process and boasts a balanced budget as required by our Constitution. In an effort to reduce state spending, legislators will have to make some tough decisions in Fiscal Year 2013 as stimulus funds, reserves and one-time funds are no longer available. In addition, deep cuts in federal spending will require innovative solutions to meet the needs of Georgians while living within our means.<br />
<br />
Comprehensive tax reform continues to be an important issue up for debate this legislative session. During last year’s session, the Special Joint Committee on Georgia’s Tax Structure considered several pieces of legislation including a sales tax exemption for energy used in manufacturing, which is important for Georgia to remain competitive in recruiting new manufacturing businesses. <br />
<br />
In addition to balancing the state budget and pushing tax reform measures, one of our top priorities this session will be focused on strengthening Georgia’s economy through job creation. Over the past several years, Georgia has quickly become an attractive destination for companies to do business. With accessibility to one of the nation’s busiest airports and proximity to some of the nation’s leading Fortune 500 companies, including Home Depot, Delta, and Coke, Georgia has become one of the top 10 states to conduct business.<br />
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As a member of the Appropriations, Transportation, Banking and Financial Institutions and Finance committees, I will continue to support pro-business policies that put more Georgians back to work and provide incentives for companies to do business here in the Peach State.<br />
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To build a world-class workforce here in Georgia, we must continue to develop cost effective strategies that boost Georgia’s competitiveness in the global marketplace and thereby increase our ability to attract an innovative and highly skilled workforce.<br />
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During the 2012 legislative session, I look forward to working with my colleagues in the Senate to support legislation aimed at cultivating an environment advantageous to the future growth and development of Georgia.<br />
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Sen. Cecil Staton serves as Senate Majority Whip. He represents the 18th Senate District, which includes portions of Bibb, Crawford, Houston, Jones, and Monroe counties. <a href="http://www.warnerrobinspatriot.com/view/full_story/17124411/article-2012-Legislative-Priorities?instance=special_coverage_bullets_right_column"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfGhEmQ3WIlZi1NogfPnxLYpot2gXJZ-iilwuGjN2-rw0v6FO8izieGBz_k83-Vg0vT2ZPrZENIZbGP5qWld7jfXIm9VIItUjg-An9poGIIBO6qEKHMBG69a8xdnSCUv8E9ZKhBsovwAYU/s1600/Official+Photo.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="158" width="114" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfGhEmQ3WIlZi1NogfPnxLYpot2gXJZ-iilwuGjN2-rw0v6FO8izieGBz_k83-Vg0vT2ZPrZENIZbGP5qWld7jfXIm9VIItUjg-An9poGIIBO6qEKHMBG69a8xdnSCUv8E9ZKhBsovwAYU/s320/Official+Photo.png" /></a></div><br />
</a>Georgia Senator Cecil Statonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13895021334162860532noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-953379440196766536.post-47635465414680672852012-01-01T14:53:00.000-08:002012-01-01T14:53:35.263-08:00New Session of the Georgia General Assembly begins January 9One week from Monday, the 2012 session of the Georgia General Assembly will convene. This will be my eighth regular session representing Georgia’s 18th district. A new session always brings excitement, but also trepidation. And it brings considerable responsibility for representing the values, views, and needs of constituents.<br />
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What will the new session bring? Certainly the number one issue will continue to be the state’s budget. Georgia is big business. Prior to the recession, our budget had grown to more than 20 billion dollars annually. Since 2008, we have cut the budget to reflect declining state revenues. Fortunately the leadership of your state does not share the values of our counterparts in Washington, or even some in local government, where spending more and taxing more are often the answer to declining revenues. <br />
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We have cut billions from our state’s budget, which now stands closer to 18 billion for the current fiscal year. Although revenues have increased this year, state agencies have been asked to submit budgets that are two percent less than the current fiscal year. Revenues are up modestly, but so are pressures related to such items as health care costs for state employees and the state’s responsibilities regarding the education of our children and our technical colleges and universities. <br />
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As long as I have the honor of serving in the Senate, I will continue to be a voice for fiscal responsibility and conservatism. This is no time for more spending or higher taxes. Georgians are still feeling the effects of the current economic downturn. We must keep our financial house in order and position Georgia for a strong economy and more jobs when a recovery comes. <br />
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Other issues we will surely face include the need for jobs and the possibility of tax reform. My goal in these discussions will be to create a Georgia where businesses want to locate and to help current businesses. One way to do this is to eliminate Georgia’s tax on the energy used in manufacturing. Surrounding states do not have this tax and it is a deterrent to manufacturing businesses that might otherwise wish to locate in Georgia. Generally, I am also in favor of consumption taxes rather than income taxes. I think it would be great if we could eliminate the state’s income tax, as our neighbors in Florida and Tennessee already do quite well without the income tax.<br />
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Georgians expect good government that is fiscally responsible. We don’t need any more government than Georgian’s can afford. That means no tax increases and living within our means, a lesson Georgia’s families have had to learn in this recession and one we must make sure state Government continues to embrace.<br />
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Please call on me with your ideas or concerns throughout the session by calling 404-656-5039 or sending an email to: cecil.staton@senate.ga.gov.Georgia Senator Cecil Statonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13895021334162860532noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-953379440196766536.post-71820200667428241342011-11-12T06:58:00.001-08:002011-11-12T06:58:51.605-08:00And the debt keeps going up!<iframe src="http://ObamaDebtWatch.gop.com/large.htm" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" style="border:none; overflow:hidden; width:710px; height:138px;" allowTransparency="true"></iframe>Georgia Senator Cecil Statonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13895021334162860532noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-953379440196766536.post-12306664828860851762011-10-31T04:44:00.000-07:002011-10-31T04:44:49.807-07:00Senator Staton discusses high energy prices<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/RKqegATKYzU?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>Georgia Senator Cecil Statonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13895021334162860532noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-953379440196766536.post-76779230746631720562011-10-30T06:28:00.000-07:002011-10-30T06:28:19.249-07:00Sen. Cecil Staton Votes to Cut Gas Tax<div class="story-row story-row-story-layout-1 clear-block story-1"> <div class="inside story-row-inside story-row-story-layout-1-inside clear-block"> <div class="story-column story-column-story-layout-2 story-column-first story-1-1"> <div class="inside story-column-inside story-column-story-layout-2-inside story-column-inside-first"> <div class="story-region story-region-story-layout-story_1_1 story-region-first story-region-last story-1-1"> <div class="inside story-region-inside story-region-story-layout-story_1_1-inside story-region-inside-first story-region-inside-last"> <div class="panel-pane pane-node-title"> <div class="pane-content">Submitted by Senate Press</div></div><div class="panel-pane pane-views pane-byline-info"><div class="pane-content"><div class="view view-byline-info view-id-byline_info view-display-id-block_4 view-dom-id-4"><div class="view-content"><div class="views-row views-row-1 views-row-odd views-row-first views-row-last"><div class="views-field-nothing"><span class="field-content"><div class="byline-1"> <div class="byline-bottom">Tuesday, August 23rd, 2011</div></div></span></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div class="story-column story-column-story-layout-3 story-column-last story-1-2"><div class="inside story-column-inside story-column-story-layout-3-inside story-column-inside-last"><div class="story-region story-region-story-layout-story_1_2 story-region-first story-region-last story-1-2"><div class="inside story-region-inside story-region-story-layout-story_1_2-inside story-region-inside-first story-region-inside-last"><div class="panel-pane pane-custom pane-1"><div class="pane-content"><div addthis:url="http://peachcrawford.13wmaz.com/news/people/57042-sen-cecil-staton-votes-cut-gas-tax" class="sharing addthis_toolbox addthis_default_style"> <div class="atclear"></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div class="story-row story-row-story-layout-6 clear-block story-2"> <div class="inside story-row-inside story-row-story-layout-6-inside clear-block"> <div class="story-region story-region-story-layout-story_2 story-region-first story-region-last story-2"> <div class="inside story-region-inside story-region-story-layout-story_2-inside story-region-inside-first story-region-inside-last"> <div class="panel-pane pane-node-body"> <div class="pane-content"> <br />
During the August special session of the Georgia General Assembly, Sen. Cecil Staton (R-Macon) voted to ratify Governor Nathan Deal’s Executive Order freezing the state’s gas tax, creating a beneficial tax break for Georgia families during the state’s hard economic times.<br />
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“Gas prices are high enough already,” Sen. Staton said. “It simply does not make sense for the state to try to squeeze a few more cents from already cash-strapped residents. Gas prices affect everyone. Even if you never drive, you end up paying gas tax in the cost of good that must be shipped to your local store.”<br />
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During the first half of 2011, gas prices spiked dramatically spurring the governor to issue an executive order in June of 2011 suspending the collection of a portion of state taxes on sales of motor fuels and aviation gasoline. In order for the executive order to be extended it was necessary that members of the House and Senate approve the executive order during the 2011 Special Session. The tax increase would have been due to a biannual adjustment to the state’s motor fuel tax.<br />
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Georgia’s gas tax comes with several different parts: a fixed 7.5 cent per gallon excise tax charged on gasoline purchased in our state and a state sales tax of 4 percent calculated and converted to a per gallon cost based on the average retail price for midgrade gasoline during the previous six months. These two taxes, along with an 18 cent per gallon federal excise tax, are collected at the retail distribution level and built in to the cost of the gasoline. Local governments can add a variety of local option sales taxes on to the retail cost of gasoline. The state’s 4 percent sales tax on gas is recalculated twice a year unless the price varies (up or down) by 25 percent or more, which triggers an immediate recalculation of the cents per gallon tax rate.<br />
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For example, in March of this year, fuel prices soared high enough to trigger a recalculation. The state’s sales tax portion increased from the 10.1 cents per gallon (as established on January 1, 2011) to a rate of 12.9 cents per gallon which took effect on May 1. Had the governor not issued his executive order to prevent an increase, the sales tax portion of the gas tax would have increased again on July 1 (the normal bi-annual recalculation date) all the way up to 14.5 cents per gallon.<br />
</div></div></div></div></div></div>Georgia Senator Cecil Statonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13895021334162860532noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-953379440196766536.post-52976707462707948232011-10-29T06:58:00.000-07:002011-10-29T06:58:15.482-07:00Senator Cecil Staton, a Republican from Macon, was first elected to the Senate in 2004 to represent the 18th Senatorial District which includes portions of Bibb, Crawford, Houston, Jones and Monroe counties. He was re-elected in 2006, 2008 and 2010 without opposition. He is the Majority Whip of the Georgia Senate.<br />
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He serves as vice chairman of the Senate Transportation Committee. He is also a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, sitting on three sub-committees, and is Chairman of the sub-committee on Higher Education. Additionally, he serves on the Finance, Banking and Financial Institutions, Rules, and Reapportionment and Redistricting committees.<br />
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A native of Greenville, South Carolina, Sen. Staton received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Furman University and a doctor of philosophy degree from the University of Oxford in England. Moving to Georgia in 1989, for more than 15 years he served as a college professor and administrator. He currently is a publisher and broadcaster in Macon and Warner Robins. <br />
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Sen. Staton and his wife Catherine have two sons, Trey and William. They are members of the Highland Hills Baptist Church in Macon. In 2000, he received the Richard Furman Award from Furman University. He has also been recognized as the Rural Healthcare Legislator of the Year in 2008, and has won recognition for his work on trauma and other health care related issues. He was recognized as Legislator of the Year by the Technology Association of Georgia in 2010, and by the Georgia Hospital Association in 2011.<br />
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He is responsible for most of the new election laws in Georgia in recent years including Georgia’s requirement for photo identification for voting (2005), and in 2009 a requirement that proof of citizenship accompany voter registration applications. Having previously served as the Vice-Chairman of the Republican Caucus, in 2010 he was elected Majority Whip for the Senate.<br />
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Sen. Staton’s legislative office is located in Suite 421A of the Capitol, where he can be reached at 404.656.5039. His email address is cecil.staton@senate.ga.gov. For more information, visit www.cecilstaton.com.Georgia Senator Cecil Statonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13895021334162860532noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-953379440196766536.post-12909221428391931772011-10-29T06:52:00.000-07:002011-10-29T06:52:09.550-07:00A Successful Special Session under the Gold Dome<h2 class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><div class="yiv886679824MsoNormal" id="yui_3_2_0_1_131541732575997" style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: TTE255B438t00; font-size: 21px; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> <strong>(Wednesday September 7, 2011) </strong></span></span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">In 2001, the Democratic Party in Georgia barely clung to power. The state, at that time, was moving ever closer toward a Republican majority. When the Democrats began the redistricting process, they knew the only way they could attempt to retain power was to gerrymander the districts in such a way that Republicans would have a difficult time getting elected to office.</span></span></span></div></h2><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><o:p> <div class="yiv886679824MsoNormal" style="font-family: TTE255B438t00; font-size: 16pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Well, it didn’t work. After weeks of work during a special session – a session where secret maps were drawn and unreleased until well into the process – the new districts looked outrageous. Lawsuits followed and the process began again a couple of years later to repair the damage. Ultimately, the Democrats did not succeed in their goal and Georgia followed its path toward a Republican majority.</span></span></div><div class="yiv886679824MsoNormal" style="font-family: TTE255B438t00; font-size: 16pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></span><span id="yui_3_2_0_1_1315417325759103" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;"><span id="yui_3_2_0_1_1315417325759102" style="font-size: 12pt;">Over the summer, the Republicans were required to perform the 10-year redistricting process. Lucky for us, we were not under the same predicament as the 2001 Democrats. As Sen. Mitch Seabaugh, the chairman of the Senate Redistricting Committee, said from the well of the Senate, this was an open process from the beginning. We had promised, before we ever started this endeavor, we would make the process open and fair. We held meetings all across the state to receive public input; we presented the maps to the public several days before they were to be debated in open committee meetings; and the redistricting committees received input from all Senators and Representatives who wanted to provide their guidance.</span></span></div><div class="yiv886679824MsoNormal" style="font-family: TTE255B438t00; font-size: 16pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Many Georgians told us they were worried about splitting counties, precincts and neighborhoods between more than one voting district. We significantly limited the number of split counties. The results of our work are House, Senate and Congressional maps with contiguous districts that meet Constitutional standards.</span></span></div><div class="yiv886679824MsoNormal" id="yui_3_2_0_1_1315417325759113" style="font-family: TTE255B438t00; font-size: 16pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></span><span id="yui_3_2_0_1_1315417325759100" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;"><span id="yui_3_2_0_1_131541732575999" style="font-size: 12pt;">In yet another beneficial accomplishment, we managed to approve these maps in a few short weeks, which saved much time and taxpayer dollars.</span></span></div><div class="yiv886679824MsoNormal" style="font-family: TTE255B438t00; font-size: 16pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></span><span id="yui_3_2_0_1_1315417325759115" style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;"><span id="yui_3_2_0_1_1315417325759114" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">There is one more step in the process. To comply with the Voting Rights Act of 1965, the final signed maps must be sent to Washington , D.C. to be pre-cleared by thefederal government. I expect the open nature of our process and the care wetook to make sure the new districts are fair will ensure that the maps willhave no problem receiving pre-clearance from Washington . Once they are approved, the new districts will be effective for the next election cycle.</span></span></div><div class="yiv886679824MsoNormal" style="font-family: TTE255B438t00; font-size: 16pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">As a final note, I would like to point out that your Senators voted unanimously to save you some money at the gas pumps.</span></span></div><div class="yiv886679824MsoNormal" style="font-family: TTE255B438t00; font-size: 16pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></span><span id="yui_3_2_0_1_1315417325759131" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;"><span id="yui_3_2_0_1_1315417325759130" style="font-size: 12pt;">On top of local and federal gas taxes, Georgia has a gas tax that comes in several parts. First, a 7.5 percent excise tax is charged at the wholesale level and is passed to consumers at the pump. Georgia also charges a 4-percent tax at the pump. That 4-percent tax is calculated twice a year – once on January 1 and once on July 1 – based on average gas prices near those dates. </span></span></div><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> <div class="yiv886679824MsoNormal" id="yui_3_2_0_1_1315417325759138"><span id="yui_3_2_0_1_1315417325759137" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;"><span id="yui_3_2_0_1_1315417325759136" style="font-size: 12pt;">There is, however, another component at work here. If the price of gas goes up or down by more than 25 percent, the at-the-pump gas tax is automatically re-adjusted. Between January and June, the price of gas rose by more than 25 percent – meaning the gas tax was supposed to rise accordingly. Instead, Gov. Nathan Deal put a hold on that increase until December 31, 2011. For his executive order to stand, however, the General Assembly needed to give its approval, which it did during the special session.</span></span></div><div class="yiv886679824MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></span><span id="yui_3_2_0_1_1315417325759140" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;"><span id="yui_3_2_0_1_1315417325759139" style="font-size: 12pt;">As always, I am open to input from all my constituents. Please feelfree to contact my office at any time with your concerns. I look forward to the regular session in January where we can continue to provide Georgians valuable services from a limited state government.</span></span></div></span></span> <div align="center" style="font-family: TTE255B438t00; font-size: 16pt;"># # # #</div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16pt;"><span style="font-family: TTE2567728t00;"></span></span> <div align="left" style="font-size: 16pt;"><span style="font-family: TTE2567728t00;"><span style="font-size: small;">Sen. Cecil Staton serves as Senate Majority Whip. He represents the 18</span></span><span style="font-family: TTE2567728t00;"><span style="font-family: TTE2567728t00; font-size: small;">th </span></span><span style="font-family: TTE2567728t00;"><span style="font-size: small;">Senate</span> <span style="font-size: small;">District, which includes portions of Bibb, Crawford, Houston, Jones, and Monroe counties. He may be reached at 404.656.5039 or by email at </span></span><span style="color: blue; font-family: TTE2567728t00;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: TTE2567728t00; font-size: small;">cecil.staton@senate.state.gov</span></span><span style="font-family: TTE2567728t00;"><span style="font-size: small;">.</span></span></div></o:p></span>Georgia Senator Cecil Statonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13895021334162860532noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-953379440196766536.post-34749386858239166202011-10-29T06:49:00.003-07:002011-10-29T06:49:21.788-07:00Senator Cecil Staton's Voter Protection Bill Signed into Law<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/xpp1eJfF3ng?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>Georgia Senator Cecil Statonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13895021334162860532noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-953379440196766536.post-77968873804747194032011-10-29T06:46:00.000-07:002011-10-29T06:46:17.096-07:00Senator Cecil Staton on Higher Education in Georgia<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/QLSdKgjsfgA?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>Georgia Senator Cecil Statonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13895021334162860532noreply@blogger.com0