Political Rewind: Getting back to the budget under the Gold Dome

Jan 24

Bill Nigut, Donna Lowry, Sam Bermas-Dawes, and Natalie Mendenhall | January 24, 2022

James Salzer – Assistant senior editor of state government and politics, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Leo Smith – GOP consultant and president, Engaged Futures

Rep. Teri Anulewicz – State representative (D-Smyrna)

1. Lawmakers return to the capitol to tackle the proposed $30.2 billion dollar budget.

Gov. Brian Kemp unveiled his budget proposal earlier this month. Among its provisions:
- New funds to replace old prisons.
- To bolster the state's health care, money is tagged to address shortcomings in rural physician shortages and to improve pay for physicians treating Georgians with Medicaid.
The Georgia Budget & Policy Institute said the budget is 11% bigger than last year, an increase of around $3 billion.
Unprecedented federal COVID relief helped the state maintain a surplus heading into this fiscal year.

State Rep. Teri Anulewicz sits on the House Appropriation Committee. She said the larger budget presents a challenge.

2. Future of Medicaid in Georgia is up in the air.

The Peach State is one of 12 states that has not expanded Medicaid.
In his State of the State speech earlier this month, Gov. Brian Kemp made no mention of Georgia’s federal Medicaid waiver proposal.
Just last week, Georgia launched a lawsuit against the Biden administration over its decision to revoke approval of a work requirement for the waivers.

Political organizer Leo Smith said some opposition to a federal expansion of Medicaid in Georgia stems from a institutional distrust of Congress.

3. Buckhead cityhood and East Cobb cityhood take different paths in legislative session.

Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens addressed lawmakers this morning at the invitation of state House Speaker David Ralston. Dickens opposes the Buckhead cityhood movement.

Earlier this month, the bill creating a referendum on Buckhead cityhood, SB 324, was moved to an all Democrat-led committee where it is likely to fail.

Rep. Anulewicz said she opposed HB 841, the East Cobb cityhood proposal.

Vivian Zingleman

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