ATLANTA (March 10, 2009) – Senate Majority Leader Chip Rogers (R-Woodstock) released the following statement after the state Georgia General Assembly passed the amended Fiscal Year 2009 budget, fulfilling its Constitutional requirement to balance the state budget before the end of the fiscal year which ends June 30.
“Today the Georgia General Assembly passed a balanced budget that meets the essential needs of our state during these challenging times in our economy, cutting nearly $2 billion from the original 2009 budget,” said Rogers. “We accomplished this without raising taxes. We prioritized the needs of Georgians and cut wasteful spending. While Washington D.C. saddles us with over $1 trillion dollars in debt, the Assembly worked together and passed this budget without a single ‘pork barrel’ project.”
Highlights of House Bill 118 include reducing state government by almost $2 billion, protecting the $428 million Homeowners’ Tax Relief Grant, cutting state legislative office budgets by 8 percent, restoring the mental health funds, addressing consumer protection by providing for 4 new food safety inspectors, and achieving $10.5 million in savings from lower interest rates after selling state bonds.
Rogers praised the fact that Georgia has maintained the state’s triple-A bond rating, which is vital to stabilizing the state’s economy because it keeps interest rates low. The triple-A ratings reflect the highest rating available to government issuers.
For more information on HB 118, go to www.legis.ga.gov.
Sen. Chip Rogers serves as Senate Majority Leader. He represents the 21st Senate District which includes portions of Cherokee and Cobb counties. He can be reached at his office at 404.463.1378 or by email at chip.rogers@senate.ga.gov.
PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release:
March 10, 2009
For Information Contact:
Raegan Weber, Director
raegan.weber@senate.ga.gov
404.656.0028