Republicans in the Georgia Senate on Thursday announced goals to further lower state income tax rates and improve reading instruction for young public school students, although tax changes are unlikely to occur before the 2024 legislative session and leaders could be find themselves short of time to build the consensus for changes in literacy instruction this year.
The majority party in the Senate, which will likely have 33 of 56 senators once a special election is concluded, also voices support for a number of plans already proposed by Gov. Brian Kemp. The Senate agenda is more specific and ambitious than that of House Speaker Jon Burns, though. A Newington Republican, Burns is taking a wait-and-see approach on many issues after being elevated following the death of longtime Speaker David Ralston.
Senate Republicans voiced support Thursday for Kemp’s plan to spend $1 billion on state income tax rebates and $1.1 billion on property tax rebates for homeowners. They also endorsed Kemp’s plan for grants to help students catch up with things they didn’t learn during the COVID-19 pandemic, to enhance penalties for recruiting children into gangs, to require cash bail for more people accused of crimes and to allow pregnant women to apply for cash welfare benefits before giving birth.
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