Health & Fitness
The Georgia Dome and Nancy Pelosi
Removal of the Regional Penalty imposed for a NO vote on the Georgia TSPLOST sales tax referendum.
Almost four years ago, the President's Affordable Health Care Act was being debated. The Senators and Congressmen found it difficult to make a decision since information was being leaked out. The healthcare bill established a record 2700 unread pages when Speaker Nancy Pelosi made her now famous statement, "We have to pass the bill to find out what is in it."
This past spring, Georgia leaders under the Golden Dome created a bill with the saleable name "TRANSPORTATION SPECIAL PURPOSE LOCAL OPTIONS SALES TAX." The state was divided into 12 regions, each to receive money from a one percent sales tax for transportation problems in their areas. The state spent millions to sell a flawed idea that was defeated in nine of the 12 regions. Nancy Pelosi needs to know that Georgians vote NO if they don't understand a bill and don't know what is in it.
The bill was designed so no region could opt out. To insure each region's support, a clause was inserted that states - ANY REGION THAT VOTES "NO" TO TSPLOST IS PENALIZED BY 30 PERCENT OF THE GAS TAX MONEY that would have been available to the Region.
Find out what's happening in Cummingwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Recently the Transportation Leadership Coalition called on the governor and the Georgia General Assembly to remove the penalty in the TSPLOST act known as TIA or HD277. As a reminder, TSPLOST is the funding mechanism for the Transportation Investment Act.
What was the governor's response to the call to remove the penalty?
Find out what's happening in Cummingwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
"As governor, I am sworn to uphold the laws and Constitution of the State of Georgia. There is no provision allowing me to suspend a law such as this through executive order, outside of an emergency scenario." He added, "Conservatives have rightly criticized President Obama for abrogating laws through executive order, the rule of law is sacred."
Contact Governor Nathan Deal's office at 404-656-1766, fax 404-657-7332, e-mail georgia.governor@gov.state.ga.us.
Ask Governor Deal to use his executive influence to stop collection of the 30 percent penalty until the Georgia General Assembly reconvenes in January. That is well within his power.
If I were he, I certainly wouldn't want to be compared to Nancy Pelosi. I'd look for a way to tax the snowbirds that use our roads to get to Florida. They can afford it more than a retiree living on savings.
What happened to Government by the People?
