Why Ga. has so little to show for being so ‘business friendly’
In November, Georgia was ranked 4th in the nation for its pro-business environment by Site Selection magazine, which specializes in corporate relocations. The Georgia Department of Economic Development was understandably quick to seize on that happy news, giving it prominent play on the department’s website.
Such rankings appear to validate a concerted, decade-long effort by Georgia’s leadership to make the state as business-friendly as possible. Our state and local business tax burden, for example, ranks eighth lowest in the country, according to a 2012 analysis by Ernst & Young. And as Site Selection noted approvingly, the 2012 Legislature continued that effort by eliminating the sales tax on energy used in manufacturing, enhancing tax incentives and “strengthening” open records laws by delaying public release of economic development deals.
When the 2013 Georgia Legislature convenes Monday, it will no doubt attempt to continue that crusade. For example, while state legislators are likely to approve using tax money to help finance a new stadium for the Atlanta Falcons, they could balk at renewing a much-needed hospital tax that will help keep tens of thousands of poor Georgians covered by Medicaid.
You see, using tax money to help the Falcons and the NFL, the most profitable sports league on the planet, is “economic development”, while helping poor families get medical coverage is considered welfare.
The larger question, however, is whether the state’s strategy is achieving its goals. And that in turn depends on what you choose to measure. For example, here is how Site Selection has ranked Georgia’s business climate each year from 2002-2012:
2002: 4th
2003: 7th
2004: 4th
2005: 3rd
2006: 4th
2007: 2nd
2008: 10th
2009: 8th
2010: 6th
2011: 2nd
2012: 4th
For more than a decade, in other words, Georgia has never ranked out of the top 10 for business climate, and over that period it has averaged in the top five. That tells us that year after year, for an extended amount of time, our leaders have succeeded in crafting government policy to produce exactly the kind of regulatory and tax environment that business leaders say they need to produce growth and prosperity. So by that measure it has been a great success.
But what do we have to show for it?
— We have an unemployment rate of 8.5 percent, significantly higher than the 7.8 percent national average and the ninth highest rate in the country, tied with Mississippi. And it is not a short-term phenomenon. Our unemployment rate has exceeded the national average for each of the last 64 months.
— In 2001, Georgia had the 17th highest poverty rate in the country. By 2011 it had the nation’s sixth highest poverty rate. We are slipping and slipping fast.
— In 2001, the state ranked 25th in per capita income and was rising rapidly in that critically important category; today, it ranks 39th in per capita income. In fact, after adjusting for inflation, state per capita income has declined by 3.5 percent since 2001.
To make matters worse, while trying to create a diligently “pro-business” environment, state government has also attempted to shrink the social safety net substantially. In a piece headlined “Georgia’s Hunger Games,” Slate reported last month that thanks to aggressive government efforts to deny benefits, fewer than 7 percent of the 300,000 Georgia households in poverty collect benefits through Temporary Assistance to Needy Families, more commonly known as welfare. Nationally, the comparable number is 27 percent.
Is that punitive approach working? Not so you’d notice. We also have the nation’s fifth highest rate of those without health insurance, and the fourth highest differential between rich and poor.
In other words, there is no sign that pursuit of a narrowly defined “business-friendly” climate has resulted in a more people-friendly climate. And isn’t that the real goal?
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1,198 comments Add your comment
Uh Huh
January 9th, 2013
9:36 pm
@Obamatron
January 9th, 2013
9:09 pm
“Posting here is not proof I live here.”
But it is the first principle of epistemology: I post, therefore I am. A corollary to that is: I have a teleprompter, therefore I am wise.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Sometimes you feel like a nut….Uh Huh…Sometimes you don’t?
Fred ™
January 9th, 2013
9:37 pm
LOL Speaking of Birther idiots, Trump, the head Birther in Chief has just punked the hell out of that blithering idiot Bill Maher. I wonder if he (Maher) will man up and pay up or slither away in silence………
http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/lookout/yahoo-news-exclusive-trump-releases-birth-certificate-bill-151304482.html
Swamp Thang
January 9th, 2013
9:37 pm
“Fred, the pride and joy of the bookman blog.
More like the sewage and scum of the bookman blog.
Swamp Thang
January 9th, 2013
9:38 pm
“Speaking of Birther idiots”
More intellectual intelligence from Fred.
TaxPayer
January 9th, 2013
9:38 pm
Swamp thang is trying to entertain us. If only he could come up with some fresh material.
Fred ™
January 9th, 2013
9:39 pm
Poor little
DoomySwamp Thang. He keeps trying to anger me and all he does is make me pity him even more.It’s ok little feller. We’ll give you some attention…….
Swamp Thang
January 9th, 2013
9:39 pm
Well, looks like the angry left wingers have decided to call it a night. JamVet is probably passed out in his nursing home dreaming of how big a hero he wished he could have been in the Civil War.
See you unemployed folks later!
Keep Up the Good Fight!
January 9th, 2013
9:39 pm
Fred, it goes well. Despite the stupidity surrounding us here.
Wilma
January 9th, 2013
9:40 pm
“I wonder if Doomy, I mean Swamp Thang has enlisted a partner or if he is playing the part of party girl and Wilma by hisself…”
[Exhaling angrily] That would be HIMSELF, Fred! I wish you WERE as smart as a Compsognathus.
Swamp Thang
January 9th, 2013
9:40 pm
“Swamp thang is trying to entertain us.”
No, I’m trying to motivate you to get a job and stop hanging out on a blog all day like a loser.
Kamchak ~ Thug from the Steppes
January 9th, 2013
9:40 pm
If only he could come up with some fresh…
A real princess.
Swamp Thang
January 9th, 2013
9:41 pm
“He keeps trying to anger me”
No, you were angry way before I ever came on here.
Swamp Thang
January 9th, 2013
9:41 pm
“A real princess.”
There’s your sign, sport.
Fred ™
January 9th, 2013
9:41 pm
Dear Swampy. If I WANTED a job I would go create one. Run along now.
Kamchak ~ Thug from the Steppes
January 9th, 2013
9:42 pm
A real princess…
…and a gerbil.
Swamp Thang
January 9th, 2013
9:42 pm
“Despite the stupidity surrounding us here.”
Awe, that’s no way to talk about Jam, Kam, Fred and Taxpayer.
TaxPayer
January 9th, 2013
9:42 pm
I have people like swamp thang to do the menial tasks.
Fred ™
January 9th, 2013
9:42 pm
Hey Kam.
DoomySwamp Thing said you weren’t my friend anymore lol.Swamp Thang
January 9th, 2013
9:43 pm
“If I WANTED a job I would go create one. ”
HAHAHAHAAHAHAHHAHAHHAHHAHHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAAHAHAHHAHAHHAHHAHHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAAHAHAHHAHAHHAHHAHHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAAHAHAHHAHAHHAHHAHHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAAHAHAHHAHAHHAHHAHHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAAHAHAHHAHAHHAHHAHHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAAHAHAHHAHAHHAHHAHHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAAHAHAHHAHAHHAHHAHHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAAHAHAHHAHAHHAHHAHHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAAHAHAHHAHAHHAHHAHHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAAHAHAHHAHAHHAHHAHHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAAHAHAHHAHAHHAHHAHHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAAHAHAHHAHAHHAHHAHHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAAHAHAHHAHAHHAHHAHHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAAHAHAHHAHAHHAHHAHHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAAHAHAHHAHAHHAHHAHHAHAHAHAH
Fred ™
January 9th, 2013
9:43 pm
Kamchak ~ Thug from the Steppes
January 9th, 2013
9:42 pm
A real princess…
…and a gerbil.
+++++++++++++++++
Don’t forget the Speedo…….
Obamatron
January 9th, 2013
9:43 pm
“Fred, it goes well. Despite the stupidity surrounding us here.”
Well these rats down here are smarter than you think. I guess you didn’t notice the one gnawing on your leg, Einstein.
Kamchak ~ Thug from the Steppes
January 9th, 2013
9:44 pm
Fred
That’s news to me.
Did you get my text?
Fred ™
January 9th, 2013
9:45 pm
Party Girl
January 9th, 2013
9:43 pm
It’s not often that you find so many cowards gathered together in one location but this bookman blog is loaded with them.
The vast majority of these foul mouthed sycophants couldn’t even change their own diapers.
But they want to make you and me responsible for their upkeep.
No thanks, Im already a dog.
There ya go sock puppet. I fixed that for you.
Swamp Thang
January 9th, 2013
9:45 pm
Tomorrow while I’m working for a living, I’ll remember how Tax, Kam, Keep, Fred and Jam will all be here talking to each other about how mean and nasty the GOP is.
Uh Huh
January 9th, 2013
9:45 pm
@td
January 9th, 2013
9:31 pm
Uh Huh
January 9th, 2013
9:25 pm
No I want a 30 or 50 round clip to go with my AR-15 so that I can shoot those thugs before they attack my children.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Soooo…..YOU are going to camp OUT at your children’s school?
hmmmmmmm
You might GET SHOT for being camped out at a school with a 30 or
50 round clip to go with YOUR AR-15.
Okay GENIUS…lets see how that would WORK OUT FOR YA.
YOUR children will be FATHERLESS
50
Fred ™
January 9th, 2013
9:46 pm
Kam: About the disc-ing? Yeah. If it was something else then no lol.
Swamp Thang
January 9th, 2013
9:46 pm
“It’s not often that you find so many cowards gathered together in one location but this bookman blog is loaded with them.
Yep. Fred, Jam, Tax, Keep and Kam are all here.
Swamp Thang
January 9th, 2013
9:46 pm
“You might GET SHOT for being camped out at a school with a 30″
Not meant to be a factual statement.
Keep Up the Good Fight!
January 9th, 2013
9:47 pm
Kam, the scorn worship you and can’t stand it when you leave them.
Fred ™
January 9th, 2013
9:47 pm
Swamp Thang
January 9th, 2013
9:45 pm
Tomorrow while I’m working for a living, I’ll remember how Tax, Kam, Keep, Fred and Jam will all be here talking to each other about how mean and nasty the GOP is.
++++++++++++++++
Not me oh ye of limited retention. I’ll be talking about how STUPID the GOP is, not how mean they are.
As to that working stuff? You should have done a better job of it when you were younger and then you wouldn’t have to do it now.
Swamp Thang
January 9th, 2013
9:47 pm
“The vast majority of these foul mouthed sycophants couldn’t even change their own diapers.”
Pot meet kettle. Kettle meet pot.
Fox News Frat Brother
January 9th, 2013
9:48 pm
“The vast majority of these foul mouthed sycophants couldn’t even change their own diapers.”
ROFL. Sycophants in diapers? Wait…are you saying Matthews and Schultz actually wear…eeewwww. TMI, dude.
Swamp Thang
January 9th, 2013
9:48 pm
“I’ll be talking about how STUPID the GOP is”
And I’ll be thinking about how you don’t have a job or a life. Sucks to be you, sport.
Swamp Thang
January 9th, 2013
9:49 pm
“You should have done a better job of it when you were younger and then you wouldn’t have to do it now.”
What’s really stupid about that statement is the fact that the clown has NO idea how old I am.
Swamp Thang
January 9th, 2013
9:50 pm
Party Girl
It’s funny/sad to see all these unemployed people so angry about their lives. Oh well, sucks for them.
TaxPayer
January 9th, 2013
9:51 pm
Swamp thang is bragging about his need to perform manual labor. Bless his heart.
Fred ™
January 9th, 2013
9:52 pm
Swamp Thang
January 9th, 2013
9:48 pm
“I’ll be talking about how STUPID the GOP is”
And I’ll be thinking about how you don’t have a job or a life. Sucks to be you, sport.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Why would I want a job/ I made enough money. Now I’m enjoying it. I had a last in Florida last week.
Oh and genius? You were insulting your back up a minute ago. you aren’t too bright lol.
td
January 9th, 2013
9:52 pm
Fred ™
January 9th, 2013
9:37 pm
Now that one is absolutely hilarious.
George Harrison
January 9th, 2013
9:53 pm
“Swamp thang is bragging about his need to perform manual labor. ”
Now I want 96% of what you make.
Doggone/GA
January 9th, 2013
9:54 pm
“You’re unemployed”
Just because you say it doesn’t mean it’s true. Got proof?
TaxPayer
January 9th, 2013
9:54 pm
Oh look. We now have a party girl to help out swamp thang. Maybe the two of them can come up with something entertaining. They’re putting me to sleep so far though.
Fred ™
January 9th, 2013
9:55 pm
td: It’s the best thing I have seen Trump do. I laughed the whole time I was reading it. Maher is about as big of an ass as there is. I think ONCE, maybe 10 years ago or more, he said something funny. Since then? Naw……..
Kamchak ~ Thug from the Steppes
January 9th, 2013
9:55 pm
Fred
Yeah, that was it.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Keep
Just like he
They long to be
Close to me.
Doggone/GA
January 9th, 2013
9:55 pm
“It’s not often that you find so many cowards gathered together in one location but this bookman blog is loaded with them”
And have you got proof of that?
TaxPayer
January 9th, 2013
9:58 pm
I may as well go watch Colbert on Hulu. At least he is actually entertaining. Don’t quit your day jobs, party girl and swamp thang.
Fred ™
January 9th, 2013
9:59 pm
What’s funny is that Swamp forgot he was also Party Girl and so he insulted himself lol.
Yo Kam and Keep? Have you seen Full Throttle Saloon? Are you familiar with Angie Carlson?
http://tinyurl.com/a28bnfe
Fred ™
January 9th, 2013
10:00 pm
Later.
Doggone/GA
January 9th, 2013
10:03 pm
“Does it get any sillier than this?”
I have a strong suspicion that we’ve got one poster with 2 blog names…and Jay will catch up with the situation sooner or later
Doggone/GA
January 9th, 2013
10:04 pm
It’s been real, and it’s been fun. I’m not sure it’s been real fun though. Time to hit the sack. Nite all
td
January 9th, 2013
10:08 pm
Fred ™
January 9th, 2013
9:55 pm
He was pretty funny before he went to HBO. Since then not so much.
Kamchak ~ Thug from the Steppes
January 9th, 2013
10:14 pm
My girlfriend’s hairdresser’s husband has an uncle that knew a guy who used to work with someone who was a Power User.
I heard that he had to go to PassagesMalibu.
Mark in mid-town
January 9th, 2013
10:22 pm
The last decade for Atlanta and Georgia has certainly not been nearly as good as the two decades before. However, one needs to keep in mind that considerably more people still continued to move to Georgia than moved out during this period. Just looking at unemployment rate and per-capita income is masking the fact that Atlanta and Georgia have still out-performed the most other regions in terms of attracting people. Plenty of places with lower unemployment and higher per-capita income have negative net-migration with more leaving than moving in. As such, have such places really provided more new opportunity than Atlanta and Georgia?
td
January 9th, 2013
10:26 pm
“The Texas state comptroller estimated Texas will generate $96.2 billion in revenue for the 2014-2015 fiscal cycle and reported Texas collected $8.8 billion more in revenue than expected during the last fiscal year.”
When unemployment in Texas was at its highest in a decade and the state government faced a $27 billion shortfall in 2011, legislators wrote what was then described as a “cut-to-the-bone” budget.
And it worked.
According to the Associated Press, “unemployment now is at a four-year low of 6.2 percent, sales tax receipts are skyrocketing and money is pouring into state coffers behind a new energy boom.”
“And while Texas is projected to have more revenue to spend, Gov. Rick Perry and Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst have indicated they would “limit any increase in state spending to a sum of population growth plus inflation, or 9.85 percent,” to prevent Texas from racking another budget shortfall. ”
http://www.breitbart.com/Big-Government/2013/01/08/Economy-Grows-Revenues-Increase-After-Texas-Slashes-Spending
I guess these Conservative efforts do work after all. I am sure Obamamites will be giving him credit for this in a couple years.
Cherokee
January 9th, 2013
10:45 pm
Or td, perhaps, like North Dakota, Texas is enjoying the effects of the booming oil and gas economy.
If a ‘cut to the bone budget’ was the answer, I wonder why Georgia is falling so far behind.
Oscar
January 9th, 2013
10:51 pm
We have a balanced budget every year in Georgia. So why is it now working the way it does in Texas.
Wait, maybe there are some other factors involved. Could that be?
Oscar
January 9th, 2013
10:52 pm
not working
td
January 9th, 2013
10:54 pm
Cherokee
January 9th, 2013
10:45 pm
I guess you missed the report today that revenues were up 10% in Dec in Georgia?
As far as oil and gas goes. The whole nation could be benefiting like Texas if the Dems and Obama would stand up to the wacko environmentalist wing of the party.
Oscar
January 9th, 2013
10:54 pm
Girl at 10:18 – who is “us” again?
Oscar
January 9th, 2013
10:55 pm
td – I missed it to, What revenues were up?
hahhahah
January 9th, 2013
10:59 pm
Oil and increased number of troops being stationed at TX bases is the main causes.
Revenue was going to go up regardless.
I’m sure the brietbart article mentioned those two not so insignificant variables…
td
January 9th, 2013
11:03 pm
Deal: December revenues up 9.8 percent
January 9, 2013
Gov. Nathan Deal announced today that Georgia’s net tax collections for December totaled $1.69 billion for an increase of $150.75 million, or 9.8 percent, compared to December 2011. As of the midway point of the fiscal year, net revenue collections are up $400 million, or 4.9 percent, compared to last fiscal year.
The following sections summarize net revenue changes within major tax categories during the month:
Individual Income Tax: Individual Income Tax collections in December totaled $945.25 million — up from $845.75 million in December 2011 — for an increase of $99.5 million, or 11.8 percent.
The following notable components within Individual Income Tax account for the increase:
• Individual Withholding payments were up $97 million, or 13.1 percent
• Individual Income Tax refunds (net of voided checks) were up $15.75 million, or 102.9 percent
• All other Income Tax categories, including Estimated payments, combined for an increase of $18.25 million
Sales and Use Tax: Net Sales and Use Tax collections for December totaled $440.75 million — up from $402 million in December 2011 — for an increase of $38.75 million, or 9.6 percent. Both gross sales tax collections, which improved $31 million, or 3.9 percent, compared to last year, and the distribution to local governments, totaling nearly $373 million, increased over December 2011. In addition, sales tax refunds declined by $20.25 million, which helped contribute to the year-over-year improvement in net tax collections relative to December 2011.
Corporate Income Tax: Corporate Income Tax collections for December increased $10.25 million, or 8.2 percent, compared to last year’s total of $125.25 million. Even though net corporate refunds were up as well, gross corporate revenue growth relative to last year far exceeded the impact of refunds during the month.
The following notable components within Corporate Income Tax make up the increase:
• Corporate Tax Estimated payments were up $52.25 million, or 56.2 percent
• Corporate Tax refunds (net of voided checks) were up $14 million, or 109.4 percent
• All other Corporate Tax categories (including S-Corp) combined for a decrease of $28 million
http://gov.georgia.gov/press-releases/2013-01-09/deal-december-revenues-98-percent
hahhahah
January 9th, 2013
11:04 pm
Look up the different TX military bases then llok at the housing starts in those towns that are getting more troops…
Nothing to do with TX budget, but the state and towns near by do reap the benefits from the decision of the Fed government to increase the troop levels at the bases in question
Oscar
January 9th, 2013
11:07 pm
td – Thanks. Good news. Sounds like we are doin better than some people thought
td
January 9th, 2013
11:07 pm
It is real funny that anytime a conservative state does well then it is due to oil, gas or other natural resources and it seems the progressives think this is bad. If you progressives know that these natural resources will put people back to work then why in the world will you not embrace it for all of America?
td
January 9th, 2013
11:12 pm
Oscar
January 9th, 2013
11:07 pm
td – Thanks. Good news. Sounds like we are doin better than some people thought
I guess this sort of messes with Jay’s narrative a little. lol
Iconoclast
January 10th, 2013
1:36 am
Since at least the Great Depression, if not earlier, the southeast, in general, and Georgia, specifically, have clung to a “growth-at-any-cost” ethic.
This is why we were willing to use-up our once-fertile top-soil growing cotton, and why we leveraged federal aid to fracture our cities with the Eisenhower Interstate System that was intended by Congress to avoid dividing urban areas. It’s also why, when the cows come home to roost, instead of mooing for greener pastures, they wind-up hocking chickens (or at least chicken sandwiches).
Joel Edge
January 10th, 2013
5:38 am
So….we need a less business friendly state and more people on welfare, Jay? That’ll do it.
stands for decibels
January 10th, 2013
5:43 am
we need a less business friendly state and more people on welfare, Jay
We need more people with >4th grade reading comprehension levels.
stands for decibels
January 10th, 2013
5:48 am
Any wagers on the Butthurt-Over-Benghazi Brigade working up a remotely similar level of poutrage over the lies that John Brennan told whilst working for Team Obama?
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2013/jan/07/john-brennan-dishonesty-cia-director-nomination
(I know, in the grand scheme of things, the Butthurt’s hypocrisy isn’t really important. but several of them do hang out here, and I’d like to think that inwardly, they are capable of experiencing some teensy level of secret shame.)
stands for decibels
January 10th, 2013
5:55 am
Our td took literally half a day to finally reach for a Nathan Deal press release (@ 11.03) to “prove” Jay’s got it wrong about GA’s economic progress relative to other states.
lordy. Maybe “td” stands for “turdsammich deluxe,” since he sure seems to love gobblin’ them.
stands for decibels
January 10th, 2013
5:58 am
You got Fox on my Drudge!
No, you got Drudge on my Fox!
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2013/01/10/vice-president-to-meet-with-gun-safety-groups/
SouthernGent
January 10th, 2013
6:17 am
The present federal administration is very anti-business and then here comes the idiots who elected them to office wondering why business is not growing, even with a friendly government. Jay, you and the rest of your communist buddies just need to move on back up to New York so you will all be happy.
guy
January 10th, 2013
7:06 am
JUST ASK JAY!!!!!!!
stands for decibels
January 10th, 2013
7:11 am
The present federal administration is very anti-business
Cite, please.
Rightwing troll
January 10th, 2013
7:15 am
I see Andy the lying welcher has come back. Did Kyle have to lock down his blog?
Rightwing troll
January 10th, 2013
7:17 am
I see GA wing nuts are going to start charging for Reagan/Bush phones…
stands for decibels
January 10th, 2013
7:19 am
Next time some anti-marriage-equality a-hole tells you “but the gays have ALL THE RIGHTS heteros do already!” …
http://www.cnn.com/2013/01/08/us/fort-bragg-same-sex-spouse/index.html
“I thought, ‘Here’s a chance to make some close friends who would really understand me,’” Broadway said. “And I could get very active in events that help other families like mine. I was excited, really excited, to be a part of this group.”
But the Bragg spouse club apparently didn’t feel the same way. Broadway’s married to Lt. Col. Heather Mack. The officers’ spouse club didn’t want her, she believes, because she’s gay.
Shortly after Broadway applied, the club called her to say it had new membership rules. If she didn’t have a military ID card, she couldn’t join.
[...]
Though gay people can now serve openly, the military doesn’t formally recognize same-sex marriage under the federal Defense of Marriage Act, a law passed in 1996 that denies many benefits to same-sex spouses. One of those benefits is military IDs.
The struggle continues.
stands for decibels
January 10th, 2013
7:21 am
Sorry, forgot to italicize the quotes in that CNN article @ 7.19.
The last line, obviously (I’d hope it’s obvious anyway, but some people here don’t seem to get the difference between editorial and news), is mine
stands for decibels
January 10th, 2013
7:26 am
RWT @ 7.17, you mean this?
http://blogs.ajc.com/political-insider-jim-galloway/2013/01/09/georgia-psc-reignites-the-debate-over-free-cell-phones/
This is what happens when you give children the keys to the car.
Orange13
January 10th, 2013
7:33 am
http://money.cnn.com/2013/01/10/news/economy/middle-class-tax/?npt=NP1
TaxPayer
January 10th, 2013
7:35 am
Did any of the cons ever post anything, such as an unemployment rate that correlates with this high score as a great state for businesses. Anything at all. I don’t recall seeing anything except more of the same from them–deflection, argumentation, childish behavior, etc.
TaxPayer
January 10th, 2013
7:38 am
SouthernGent seems to believe that the state of Georgia is run by Obama.
stands for decibels
January 10th, 2013
7:39 am
Gent, my ass.
Ben The Independent
January 10th, 2013
7:46 am
Well Jay, how can you refer to Georgia as ‘our state’ as you are opposed to every thing the vast majority of the population is for. You could compare Georgia to your beloved state of ‘The Peoples Republic of Massachusetts’. Mass. has faired much better than Georgia during the great recession. The only problem is that you twist the facts. You might note that almost all (TX is an exception) of the fast growing states are hardest hit. Georgia was consistantly near the top in new house construction prior to the ‘real estate bubble’.The ‘real estate bubble’ hit fast growing states such as Georgia, the hardest. Subsequent effect is many under-water home owners, high unemployment (loss of construction jobs), etc. But Jay, you see a way to blast Georgia which does not share your extremely liberal views.
stands for decibels
January 10th, 2013
7:48 am
Orange13, I can’t get the video in that linkee of yours to play. Does it conclude with Erskine Bowles getting ball-stomped in an alley?
Granny Godzilla
January 10th, 2013
7:50 am
business “friendly”
doesn’t that mean “whorish”?
stands for decibels
January 10th, 2013
7:51 am
your extremely liberal views.
I will issue to “Ben The Independent” the same challenge I made to another guy who once claimed that Jay’s views were “far outside the mainstream.”
Name one view on ANY issue that Jay holds, that enjoys less than, oh, say, 30% support in any legitimate issue-polling cite you can dig up.
That’s a reasonable test of what you refer to as “extreme” views, I think.
Go ahead. Find me one. There’s a good lad.
Thomas
January 10th, 2013
7:51 am
SouthernGent seems to believe that the state of Georgia is run by Obama
Obamacare/executive orders/state unemployment trust funds owing to the feds- anyway- something to think about with the second pop tart this morning
stands for decibels
January 10th, 2013
7:52 am
doesn’t that mean “whorish”?
Reminds me of the old joke that concludes, “I’ve already determined what you ARE, now I’m merely determining the PRICE.”
DannyX
January 10th, 2013
7:55 am
“Did any of the cons ever post anything, such as an unemployment rate that correlates with this high score as a great state for businesses. Anything at all.”
No, but td’s 11:03 did point out that the Obama economy is responsible for a 9.8% increase in Georgia tax collections.
TaxPayer
January 10th, 2013
7:56 am
And Thomas thinks as SouthernGent apparently. Please elaborate on your dumping of key words, Thomas. How does Obamacare account for Georgia’s poor economic performance to date. What executive orders have impacted Georgia’s unemployment rate. How much do Georgia businesses contribute annually to unemployment trust funds.
stands for decibels
January 10th, 2013
7:56 am
Recent Unpleasantness SHEETZ.
nelson
January 10th, 2013
7:59 am
This is a grand opportunity to change the perception of Georgia. For eons, Georgia has been considered a “speed bump” in the road on the way to Florida.
Frst, a deep water port at Savannah, 2nd casino gambling, 3rd an international airport in the middle of Georgia. 4th raise all salariesof civil servants.
Granny Godzilla
January 10th, 2013
8:01 am
stands for decibels
January 10th, 2013
7:52 am
doesn’t that mean “whorish”?
Reminds me of the old joke that concludes, “I’ve already determined what you ARE, now I’m merely determining the PRICE.”
.
.
.
.
BINGO!
TiredOfIt
January 10th, 2013
8:17 am
td
January 9th, 2013
9:14 pm
“I say to you forget the extremists. It’s simple — no one hunts with an assault rifle. No one needs 10 bullets to kill a deer and too many people have died already,” Cuomo said.
Another lib that does not understand the meaning of the 2nd Amendment.
++
The 2nd Amendment was created to protect the government not the individual. Ever hear of the Whiskey Rebellion?
Proud to be me
January 10th, 2013
11:11 am
When you get Obama running the country this is what you get!!! More poverty . . . more regulations driving businesses out of this country!!!
Mark Johnson
January 11th, 2013
9:21 am
Important analysis, look at the number of comments. Add the failure of trauma funding and t-splost to the mix. I hope the AJC keeps this issue front and center throughout the session.
Greg Harry
January 11th, 2013
6:48 pm
if georgia’s 4th with that kind of stat then i guess all 50 state are pretty pathetic,