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THE MADISON COUNTY (GA) JOURNAL. THURSDAY. MARCH 26. 2009 — PAGE 5A Opinions We gave you tax cuts ... Where are the jobs? Georgia's lawmakers have always been willing to approve tax breaks for the state's business leaders and special interests, but they have really stepped on the gas since Republicans took control of the House and Senate four years ago. In that first year of Republican control, legis lators passed a huge break for corporations: a bill that would give them tax reduc tions totaling nearly $1 bil lion over a 10-year period. Since 2005 the General Assembly has routinely approved tax breaks for Delta Air Lines worth $15 million a year or more along with tax gifts to such beneficia ries as the Georgia Aquarium, Gulfstream, Aflac, and insur ance companies that market high-deductible health plans. It is estimated that the tax breaks handed out by law makers over the years are worth more than $1 billion annually. And that doesn’t count the huge giveaways from this year’s session. The two cham bers have already passed, and Gov. Sonny Perdue has indicated he will sign, a bill that allows Georgia Power to charge ratepayers early for nuclear power plants that won’t be operational until nearly a decade from now - a $1.6 billion financial gift for the giant utility. Both chambers are also considering another package of tax breaks for businesses that could include elimination of the corporate income tax. The Capitol Report tcrawford@ capitol impact.net. By Tom Crawford Allowing businesses to avoid paying state income taxes will save them an estimated $700 million a year. That would be one of the biggest financial jackpots ever won by the cor porate lobbyists who crowd the capitol’s marble-floored halls. Every time these tax gifts are debated, the bills' sup porters make the same argu ment for their passage: busi ness tax cuts will create jobs. When the billion-dollar tax break for corporations was being debated in the Senate in 2005, Casey Cagle, then a senator from Gainesville, averred, “It’s pro-jobs legisla tion. It will ensure we have jobs for the future.” “It’s about jobs, jobs and jobs,” said Rep. Ron Stephens (R-Savannah). Funny thing. All the new jobs that were supposedly going to be created from this gusher of business tax breaks don’t seem to have material ized. We have continued to suffer higher than average unem ployment since 2005, culmi nating last month when the jobless rate hit the highest level ever in Georgia at 9.3 percent. How could that be happening if all of those busi ness tax cuts were creating so many jobs? If you look at data avail able from the state Labor Department, you’ll see that in the 50 months since January 2005, which was when Republicans assumed control of the Legislature, Georgia’s unemployment rate has been higher than the national rate for 28 of those months. Obviously, most of the cur rent job losses can be attrib uted to the worst economic recession since the 1930s. Every state is losing jobs and Georgia is no exception. But our unemployment rate has been higher than the national rate, sometimes by a sub stantial margin, for the last 16 consecutive months. That dates back to before the cur rent downturn began. If all those business tax cuts are going to create new jobs, shouldn't Georgia at least be undercutting the national average? We heard similar argu ments at the federal level sev eral years ago when George W. Bush was persuading Congress to approve massive tax cuts. The Bush adminis tration contended that these tax cuts would also create scads of new jobs. Except that they didn't. “When it comes to reviving the economy, tax cuts do not work as well as smart public spending,” wrote Lawrence Mishel, president of the Economic Policy Institute in Washington. “Even worse were the Bush tax cuts of 2003, which the administra tion claimed would generate 1.4 million jobs on top of the 4.1 million jobs that were expected to be generated over the eighteen months follow ing June 2003... Not only did the promised 1.4 million additional jobs not appear, but the 4.1 million jobs expected with no action also failed to materialize.” Don't get me wrong. For the entities who get them, tax cuts are a wonderful thing. I’d love to get a business tax break myself, but I can't afford to hire lobbyists to demand one from the Legislature. Let's be honest, however, about what these tax cuts are: a financial gift to who ever happens to receive them. Business tax breaks are not going to create jobs and it’s time that legislators quit using that as an excuse for passing them. Tom Crawford is the editor of Capitol Impact’s Georgia Report, an Internet news ser vice at www.gareport.com that covers government and politics in Georgia. He can be reached at tcrawford@ capitolimpact.net. ^ Iff-' % Animal Shelter Inc. 1888 Colbert-Danielsville Road Danielsville, 6a. Is offering a llth Annual HULL COMMUNITY SPRING FESTIVAL May 23, 2009 9 a.m. till 3 p.m. Old Elberton Road in Hull PARADE • 9:30 a.m. sharp ENTERTAINMENT FEATURING: Frankie and Tina Cleveland ANTIQUE/CLASSIC CAR SHOW VENDORS FEATURING: Food, Games, Novelties, Children’s Activities and much, much more! FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION CALL: Antique/Classic Car Show: Paul Chandler 706-354-4170 General Information: Paul Elkins at 706-548-7343 Parade Information: Jeanette Jones 706-549-2159 Program Ads: Joyce Jefferson 706-742-7600 Vendor Booth Information: Paul Elkins 706-548-7343 Net proceeds will go to “There’s Hope For The Hungry’ Food Ministry sponsored by Hull Baptist Church. 4 r City of Colbert SPECIAL ELECTION RUN-OFF NOTICE Hot ice 1b lusrsby givm that. In sooordance with O.C.OA. 01-2-30 i(o), a Special Election Run-off shall be held in the City of Colbert to fill the vacancy on the City Connell. The Special Election Run-off will be Laid on April 14, 0009. The following candidates received the highest number of votes In order to be included in the run-off: KVBLYN P, POWER BUjYN teunhud Only those persons registered to vote by February 13, 0009, shall be antitied to vote In the run-off. Early and advance voting will begin March S3, 2009, and and April 9, 0009, In the Colbert City Depot during normal Colbert City Hall buslnes hours which are Monday through Friday, S a.m. to 1 p.m. On election day. April 14. 2009, the polls will be op an from 7100 am. to 7:00 p.m. in the same location. This the 13th day of March, 2009. Fam Fowler Election Superintendent. City of Colbert WALK-IN RABIES CLINIC Saturday, March 28 Noon - 3 p.m. One year rabies shot - $10 Three-year rabies vaccine - $15 (must provide proof of previous vaccine for the three-year shot.) The following vaccines/services will also be offered: Distemper/parvo for dogs/puppies $10 Feline leukemia for cats/kittens $10 Microchipping $25 The shelter operates a low cost spay/neuter clinic for the public. Grooming services are also available the last Saturday of each month with all proceeds going to the shelter. Please call 706-795-2868 for a surgery or grooming appointment and pricing. INTRODUCING THE NEW MOMENTUM™ PROGRAM It’s a brand new way to do Weight Watchers. You’ll learn how to stay full longer, so you can lose weight and keep it off. Check out a meeting for FREE* * Weight Watchers is coming to Comer starting March 19! Comer First Baptist Church 5024 Main Street Thursdays 6:30 Free Registration -- This Location Only 1 800 379-5757 ®VeightWatchers‘ WeightWatchers.com Stop Dieting. Start Living. Weigh-in begins 30 minutes prior to meeting time. *A Free meeting visrt is avaiabte year-round. The Free meeting does not include Program matenais. IT you decide to join, you vWl gel the first week's Program materials and pay the tees then n effect to pin. Avatfable in partopaimg areas only. v 2C09 ‘.'.■sight Washers injensiona: Inc c« ol :heGHT MTCHEFS -eqis;e-ed trademark -i! lights lestr.ed Reckless driver put son in danger Dear Editor: On the morning of March 19, at 7:10 a.m., I watched my son get on the bus to go to school. As I watched the bus slow to a stop with yellow lights flashing, a car pulled out from behind the bus to pass it. They passed the bus right in front of my driveway just feet from my son. (This happened on Hudson Rivers Church Road). If you were driving that car, you put my son in danger of being killed at the end of my driveway. This is not an isolated incident. It happens all the time. Parents, make sure you tell your children to look both ways before they start across the road to meet the bus. Just because the lights are flashing doesn’t mean that the person behind the bus is smart enough to stop. And to whoever was driving that car: I think you must be a pretty pathetic person to put someone’s child in danger just to save yourself two minutes. You got away with it this time, but next time you won’t be so lucky. Sincerely, Janet Freeman CORRECTION Last week’s letter entitled “Thanks for restoring roof, free of charge,” written by Agnes Bennett, Ila, should have said that her mobile home was repaired before the snowstorm, not following it. Want to submit a letter? Email us at zach@mainstreetnews.com, fax us at 706-795-2765 or mail us at P.O. Box 658 Danielsville, GA 30633. Please include your first and last name, town of residence and phone number for verification purposes. Madisonjournal TODAY.com Commerce First United Methodist Church Preschool Year 2009-2010 What we have to offer: • Half Day Preschool for ages 2-4 • Experienced Staff • A BEKA Curriculum • Music and Movement classes • Chapel and Bible Time • Computers in 3 & 4 year old classes • Playground and gym Tuition from $120 to $160 per month Registration Fee - $140 Divided in two payments. For more information, call (706) 335-9589. NOW OPEN of* **% 1357 Washington Street Jefferson, GA 30549 (located in Bell’s Shopping Center) • • FREE ESTIMATES • • • Carpet • VCT • Vinyl • Tile • Hardwood • Laminate • Custom Showers & Back Splashes • Top Quality Installers W * W * W * W * W * W * W * W * W * W * W * W * W * W * W * W * W * W * W * W * W * W * W * W * W * W * W * W * W * W * W * W * W * W * W * W * W * W * W * W I