GBPI In The News

GBPI provides impartial information to the public as well as to a variety of media outlets. We are seen and heard regularly on Georgia television, radio and newspapers commenting on tax and budget policies and recommending solutions that further a more transparent, fair, and modern tax system that will take Georgia into the 21st century.

Printed commentary can be found in the list below. Links to recent media interviews and appearances can be found in the right column.

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A Dose of Competition: 3 Health Plans Dominate Market

Tim Sweeney tells the Chattanooga Times Free Press, “ Making the insurance market more competitive is a necessary step to controlling costs, and the public option is one way to ensure that there are more choices at better prices for the consumer.”

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Georgia: Use Avaliable State Funds To Reduce Child Poverty

Atlanta Unfiltered features Senior Policy Analyst Clare S. Richie: It's time for lawmakers and policy makers to fund successful initiatives that move families from poverty to self-sufficiency. This is the direct purpose of Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF).

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Don’t Ignore Revenue In Fiscal Crisis

This article was printed in the Atlanta Journal-Cstitution, the Savannah Morning News, and several other news sources.

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Should The Legislature Raise Revenues To Balance The Budget? Yes

Relying on spending cuts alone will hurt struggling families, damage the state's economy and poorly position the state when prosperity returns.

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Executive Director Alan Essig Is Selected As Notable Georgian by Georgia Trend Magazine

Alan Essig, Executive Director of of Georgia Budget and Policy Institute is selected as a Notable Georgian for 2009 in Georgia Trend Magazine.

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No Proof State Tax Breaks Paying Off

The state continues to forgo a significant amount of revenue due to tax credits without evaluating the cost ot benefits.

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Can Georgia Afford New Health Care?

With progress on the healthcare bill speeding up, the question as to how much it will take from our budget is uncertain.

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Health Bill to Hit Georgia Budget

Sweeney said $128 million is a small percentage of a state budget that is about $17 billion a year, which makes the proposal "a bargain for Georgia. It's a small price to the state, considering all the federal dollars coming in to help get health insurance."

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Covering More People With Medicaid Saves Money In The Long Run, Improves Health.

Rather than using misleading multiyear figures to argue that the state cannot afford to expand Medicaid coverage to its struggling citizens, Georgia’s leaders should realize that we cannot afford to lose out on this incredible opportunity to insure its neediest citizens and bring hundreds of millions of dollars into the state’s economy annually.

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State Should Embrace Medicaid Reform

Rather than using misleading multiyear figures to argue that the state cannot afford to expand Medicaid coverage to its struggling citizens, Georgia’s leaders should realize that we cannot afford to lose out on this incredible opportunity to insure its neediest citizens and bring hundreds of millions of dollars into the state’s economy annually.

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State should spend TANF funds more wisely

If your neighbors were struggling to swim in stormy waters, would you throw them a life preserver so they could make it safely to shore? With TANF funds and the stimulus, Georgia lawmakers have that opportunity to pull Georgia’s families from the depths of poverty to the stability of self-sufficiency.

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Growing Number of Georgians Do Not Have Health Insurance

Raising revenues to minimize cuts in public health insurance programs is critical to helping hard-pressed families stay afloat.

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Your Views: Enough of state budget cuts that hurt Georgians

I also agree with the Institute’s recommendation that before more budget cuts are made, the state should hold hearings on the impact of budget cuts already implemented and new budget cuts being proposed, and that it is time that the governor calls a special session to address the problem and take action to implement additional revenue sources to help balance the state budget, as two-thirds of other states have already done.

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Floods, economy put more pressure on budget

As the recession pushes more families below the poverty line, demand for government assistance such as Medicaid and unemployment benefits increases.

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Kids are getting poorer. Are they also getting harder to teach?

The Georgia Budget and Policy Institute issued a report today on the rising poverty in the state- on out of every five children was poor in 2008.

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Forum offers answers to health reform

The LaGrange-Troup County Chamber of Commerce have a civilized discussion on health-care reform.

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Hard Times Hitting Home

More and more, Georgia families are struggling to make ends meet, yet our state’s policymakers continue to cut critical services like health care and education, and to divert Temporary Assistance for Needy Families funds from struggling families to fill state budget gaps.

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18 percent of Libert residents live in poverty

Public needs are growing dramatically and the state's ability to meet them is shrinking, indicating that we now more than ever need a balanced approach to this economic crisis that includes revenues.

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Ga. Tax Revenue Continues Decline; Some Analysts Say Tax Increases Needed

Georgia has two options: raise money with new taxes or face cuts to criticial services.

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Georgia is failing its poor families

Families in poverty don't have the resources to meet their basic needsof food, clothing and shelter. Can you imagine this for your family?

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Are metro Atlanta’s growth days gone?

Sarah Beth Gehl, deputy director of the Georgia Budget and Policy Institute, said state leaders, both in business and government, should address other issues that could help fuel growth during a slow recovery. “We have to focus on quality of life issues right now, like education, transportation and public safety. We have to create a climate for growth in Georgia,” she said.

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Budget hints at education cuts

Georgia is facing a budget shortfall, and cuts will need to be made in key areas such as education, health care and social services.

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Can Georgia Afford New Health Care?

With progress on the healthcare bill speeding up, the question as to how much it will take from our budget is uncertain.

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CBS Atlanta: Watch Dog Group Proposes Higher Georgia Taxes

Gehl says raising taxes, or at least expanding the tax base, should beon the table or we're going to have to make the difficult choice of making more cuts to vital services.

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Cons of Health Care Savings Plans

The Georgia Budget and Policy Institute, in a March 2006 analysis, said people with high-cost medical conditions, such as those who are disabled or suffer from chronic illnesses, would be less likely to sign on for HSAs and high-deductible plans

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Don’t Ignore Revenue In Fiscal Crisis

This article was printed in the Atlanta Journal-Cstitution, the Savannah Morning News, and several other news sources.

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Exclusive: Biden to join Perdue for stimulus announcement

The state is using an estimated $1.4 billion in stimulus funds in its current budget, according to the Georgia Budget and Policy Institute.

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GBPI In the Media - Links

Website Search

04/23/2010
Senate Bill Aims to Cut Tax Credits for Poor Sara Beth Gehl, Deputy Director, interviewed by Jonathon Shapiro on WABE.

04/13/2010

Budget Cuts Hurting Safety Net Programs Clare Richie, Senior Policy Analyst, interviewed by Edgar Treiguts on GPB.

03/30/2010

Is Long-Term Budget Thinking Possible? Alan Essig, Executive Director, interviewed on GPB-radio by Ricky Bevington on All Things Considered.

02/18/2010
Click To View Video
How the General Assembly is Doing Balancing the Budget; Alan Essig, GBPI Executive Director, interviewed on GPB-TV show Lawmakers (minute 7:45).

01/31/2010
Alternatives to Budget Cuts. Alan Essig, Executive Director, interviewed on WSB-TV Channel 2, People 2 People.

01/18/2010
Lt. Governor Cagle's Proposed Capital Gains Tax Cut Won't Achieve It's Goal. Alan Essig, Executive Director, interviewed by Dennis O'Hayer on WABE.

12/29/2009
Health Care Reform Costs in Georgia. Timothy Sweeney, Senior Healthcare Analyst, interviewed by Dennis O'Hayer on WABE.

Lawmakers: Higher taxes, More Furloughs Possible. Sara Beth Gehl, Deputy Director, interviewed on WGCL.

05/15/2009
Report: Welfare Dollars Being Spent Elsewhere - 11Alive.com | WXIA ...