Dawn breaks outside the Georgia Capitol Jan. 10, 2022, on the morning of the first day of the legislative session. Credit: Riley Bunch, GPB News
The Panel:
James Salzer – Assistant senior editor of state government and politics, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Leo Smith – GOP consultant and president, Engaged Futures
Rep. Teri Anulewicz – State representative (D-Smyrna)
The Breakdown:
1. Lawmakers return to the capitol to tackle the proposed $30.2 billion dollar budget.
- Gov. Brian Kemp unveiled his budget proposal earlier this month. Among its provisions:
- The Georgia Budget & Policy Institute said the budget is 11% bigger than last year, an increase of around $3 billion.
- Unprecedented federal COVID relief helped the state maintain a surplus heading into this fiscal year.
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State Rep. Teri Anulewicz sits on the House Appropriation Committee. She said the larger budget presents a challenge.
2. Future of Medicaid in Georgia is up in the air.
- The Peach State is one of 12 states that has not expanded Medicaid.
- In his State of the State speech earlier this month, Gov. Brian Kemp made no mention of Georgia’s federal Medicaid waiver proposal.
- Just last week, Georgia launched a lawsuit against the Biden administration over its decision to revoke approval of a work requirement for the waivers.
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Political organizer Leo Smith said some opposition to a federal expansion of Medicaid in Georgia stems from a institutional distrust of Congress.
3. Buckhead cityhood and East Cobb cityhood take different paths in legislative session.
- Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens addressed lawmakers this morning at the invitation of state House Speaker David Ralston. Dickens opposes the Buckhead cityhood movement.
NEW: Mayor @andreforatlanta will speak on the floor of the state House today shortly after 10 a.m.. @SpeakerRalston Ralston invited Dickens to address the chamber, which is a tradition for ATL mayors that it looks like Ralston is sticking with. #gapol https://t.co/2cz047lVDw
— Patricia Murphy (@politicalinsidr) January 24, 2022
- Earlier this month, the bill creating a referendum on Buckhead cityhood, SB 324, was moved to an all Democrat-led committee where it is likely to fail.
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Rep. Anulewicz said she opposed HB 841, the East Cobb cityhood proposal.
Tomorrow on Political Rewind:
One of the highest-ranking Republicans in state politics, Speaker David Ralston, joins us to talk about what to expect from the 2022 General Assembly session.
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