Politics & Government

Live Blog: State Rep. Holds Town Hall Meeting

State Rep. Paul Battles, R-Cartersville, took questions at the Chamber of Commerce in Cartersville.

8:30 p.m. Battles wrapped up saying he's committed to the people of Georgia, not just those in the 15th District. And the meeting is over.

8:29 p.m. What do you with your extra time? Battles said he tries to be a grandfather, father and husband.

He thanked the audience and said it's a joy to serve, but it's not fun because hard decisions impact many.

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8:28 p.m. It's five committees and 12 subcommittees. Battles was appointed to an investigative state committee on child deaths. They will look into any death of a child in Georgia and whether or not local agencies have handled it properly.

8:26 p.m. Battles talks about his committee and subcommittee memberships. Education is his favorite.

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8:23 p.m. Battles wanted to talk about the immigration law that says everyone has to be e-verified, but it will be phased in over a year and a half.

8:20 p.m. The meeting wraps up with another education question: Is a 3.0 GPA fair for tech students? Battles said different levels for different students, but students who just "get by" have to do better.

8:18 p.m. Battles said he agrees. The system is so old it will take a long time to change. Virtual education will be great to offset. Move On When Ready was passed last year, allowing 10th- or 11th-grade high school students to take college courses.

8:17 p.m. Do we have grade inflation? Are the most creative students getting shafted due to so much emphasis on GPA?

8:14 p.m. Audience members said students should have an 85 or above average to be able to drive to and park at school.

8:12 p.m. HOPE changes include decreasing payouts to vendors and lottery administrators.

8:08 p.m. Battles said of the ski resort, "I don't know."

8:07 p.m. Ski resort developer is at the Capitol every day, Battles said.

Battles alluded to his investors possibly being from another country, but said the developer would have to divulge those investors before he gets approval or permitting from Bartow and Emerson.

Battles is talking about things the baseball complex would have.

8:05 p.m. If Bartow got the ski resort and the baseball complex in Emerson, that would mean 7,000 jobs, Battles said. His top priority is the baseball complex. He said, "It's a done deal, 99.9 percent."

The ski resort folks are still around, he added.

8:02 p.m. Is there a new tourism bill? Battles somewhat reluctantly said yes. It's gone through Ways and Means, then to another committee, and the House will vote on it next week. Then it goes to the Senate. The governor likely will sign it.

It's basically the same as the last several years: Companies come into Georgia, spend $100 million, they'll get 25 percent of the sales tax revenue for 10 years.

It would significantly boost taxes for Bartow County.

Ski resort folks still want to come to Emerson.

8 p.m. For the most part, those sales taxes go back to local governments, Battles said.

7:58 p.m. On uncollected sales tax, Battles said last year the state lost $1.5 billion on revenue that was unreported. DOR is going through a change. New commissioner is modernizing the reporting, collecting system. If you're collecting tax, you'll be paying the tax.

7:58 p.m. Battles said legislators don't want to overburden people with taxes.

7:56 p.m. We either have to raise revenue or cut expenses to deal with the shortfall. An audience member said cut the expenses while another says hope revenues increase with more people working, paying taxes.

7:54 p.m. Do you support further budget cuts? Legislators are trying to build reserves, but education is a top priority.

Fee bill last year increased licensing, permitting, etc. fees. All that money goes to the general fund.

Legislators are always looking at ways to raise revenue.

7:52 p.m. Someone asked about taxing pet vet services, which Battles said is part of the larger tax reform proposal and he does not think it will pass. Legislators need time to look at that and how it will affect citizens.

7:50 p.m. Are you in favor of a federal or state health care plan? Battles said a state-level plan would be more efficient. A federal plan creates double the bureaucracy. Battles could support a state-supported plan, but is still for private insurance.

7:46 p.m. Will HOPE get back to 100 percent level for B students? Battles said the answer may not be to lower standards.

7:44 p.m. Battles said a proposed bill regulates tuition. It's already been through committee, on the floor in the next week to be voted on. That will tie everything to the rate of inflation.

7:43 p.m. A college student asked if there is a way to regulate textbook makers and colleges and universities because tuition and books are high.

7:42 p.m. Parents and sometimes educators are to blame for lack of incentive for students to "put some work in" and do well.

7:41 p.m. Students are not incentivized, Battles said. Education has been made too easy for too long. There has to be rigor in education. Students should know the way to get higher education is to do well in K-12.

7:37 p.m. Audience member asked if Battles thinks HOPE should be need-based? Battles says HOPE originated for "brightest" students and it has became an entitlement.

Need-based is good, Battles said. But who deserves to get the scholarship or grant? It needs to be those who worked for it, Battles said. But an audience member said he's not sure if that was a yes or no.

Battles: The K-12 system is broken, leading to college students who take remedial classes.

7:36 p.m. An audience member asked about a juvenile code rewrite. Battles is no longer on that committee.

7:35 p.m. Economists say by 2014, the state will be back able to fund these programs.

7:34 p.m. Battles said let local school systems distribute money from state DOE.

7:31 p.m. Battles also serves on Education committee and said they are working hard to allow local school systems to make adjustments.

7:28 p.m. They've done an excellent job saving HOPE, Battles said. On Pre-K, now each class increased by two students and terms will go to 160 days from 180 days. Students will be able to go for 6.5 hours per day.

7:26 p.m. HOPE has been adjusted — students with lower GPAs and SAT scores will get 90 percent. That will allow reserves to be built back up.

7:25 p.m. We're moving on to discussion about HOPE. Enrollment is up due to loss of jobs and going back to school. The drain on HOPE has been great and reserves have been depleted. The revenue is down due to the economy — not as many folks playing the lottery.

7:23 p.m. Battles problem with the changes are who is paying sales tax and who can afford to pay the sales tax?

7:22 p.m. Is the recommendation revenue neutral? Battles says yes and no. Two-percent reduction in income tax, but increases are offset by that 2 percent. What is hard for Battles to absorp and agree with is the poor will be more affected by potential changes.

7:19 p.m. Battles said the outcome was a bipartisan decision. The decision on recommendations would be the result of a simple majority vote.

7:18 p.m. An audience member is asking why the bill is not going through regular proceedures. Battles said the legislature voted they would vote on the recommendations instead. A "mistake" of giving permission to forego committees and the normal procedures.

7:16 p.m. Most on the committee say they will not vote on it. Battles said there hasn't been enough time to properly consider the bill, which was not vetted in committees as are all other bills.

7:15 p.m. Which tax changes to vote on? That's the question that has caused a lot of confusion, Battles said.

7:14 p.m. Battles said the tax council was not political and studied tax codes because many were very old, some dating back to the 1940s.

7:11 p.m. The "good ideas" are too much to throw on citizens all at one time, so there's a lot of push back, Battles said.

7:10 p.m. Battles says counter activity happening with tax exemptions. It's a stale mate, he said, adding he rather not make predictions, but he'd be surprised if it passes.

7:08 p.m. On tax reform, the recommendation from a tax council that met last summer is to reduce income tax by 2 percent and place sales tax on everything, including services and food.

7:06 p.m. Battles is on Ways and Means committee, which is very, very busy, he said. Process of vetting bills "interesting." They've been working on issues with tax exemption in the last few days.

7:05 p.m. Some laws are being repealed, but it's a slow process. Constituents also wanted less laws.

7:04 p.m. Battles says it's a slow year for bills. One third as many as this time last year. Leadership said keep them to a minimum.

7:03 State Rep. Paul Battles is beginning a newsletter.

7:02 p.m. The town hall meeting is about to begin. Introduction under way.


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