Principles: Government should be willing to spend what it is already spending, but in a more rational manner. Hundreds of millions of dollars are spent annually in Georgia on uncompensated care for the uninsured. Uninsured Georgians do get sick; one way or another, we all pay for their care in a way that is terribly inefficient. Money should follow people. While it is important to support the institutions and providers that make up Georgia’s safety net, solutions should be people-centered, not institution-centered. Innovation requires flexibility and choices. Micromanaging every last … Continue Reading →

Principles: Public safety is a core responsibility of government. A well-functioning criminal justice system enforces order and respect for every person’s right to property and life, and ensures that liberty does not lead to license. As with any government program, the criminal justice system must be transparent and include performance measures that hold it accountable for its results in protecting the public, lowering crime rates, reducing re-offending, collecting victim restitution and conserving taxpayers’ money. An ideal criminal justice system works to reform amenable offenders who will return to society through … Continue Reading →

Download the Fiscal Overview chapter of the Guide to the Issues 2020 here Read the full Guide to the Issues 2020 How the state budget process works Georgia’s fiscal year is July 1 to June 30. Each January, when the legislative session begins, the fiscal year is just over its halfway point, requiring the General Assembly to pass two budgets: an “amended” budget, which makes adjustments to the budget for the current fiscal year, and a budget for the upcoming fiscal year. Unlike the federal government, Georgia’s Constitution mandates a … Continue Reading →

Principles: Any reforms to pensions should consider the long-term solvency of a plan and protect the promised benefits for employees already in the system. The benefits in a public employee retirement system should be sustainable, secure and affordable: Provide retirement security for all members (current and future) and retirees. Manage and mitigate taxpayer and pension system exposure to financial risk and market risk. Reduce long-term costs for employers or taxpayers as well as employees. Stabilize contribution rates. Ensure the ability to recruit employees. Improve governance & transparency. The best pension … Continue Reading →

Facts: Georgia ranks 31st in terms of postsecondary participation, but has the eighth largest net full-time equivalent (FTE) enrollment in the United States (excluding medical students). In 2018, 52.6% of Georgia’s young adults were enrolled in postsecondary education or had earned a degree, compared to 56.5% nationally. The average amount of annual in-state tuition and fees at Georgia’s public four-year universities increased by 1.95% over the past five years. The national average during this time was 9.61%. Georgia’s average amount of tuition and fees, $8,719, also ranks below the national … Continue Reading →

Principles: Tort reforms should accomplish the following goals: Provide a fair and efficient legal system. Reduce the prevalence of legal abuse and fraudulent claims filed. Ensure patients have access to fair and reasonable compensation for legitimate medical injuries. Reduce liability insurance premiums for health care providers. Reduce the rates of preventable patient injuries. Download the Tort Reform chapter of the Guide to the Issues 2020 here Read the full Guide to the Issues 2020   Recommendation: Cap premises liability. Limit nuclear verdicts and reinstate medical liability caps. Replace Georgia’s current … Continue Reading →

Principles: Helping people move from dependency to self-sufficiency should be the primary focus of the safety net. Making work pay is essential. Working more hours or getting a pay raise should not set families back financiallyPrograms should target benefits to the neediest.Enrollment should be coordinated to eliminate fraud and abuse and enhance efficiency.Programs should be temporary rather than permanent, with few exceptions. Download the Welfare Reform chapter of the 2020 Guide to the Issues here Read the full 2020 Guide to the Issues Recommendations: Increase public education on the availability … Continue Reading →

Principles Long-term care programs should be reserved for Georgia’s most vulnerable populations. Long-term care programs should be designed to avoid “crowding out” private solutions and personal responsibility. Download the Long-Term Care chapter of the Guide to the Issues 2020 here Read the full Guide to the Issues 2020 Recommendations Seek ways to target publicly funded long-term care (LTC) services to the neediest Georgians. Middle-class and affluent people should prepay for care or repay from their estates. Now that the maintenance-of-effort restriction in the Affordable Care Act has expired, Medicaid LTC … Continue Reading →

Principles: Sound healthcare policy should have the following characteristics: Transparency – The effectiveness of market-based systems depends on an abundance of information that is easily available and understood by consumers. If properly integrated into care, information can be as important to personal health and healthcare as a medical test, medication or treatment. With precise information, people can achieve better health outcomes at lower costs. Patient-centered – Putting economic purchasing power and decision-making in the hands of participants minimizes third-party reimbursements, which foster an environment of entitlement and unlimited demand for … Continue Reading →