State agency heads outline spending plans for Georgia’s child welfare, safety-net, mental health
A parade of state agency heads is appearing before legislative budget writers this week. Ross Williams/Georgia Recorder Lawmakers continue to spend this week digging into the governor’s budget plans, which include billions of dollars more in spending increases. Gov. Brian Kemp has proposed a $37.5 billion amended budget for the current year, which is a…
No deal on Ukraine, Israel aid after White House meeting with top congressional leaders
.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson, a Louisiana Republican, center, speaks to reporters after a White House meeting on Wednesday, Jan. 17, 2024, about supplemental aid for Ukraine, Israel, Taiwan and U.S. border security. At left is Rep. Michael Turner, R-Ohio, and at right is Rep. Michael McCaul, R-Texas. Ashley Murray/States Newsroom WASHINGTON — President Joe…
State economist says warning signs hint Georgia ‘likely’ to experience mild recession this year
Speaker Jon Burns, Gov. Brian Kemp and Lt. Gov. Burt Jones at the governor’s 2024 state of the state address. Ross Williams/Georgia Recorder Georgia’s state economist told lawmakers Tuesday that the state is likely to have a mild recession this year, if there is one at all. Robert Buschman, who was named the new state…
U.S. Senate moves to avoid a partial government shutdown, but time running short
With a partial shutdown looming at the end of the week, the U.S. Senate on the night of Tuesday, Jan. 16, took a procedural vote on a stopgap spending bill. Jennifer Shutt/States Newsroom WASHINGTON — The U.S. Senate took a broadly bipartisan vote Tuesday to advance a short-term spending bill, but both chambers of Congress…
U.S. Senate turns aside Bernie Sanders measure to order human rights inquiry of Israel
U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders, a Vermont independent, speaks on the floor of the U.S. Senate on Jan. 16, 2024, with photos displayed of children and civilians in Gaza. (Screenshot from U.S. Senate webcast) The U.S. Senate voted 72-11 Tuesday night to reject a proposal to require a State Department report on Israel’s human rights record…
Powerful Georgia House Republican unveils plan to pump $100M into state’s pre-K system
Speaker Pro Tem Jan Jones with House Education Committee Chair Chris Erwin, left, and Speaker Jon Burns. Ross Williams/Georgia Recorder The Georgia House’s No. 2 legislator is calling on the state to use about $100 million in state lottery budget reserve money to help reduce class sizes for the state’s youngest students and boost salaries…