Author Archive
Tale of two states: California & Georgia
By: Randy Evans
In 2010, Georgia voters again overwhelmingly voted for a one-party state. Republicans control the governorship, statewide offices, and have a veto-proof legislative majority in the Senate, and an almost veto-proof majority in the Georgia House. Republicans have controlled the governorship and the Georgia General Assembly since 2004.
In contrast, California voters also voted overwhelmingly for a one-party state. Democrats control the governorship, statewide offices, and have a veto-proof legislative majority in both houses of the California legislature.
Another step forward for judicial ethics
By: Randy Evans
Earlier this year, Gov. Nathan Deal appointed Richard Hyde to the Georgia Judicial Qualifications Commission. He attended his first meeting as a Commissioner on April 18. Judges throughout Georgia took notice. Georgians should too.
Is Ga.’s Supreme Court really supreme?
By: Randy Evans
Last October, the Evans Report made this prediction:
In 2013, Georgians — especially Georgia businesses — will pay higher, indeed likely much higher, insurance premiums. It will not be the result of any action (or inaction) by Insurance Commissioner Ralph Hudgens, Gov. Nathan Deal or the Georgia General Assembly. Instead, it will be the product of a series of unprecedented decisions made by the Georgia Supreme Court.
Consequently it came as no surprise when a report released by insure.com found that Georgians pay the third-highest car insurance premiums in the United States. As property owners and businesses can attest, other types of insurance have risen comparably.
Don’t Bank on Banking
By: The Citizen
The story of the March 2013 EU bailout of Cyprus continues to unfold and the devil is in the details. This case is a benchmark in US financial history because the status of shareholders of bank stock and bonds and of bank depositors has changed. By now, most of us know that the banks in several European nations are insolvent, that is, they do not have sufficient funds on hand to accommodate even one-fourth of their depositors should those depositors show up demanding their cash.
Next step: Eliminate Georgia’s income tax
By: Randy Evans
With Georgia’s 2013 General Assembly winding up, Georgians can be thankful that the legislature has again guided Georgia through some tough economic times. Balancing budgets (as Georgia must do under its Constitution) during tough economic times is no easy task. This is especially true as unfunded federal mandates take full effect, including no less than the Affordable Care Act.
Notably, Georgia’s General Assembly and Gov. Nathan Deal have balanced Georgia’s budget (again) without raising Georgia’s income taxes or the state’s sales tax. Instead, Georgia’s elected officials accomplished this feat by cutting expenses and managing effectively Georgia’s revenues.
