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Dear Friends,
The Georgia State Legislature has passed the halfway mark! The House of Representatives has passed some 80 bills to date, including the Budget.
On Wednesday, we near another important juncture - Crossover Day - which marks the 30th day of our legislative session. Crossover Day is important because a bill must have cleared either the House or the Senate by this day in order to make it to the Governor for signature this year.
Please continue to contact me if you have any questions or concerns about legislation.
Sincerely,
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Marietta Town Hall | |
On Saturday March 5, 2011 I hosted another town
hall meeting. The town hall was held at the Cobb County Central Library in Marietta. Thanks to all those who came out on that rainy Saturday afternoon! Hot topics this go around were budget cuts, immigration reform, transportation planning, and pre-K funding.
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HOPE cuts
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HB 326, a bill making fundamental changes to the HOPE scholarship, has now passed both chambers of the Legislature and is on its way to the Governor for his signature. I was proud to vote against this bill, which breaks promises to our students and changes the original purpose of HOPE, which was to make college a real possibility for all students regardless of income.
You can watch me speak against this bill here. You can see more on me fighting against cuts to the HOPE scholarship on 11Alive, NPR, and again on llAlive.
The new HOPE program will provide a percentage of tuition to all students who have a 3.0 GPA in high school, though additional requirements are added over the coming years. The percentage of tuition paid will be determined each year by the Legislature based on lottery revenues. It is estimated that for next year, HOPE will pay approximately 80% of tuition costs.
There is a better way to save HOPE - a way that would preserve full tuition for 94% of all students. This plan did not receive fair consideration. Read about this plan here.
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Legislative update | |
HB 33 2012 Budget
On Friday, the House passed the 2012 Budget, which continues cuts to education, healthcare, and implements the cuts to the HOPE scholarship program. While the bill restores pre-K to a full day of classes for our 4 year olds, it cuts the number of class days and provides an overall cut for pre-K funding. I voted against this bill.
HB 192 State Education Finance Study Commission
This bill creates a study commission to study the QBE formula. QBE stands for "Quality Basic Education." The QBE formula is the amount needed to provide every Georgia child with a quality basic education. This formula was created in 1985, but has never been fully funded. I supported the bill to create the study commission and hope that the result will be a formula that meets the needs of our students and one that is fully funded. There is nothing more important than providing a quality education to our students.
HB 87 Illegal Immigration Reform and Enforcement Act This bill grants the authority to local police to enforce federal immigration laws and creates the ability for private citizens to sue local government for not enforcing those laws. Among the policing powers is the ability to request proof of citizenship when a person is stopped for any criminal offense, including failure to yield, failure to stop at a stop sign or any traffic offense. The concern is that it allows racial profiling. Beyond the moral implications, a similar provision has been found to have severe financial consequences for Arizona, as international tourists and several conventions have decided to boycott the state. It also compels some employers to sign on to the federal E-verify program and conditions the renewal of business licenses on businesses certifying that they are enrolled in the program. I voted against this bill because it does not adequately address the root cause of illegal immigration: the availability of jobs for undocumented workers because it exempts some employers from verifying the immigration status of workers and does not address verification of the status of contractors at all.
HB 200 Crack down on sex trafficking
This legislation targets the horrendous crime of human trafficking and gives victims of this crime a pathway out of their criminally forced servitude. It also increases penalties for individuals who are found guilty of human trafficking, provides law enforcement with additional tools necessary to combat the practice of human trafficking, and expands Georgia's forfeiture law so that it applies to those convicted of human trafficking. I was proud to support this bill.
Click here to review and track the progress of all 2011 legislation I've sponsored or co-sponsored
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Ways to Earn Income Tax Credit |
As we are in the midst of tax season, below are eight points to remember in determining if you are eligible for a federal earned income tax credit.
- The tax credit is an opportunity to serve families and communities everywhere and reduces their tax burden.
- The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) estimates that 20 percent to 25 percent of eligible workers do not claim the tax credit.
- The credit is based on income and the number of children per household. Families with one child and an income of less than $35,535 (or $40,545 if married filing jointly) can receive up to $3,050. Families with three or more children and an income of less than $43,352 ($48,682 if married filing jointly) can receive up to $5,666.
- Workers without qualifying children may be eligible as well.
- Free tax preparation services can significantly increase the number of eligible workers who claim the credit.
- Regardless of tax liability, a return must be filed in order to receive the EITC as a refund.
- Twenty-two state EITC programs offer additional benefits (Georgia is among those states; however, program eligibility requirements vary.
- President Ronald Reagan called the tax credit "the best anti-poverty, the best pro-family, the best job creation measure to come out of Congress."
Determining eligibility for EITC is complicated. You must make over 20 separate determinations. This tool kit presents the basic qualifiers . Refer to the IRS website for more detailed information. |
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What's happening near you | |
Cobb County SPLOST voting
Election day is tomorrow! You can find a sample ballot here. You can find details of the SPLOST projects here.
Upcoming events
March 15, 2011, 6-8pm - Georgian's for a Healthy Future will hold their 2nd Annual Cocktail Reception and Fundraiser. Ri Ri Irish Pub (1080 Peachtree St.,NE Atlanta 30309).
March 23, 2011, 8-9:30am - Join me for Georgia's WIN List's 2011 Legislative Breakfast at Mary Mac's Tea Room (224 Ponce De Leon Avenue)! At the breakfast we will hear from WIN-endorsed women in the House and Senate Leadership.
April 4, 2011, 7pm - Join me for another town hall meeting at the Smyrna Community Center (200 Village Green Circle, Smyrna).
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If you need me
please call or email
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At the Capitol:
511 Coverdell Legislative Office Building
Atlanta, GA 30334
404.656.6372
stacey.evans@house.ga.gov
In the District:
P.O. Box 2523
Smyrna, Georgia 30081
770.710.4087
stacey@staceyevans.org
www.staceyevans.org
Standing committees:
Children and Youth
Interstate Cooperation
Judiciary
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Let's talk | |
If you have a neighborhood, church, PTA, civic, or other group meeting and would like an update on what is happening under the Gold Dome, please give me a call or send me an email. I'd be happy to attend.
I also welcome you to visit me at the Capitol for a tour or just a visit! |
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Page for the day | |
The Georgia House of Representatives Page Program offers students age 12 and over an opportunity to visit the Capitol.
Come be my page for the day. You will assist the entire House by taking notes onto the House floor from constituents, lobbyists, and other officials, all while seeing your government in action!
For more information please contact my office.
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Jobs corner
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*Instructor/Lifeguard
Cobb County Parks, Rec, & Cultural Affairs has 28 lifeguard positions available at one of the four indoor aquatic centers: Central Aquatic Center, Mountain View Aquatic Center, West and South Cobb Aquatic Center. To learn more, please click here.
*Administrative Assistant I - Level III & Clinic Admin.
The Life University clinic system is accepting applications for an Admin.
This position provides assistance to the Executive Director of Level III Clinic Programs and other clinic system administrators.
For more information, please click here.
*Go-Betweener Mentoring Program Manager -Culture Connect (Marietta location)
Culture Connect develops cultural fluency between immigrants and their service providers to advance Atlanta as a flourishing internationally diverse community.
Position will: Manage the Go-BetweenerŽ Mentoring Program in Cobb County; including day-to-day operations, recruitment, training, quality control, evaluation, etc., Plan and execute quarterly workshops and other events for mentor pairs, Set goals, report, monitor results and recommend feedback for process improvements, Supervise the Go-BetweenerŽ Mentoring Program Coordinator who is responsible for DeKalb and Gwinnett Counties.
Culture Connect, Inc.
P.O. Box 250
Clarkston, GA 30021
Phone: 404.627.4793
Fax: 404.292.8458
*Piedmont Healthcare, various positions at Piedmont Hospital
Go to piedmontcareers.org for various positions. Medical professionals as well as non-clinical healthcare professionals, and support staff. Locations are in Atlanta and other parts of the state as well.
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