Criminal Justice
In 2011, the General Assembly created the Special Council on Criminal Justice Reform for Georgians to study ways to protect public safety while controlling prison costs. Over the last two decades, the prison population in Georgia has more than doubled while criminal justice spending has grown to more than $1 billion (from less than half a billion in 1990). Meanwhile, the recidivism rate has remained unchanged with 30% of offenders becoming repeat offenders. By 2016, the prison population is projected to rise another 8% (to nearly 60,000 inmates) adding more than a quarter billion dollars to state spending.
The Council has determined that most of this growth is due to policy decisions regarding who is sent to prison and how long they will stay.
• 60% of prison admissions are due to drug and property offenses and, in 2010 alone, more than 5,000 lower-risk drug and property offenders who have never been to prison before were admitted.
• Each year, 3,200 drug offenders are sentenced for drug possession, rather than sales or trafficking and two-thirds of these are considered a lower-risk to re-offend.
• Over the last decade, felony probation has grown 22% (to 156,000) and parole has grown 9% (to 22,000). However, supervision agencies do not have the resources to supervise these offenders.
The Council believes greater investment in these programs can reduce recidivism and increase public safety at a lower cost to taxpayers.
The Council presents numerous policy options to lawmakers. These options are divided into three sections: 1) improving public safety and holding offenders accountable, 2) focusing expensive prison beds on serious offenders, and 3) reinvestment priorities. The first section includes options to increase access to community-based sanctions, strengthen community supervision, ensure resources are used effectively, and improve government performance to achieve long-term success. The second section includes a package of changes to assessing offender risk, mandatory minimums, parole guidelines, and the sentencing and classification rules for traffic violations, theft, burglary, and forgery. The second section also includes two additional policy options that would scale penalties for drug possession according to the quantity of drugs possessed and implement presumptive probation for drug possession. The third section urges the legislature to use a portion of potential savings from other options to reinvest in evidence-based programs aimed at reducing recidivism, increasing public safety, improving criminal justice performance, and ensuring adequate post-correctional supervision.
As a former prosecutor, I support efforts to reform Georgia's criminal justice system. I support accountability courts and more sentencing options for judges. I also want Georgia to reform its juvenile justice system so youth prisons are no longer a pipeline to adult prisons. As we decide on better policies, we must seek to turn lawbreakers from tax burdens to tax payers.
The full report can be read here.
Water Supply Task Force
In January 2011, Governor Deal ordered the Georgia Environmental Finance Authority to convene a Water Supply Task Force to provide guidance and ensure cooperation in the development and implementation of the Governor's Water Supply Program. The Water Supply Program is designed to assist local governments in the development of new water sources adequate to meet future water needs. Historically, Georgia has enjoyed rainfall adequate to suit its needs. However, population growth, economic development, and increased water demand for agriculture—combined with intermittent episodes of drought—have created growing water supply challenges.
These challenges generally fall into two categories:1) the length and complexity of the water supply process, and 2) permitting requirements, project expense and the availability of financing. In the first category, local officials cited the length of the federal permitting process, the lack of coordination between state and federal agencies, the ability to adapt to changing economic conditions, and competition between neighboring communities. In the second category, local officials have to choose between financing projects from current revenues or, more commonly, funding projects through debt financing.
Under the Water Supply Program, state financing will be made available from state general obligation bond proceeds. The Task Force examined a variety of methods to better coordinate the use of these funds. These methods fall into three categories: low-interest loans through the Georgia Environmental Finance Authority, state direct investment through the Department of Community Affairs, and the leveraging of additional project financing through public-private partnerships. The options explored in the first category were lengthening the amortization period, capitalizing construction interest, and modifying the construction period interest rate. The options explored in the second category were state fee ownership and joint project ownership. The options explored in the third category were making the Georgia Environmental Finance Authority a participant in partnerships and having the Georgia Environmental Finance Authority serve in an advisory capacity in these partnerships.
The Task Force also made a series of recommendations for the Water Supply Program. The Task Force recommends the Program establish and follow certain guiding principles relating to its role in water supply projects. The Task Force recommends the Program conduct competitive project solicitations over the next four years. The Task Force recommends the Program structure state direct investment, either in the form of an ownership in fee of certain project assets or a percentage of ownership interest, for the long-term benefit of local project owners. The Task Force recommends the Georgia Environmental Finance Authority assist local governments in obtaining and leveraging non-state project financing. Finally, the Task Force recommends that the Program provide additional water supply support services, including regional project promotion and assistance with planning and permitting.
The full report can be read here.
Health Insurance Exchange Committee
In 2011, Governor Deal established the Georgia Health Insurance Exchange Advisory Committee to study potential benefits of, and provide recommendations for, establishing a health insurance exchange. Health insurance exchanges are a major component of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA). The Committee recognizes that, with or without the PPACA, implementing such exchanges would have positive effects, including easing administrative burdens, providing greater consumer choice, enhancing free market competition, and allowing for more stable and predictable budgets for small business owners. The Committee's recommendations are based on three options: a state-run exchange, a federally-run exchange, or an exchange run under a state-federal partnership.
The Committee recommends the establishment of a self-sustained Georgia Health Insurance Marketplace Authority to oversee a Georgia Health Insurance Marketplace. It further recommends that such an Authority should not be permitted to regulate state insurance markets, negotiate rates, or prohibit carriers qualified by the Insurance Commissioner. It also recommends that small business access to the Marketplace be limited to businesses with between 2 and 50 employees and that mandated state benefit requirements be changed to reflect federal requirements.
The full report can be read here.
Jobs
These are difficult times for our community and our State. Keeping our jobs and creating new employment opportunities must be our first priority. The key is creating a path to long-term economic prosperity. Scott has the policy background needed to advocate for programs that will actually be effective at growing jobs, spurring investment and sustaining a healthy, livable community.
Education
A high-quality public education system is the key to realizing the full potential of our kids and our communities. As a father and teacher, Scott is committed to fighting for innovation in our classrooms and creative solutions for our funding problems. Our children deserve outstanding educational opportunities. Their future and the future of our community require it.
Transportation
Atlanta's traffic problems are inhibiting economic recovery and future economic growth, and that lowers our quality of life. We all have a vested interest in smart, sustainable transportation solutions, but we need real leadership to make it happen. Scott is committed to fight for a comprehensive transportation strategy that will allow us to build the roads, rails, bike paths and walkways that we need now and in the future. Good transportation will support smart development and a greener, healthier 82nd District.
