December 4th Run-Off and Special Session
Radio Commentary, 90.7, 91.7 New Life FM, November 16, 2018 – By Sue Ella Deadwyler
Put December 4th on your calendar. It’s Run-off Election Day. That’s when voters will decide whether Republican Brad Raffensperger or former Democratic congressman John Barrow will be Georgia’s next secretary of state.
After Brian Kemp resigned from that position on November 8th, Governor Deal appointed Georgia Department of Human Services Commissioner Robyn Crittenden to serve as interim secretary of state until the new secretary takes office in January.
According to the best information available right now, (a) early voting for the December 4th run-off will begin on November 26th. (b) Absentee ballots for the run-off must be requested no later than November 30th, then, (c) completed and returned no later than December 4th.
Also on December 4th, voters in a do-over election will determine who will represent House District 28 in the General Assembly. Since several residents in that area voted incorrect ballots in the May Primary Election, the judge ordered the repeat election. In response to Governor Deal’s proclamation a week ago, the Georgia General Assembly convened last Tuesday for a short special session to deal with two items of business. Both issues involve tax money.
Item one concerns funding for damage caused by Hurricane Michael. The appropriation for disaster funding is expected to be $270 million to remove debris, repair streets, and assist with emergency expenditures, such as overtime required of state and local government staff. Legislators will use this year’s excess tax money for immediate disaster relief, and will need to amend the 2019 budget to “fund the work ahead.”
Item two is the codification of Governor Deal’s July 30th executive order to return jet fuel tax relief to airlines that buy fuel at Hartsfield-Jackson Airport. The exemption had benefited all airlines that fuel at the airport, but was withdrawn from every airline after Delta denied perks to NRA members.
If Governor Deal’s executive order is ratified, jet fuel sales tax reduction would be restored. While all airlines will benefit from the lower tax, Delta is expected to save approximately $50 million annually. If the executive order is not ratified, jet-fuel users would have to pay the millions of dollars in sales taxes they haven’t had to pay since July 30th.
The December 4th election is vitally important. Please vote! For Georgia Insight I’m Sue Ella Deadwyler, your Capitol correspondent.