Proposed Constitutional Amendments
On the November Ballot

Radio Commentary, WMVV 90.7 New Life FM, October 8, 2010
By Sue Ella Deadwyler

Good morning, Jim. The State Constitution requires voters to ratify proposed constitutional amendments in the General Election of even-numbered years. It, also, requires proposed amendments to be published in the official organ of each county and 20 other newspapers once a week for three weeks just prior to the election. However, as a “heads-up” to voters, I’m summarizing the six ballot questions now, so you can research them before you vote.

These are the questions you’ll be asked on the ballot,

1. “Shall the Constitution … be amended … to make Georgia more economically competitive [by passing laws that uphold] reasonable competitive agreements?” (H.R. 178)
   My question: Why should judges be authorized to squelch competition by deciding who competes?
   VOTE NO.
2. “Shall the Constitution … be amended … to [fund trauma care by charging an extra $10.00 fee on passenger vehicles]?” (S.R. 277)
   My question: Why should owners of multiple vehicles have to pay more trauma tax than others pay?
   VOTE NO.
3. “Shall the Constitution … be amended … [to allow] … the Department of Transportation [to enter] multiyear construction agreements without [covering the total cost in the current budget] … to reduce long-term construction costs paid by the state?” (S.R. 821)
   My question: Should voters transfer DOT budgetary decisions from 236 elected legislators to 13 officials?
   VOTE NO.
4. “Shall the Constitution be amended … [to guarantee] cost savings … by authorizing a state entity to enter … multiyear contracts [that] obligate state funds for energy efficiency or conservation improvement projects?” (S.R. 1231)
   My question: How can energy providers or contractors guarantee cost savings during volatile times?
   VOTE NO.
5. “Shall the Constitution … be amended … to allow [owners of real property] … in industrial areas to [remove it] from the industrial area?” (H.R. 136)
   My comment: Past constitutional amendments exempting industrial property in all other locations did not allow exemptions for Jeff Davis County and Chatham County. This would rectify that situation.
   VOTE YES.

This referendum question will be on your ballot, as well: “Shall the Act be approved which grants an exemption from state ad valorem taxation for inventory of a business?” (H.B. 482)
My question: In these global economic conditions, shouldn’t businesses be provided tax breaks?
VOTE YES.

At the risk of boring you, I have tediously gone over these proposals. The bills authorizing these questions are available online at www.legis.state.ga.us or by mail from the Secretary of the Senate at 404 656-5040. Before casting a ballot, please weigh the results of your votes. For Georgia Insight I’m Sue Ella Deadwyler, your Capitol correspondent.