Oh well, win a few, lose a few. I think the Other Georgia lost on this one. -- Transportation ‘governance’ passes
The AJC's Gold Dome Live reports:
The Senate has agreed to the House’s version of of SB 200, the bill proposed by Gov. Sonny Perdue to re-write who controls the state’s $2 billion transportation budget.
It now goes to Perdue, and whether he will sign it is another question. The version passed had some 90 pages gutted from the original version. The Senate had earlier passed a version much closer to the 100-plus page original, which would have created a new authority, appointed by the governor, lieutenant governor and House speaker, with most of the real control over projects.
The House scaled that down to keep the DOT board in place with some of its powers. But it would give new powers to DOT’s division of planning, and have the division director appointed by the governor. Many had questioned whether the Senate would pass it, since the House put what considered by some a poison pill in it: The planning director would also have to be approved by the House Transportation Committee. It passed anyway.
Under the bill the Legislature would choose projects for up to 20 percent of all the state’s gas tax money. That could mean nearly all the new projects in the state’s budget, since large amounts of money are already spent on re-paving and repairing old projects and other costs.
The Senate has agreed to the House’s version of of SB 200, the bill proposed by Gov. Sonny Perdue to re-write who controls the state’s $2 billion transportation budget.
It now goes to Perdue, and whether he will sign it is another question. The version passed had some 90 pages gutted from the original version. The Senate had earlier passed a version much closer to the 100-plus page original, which would have created a new authority, appointed by the governor, lieutenant governor and House speaker, with most of the real control over projects.
The House scaled that down to keep the DOT board in place with some of its powers. But it would give new powers to DOT’s division of planning, and have the division director appointed by the governor. Many had questioned whether the Senate would pass it, since the House put what considered by some a poison pill in it: The planning director would also have to be approved by the House Transportation Committee. It passed anyway.
Under the bill the Legislature would choose projects for up to 20 percent of all the state’s gas tax money. That could mean nearly all the new projects in the state’s budget, since large amounts of money are already spent on re-paving and repairing old projects and other costs.
posted by Sid Cottingham | 9:49 AM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home