For IMMEDIATE RELEASE: February 19, 2009

-BUSINESS CREDITS, CUTS PROPOSED; PROPERTY TAX CUTS SIGNED INTO LAW-

ALEXANDRIA, VA – This week, Republican lawmakers in Georgia have turned their eye to future economic growth and prosperity. While most states are focused on the stimulus package economic solutions, Georgia is taking an innovative route by proposing tax relief for businesses following the property tax cuts signed into law this week. The Republican State Leadership Committee, the nation’s largest caucus of Republican state leaders, called this a positive step forward in creating economic growth rather than simply expanding government.

“There is no doubt the economy is in dire straights. It is refreshing to see Republican state leaders in Georgia putting forth commonsense solutions for long-term growth and prosperity rather than short-term fixes restricted by the strings of Washington,” said RSLC President Scott Ward. “By coupling personal property tax relief for families with the proposed tax relief for businesses, Republican state leaders are taking a positive step forward in creating economic growth rather than simply expanding government.”

Legislation proposed for the JOBS Act of 2009 are as follows:

HB 438 and HB 439 providing tax incentives to employers for creating jobs in Georgia
HB 481 providing businesses with tax credits for hiring people who have been unemployed for more than two months and phases out the state’s corporate income tax over 12 years.
HB 482: allowing Georgians to vote on whether or not to eliminate the state’s inventory tax.
The press conference can be viewed here: http://theboiledpeanut.com/wordpress/?p=1108

In addition, this week, Republican Governor Sonny Perdue signed H.B. 143 into law, which will preserve the Homeowners Tax Relief Grant and protect over 3 million homeowners from additional property taxes.

The Republican State Leadership Committee (RSLC) is the only national organization whose mission is electing Republicans to the office of Attorney General, Lieutenant Governor, Secretary of State and State Legislator. The RSLC is the largest caucus of Republican state leaders in the country – making a national impact one state at a time.

The RSLC has over 70,000 donors from all 50 states supporting the RSLC’s goals to pursue a pro-growth agenda, including reforming the tax code, healthcare and legal systems; promoting a better educational system; encouraging sound energy initiatives; and advocating public safety through tough, crime-fighting policies.

During the 2008 election the RSLC helped maintain the number of Republican Attorneys General and Lieutenant Governors across the U.S. In addition, the RSLC was able to deliver new Republican majorities in the Montana, Oklahoma and Tennessee state senates, as well as an unprecedented majority in the Tennessee House of Representatives. Since the November elections, Republicans have won in four special elections for state legislator. Barry Knight from the 81st House District of the Hampton Roads region of Virginia won in January in the backyard of DNC Chairman Governor Tim Kaine. In December, Tom Kovach won the special election for the 6th District of the Delaware House, which includes part of Vice President-elect Joe Biden’s hometown, and Joan Huffman came from behind to win in a run-off election for the Texas Senate.