Is GREAT plan taxing Richardson?
November 14, 2007 at 5:50 pm by Scott Henry in NewsFor weeks now, House Speaker Glenn Richardson, R-Hiram, has been exuding legislative machismo and single-minded drive while stumping for his plan to kill property taxes in Georgia. Today, however, in Macon, came the first sign that his once-steely resolve may be buckling in the face of increasing criticism and political pressure.
According to the Macon Telegraph, the speaker hinted at a Rotary Club meeting that he may not actually try to exterminate every property tax in Georgia, just those levied by school systems. The article portrays him as parsing his words for maximum change-your-mind weaseling room:
Asked later if this relatively casual mention of the lower figure meant a plan could bubble up to change school funding and leave other property taxes in place, Richardson said “it’s possible.”
They say you can’t fight City Hall. Well, Richardson’s plan was an attack on every city hall in the state, and all 159 county commissions as well. That’s a hard fight to win. It makes much more sense, for a tactical perspective, to limit your opponents to local school boards, whose members typically don’t wield the same level of political clout as mayors and county chairmen. Also, schools tariffs often account for the lion’s share of homeowners’ tax bills.
If Richardson is planning a retreat, it could be a canny move.
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