The Chatsworth Times

ATLANTA -Georgia House Speaker David Ralston cast serious doubts  that the state will be able to afford either a teacher pay raise or an income tax cut because of the coronavirus pandemic’s economic impact. The $28.1 billion fiscal 2021 state budget the House passed this month days before suspending the 2020 legislative session because of COVID-19 includes a $1,000 pay increase for teachers, down from the $2,000 raise Gov. Brian Kemp recommended in January. The same day House members approved the budget, they passed legislation to reduce Georgia’s income tax rate from 5.75% to 5.375%, effective next Jan. 1. Ralston said at the time that cutting taxes is what Republicans do. “Those are both probably going to have to come out now,” the speaker said Friday on Georgia Public Broadcasting’s “Political Rewind” program. “I’m not sure a tax cut in this type of emergency is the wisest course to do, and I don’t think giving a huge pay raise to one group of state employees is a wise course to do,” he added. “Those two items took up a lot of room in the budget that we, frankly, may not have now.” States across the country are taking a huge economic hit from the global pandemic, as businesses forced to shut down and workers thrown out of jobs generate far less tax revenue than would be available in normal times. A portion of the $2 trillion federal economic stimulus package that gained final passage in Congress on Friday – $150 billion – will go to help prop up state and local governments suffering from the economic impact of coronavirus. Many governors have predicted that won’t be nearly enough funding, and Congress will have to come back and approve another stimulus. The teacher pay raise, which Kemp promised on the campaign trail in 2018, was one of his key priorities entering this year’s General Assembly session, and Republican House leaders have made the tax cut a major goal. But Ralston said Friday all bets are off as the economic effects of the pandemic grow with the number of deaths and confirmed cases of COVID-19. “Just as Georgians are having to do … we’ve got to figure out as a state what do we absolutely need to run the state until we get back in session in January of ’21,” he said. One bit of good news, according to Ralston, is the state should have the ability with some adjustments to survive financially through the end of the current fiscal year June 30. Kemp already has signed the $27.5 billion mid-year budget the General Assembly passed earlier this month.

 

ATLANTA — The Georgia Historical Society, the premier independent statewide institution responsible for collecting, examining, and teaching Georgia history is focused on meeting the needs of students by providing parents and educators with valuable tools during the COVID-19 school closures. To that end, information is now and will continue to be made available on our website, through direct interaction with our educator networks, and through all social media channels. GHS will also be working with a variety of educational and media partners to promote materials to additional audiences online and across the state. “GHS has always been a trusted source of educational materials for teachers and students. Now, more than ever, we are committed to making every possible resource we can available to parents, teachers, and students as they navigate the world of online education during this challenging time,” said Dr. W. Todd Groce, President and CEO of the Georgia Historical Society. Materials are aligned to state and national social studies standards and cover a variety of topics and people including the founding of Georgia highlighting General James Edward Oglethorpe, Tomochichi, and Mary Musgrove; Sequoyah and the development of the Cherokee alphabet; Jackie Robinson’s contributions to sportsmanship and civil rights; the Civil Rights Movement in Georgia; and Juliette Gordon Low, founder of the Girl Scouts. Other programs and initiatives will be centered around GHS’s award-winning Historical Marker Program including the Georgia Civil Rights Trail, the Civil War 150 project, and Georgia Business History Initiative; the Emmy Award-winning series Today in Georgia History, a joint production of GHS and Georgia Public Broadcasting; GHS Schoolhouse, an extensive library of video blog lessons on a wide variety of topics focused on understanding primary sources; Newspapers in Education, standards-based educational resources based on historical figures and topics from the Georgia History Festival; and other classroom-ready Georgia History Festival resources. In the coming days, GHS will also continue to promote and share popular materials for at-home learners of all ages. Resources such as the GHS digital image catalog, recorded lectures, and Off the Deaton Path podcasts and blog posts provide engaging content for adult audiences as well as students. GHS will also harness the power of its affiliate chapters to bring even more content to educators and families across the state of Georgia to further diversify offerings during this time. These “Local History Highlights” will showcase the good work of GHS affiliate chapters and their efforts to reach local communities and remind Georgians of resources available in their area. “We hope that everyone will take advantage of all that GHS has to offer,” added Groce. “The Georgia Historical Society is committed to providing these resources so our students can continue to learn, and we will continue to provide and develop new content as long as the need dictates.” Please visit our website and follow the Georgia Historical Society on the following platforms: Website: Georgiahistory.com Facebook: Georgia Historical Society Twitter: @GeorgiaHistory Instagram: @ga_historical_society For more information please contact Patricia Meagher at pmeagher@georgiahistory.com or by phone at 434.996.7085.

ATLANTA – Today, Governor Brian P. Kemp and the Georgia Department of Labor (GDOL) addressed the unprecedented demand for economic relief for Georgians as witnessed in the recent unemployment claims numbers released this morning by the US Department of Labor.  This morning, Governor Kemp signed an Executive Order allowing GDOL Commissioner Mark Butler to issue two new emergency rules.

“As we work together as a state to combat COVID-19, Commissioner Butler and I are taking steps to ensure Georgia’s workforce is supported during this challenging time,” said Governor Kemp. “I ask Georgians to continue to support their local businesses by getting take-out, tipping well, and ordering your favorite products online, while also observing social distancing and following the directives of state and federal public health officials.”

For the week of March 15 through March 21, claims processed in Georgia increased to 12,140 initial claims, up 6,695 from the previous week’s 5,445 claims.  The GDOL anticipates substantially higher claims in the coming weeks already seeing a higher number of claims than were filed during the 2008-2009 recession.  In the first week of March, the GDOL saw 59,000 users on the website and yesterday reported 110,000 in one day.

The GDOL tackled this issue directly with the implementation of new emergency rules for unemployment benefits. One extends the length of time an individual can collect benefits from 14 weeks to 26 weeks.  Another rule provides that the first $300 of wages earned in a week will not count against eligible unemployment benefits paid. For example, if an individual has been laid off and takes a part-time job, he/she can now make up to $300 during the week and still receive their full unemployment amount.

“We understand Georgia businesses and workers are anxious during the COVID-19 public health crisis about how to take care of themselves, their families, and their businesses,” said Butler.  “We are making unprecedented modifications to policies to help all Georgians survive this economic hardship and get us all back to work.”

Other emergency rules were issued last week which expanded unemployment eligibility for applicants, suspended work search requirements, and relieved employers of benefit charges for COVID-19 related claims. Georgia unemployment benefits have now been expanded to cover individuals temporarily unable to work due to the COVID-19 public health emergency who plan to return to work when the emergency ceases.

Another rule assures that employers and non-profits will not be charged for COVID-19 related benefit claims. This means that their current tax rate will not be affected relieving them of the additional burden of higher unemployment taxes during our recovery.

Commissioner Butler also clarified that partial claims should be filed for both full-time and part-time employees. Filing of partial claims is being mandated for an employer to file on behalf of employees affected by COVID-19 and will expedite the issuance of payment. This process will also relieve the employer from having to certify each individual employee which would have extended the process by weeks.

In addition, work search and other in-person requirements are temporarily waived for benefit claimants. All of the GDOL emergency rules can be found on the agency’s website at https://dol.georgia.gov/laws-and-rules/gdol-rules

To assist applicants in the claims process, the GDOL has also implemented a new Claims Status Dashboard, an advancement not scheduled to be launched until Fall 2020, that will allow applicants to track their claim. New configuration changes are being made daily to improve the application process for individuals and employers.

GDOL is continuing to work with employers to get Georgians back to work.  Employers have been contacting the GDOL with job opportunities that are critical during this crisis – some in the workplace and others that can be done from home. Today, over 101,000 jobs are listed online at www.EmployGeorgia.com for Georgians to access. GDOL offers online resources for finding a job, building a resume, and assisting with other reemployment needs.

Information on filing an unemployment claim, details on how employers must file partial claims, and resources for other reemployment assistance can be found on the agency’s webpage at www.gdol.ga.gov

By Dave Williams
Bureau Chief
Caipitol Beat News Service

ATLANTA – Gov. Brian Kemp called on Georgia businesses Tuesday to step up in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic and help by providing, producing, distributing or storing critical health-care supplies.
Specifically, the governor is asking for hospital beds, ventilators, surgical masks, N-95 masks or their equivalent, face shields, nitrile or latex-free gloves of various sizes, safety goggles, hand sanitizer, sanitizing spray, sanitizing wipes, hair covers, no-touch thermometers (regular if no-touch are not available), air purifying machines, negative pressure machines, sanitation units, shoe covers and Tyvek suits.
Those are the kinds of supplies that are running short around the world as the pandemic worsens, particularly in areas hardest hit by the virus.
“As our state’s hardworking health-care workers and first responders stand on the front lines of the battle against COVID-19, it is our job to come together as Georgians and arm them with the necessary resources to keep them safe and effective,” Kemp said. “I ask all Georgia businesses who are able to support us in the fight against this global pandemic.”
Kemp’s request came as the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Georgia rose to 1,026, and the number of deaths increased to 32.
Businesses able to provide assistance and resources with factories already up and running, or facilities that can be repurposed for needed health-care supplies are asked to complete an informational form online at www.georgia.org/covid19response. The form is only for the purposes of collecting information and does not represent a commitment by the state to make a purchase.
The Georgia Department of Economic Development has been working to identify manufacturers and distributors across the state who have in their inventories, or could produce, distribute or store critical health-care supplies that are in short supply now or are likely to be in the coming weeks.
“We could not be more grateful for the dedication our medical workers, first responders, and partners have shown during this challenging time,” said Pat Wilson, the state’s commissioner of economic development. “They consistently continue to make Georgians’ health and safety their No.-1 priority.
“As we fight COVID-19 and its expanded consequences together, we thank our Georgia businesses who have stepped up to help our state and pledge the continued full support of the Georgia Department of Economic Development.”