UGA Professor: 'TSPLOST Prospects Look Dim'
Charles Bullock, Richard B. Russell Professor of Political Science at the University of Georgia, sees small chance of the initiative passing.
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Georgia Republicans' aversion to any kind of tax, and concern about riling the Tea Party, are helping to consolidate opposition to the state's one-percent sales tax referendum for transportation, UGA professor Charles Bullock said in an analysis of a recent Patch survey.
Patch's unscientific survey of about 60 state Republican activists, candidates and office holders showed overwhelming opposition to the TSPLOST referendum. Bullock, a longtime observer of Georgia politics, says that while the Tea Party didn't put up as many primary challengers to sitting Republican legislators as it had hoped, anti-tax pressure within the party remains high.
"So although tons of money is being spent to encourage voting for the T-SPLOST and the support of the Chamber of Commerce, it looks like it will go down to defeat," Bullock said in an analysis emailed to Patch. "We have the interesting phenomenon of disagreement between many GOP leaders and a group usually closely associated with the GOP (the Chamber)."
Bullock conlcuded: "With GOP leadership unwilling to step forward and reassure conservative, anti-tax voters that the projects to be funded with the T-SPLOST are meritorious, there is scant prospect for approval."
You might also be interested in reading:
TSPLOST: Chamber Director Votes Yes
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Rogers: TSPLOST Is 'Largest Tax Increase in Our State's History'
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Julia Rush
9:04 am on Thursday, July 19, 2012
Ha Ha.. Im voting NO
Dean Sheridan
9:36 am on Thursday, July 19, 2012
Once everyone has ALL the facts; I trust the voters to make the right choice. TSPLOST advocates have a 8 million dollar advertising budget; as such your seeing the TV ads now. The Anti-TSPLOST folks have www.TRAFFICTRUTH.NET and bumper stickers. Once again it seems a good piece of legislation has been tarnished by way of special interests, Lobbyists and greed. Get the truth about the project list for yourself and decide. Our future is banking on it. Knowledge is a powerfull thing.
Mary K
1:34 pm on Thursday, July 19, 2012
I will be voting Yes on TSPLOSH. It probably is not going forward, but I really think Ga need to address the transportation issues. It is broken and does not work. Anything that will help will be worth it. We will have to pay for it one way or another.
David Fige
1:36 pm on Thursday, July 19, 2012
Gov, made a statement today that the GA 400 Tolls are going away in Jan 2013. They should of gone away in 2010. That a issue of trust, just like the National Health Care Law, the President said not a dime over 900 Billion, now the CBO say 2.8 Trillion or higher... Follow the $$ Trail, it leans heavily for those in Favor. If it was a good deal for GA tax payers, why do you need 8 plus Million ad budget ?