2014 Legislative Summary – Key Issues
By Michelle Putnam, Associate Director of Research and Advocacy
For 40 days out of the year, Georgia legislators meet at the State Capitol. During these 40 days, they debate hundreds of bills, meet with constituents, and attempt to pass a state budget. Needless to say, the pace can be quite frenzied, with lawmakers scrambling to ensure that their priorities are addressed. This is especially important this year, as most of our elected officials are up for reelection in 2014. The bills that they support or oppose this year will follow them throughout the campaign season.
The only bill that the General Assembly is required to pass each year is an annual budget. House members will look at the Governor’s proposed budget and amend it as they see fit. Once the budget is passed in the House, it moves to the Senate for approval. If both chambers agree, the proposed bill then goes to the Governor for a final signature and becomes law. This year, the House and Senate agreed in record time on a $20.8 billion 2015 budget. This includes funding for the Hemophilia of Georgia Bleeding Disorder Assistance Program, which purchases insurance for some people who do not have coverage through an employer. The legislature kept this funding at the desired levels for both the current fiscal year and the 2015 fiscal year.
Even though many expected a quiet session, there were plenty of controversial bills debated at the Capitol this year on many different issues. These bills addressed topics like medical marijuana, autism coverage, guns in churches, and the Affordable Care Act. Needless to say, what was expected to be a quiet session soon became anything but quiet.
House Bill 990 targets the Affordable Care Act, specifically the Medicaid expansion. Under the health law, states have the option to expand Medicaid coverage to people who make less than $11,700 a year and who do not have insurance through an employer. Money has already been set aside at the federal level to cover 100% of the costs of this expansion until 2016. After that, the federal government will cover no less than 90% of the costs. In Georgia, over 500,000 people could gain health coverage under this program. Currently, uninsured patients cost hospitals over $1 billion a year in uncompensated care. The Medicaid expansion would bring in over 60,000 jobs and $40 billion to Georgia’s economy, which could help prevent rural hospitals from closing. Governor Deal has repeatedly said that he will not expand Medicaid. House Bill 990 is simply another deadbolt on the door to expansion.
This was not the only bill that sought to undermine the Affordable Care Act. House Bill 707, as introduced by Representative Jason Spencer, sought to bar any employee of a state agency from discussing Medicaid expansion. As originally introduced, the bill would have barred state agencies like the Office of the Insurance Commissioner from assisting consumers with questions they may have about insurance policies. In the last days of the session, the legislation was changed and placed into another bill. If signed by the Governor, the bill would eventually halt a consumer assistance program run by the University of Georgia, which helps people navigate the Health Marketplace.
In an attempt to ensure a bill passes, sometimes legislators will attach their original legislation to another bill that gains momentum. Representative Allen Peake tried this with a bill that would allow children with seizure disorders access to medical marijuana, but the bill failed on the last day of the session, as did another bill that included language requiring private insurers to cover certain autism therapies. In the last days of session, even for those who consistently track legislation, the process can be quite confusing. Governor Deal has until April 29 to sign or to veto any legislation passed by the General Assembly, but he is not expected to veto any of the bills passed this session.
The Capitol is quiet once again and legislators are now on the campaign trail in their home districts. Many of them hope that they will be back again in 2015, ready to start the process all over again. But, that’s completely up to you. It is important to review their work during the legislative session so that you can make informed decisions during the upcoming elections. For the past 40 days, lawmakers have worked for you, the constituent. Come November, you’ll be able to give them a final performance review – your vote!