Hospital “bed tax” is bad medicine

The state of Georgia is facing the worse budget crisis in recent memory, but new taxes and tax increases will not provide long-term solutions. I oppose HB 307 and any and all efforts to pass a health provider tax or “bed-tax.” This bill raises taxes on health care providers and increases the cost of health insurance policies providing limited short-term relief without addressing the larger issue of rapidly rising health care costs and a dysfunctional federal Medicaid matching fund system.

HB 307 adds a 1.6% tax on insurance plans and hospital revenues, and creates long-term problems by further suppressing our economy and increasing healthcare and insurance costs that ultimately provide support for President Obama’s case for an unpopular government takeover of healthcare. Further, HB 307 allows a portion of the new revenues generated to flow into the General Fund and though targeted for a specific use; we know previous bills have failed to successfully target General Fund expenditures as required – i.e. fuel tax, cell phone tax, tire disposal fees.

HB 307 is promoted as a tool to bring additional federal dollars to Georgia for a Medicaid program that fund only about 84% of the true cost of care. As an administrator with the Gwinnett County Hospital System said recently, “You can’t make that up on volume.” Seeking additional federal money to fund a broken program is not the solution and taxing profitable private providers to fund bankrupt government programs is the classic example of government gone wild.

Our goal should be to encourage all Georgian’s to have health insurance coverage and to increase the number of health care providers practicing in Georgia – this bill does neither. We should oppose tax increases as well as short-term band-aids to meet the budget shortfall and embrace innovative, creative, and common-sense long-term solutions.

Join me in opposition to HB 307. I am confident the voters of Georgia will appreciate and reward candidates who govern in a fiscally sound and conservative manner.

Brett Harrell is a candidate for the Georgia House of Representatives District 106 that includes the City of Snellville and unincorporated portions of Grayson, Centerville, and Lilburn.

http://www.VoteHarrell.com

http://www.facebook.com/VoteHarrell

My home is my castle and I need a wider moat because government is scaling the walls.

Increasing burdens of taxation and dramatic expansion in regulation have become the most common tool of government to restrict, and in some cases eliminate, our Constitutional Rights to Liberty and Private Property. More recently, governments have expanded into areas of storm water and solid waste regulation and instituted fees [read taxes] as the means to restrict those rights. Most egregiously, these fees are levied via our property tax bill thus creating a situation that, at the extreme, may result in the forcible taking of one’s home and property.

Some politicians will tell you they’ve never raised taxes, yet these same politicians instituted a new “fee” system that resulted in a single-year, non-deductible 15% increase in the average Snellville property tax bill [see illustrative tax bill below]. Additionally, by including the non-deductible fee, without explanation, on the property tax bill, they have increased the possibility of the filing of thousands of incorrect income tax returns – an IRS auditor’s dream – that, although rarely, may result in significant fines and forfeitures. Further, they did so without consideration of the potential impact to your mortgage payment and escrow account.

Some of these same politicians claim to be defenders of your private property rights, yet by including these new regulatory fees on your property tax bill they have, in actuality, expanded the ability of the government to seize your home and property. Again, at the extreme, should you own your home free and clear, yet fail to make full payment – including amounts for disputed storm water and/or solid waste services – the local Tax Commissioner will consider your entire property tax bill delinquent and subject to foreclosure, forfeiture, and forcible government taking.

That’s why we need to build a wider moat around our castles. While I favor a wholesale and comprehensive review of all taxes in Georgia, in the meantime, I propose that property taxes and only property taxes be included on my property tax bill. Radical, I know, but, if government is to attempt to storm my castle, at least attack during the light of day, rather than tunneling under in the cover of darkness by attaching non-tax fees to my tax bill.

Click to view a 2009 Snellville Property Tax bill

Less Talk, More Action Leadership Team

Brett Harrell (R-Snellville) candidate for State Representative, District 106 announced today the initial members of his “Less Talk, More Action Leadership Team”. The list of supporters, volunteers, endorsers, and contributors includes over 100 community leaders and elected officials from all over House District 106, Gwinnett County and Georgia.

Harrell said, “I am gratified and honored to have the support of so many respected elected officials and community leaders from across HD 106, Gwinnett County and Georgia who have joined in support of my candidacy. It is a clear statement of the growing strength and momentum for our effort to continue providing solid, conservative leadership at the state Capitol. This early support also demonstrates that people trust my proven conservative record of cutting taxes and spending and reducing the size of government and that they also trust my ability to deliver at the State Capitol. These supporters are ready to stop the talk and political spin of those simply seeking power. They want a leader who will actually deliver. That is why I am running and that is why we are asking you to join in support too. ”

Harrell served as mayor of Snellville from 2000 until 2003. During his tenure he cut property taxes every year and reduced the overall burden of government by 52 percent while expanding the police force, preserving over 100 acres of permanent green space, and establishing the vision that led to a new Recycling Center, Senior Center, and City Hall.

Most recently, Harrell served as the executive director of the Evermore Community Improvement District (CID) where he managed the day-to-day operations of a self-taxing business district comprised of 469 commercial property owners and 1,585 businesses providing over 16,000 jobs. While managing the CID, Harrell successfully advanced over $130 million in projects including vital transportation improvements like the Hwy. 78 improvements.

District 106 includes the City of Snellville and parts of unincorporated Grayson and Lilburn in Gwinnett County.

Harrell for House Less Talk, More Action Leadership Team:

Our leadership team consists of supporters, volunteers, endorsers, and contributors.

Joe Allen, Executive Director, Gwinnett Place CID

State Representative Stephen Allison

Former Council Member Joe and Sydney Anderson, Snellville

Commissioner Mike and Tegwen Beaudreau

Mayor Pro Tem Barbara and Greg Bender, Snellville

Valerie Blalock, Former Evermore CID Executive Assistant

Ken Bleakly

Ossie Brewer

Don Britt

Former Mayor Stacey Britt, Grayson

Former GOP Chair Buzz Brockway

Council Member Jace Brooks, Suwanee

Ruth and Bob Bruhns

Former State Representative Don Butler

State Representative Charlice Byrd

Former City Attorney Mike and Lynda Byrne, Snellville

Former State Representative Eugene Callaway

Gwinnett Y.R. Chair Rich Carithers

Carla Carraway

Brad and Michelle Carver

State Representative David and Ann Casas

State Representative Mike Coan

Michelle Couch, Blitz Communications

Ann and Len Coverdale

State Representative Clay Cox

Cathryn Creasy

Becky and Gary Custar, Evermore CID Board Member

Brian Donegan, Founder, Can-Do Conservatives

Brandon Doty

Rich Edinger, P.E.

Council Member Steve Edwards, Sugar Hill

Dave Emanuel

Jim Estlund, Plaza Security

State Representative Melvin and Geri Everson

Mary Fergus

Former Council Member John Ferrara, Loganville

Commissioner Tim Fleming, Newton

Council Member Dan Foster, Suwanee

Gordon Getty

Joe Gilkey

Jackie Ginn

Alice Green

Dr. James Haddad

Bob Hamilton, CPA

Diane Harrell

Vivian and Bobby Harrell, RPh

Sharon and Marvin Harris

Council Member Katie Hart-Smith, Lawrenceville

Jonathan Hawkins

State Representative Billy Horne

State Representative Mike Jacobs

Mayor Bucky Johnson, Norcross

Gaye and Gerald Johnson

Terri Jondahl

Lawrence Kaiser, P.E.

State Representative Jerry Keen, Majority Leader

Michele and Michael Leach

Brenda and Harold Lee

Bruce LeVell, Gwinnett Village CID Board Member

Vickie and Dennis Malone

Laurie McClain, CPA

Council Member Kevin McOmber, Suwanee

Linda and Marty Merkler

Steven Miles

Joan Miller

Former City Attorney Thomas Mitchell, Snellville

Gail Moore, Tri-City Times

Bartow Morgan

Council Member Craig Newton, Norcross

Melisa and Jimmy Norton, Chair, Snellville DDA and CID Board Member

Mayor Jerry and Roxann Oberholtzer, Snellville

Chairman Sam Olens, Cobb County

Dr. Prahlad Pant

Vipul Patel

Marcy Pharris

Mayor Gary Pirkle, Sugar Hill

Leo & Zart Portnell

State Representative Tom Rice

Harry Rice

Jon Richards

Joyce and Dean Robinson, Former Evermore CID Board Member

Former GOP Chair Mike Royal

Rockie and Thomas Sapp, Former Evermore CID Executive Assistant

Regina and Sid Sartor

Former Council Member Kurt and Gretchen Schulz Snellville

Dr. Jane Scott and Quincy Jones

Fred Sealy

Nancy Sellers

Diann and Ken Shiver, Former Evermore CID Chairman

Council Member Tammy Shumate, Grayson

Greg Shumate

Ajay Singadia

Former Council Member Mike Smith, Snellville

Captain Jeff Smith, Lawrenceville Police Department

John D. Stephens

Tom and Lynn Studer

Marilyn Swinney

Former City Manager Jeff Timler, Snellville

State Representative Len Walker

Former Council Member James Walters, Snellville

Chuck Warbington, Executive Director, Gwinnett Village CID

Council Member Tod Warner, Snellville

Former Mayor Lillian Webb, Norcross

James Whitaker, CPA

Council Member Allison Wilkerson-Rooks, Grayson

Former Mayor Doug Wilkerson, Grayson

State Representative Wendell Willard, Chair, House Judiciary

State Representative Mark Williams

Yvonne Williams, Executive Director, Perimeter CID

Mark Williams, Chair, Gwinnett Place CID

Doris Wilmer P.E.

Council Member Tom and Carol Witts, Snellville

Faye and Larry Woodruff, RPh

State Rep Melvin Everson endorses Brett Harrell for House

Incumbent District 106 State Representative and candidate for Labor Commissioner Melvin Everson announces his endorsement of Brett Harrell (R-Snellville) saying,

“I am proud to endorse Brett Harrell for State House. When I made the decision to run for Labor Commissioner, I wanted to ensure that I left District 106 with a Representative we could be proud of. That is why I called Brett Harrell. I served on the Snellville City Council while Brett was Mayor. As Mayor, Brett didn’t just sit around and talk about the problems; he delivered. I saw it firsthand. He cut taxes for 5 consecutive years, and reduced the overall burden of government by 52%. That’s the kind of leader we need in the State House.”

“It is an honor to have the support of a fine leader like Melvin Everson. Melvin has done a great job representing the people of HD 106, and I look forward to continuing his good work in the State House. We need less talk and more action in Atlanta, and that is exactly what I will provide if fortunate enough to serve the people of this district.” said Harrell.

Harrell served as mayor of Snellville from 2000 until 2003. During his tenure he cut property taxes every year and reduced the overall burden of government by 52 percent while expanding the police force, preserving over 100 acres of permanent green space, and establishing the vision that led to a new Recycling Center, Senior Center, and City Hall.

Most recently, Harrell served as the executive director of the Evermore Community Improvement District (CID), where he managed the day-to-day operations of a self-taxing business district comprised of 469 commercial property owners and 1,585 businesses providing over 16,000 jobs. While managing the CID, Harrell successfully advanced over $130 million in projects, including vital transportation improvements like the Hwy. 78 improvements.

District 106 includes the City of Snellville and parts of unincorporated Grayson and Lilburn in Gwinnett County.