Hawkins Sides with Georgia Democrats, Continues False, Negative Attacks on JOBS Act

Georgia Republican leaders stand with Graves’ tax cutting JOBS Act as it goes to Governor's desk

(RANGER, GA) – North Georgia woke to yet another false, negative attack last week by Lee Hawkins on leading conservative candidate Tom Graves, making the choice for Congress in Georgia’s 9th District much clearer for conservatives.  

Instead of joining with Republican Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle and the 31 Republicans in the Georgia Senate who voted “Yea” to cutting taxes and creating jobs, Hawkins, a former Democrat, sided with the 13 Senate Democrats who voted against the JOBS Act saying the bill “simply doesn’t create jobs.”

This is the second false, negative attack by Hawkins on Graves’ JOBS Act despite strong support for the legislation from leading Georgia Republicans who see the bill as an alternative to the Obama Stimulus Bill that has failed to spur job creation.  

"Job creation has been my number one priority for the last several years and I am pleased so many House and Senate members joined together to implement a private-sector fix to get our economy going again," said Graves.  "Unfortunately, Lee Hawkins finds himself on an island with liberal Democrats in opposition to this legislation.   Georgians need a leader in Congress who not only stands up for our conservative values, but who also has a proven track record of tackling the difficult issues head on."

The Georgia Public Policy Foundation said the JOBS Act would, “generate new wages of $736 million and taxable sales of $265 million, for a total economic impact of more than $1 billion.”
 
A leading national conservative, Grover Norquist, of Americans for Tax Reform said, “This package of tax cuts will serve as an example to other states of how to pull an economy out of recession.”

“After this latest attack, the choice for conservatives to support for Congress became crystal clear,” said Graves.  “Conservatives should look no further than Lee’s opposition to this free-market approach to job creation and tax cuts.  With the liberals advancing a progressive agenda in Congress daily, conservatives cannot risk our voice and vote in Congress on someone who sides with liberal Democrats in opposition to tax relief for Georgia.”

The JOBS Act enjoys support from Republican leaders such as Cagle, Speaker of the Georgia House of Representatives David Ralston, Senate President Pro-Tempore Tommie Williams, Senate Majority Chip Rogers and Senator Chip Pearson.  

National conservative groups such as Americans for Tax Reform, FreedomWorks, RedState’s Erick Erickson, Americans for Prosperity, National Federation of Independent Business and Chambers of Commerce all support Graves’ legislation.

The JOBS Act of 2010 is a combination of tax credits, cuts and eliminations designed to create, expand and attract new businesses in Georgia.  The legislation the Georgia House and Senate approved includes:

•    “Angel Investor” Tax Credit: An income tax credit of up to 50 percent of an investment made in small or start up Georgia businesses with 20 or fewer employees. The income tax credits would be available after two years of investment.

•    Quarterly Credit Towards Unemployment Insurance Tax: For each eligible employee hired who is receiving State Unemployment benefits, a company will receive a quarterly credit towards their unemployment tax.

•    Elimination of the Net Worth Tax: The net worth or intangible tax is a holdover from a 1930’s law that taxes wealth accumulation.  The Tax Foundation advocates the elimination of this tax as we are only one of a handful of states that still retain it.

•    A Triggered 50 Percent Reduction of the Capital Gains Tax for all Georgia Taxpayers: Georgia currently has the 23rd highest Capital Gains tax in the country and the 2nd highest in the Southeast, with two of our neighboring states at zero percent.

The JOBS Act passed the Georgia Senate 33-13 last Thursday and the Georgia House of Representatives last month 154-8, with both votes being bi-partisan.  The bill is now on Gov. Sonny Perdue’s desk awaiting his signature.

Graves championed the bill in the Georgia House until he resigned his seat late last month in order to qualify for the upcoming special election in Georgia’s 9th Congressional District.

Graves represented the 12th House District from 2003 until March 23, 2010.  Graves announced last May that he would seek the 9th District Congressional seat that was vacated by Congressman Nathan Deal, who is running for Governor.