‘Crossover Day’ observed in session

•House Bills 481 and 482, the Jobs, Opportunity, and Business Success (JOBS) Act of 2009. HB 481 provides tax credits to employers for each unemployed person hired, suspends business “start-up” fees for one year, and eliminates the state sales tax deposit. HB 482 will eliminate the state ad valorem tax on business inventory through a statewide referendum. I was an early co-sponsor of these bills because this legislation will allow small businesses to create, expand and attract jobs for Georgians.

•House Bill 400, the Building Resourceful Individuals to Develop Georgia’s Economy (BRIDGE) Bill. This legislation ensures that all students will have a personalized graduation plan as well as the opportunity for dual enrollment. The bill also seeks to increase student interest by creating programs that combine real world experience with increased academic rigor.

•HB 261 creates a six month window during which anyone purchasing one single-family residence will receive a tax credit of up to $3,600. This short tax window will immediately improve Georgia’s real estate market by creating an incentive to buy homes now rather than later. The positive affects of increasing home sales will ripple out to many other areas of Georgia’s economy, including construction and manufacturing.

The bills noted above make me very proud not only as your representative but as a Georgian. You see, over the last couple of months some have been much less stressed about our budget woes than I because “the ‘stimulus package’ will get us out of this hole.” I have said from day one that we must not look to the federal government for a slice of OUR own money in the name of a “stimulus package.” We must create our own security and that happens when you create new jobs and allow existing businesses the tools needed to protect the ones they already have. I am proud to say that in Georgia we waited on no one! Nor did we stand idle by with our hand out…we went to work, and for that I believe that our state will be one of the first to turn things around.

I want to sincerely thank you for the opportunity to serve as your state representative during these troubling times. Someone often says to me “what a tough time to go to Atlanta,” and I guess on the surface that may appear true. However, I can’t think of a better time to be there! You see, our generation is faced with the worst economic downturn since the Great Depression and I know that we’re up to the challenge. My prayer is that we have the wisdom and foresight to do what is right and we leave this great state to our children better than we found it. I cannot do this alone and wouldn’t want to even if I could, I need your prayers and your input. Please contact me with any questions or suggestions that you may have. I do not have all the answers and, along with my wife, will also note that I’m not always right. It’s served me pretty well in life to not be afraid to ask for help and lean on those who know more than I do, and that’s where you come in. Together we can insure that our best days are not behind us, but instead, right around the corner!

You can reach me at my Capitol office at (404) 656-0109, my cell at (706) 491-0985 or by email at ‘michael.harden@house.ga.gov’. I look forward to hearing from you soon.