Atlanta Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp emphasized efforts to fight crime in his speech Wednesday and said he would support legislation that was a major theme of his re-election campaign.
Republicans, triumphantly inaugurated for a second term, devoted a significant portion of their annual address to public safety, made it harder to bail some criminals, increased penalties for recruiting children into gangs, and enforced offenses. promised to increase penalties for Report human trafficking.
“We will continue to keep violent criminals out of our communities,” Kemp said. “For too many Georgians, family and home security are at risk due to the unconfirmed crimes of street gangs.”
read: Full text of Georgia Governor Brian Kemp’s State Speech
The governor, who easily defeated Democrat Stacey Abrams in the November election, has been trying to spread his vision of a conservative government around the world. , claimed a mandate from voters to promote plans to improve economic management and education, housing, and health care.
“The campaign was all done and people spoke,” Kemp said. “They gave us marching orders, it’s time to get back to work. Let’s get it done for the Georgians of today and tomorrow.”
Kemp, who has already delivered his inaugural address and announced a budget plan, urged lawmakers in his Wednesday speech to act on previously announced priorities.
Kemp’s remarks on the crime came days after an environmental activist was killed and a state trooper injured in a standoff over construction of Atlanta’s police training facility.Saturday protests against shooting in downtown Atlanta turned violent, with masked activists setting police cars on fire and vandalizing buildings.
Kemp promised speedy punishment for those who took part in the violence and put it up Wednesday as an example of why police need public assistance.
“This is just the latest example of why we always favor blue here in Georgia,” Kemp said.
The governor also reiterated a promise he made in his inaugural address, offering a $2,000 pay raise to teachers, college employees, and public school teachers, and a budget to provide full tuition for all HOPE Scholarship recipients. recently announced.
Kemp explained that his new proposal is based on his first semester accomplishments. He said he persuaded lawmakers to give civil servants and teachers $5,000 pay raises during his first term, backed by strong state revenue. is predicted.
“In total, we’re giving hardworking educators a $7,000 raise in just five years,” Kemp said. “No other legislature or governor in the history of the state has raised teacher salaries so quickly.”
Kemp also hopes to end the two-tier system of HOPE scholarships beginning next fall, paying full college tuition to all B-average high school graduates for the first time since 2011. Currently, her regular HOPE recipients receive 90% of tuition. Kemp said it would take an additional $61 million in lottery earnings to restore full eligibility.
“We are once again fulfilling Gov. Zell Miller’s vision and returning HOPE scholarships and grants to 100% of tuition fees,” Kemp said.
The governor did not mention his plan to use Georgia’s billions of dollars of accumulated surplus funds to deliver two one-off tax cuts. We have already announced plans to help provide an additional $1 billion in $1 billion state income tax refunds that will return $250 to $500 to typical taxpayers. Legislative leaders also support Kemp’s plan for his $1.1 billion property tax rebate for homeowners, saying Kemp will give the typical homeowner about $500. I’m here.
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