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George Israel: "I’m looking forward to another year, and another opportunity to protect the pro-business environment of our state." |
George Israel discusses the business outlook for the 2006 legislative session at the Georgia Chamber headquarters. (Editor's Note: This interview may be reproduced for distribution with credit given to GeorgiaDailyDigest.com.) GDD: First, let’s look at the big picture. This week the Governor will be speaking to Georgians about the State of Georgia. How would you assess the state of Georgia business? Israel: Things are continually looking up. The legislature has been good to Georgia businesses, especially in 2005. I’m looking forward to another year, and another opportunity to protect the pro-business environment of our state.
GDD: The 2005 legislative session was thought to have been the most pro-business session in recent memory. Was that the result of tort reform passing or was there some fundamental shift in how the business community interacts with the legislature? Israel: 2005 was definitely a pro-business year in the legislature. Of course, when Senate Bill 3, or tort reform, passed, that gave Georgia businesses a reason to celebrate. But, the passage of SB 3 is not the only reason it was a pro-business year. We passed 17 of our 18 issues in 2005. For example, in 2005, the Georgia Chamber successfully lobbied the legislature to remove the sunset provision for the Drugs Don’t Work (DDW) program, which will continue the 7.5 percent discount on workers’ compensation premiums for companies that are a part of DDW. Corporate Tax Reform Bill, HB 191, passed in 2005, which changes the way companies are taxed in Georgia. This will encourage businesses to grow in Georgia, and benefits companies seeking to increase investment and expand facilities and hiring in Georgia. These bills will benefit both employer and employee. There were also bills passed that benefit Gov. Perdue’s Entrepreneur and Small Business Growth Initiative, such as HB 389, which designates certain counties as underdeveloped, providing tax cuts for companies that locate facilities there. This will help future and existing businesses. Of course, these are just a few examples, but it gives you an idea of some of the different bills affecting business that go before the legislature. GDD: What business issues do you expect will dominate the discussions during the 2006 legislative session? Israel: Right now, the big issues are eminent domain and illegal immigration. This is an election year. I believe that it will be a pro-business session, but I don’t think it will be as dramatic as last year. GDD: What one issue do you feel business needs the legislature to focus on the most? Israel: I would say that eminent domain is the most important issue that the legislature will focus on, at least in the beginning of the session. This is something that affects personal property owners, but commercial property owners as well. There is a lot of property around the state owned by businesses. With eminent domain, there is a concern that government will take the property from a company, or a person. We support private property rights. We support prohibiting the condemnation of private land by governmental entities for other’s private use, but for well-defined exceptions such as blighted areas. GDD: Health care costs continue to be a problem for businesses, especially small businesses in Georgia. Is there anything the legislature can do in the short-term to help? Israel: I hope that there will be a proposal in the 2007 session. We want to host a conversation on health care in the summer, and bring together businesses, hospitals, physicians, insurance providers –- all of the top industries that are involved in these health care problems. Of course, we want to discuss a variety of issues: the uninsured, the underinsured, wellness management, health care savings accounts and the list goes on. We hope that by bringing all of these groups together we can work to develop a compromise among the industries about the rising costs of health care. GDD: On the issue of immigration reform, some legislators are looking at new restrictions on business as a solution. How will the Georgia Chamber address the immigration issue? Israel: We are looking at the issues and following the proposed bills to gauge their impact on business. We are talking to our members and elected officials and sharing our concerns; we are watching this issue closely. We have no formal position right now.