This story is available through a news partnership with Capitol Beat News Service, a project of the Georgia Press Educational Foundation. Nikema Williams, D-Atlanta, chairman of the Democratic Party of Georgia, criticized Kemp on Tuesday for not declaring publicly whether he supports abolishing the tax. David Perdue, who is challenging Kemp in next month’s Republican gubernatorial primary, is calling for eliminating the state income tax entirely. Georgia governor's race: Who are the candidates for Georgia governor in the 2022 primary and general election?Įlection news: Here's who is running for Lieutenant Governor in Georgia in the 2022 election “The General Assembly should require those at the top to pay their fair share with a graduated income tax and consider rolling back itemized deductions, corporate subsidies and other tax breaks that disproportionately benefit the wealthiest.” “The shift to a flat tax structure would weaken the state’s ability to respond to the needs of its residents, while also exacerbating racial and income inequality by widening the gap between the wealthiest and all other Georgians,” said Danny Kanso, senior tax and budget policy analyst with the progressive Georgia Budget and Policy Institute.

“But we’re doing our part to lessen the pain on people’s wallets in Georgia.”ĭuring the legislative debate, Democrats argued most of the income tax cut’s benefits would go to the wealthiest Georgians. “We can’t fix everything Washington has broken,” he said. Kemp said the income tax cut represents the long-term component of a tax reduction package lawmakers approved this year, including a one-time $1.1 billion tax refund, a temporary suspension of the state’s gasoline sales tax to put a dent in rising pump prices, and legislation he signed last week exempting military retirees from the state income tax. Kemp says in approving bill targeting gang activityīy the way: Why some Georgians will get an unexpected state tax refund Public safety bills: Soft-on-crime policies 'unacceptable,' Gov.

“Taxpayer dollars are the people’s money, not the government’s.” “Government should take in the least amount possible needed to serve the people properly,” Kemp said during a signing ceremony in Bonaire, the hometown of Georgia House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Shaw Blackmon, the tax cut bill’s chief sponsor.

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