Day 6 - 1/28/2008

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The Senate voted to override Governor Perdue’s veto of HB 529 which creates a separate state senate budget office.  This was a historic move as it is the first time that a governor’s veto has been overturned in Georgia in 34 years.
 
The budget process is currently in high gear at the Capital.  Last week, the legislature stood in recess while Joint House and Senate Appropriations Committees held three days of hearings in which each Agency head briefed legislators on budget issues.  Today, the legislature reconvened, but budget hearings continued this afternoon.  The House Appropriations Committee’s Human Resources Committee held a public hearing on DHR’s amended budget which featured Commissioner B.J. Walker.
 
 In addition to discussing after school funding and funding for individuals with developmental disabilities, Commissioner Walker answered a series of questions about TANF.  TANF cases in Georgia have dropped from 30,000 in 2003 to 3,000 in 2008.  Commissioner Walker stated that approximately 70% of the families received TANF cash assistance are getting child care vouchers.  She was asked about the waitlist for childcare vouchers as stated that there is currently a waiting list of 12,000-13,000 cases.  Commissioner Walker noted that this waiting list has been significantly reduced over time from 28,000 cases.  To be eligible for childcare vouchers, a family must be under 160% of the federal poverty level and have one working parent. Commissioner Walker stated that she is working together with Dr. Holly Robinson, the Commissioner of the Department of Early Care and Learning to discuss ways to leverage Head Start programs and federal funds to add more childcare coverage and further reduce waiting lists.