[meyer]

I think that what we're going to see here (OK, I hope) is a federal response. No, not a response of more funds, but a response of legislation addressing the issue of unfunded mandates. Many of the states' expenses, and this goes way beyond Georgia, are a direct result of Clinton policies that mandated certain duties on the states without providing federal funds with which to perform them.

Of course, several years of good times also contributed to the issue by allowing plenty of promises to be fulfilled. Georgia, under its last democRAT administration, has some kind of free college tuition program that promises to cost the taxpayers aplenty in the future.

As for Georgia's present governor, I want to think that this tax announcement is partly to alert the constituents that there is a budget problem. Requesting tax legislation is a great way to get someone's attention! I just hope he doesn't follow through.

[backhoe]

Appreciate your thoughtful comments.