State of the State: Gov. Kemp says workforce development needed to keep Georgia No. 1

Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp on Wednesday continued a theme from earlier this month, when he was sworn in for another four-year term as governor — Georgia is doing well and it is only going to get better.

“I believe this session will be one of consequence," he told legislators at Georgia's state capitol. "I am proud to report that because of the foundation we have built together over these past four years, because of the resilience shown by the people of this great state, because of the resolve they continue to show, the state of our state has never been stronger or more resilient.”

The past year saw four of the largest economic development deals in state history, Kemp said, and the first half of the current fiscal year, the Department of Economic Development helped announce 17,500 new jobs and $13 billion in investment.

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“I am especially proud that once again, 85% of those jobs are coming to areas outside of Metro Atlanta, and the good news is our metro areas continue to thrive in this environment as well," he said.

Georgia remains the No. 1 state to do business, Kemp said, but the challenges are now with providing an adequate workforce.

“Despite all we have achieved, there is a growing threat to that No. 1 status – the need for more workers, and quality homes where they can raise a family in the same community where they work," Kemp said. "This year the budgets I presented to you made significant steps towards addressing both issues”

Kemp is boosting teacher wages again, covering 100% of tuition for those on HOPE Scholarships, and assisting paraprofessionals in becoming certified teachers, he said. And he wants to make sure that workers can afford to live in the communities where they work.

“That’s why I am creating the rural workforce housing fund, enabling the state to partner directly with local governments to develop sites across the state for workforce housing," he said.

Health and public safety

Kemp spent a good portion of the speech speaking about law enforcement, including praising the new gang prosecution unit in the Attorney General's office and calling for increased penalties for organizations that should provide information to counter human trafficking but fail to do so. He also called to increase penalties for those trying to recruit people into gangs.

Kemp also seemed to suggest taking a swing at efforts to lower or eliminate cash bail, something politicians across the country have blamed for increased crime. Activists say that holding people in jail who have been charged but not convicted of a crime is unjust.

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The governor then pivoted to increasing the number of healthcare workers in Georgia, again through educational efforts.

“That’s why I’m proposing over $4.5 million in loan repayment programs to grow the number of healthcare workers in Georgia," he said. "I’m also calling for an additional 102 residency slots through an investment of $1.7 million."

The governor said the state is on track for a limited Medicaid expansion this summer. The proposal would require 80 hours of work or volunteering a month for those on the program, a proposal the Biden administration rejected. Last year, a federal judge overruled the administration, clearing the way for Kemp's proposal to move forward.

"We are moving forward, and we are on target for a launch date of July 1 of this year," Kemp said. "To meet that goal I am allocating $52 million to stand up this program and connect those in need to its benefit. Here’s another fact – upwards of 345,000 Georgians could qualify for the pathways program and healthcare coverage for the first time.”

In closing, Kemp asked the legislature to set aside bickering and implement his strategies.

“During this session we should be too busy to come down into the mud of politics," he said, adding later, “For the Georgians of today and tomorrow, let’s get it done.”

Democrats respond, outlines their priorities

Following the State of the State, Democratic legislators — the minority in both the Georgia House and Senate — outlined their issues with Kemp's policies and called for more generous spending from the state's $6 billion surplus.

"This administration refuses to spend on critically needed services for Georgia," said Sen. Gloria Butler, minority leader in the Senate. "Depriving Georgians by purposely starving state agencies hurts working people. It stagnates consumer investment in Georgia's economy."

Butler acknowledged that the budget proposed by Kemp includes some needed spending in these areas, but she said it is not enough.

"Our caucuses will be introducing critical pieces of legislation this session to address these very problems," she said. "These policies propose to increase the state minimum wage to $15. We propose not a $2,000 pay increase to educators, but a $10,000 pay increase for all our state employees."

Beyond economics, Butler said that Democrats want to repeal a permitless concealed carry law in Georgia, implement same day voter registration and a non-partisan redistricting commission.

House Minority Leader James Beverly outlined Democratic plans for a full expansion of Medicaid for everyone making up to 138% of the federal poverty level and to help Georgians currently on Medicaid who are no longer eligible, but could not be removed from Medicaid rolls during the COVID-19 public health emergency. Democrats also introduced legislation to repeal Georgia's ban on abortions after six weeks.

"Attacks on reproductive freedom do not represent the values of the overwhelming majority of people in this country," he said.

Sen. Harold V. Jones II, minority whip in the Senate, outlined proposals around one of his legislative priorities — increasing wrap around services for students in school, early childhood education, and a better state funding system for local schools.

"Quite simply put, there is no greater investment in Georgia's power than to invest our children," Jones said. "It is the underpinning of our state."

Rep. Sam Park, minority whip in the House, expressed caution around the governor's law enforcement proposals.

"We must be very cautious not to over-criminalize our communities," Park said.

This article originally appeared on Augusta Chronicle: Brian Kemp lays out strategy to keep Georgia first in State of State