Barbara Massey Reece
Age: 65
Occupation: Incumbent, retired teacher
Party: Democrat
What experience will you draw on in making legislative decisions?
My decisions are based on values I share with citizens of the district. I have worked hard to voice your views and opinions. Our close contact by phone, e-mail and personal conversations has helped me understand the views of the citizens of the district on proposed legislation.
As a lawmaker, I have gained valuable knowledge from countless hours of committee hearings and debate on a variety of legislation.
My experience as a teacher, working with children and families from every economic level, allows me to understand needs in the community.
Being a former small business owner, I understand the challenges they face as well as the important role small businesses play in our economy and in creating new jobs.
The homestead tax credit frozen by Gov. Sonny Perdue earlier this year is worth about $200 to each local home owner, or $4.6 million to Rome, Floyd County and its school systems. Will you vote to reimburse the city and county for the 2008 credit already given, and where do you stand on continuing it for 2009?
I will work and vote to return the Homeowners Tax Relief Grant funds to local governments and school systems. Eliminating these grants shifts the burden to the local level, resulting in increased taxes for property owners. Including the tax relief grant in future budgets will be one of my priorities.
Do you have any specific ideas for dealing with the state’s estimated $2 billion shortfall?
The governor has ordered 6 percent cuts for all departments except education at 2 percent and Medicaid at 5 percent. Any further across-the-board cuts will jeopardize public health, safety and education. I have been outspoken asking for a special session to revise the budget and focus on critical services.
The governor, in consultation with budget advisors and department heads, is currently making decisions on cuts. Your representatives and senators represent more than 9 million Georgians. The full Georgia Legislature should be involved in decisions which affect services for all Georgians.
What can or should the Legislature do to address the rising cost of health care?
The Legislature should devise ways to enroll small business employees and the self-employed in health care plans at reasonable cost. More federal funds should be used to expand Peach Care for Kids. In addition, we need to seek ways to better fund Georgia’s Trauma Care Network.
There are calls for the Legislature to set minimum qualifications for local school boards and to give the State Board of Education power to intervene in bad policy decisions. Would this improve our schools?
No. I have always been a strong proponent of local control. Currently the State Board provides training for school board members. Local citizens have the authority to intervene through a recall process if they feel that the local board has made bad decisions.
What is the single most important action the Legislature can take to improve quality of life in the state?
As a state we need to realign our priorities. I feel public education should be our top priority. Over the past few years education funds and programs have been cut drastically. Better educations lead to more doctors, nurses, teachers and, most importantly, higher-paying jobs for Georgians.
