Q&A on the News

Q: Can the Georgia governor use executive orders to bypass the legislature the way the president can? — Norman Staehling, Lilburn

A: The governor can issue executive orders, but they have to be ratified or rejected at some point by the General Assembly the next time it meets.

For example, earlier this year, Gov. Nathan Deal suspended collection of the state sales tax on jet fuel, to benefit companies such as Delta Air Lines. During a special session in November, which was called to provide relief for southwest Georgians affected by Hurricane Michael, the Georgia Senate gave final approval to the suspension of the jet-fuel tax, which the AJC previously reported saves Delta about $40 million a year.

Q: What are the basic differences between NAFTA 1 and NAFTA 2? — Steve Carr, Atlanta

A: The new NAFTA, referred to as the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), raises pay for autoworkers, relaxes restrictions on exports of dairy products from America to Canada and tightens rules regarding intellectual property, among other changes, USA Today reported.

“The USMCA touches a variety of economic dimensions. It increases the United States’ reach into Canadian milk and pharmaceutical markets, bolsters labor and environmental rights and broadens protections over intellectual property,” according to politifact.com. “Most significantly, it aims to substantially increase the share of car and truck parts made in North America.”