Kelley looking ahead at how state spending will change
State Rep. Trey Kelley is getting busy once again as a new session has begun for the state house, and one of his big jobs this year is on the Ways and Means committee.
Which means he might have a shot at finally getting to work on one of his major items in past campaigns for the job as representative for Polk and portions of Haralson counties: tax reform.
Kelley has for many years been campaigning for a change in the way that the state allocates money from Georgia residents, whether it come out of their paychecks in the form of income taxes, or via mortgage payments made monthly when property taxes are added into the cost.
He wants to look at legislative options via the committee to provide tax relief for residents in a variety of way.
“Any time you change tax policy, it’s a big deal,” Kelley said. “We take that responsibility seriously.”
Kelley will be sitting on all five committees of the Ways and Means committee, getting to look at different ways that the Ways and Means committee handles appropriations and legislation that generates revenue.
He said too with President Donald Trump’s administration in power now, conversations have already been had in committee about how changes in a variety of funding priorities will be handled.
Even though the state is leading the way in the nation in several areas from ensuring a balanced budget is passed annually to having plenty of money set aside as a rainy day fund, according to Kelley.
“We’re pleased and encouraged the new administration is already talking about at sending money back to the states in the form of block grants, which will give the states the flexibility to be the 50 laboratories of democracy they were intended to be,” Kelley said. “To allow us to say that Georgia’s plans for health care are going to be different than California, or New York, or Wisconsin, or Iowa, or Alabama or Florida. It gives us the power to craft our policy on some of these issues without the federal government attaching their strings to it as we’ve seen in prior administrations.”
Health care is one area where Kelley said Georgia residents will see changes in the way the Federal government handles funding and policy, but he also predicts education will be another area to give more freedom to the state to promote local ideals over ones coming down from the federal government.
“The new administration in Washington is certainly going to change our outlook,” he said.
Infrastructure spending too will also likely change some as the new administration in the nation’s capital settles down after President Trump made campaign promises to increase the amount spent on public projects and improvements.
The likely way those will be carried out is through increased funds coming to the states and a decrease in the regulatory process by which the states use them, Kelley said.
It will also likely mean, if Congress goes along with campaign proposals is those funds will eventually trickle down through grants to the state and local level through funds like the Local Maintenance and Improvement grants, according to Kelley.
That could lead to an increase in the amount local governments will have on hand to make those needed improvements, but will come down to how the states are forced to handle paperwork on the federal level to get funds, especially in the form of big projects like the new Interstate 575 connector in the Metro Atlanta area.
“We’re hoping President Trump, and this is every indication we’ve gotten from him, is giving states the flexibility to decide what’s best for them,” he said. “One area where I think it’s going to maximize tax dollars from the federal level is by allowing us to stretch that dollar farther. That’s something I believe is going to benefit us all.”
One piece of legislation Kelley is working on right now that could have a statewide impact on infrastructure, especially when it comes to roads, is in deciding the rules for autonomus vehicles and their use in Georgia.
He’s still working out his ideas for the legislation, figuring out the various ways that autonomous vehicles can potentially impact the state, especially when it comes to employing Georgia drivers in commercial trucking and delivery.
“The legislation I have will put forth a pilot program that will help Georgia be ready and adapt to this new technology,” he said. “It will save lives in Georgia.”
He recognizes that there will be changes in industries because of autonomous vehicles, but he also points out there will still need to be people on the trucks to ensure they are loaded and unloaded, mechanics will still have to fix problems and the overall economic benefits outweigh potential pitfalls.
“This is another opportunity for the United States to do what we’re famous for, which is maximizing on the mind to change the world,” he said. “I think this is going to be the next revolutionary step in automobiles, and I want Georgia to be a part of it.”
His legislation looks to set a defined area where autonomous vehicles will be traveling to test how well systems work on state roadways, looking at real life scenarios and similar to Michigan legislation passed recently allowing companies to work with state officials on using vehicles.
“We’re going to look at a multiyear pilot project to see where autonomous vehicles can be on the roads and what time periods they can operate,” he said. “I’ve got a lot of interest in this legislation, and I’m still in the drafting phase.”
Kelley is also a member of the Judiciary committee this year as well, where he’s been working to vet legislation coming before the house as well as his time on the Ways and Means committee looking over how those bills in the house will effect the state budget.
“I’ve been spending a lot of time sitting down with my iPad and marking up legislation. It’s not sexy work but it has to be done,” Kelley said.
‘To allow us to say that Georgia’s plans for health care are going to be different than California, or New York, or Wisconsin, or Iowa, or Alabama or Florida. It gives us the power to craft our policy on some of these issues without the federal government attaching their strings to it as we’ve seen in prior administrations.’
State Rep. Trey Kelley
Cedartown