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Dear Summer,
Welcome to the Georgia Conservation Voters
Legislative Newsletter. This letter will be
circulated frequently during the 2006 legislative
session in efforts to keep you abreast on issues of
particular interest to you
on environmental legislation.
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Telework Tax Credit Passes Senate
HB 194 Passes the General Assembly
The telework tax credit, House Bill 194, passed the
Senate today and heads to the Governor's office for
his approval. This bill, leftover from last
session, implements a telework tax credit to provide
businesses in nonattainment air quality areas with a
$1500 tax credit per employee for the cost of
setting up the home office. This tax credit was an
initiative included in GCV's Greening the Budget
Report and is good green legislation for several
reasons.
Teleworking reduces vehicle-miles traveled, which
means less pressure on the state to fund more
transportation projects to relieve traffic. This
would likewise reduce wear and tear on the
individual’s automobile and the cost of gasoline for
commuting each day to and from work.
It is also important to recognize that the current
methods of coping with traffic, including building
and widening roads, are highly intensive and
expensive strategies that ultimately address a
3-hour issue 24 hours a day. The telework tax
credit, however, more suitably addresses the 3-hour
issue, providing a decrease in rush hour traffic by
reducing the number of commuters on the roads during
height hours, and it does so more cost-efficiently
than expanding infrastructure.
Reducing the number of cars on our roads has the
potential to benefit the natural environment, the
business environment, and personal health. The
telework tax credit would allow employees to work
out of their home, thus reducing commuting time and
commuter traffic. Because the credit would apply to
areas of Georgia with the worst air quality, this
would reduce automobile emissions where it is needed
most.
Read the article in the Greening the Budget Report...
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GCV Announces Environmental Leadership Awards
To Be Held May 10, 2006
Georgia Conservation Voters is proud to announce the
Sixth Annual Environmental Leadership Awards
Reception, to be held on May 10, 2006.
Georgia Conservation Voters is a nonpartisan
citizen’s organization dedicated to protecting
Georgia’s environment, and the health of all
Georgians, by advocating for strong environmental
protections, educating and electing
conservation-minded leaders conscious of their role
in protecting and restoring our environment. As the
political arm of Georgia’s environmental and
conservation movement, we are serious about holding
our elected officials accountable for their choices
and assisting those loyal to GCV’s principles.
The Environmental Leadership Awards, now in its
Sixth year, is a celebrated forum that brings
together members of the General Assembly, interested
voters and conservationists to acknowledge and award
those elected officials who are making a positive
difference for the environment. The ELA is one of
GCV’s signature events, attracting high profile and
influential civic leaders and elected officials.
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Georgia Conservation Voters (GCV) is a non-partisan
citizens' organization dedicated to protecting
Georgia's environment and the health of all
Georgians by advocating in the legislature and in
the media for strong environmental protections;
helping to elect conservation-minded leaders to
Georgia's General Assembly and selected local races;
and by holding our elected officials accountable for
how well they worked to protect and restore
Georgia's environment.
Sincerely,
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