Hugley unveils Democrats’ Affordability Agenda, slams GOP record

Minority Leader Carolyn Hugley, D-Columbus, gave an unforgiving speech Tuesday condemning Republican policies in Georgia over the past 20 years.

“After more than two decades of Republicans being in charge of our state, it’s clear that far too many Georgians are still being left behind. That is what 20-plus years of Republican control and seven years of Governor Kemp has given us,” she said.

After listing issues with health care, education and poverty in the state, Hugley announced the state House Democrats’ Affordability Agenda.

“We believe affordability must be the standard by which we measure every policy. If it doesn’t make life more affordable for Georgians, then we’re not interested in supporting it,” she said. “House Democrats stand ready to lead on affordability, to make the investments that Republicans refuse to make, to protect the services that they’re trying to cut, to fight for Georgians that work for everyone, not the well-connected.”

Hugley said Democrats will work to make housing more affordable, provide more access to healthcare and fund public schools.

Here are some of the pieces of legislation Hugley mentioned at the press conference.

• House Bill 679 would help prevent rental price-fixing to try to restore fairness in the housing market.
• House Bill 1145 would provide a statewide homestead exemption for certain public service employees from ad valorem taxes with some stipulations.
• House Bill 1153 would provide a tax credit for newly constructed residences that are sold to taxpayers who earn no more than 80% of the area median income.
• House Bill 1171 would establish minimum habitability standards consistent with recognized housing standards.
• House Bill 1151 would expand Medicaid.
• House Bill 1 relates to gun safety and would establish the offense of making a firearm accessible to a child.