Gov. Kemp lays out legislative priorities in annual State of the State address

ATLANTA — Faced with a record budget surplus, Gov. Brian Kemp laid out a sweeping legislative agenda in his State of the State address with a major focus on education, though some Democrats and educators worry some of that agenda is designed only to help with his reelection campaign.

This was Kemp’s fourth State of the State address since taking office before the turmoil of the global COVID-19 pandemic, and the chaos surrounding the 2020 elections.

“Over the last three years, we build Georgia’s house on a firm foundation,” Kemp said in his address before both houses of the Georgia General Assembly. “The concrete, the frame, and the roof withstood the storms. We emerged resilient.”

Kemp’s agenda addresses public safety, combatting human trafficking, and health care, including initiatives to attract and keep more health care workers.

But Kemp focused on education in his address. His plan includes using some of the state’s record surplus to fully fund Quality Basic Education or QBE.

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Kemp also wanted to fulfill a promise he made during his 2017 campaign to give all Georgia teachers a $5000 pay raise.

He’s managed to secure them $3000 so far, and wants to include $2000 in this year’s budget.

“This $2000 raise will impact K-12 teachers, assistant teachers and pre-K teachers, who I think we can all agree have gone above and beyond for their students throughout the pandemic,” Kemp said.

His proposal also includes a one-time bonus of between $1000 and $2000 for other school employees, from administrators to school bus drivers.

Kemp also wants to work with lawmakers to restrict the teaching of subjects such as Critical Race Theory or CRT, though that subject currently is not being taught in the state’s public schools.

This plan could appeal to the Republican base during campaign season.

“From the classroom to the ball field, there are those who want to divide our kids along political lines, push partisan agendas and indoctrinate students from all walks of life,” Kemp said. “This is wrong. It’s dangerous, and as long as I’m governor, it will not take root in Georgia.”

But Georgia Democrats accused Kemp of being the one playing politics with Georgia schools, calling CRT a made-up campaign issue designed to appeal to the GOP base.

“CRT is not a real issue, not in Georgia schools,” said House Minority Leader State Rep. James Beverly, (D) Macon. “And the so-called push against it is a manufactured culture war meant to distract people from the real issues students and teachers face.”

Democrats insisted Kemp use $1.6 billion to fully fund Medicaid.

“He also mentioned this morning that he had $1.6 billion,” said Senate Minority Leader State Sen. Gloria Butler, (D) Stone Mountain. “I can think of a billion things that the Governor can do with that money.”

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Kemp looks to give Georgians refund check after state sees $1.6 billion surplus in budget Gov. Kemp made the proposal during the Georgia Chamber of Commerce’s Eggs & Issues Breakfast at the Fox Theater Wednesday morning.

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