James_Jan-Feb_2026_web - Flipbook - Page 29
eorgia Senate
Democrats have
one priority in
2026: end the
affordability crisis
and fight for families who are suffering from decades
of Republican rule.
Georgia Republicans continue
to make life unaffordable for working Georgians while giving handouts to the ultra-rich. Republicans
have controlled Georgia for nearly
a quarter century. During that time,
wages have stagnated, housing
prices have skyrocketed and health
insurance premiums have soared.
Today, more than 400,000 Georgia children live in poverty— the
fifth-highest rate in the nation.
The Republican majority is
Georgia’s affordability crisis— and
it’s a crisis we can no longer afford.
Democrats left Republicans a
booming, prosperous economy. Our
state’s average per capita income
rose steadily from the 1980s to the
early 2000s, when Democrats lost
power. The average Georgian’s income increased dramatically— moving into the top half of the nation.
Georgia’s working families were
finally getting ahead.
Republicans destroyed that
progress. By 2020, Georgia had
fallen back to 40th in the nation.
Families are hurting, and the recent
Public Service Commission election
sent a clear message: over 60 percent of Georgians want the affordability crisis solved. Republicans
won’t solve it. Democrats will.
A Middle-class Tax Hike
How did Republicans respond
to last November’s PSC shellacking? By doubling down on making
the affordability crisis worse by
giving the rich more and everyone
else less.
Senate Republicans want to
eliminate Georgia’s income tax. On
the surface, that sounds nice. But
those tax revenues fund about 56
percent of our state budget. Without it, Republicans would be forced
to hike sales and property taxes—
hurting Georgia’s families who are
already struggling.
What does that mean? Fewer
gifts under our Christmas trees.
Soaring property taxes. Back to
school shopping busting a family’s
budget. This is a middle-class tax
increase. It makes life harder for
almost every Georgian. Period.
Even Republicans do not deny
that we need to replace the revenue. They just suggest eliminating
job-creating tax credits— funding
their giveaway to millionaires and
billionaires by taking away the jobs
of working Georgians.
Again, the Republican majority
is Georgia’s affordability crisis. And
Senate Democrats will spend the
next year solving it.
Fighting for You
Their agenda helps billionaires.
Our agenda makes life easier and
more affordable for all Georgians.
Let’s look at healthcare as an example. So many of us face skyrocketing
JA N UA RY /F E B RUARY 2026
29