GA budget crunch prompts tighter spending review

By Charles Edwards

Atlanta, GA – Georgia's financial woes have inspired a group of lawmakers to trim the fat off the state budget.

Dismal revenue collections have prompted a State Senate task force to run through budget spending with an extra fine tooth comb.

However, it's something Republican Mitch Seabaugh of Coweta County has wanted to do for a while. Seabaugh was first elected to the Senate in 2000.

SEABAUGH: I have seen in the time I've been up there that there's a lot of things that have gotten into our budget that as far as I'm concerned really don't belong in the state budget.

In an effort to cut pork, the task force has asked all state agencies to justify their entire budget. In the past, agencies only defended changes to their budgets.

When the legislature reconvenes in January, the House will pass a budget for the entire state. Then, it will go to the Senate where Seabaugh and others plan to use the information to make adjustments.