“The Georgia Public Policy Foundation has forged over the years many positive changes in Georgia, in its nonpartisan but very specific way. The Foundation raises issues of importance above political rhetoric to a point where politicians focus on them and ultimately make quality decisions.”- Former United States Senator Johnny Isakson, Georgia
I am currently the rare centrist Democrat, reasonably liberal on social issues and relatively conservative regarding governmental efficiency, a balanced budget and taxes. But 20 years ago, I was elected Chair of a rural Georgia County Commission and my county’s Republican Party. Unlike most Georgians, I watch both Fox and MSNBC. However, I do not believe that in the current environment most Democrats or Republicans get objective state or national news- especially with the rapid rise of social media.
Under its new ownership, The Citizen newspaper is a rarity- a local media outlet which zeroes in on facts versus just biased opinionated rants. In that vein, The Citizen will be publishing two columns by me. One focusing on a respected state think tank leaning to the right, the Georgia Public Policy Foundation (GPPF), lead by Kyle Wingfield. And the other column on the Georgia Planning Budget and Policy Institute (GPBPI), a respected left leaning state think tank headed by Staci Fox. Both groups have an important commonality- they objectively use proven facts as the basis for their positions. This column will discuss the Georgia Public Policy Foundation, established in 1993 (https://www.georgiapolicy.org/about/ ).
I have been familiar with the GPPF for decades. I do not always agree with its conclusions. However, I respect the organization for its fact based, objective approach to analyzing issues. Emotions and rhetoric from either the left or right must not be the basis for governmental policy and operations.
In its history over the last several decades, GPPF has successfully concentrated on several very specific areas of interest, including-criminal justice, education, accountability for government, healthcare, regulatory reform, lessening poverty, governmental fiscal issues, regulatory reform, and the environment. GPPF is analytic, basing its recommendations on firm data, while taking a scalpel to issues rather than a chainsaw.
For example, regarding criminal justice and public safety, GPPF developed nonpartisan recommendations for reforms that have become the basis for similar efforts in both blue and red states around the nation. It analyzed the problem and developed specific results-oriented solutions, including- a. developing performance measures to identify cost-effective methodologies, b. taking a holistic approach to rehabilitating offenders so that they can become productive, responsible citizens after release, c. and limiting criminal prosecution to acts threatening public safety and order.
Another example is GPPF’s study of Georgia’s affordable housing crisis. Specifically, GPPF has identified the extreme rise in our house prices as harming Georgians. GPPF examined supply and demand, making recommendations. Consistent with its free market orientation, the group recommends significantly increasing the supply of housing via deregulation.
Per the organization, zoning regulations are often arbitrary, based on feelings versus facts. For example, there are subjective regulations governing lot size and other density requirements. GPPF suggests allowing for greater density, bringing down housing prices. It also wants to reexamine and reduce or eliminate “impact fees”. Such fees are levied by cities and counties on developers and builders to pay for the cost of infrastructure, like roads/water/sewer, as well as schools. As is true with tariffs, these costs are then passed on by developers to the consumer. In this case, the home buyer.
Georgia is also experiencing a primary care physician shortage. Per GPPF- “70% of the graduating classes at Emory, Medical College of Georgia, Mercer, Morehouse and PCOM Georgia began their (medical residency) outside of the state.” GPFF proposes specific remedies, including-a. long-term investment by the state to create more Georgia medical residency programs, especially for areas in southern areas of the state and b. short-term policy changes to encourage more Physician Assistants and Foreign Medical Graduates to practice here.
GPPF, which emphasizes limited government and free market solutions, zeroes in on key issues which matter to Georgia residents. It is heartening to know that in this time of bitter tribalism, GPPF expounds the peaceful exchange of ideas, leading to solutions which will better our state and its residents. All Georgians, Republican, Democrat or independent, should applaud this goal.
