MESSAGES
TO THE
1970
GEORGIA GENERAL ASSEMBLY
LESTER G. MADDOX
Governor

STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS
JANUARY 13, 1970
May God grant each of us the wisdom to give in when we are wrong and the courage to keep fighting when we are right. - Governor Lester Maddox

(Text of the State of State Address prepared jc;r de!i!'ery by Governor Lester Maddox to the Georgia Senate and the Georgia House of Representatives, meeting in Joint Session, in the House Chamber, State Capitol, Atlanta. Georgia, mz Tuesday, January 13, 19 70, at 12:00 Noon.)
UFUThNANT GOVERNOR SMITH, SPEAKER SMJTJI, DJSTJNGUJS!IED MEMBFRS OF THE G!:'ORGIA GENERA!, ASSEMBI, Y, HONORI:D GUESTS, LADIES AND GtJVTLtilfEN OF THE RADIO AND TfiEV!SJON A VD/ENCE, FR!l:NDS. FELLOW Gl:'ORGIANS AND MY FELLOW AMERICANS:
It's good to be back with you for another legislative session. I am sure that each member of this august body is well aware that this Governor always has a hearty welcome for the members of the Georgia General Assembly. I look forward to this time of the year because the beginning of each new session is always accompanied by new hope.
We can now begin anew. We can attack those problems which we have left from past deliberations and resolve to deal effectively and courageously with those new problems which arc of vital concern to our people. It is expected that politicians will sometimes be politicians. but there comes a time in the life of every public official when politics must be set aside and every consideration be given the public good. That time is now.
Power Rests With People The power of this free government rests with a free people the men and women who run the machines, build the bridges, milk the cows. lay the bricks. drive the trucks. fry the chicken and do all the other things within the private free enterprise system which earn our government a living and make our government possible. I think it is well for us to remind ourselves upon occasion that government is not a producer, but a consumer. Government consumes labor. material and money - a lot of money.
Government For All State government is like a campfire in a wilderness. As long as the fire is fed

adequately, it provides light, warmth and protection. Too much fuel, given without adequate controls, creates a danger to the people. Too little fuel leaves some of the people out in the cold, unprotected. We are the watchers of the fire. It is our job to say, "This is enough, and that would be too much." And it is only natural that we would sometimes disagree. But, there is only one fire, and it must be regulated to serve all who look to it
for light, for warmth and for protection. Ours must not be just a rural state government .... Not just an urban state government ... . Not just a poor man's state government ... . Not just a rich man's state government ... . Not just a white man's state government ... . And not just a black man's state government. Ours must be a state government of all the people, for all the people, and by all
the people, bar none.
State of State Excellent Of course, this is no great revelation to you. It is because of your recognition of this important principle that we, as the servants of the people, in their state government, have been able to make such tremendous accomplishments in the year just past, and, in those years immediately preceding 1969, enabling me, today, as Georgia's Chief Executive, to report to you, the esteemed members of the Georgia General Assembly and to the people of the great State of Georgia that the State of the State is excellent. Such a report should be applauded by every Georgian .... Hailed by every Georgia newspaper ....
And welcomed by every politician, whether Republican, Democrat or Independent.
Predictions Cited But, let's recall some of the predictions that were being made back in 1966 and in early 1967 about what the Maddox Administration would do for Georgia ~ or, maybe I should say, "do to Georgia." Remember this headline? "New South 'Buried' Maddox Foes Claim."

One person was quoted as saying, "I sincerely believe that the image of Mr. Maddox is so negative that even if he does a good job, we won't be able to overcome the effects in a four-year term."
Other prophets of doom said that a vote for Lester Maddox would hold back Georgia's progress for the next four years.
One Georgia editor said that "Lester Maddox constitutes a grave danger to all that responsible Georgians hold dear ...."
Some said that schools would close, industry would move out, new industry would not come in, our economy would roll backwards and Georgia would be engulfed with rioting, looting, burning, killing, chaos and disorder.
Real Truth Told But, now, I am going to take this opportunity to bring the truth and to bring the facts to you and to all Georgians without any bias, without any editorializing and, yes, without fear.
Throughout the nation and throughout the world, Georgia today is recognized as one of the finest, most progressive, most dynamic, most peaceful and most promising states in the nation.
And you don't have to take my word for it. Just look - anywhere. The facts speak for themselves.
During this Administration, Georgia finally moved out of its adolescence to take its rightful place as a full-fledged member of this great nation - and not just a member, but a leader.
Isn't that wonderful!
The great seal of Georgia has been polished to a Iuster never before seen in this state by the hands of the people and put out in the light for all to see, rather than for just a special few.
Out-of-state visitors are flocking to Georgia as never before.
Everywhere we turn, we sec more progress and more prosperity ....
In spite of predictions, conditions are more peaceful and more harmonious than even the most optimistic among us would have thought possible under the circumstances that have been forced upon us.
I sincerely believe that this Administration has been tested with more potential
-3-

crises than any administration has had to face since the Reconstruction days.
And, with God's help, we have met the challenge.
By showing a willingness and the ability to work with all the people, we have paved the way to better understanding among all factions and to more civilized resolutions of divergent opinions.
Let's take a look, now, at what has been accomplished by this attitude of cooperation. Let's look at the record - the real record, and not just rumors. half-truths and opinions.
Industrial Gains During the past 36 months, investments in new and expanded industry have exceeded one and one-half billion dollars.
The Maddox Administration's three years have topped the previous seven years by some 150 million dollars in industrial gains.
As a result of this industrial revolution, Georgians arc enjoying a higher standard of living. Georgia's percentage of personal income increase places our state fourth from the top in the entire nation, according to latest available figures.
We have a good momentum going, and there is almost no limit to how much we could build upon it. Our people are staying in Georgia and helping us to build a stronger, more prosperous state. And, not only are Georgians staying, but people from other states and, yes, from other parts of the world, are coming to Georgia, bringing with then new capital, new industry, new job opportunities, new revenue, new ideas and, yes, new hope.
Industry and Trade We promised the people that we would carry the story of Georgia's industrial potential and her tourist attractions to the nation and to the world as never before. And, with your help and the help of many other individuals and organizations. that story has been, and is being, told.
During this Administration, leaders throughout the nation in education, in government and in industry have been fully awakened to the fact that Georgia is the dynamic, prosperous and peaceful hub of a great region.
Georgia's Department of Industry and Trade, a one-time political dumping ground, has been turned into one of the most efficient and most effective such agencies in the United States.
- 4-

That is a remarkable achievement.
When we consider that in 1965 Georgia was at the bottom of seven southeastern states in dollars for new and expanded industry and was the only state in the nation without an advertising campaign, due to the mismanagement and misuse of funds, the accomplishments of the Department of Industry and Trade appear all the more impressive.
Peace and Harmony Enjoyed Another factor which I believe has contributed greatly to the progress in our industrialization program and in virtually every facet of our economy has been the peace and harmony enjoyed by our state which, when compared to many of our sister states, strikes a stark contrast.
This Administration has been recognized for its efforts to bring together industry, labor, government, education and many other private interests into one cooperative unit, working together in harmony for the common good of all, and I am deeply grateful to all who have been willing to put aside personal interests to seek workable compromises which have resulted in a better day for all concerned.
Salute to Youth
I am especially grateful to our young people who have demonstrated their maturity and responsibility by doing their best to devote the majority of their efforts to getting a good education and taking advantage of the opportunities being offered them by the taxpayers and other supporters of education.
Georgia is richly blessed with just plain outstanding young men and women who, because of their faith in God and love for country and strong moral character, do more than all of us combined in making Georgia the peaceful, progressive and dynamic state that it is.
Don't you agree?
Georgia is not the "nation's battleground," as some predicted.
From time to time, and even now, we have faced difficult moments, but reason has prevailed.
Peace has been preserved.
I thank God for this blessing, and I pray that we can continue during the trying months ahead to have the cooperation and support of all Georgia citizens, black and white, rich and poor, powerful and weak, in our effort to reach solutions to our

problems which are fair to all.
This is the only way.
Other Battles
We cannot afford to battle among ourselves. There are other battles to be fought: the battle against poverty, against hunger, against disease, against ignorance, against injustice, against inefficiency, against immorality, against crime and, yes, even against boredom.
Pardons and Paroles
We have waged a tremendous battle against injustice in the State Board of Pardons and Paroles. For the first time in the history of that department, this Administration called for, and received, a total investigation, with the findings open to the press and to the public.
We were determined to clean up this vital operation and to bring a swift conclusion to the old days of secrecy and favoritism.
And we have done just that.
Penal Reform
Penal reform, too, was something that had been talked about for decades, but very little had been done.
So, I went to the prisons, myself, and I saw, first hand, what needed to be done and how these facilities had been neglected.
Our duty was clear.
We swept out the rats and roaches; we built visitation facilities for the inmates' families; we declared war on the firetraps and the health hazards; we put decent, nourishing food on the tables; we established and enforced humane work and recreation standards and regulations; we introduced new programs of education and vocational rehabilitation.
When it was seen that these minimum standards for penal operations in Georgia would not be compromised, many camps found it impractical to remain open. During the first three years of the Maddox Administration, a total of 20 correctional facilities have ceased operation, which equals the exact number closed during the entire quarter of a century prior to our 36 months in office.
Rather than follow the old policy of discharging a man in rags with eight dollars

and a kick, he now get 25 dollars, transportation home, a new suit and a handshake.
We have established the first work-release program in the entire history of Georgia's penal system, another milestone which benefits the inmates, their families and the taxpayers.
You might not see our progress reflected in the news stories you read or hear, but the inmates and wardens and other prison personnel who have seen the changes come about during the past 36 months will tell you that we have had more real penal reform in Georgia in the past three years than was the case during the previous 30 to 40 years.
Everywhere we look, we see evidence of Georgia on the go.
Highway Progress
In virtually every area of our state, we can see progress being made in highway construction. This accelerated construction is not only providing more convenience and safety for motorists, but everywhere we put down a new yard of concrete, we add to the opportunities of that area.
Family and Children Services
Although all citizens cannot take advantage of these opportunities, our Department of Family and Children Services has been doing a good job in helping those who cannot help themselves, but the increases in assistance to the blind, disabled, aged and the families with dependent children have not been sufficient to even keep ahead of the wolf of inflation.
Later this week, I will be asking you for additional protection for those of our citizens who are being left out in the cold.
Good Employees Rewarded
As we all know, to have good government, we must have good government employees - people who are honest, skilled and dedicated.
It has been the policy of this Administration to protect the able career employees who are doing a good job, giving a day's labor for a day's pay, and this policy is paying off handsomely for every Georgia taxpayer.
Under the Maddox Administration, personnel are recruited not on the basis of what they are, who they know or where they're from, but solely on the basis of their qualifications for the job available.
I have tried to operate state government just like you and others would operate your business.
-7-

Mental Health
In the area of mental health, our achievements are rece1v111g nationwide attention. With the opening of new facilities, along with other innovations in the treatment of mental disease, which permitted the reduction of terribly overcrowded Central State facilities, it is now possible for a person with mental difficulty to get intensive treatment which often puts him back into a productive life as a taxpayer and supporter of his family.
This kind of treatment is more expensive, of course, but we simply cannot put a price tag on a person's life.
Labor Department
In the Department of Labor, a comprehensive manpower center has been established in Atlanta, the first of its kind in the United States. Its purpose is to provide one-stop service to both job seekers and employers.
To bring workers and jobs together quickly on a professional basis, a computerized job bank, the third such facility in the nation, has been established at the center and is now in full operation.
For the first time, a highly successful cooperative effort between the Corrections Board and Parole Board and the State Training and Employment Service, is bringing pre-release training, evaluation of inmates and jobs for them before or shortly after release.
Although sought for years without success, it was during this Administration, too, that the greatest advancements were made in benefits for men and women of labor since the enactment of Workman's Compensation Laws.
Revenue Efficiency
Of course, virtually every adult in our State has had occasion to observe the new efficiency of the State Department of Revenue in handling the job of tax collection.
In spite of a greatly increased workload, the time required for an individual to get his income tax refund has been drastically reduced.
Agriculture
The Department of Agriculture has been modernized to better serve both the farmer and the consumer. Through more intensive programs of research, inspection and marketing, we have been able to not only help the farmer improve his lot and derive a fair profit from his investments, but we have also been able to provide the
-8-

consumer - including the city housewife - with a better product at the lowest possible price.
Public Safety And, my friends, we can all be proud of the job being done by the Department of Public Safety, even though we have not furnished this department with the number of men and cars needed to adequately patrol the highways.
Many previously unmarked cars are now identified properly as patrol cars when on Georgia's highways, and these are helping us to keep down tragedies on our roads in spite of the fact that Georgia led the nation last year in the percentage of increases in both motor vehicle registrations and gasoline consumption.
With the help and cooperation of the Georgia General Assembly and the various state department heads. every state function has undergone some change for the better.
Educational Progress But, there is one area of state government that I have not mentioned thus far; and not because it is the least important, but because it is the most important. I am talking about public education.
You will recall that when we were in the midst of a serious teacher shortage in 1966. professional educators, public officials, political candidates, the news media and others predicted that this teacher shortage would become critical by the fall of 1967, and that education in Georgia would be crippled.
I promised the people of Georgia that this would not happen.
And. with the help of you in the General Assembly, we were able to increase salaries for teachers and professors more in two years than in any previous four- year period, and more than any other southeastern state during that period, thus averting a potential crisis.
We have also been able to make advances in our area vocational-technical education program which make this system second to no other in the nation.
Not only do we have an outstanding system of area vocational-technical schools throughout the state, but we have made tremendous increases in the number of high schools offering vocational-technical programs.
We have expanded and improved our system of educational television to make it equal to the finest in the entire Southeast.
9

Expansions have been made in the educational programs for exceptional children, for those in our retardation centers, in our mental institutions and in many of our penal operations.
Education provides the heartbeat of our economy, of our culture and of our civilization.
Achievements Threatened
And, I know that you are proud of the great strides we have made in education and I believe you will agree with me that these advances in the various areas of education contribute more than any other single factor to the industrial revolution we are now enjoying in America.
But, at this very moment, the heartbeat of Georgia, public education, is threatened - and with it the education, safety and liberty of our children throughout Georgia and America.
Public education in Georgia and elsewhere in America has fallen under the strong arm of a federal police state which demands that we surrender our children and grandchildren, their teachers and their schools and our communities, as outlined by the communist enemies of our children and America in their platform of 1928.
The communists have worked to implement this program for 42 years and have met with great success because presidents, governors, congressmen, Supreme Court justices, state legislators and others, either knowingly or unwittingly, have fully supported their demands.
At this moment, public education in Georgia and America faces a crisis of unprecedented magnitude.
Children, teachers and parents are having their God-given and constitutionally granted liberty and freedom stolen from them by a national government that has gone mad and by governors, legislators, other elected public officials, top educators and, yes, those who campaign for such offices who go along with the demands of cowards in our government - the socialists and the communists who demand the enslavement of our children, their teachers and the takeover of public education.
All during the past fifteen years, I predicted that our national government would follow the c9mmunists' demands to place public education under a police state in America unless parents, educators and public officials united to protect our children, preserve local controJ of education and defend the United States Constitution.
I stated many times that the communist demands to close schools, bus students,
- 10-

transfer teachers and the resulting crime, immorality, chaos, disorder and down-grading of education and America would be our fate unless governors, legislators, congressmen, other elected officials and parents united and demanded that state and local governments and local systems of education be strengthened and preserved.
For having warned about what would take place, I have been laughed at, ridiculed, ostracized and labeled a lunatic, a demagogue, an extremist and a redneck. And, not in all the history of Georgia has one man been so lied about, treated so dishonestly, unfairly and with such prejudice, hate and bitterness by major local news media. They have used rumors, analyses and views in their news stories and editorials to try to destroy Lester Maddox, even if in doing so they hurt our wonderful state.
And the only thing I have done to warrant the hatred of the press that causes them most of the time to spread news that would reflect unfavorably against Lester Maddox and pass by most that would reflect favorably, is to publicly and unashamedly profess my faith in God and love for my country, while taking a public stand for preservation of local control of education, the rights to private property and American private free enterprise.
Yes, mine was a lonely voice, but no more.
Georgians have now come face to face with the reality that everything I said would happen, relative to education and our children, is upon us.
Schools Being Destroyed
Our schools are being destroyed, our children are being treated as animals and our teachers are being forced into involuntary servitude in violation of the United States Constitution. And they finally realize that unless we return to local control of education, freedom of choice is restored and our courts turn back to the United States Constitution, America, itself, will shortly go down the drain as a free republic.
Who brought on these conditions? Presidents, governors, congressmen, legislators and other elected officials and candidates for those offices who just plain don't have the guts and patriotism and love for our children needed for them to be Americans first and politicians later.
Sure, we have provided the dollars, bricks and mortar, which were made available by the people. I am here to tell you that politicians have generally placed the greater emphasis on dollars, material values and self and one another.
And America has been forgotten.
- 11 -

Our children are being ignored.
And what is right and needed to preserve freedom and this great country has been sidetracked by too many public officials.
Even at this moment the voices are few and faint from our own Statehouse. Elected public officials in and out of the Georgia General Assembly seem afraid to be counted for local control of education and for our children - black and white - their safety and welfare.
Thankful for Private Education
I thank God for private education and I am thankful that so many are so blessed with the ability to send their children to private schools thus protecting them from the intolerable conditions facing children in many public schools. But, when public officials and candidates for public office think so little of public schools as to flee with their children to exclusive private schools and then urge less fortunate parents and their children to surrender to the "police state" over public education, it is the most sickening, most disgusting and the most reprehensible brand of hypocrisy. Such politicians have no business being elected to, or serving in, any public office.
Any such man who demands for others and their children and grandchildren what he would not tolerate for his own is a coward and a hypocrite of the first order.
We see students marching, trying to save their schools, their education and their country, because of such hypocrites.
The fact that they are marching says that we, of our generation, have failed them.
We have provided the dollars and the bricks but not the guts, the patriotism, the courage and the leadership that we should have.
And providing the dollars, the bricks, the buildings, the highways and all other material values will pale into insignificance if we fail our children in this present crisis.
People Fed Up
I'm here to tell you, my fellow Georgians and my fellow public officials, that the people of this state, after seeing what is happening to their children, to their communities, to their schools and to their investments, are fed up.
They're sick and tired of seeing their liberty and their freedom go down the drain.
- 12 -

And they're disgusted with public officials, whoever they might be, who do not have the guts to speak up for their children, for their communities, for the survival of public education and for their rights as citizens of what is supposed to be a free country.
The people care about what happens to their children.
They want them protected so that they can grow up to be free citizens who love their country. And the citizens want your help. They are demanding it. They deserve it.
The people who elected us to public office care about what happens to their schools. They care about what happens to their communities. They love their liberty and they want it defended and preserved - not surrendered by public officials.
They care about what happens to their country and to its Constitution.
They care.
And they're fed up with public officials who don't care.
They have a right to be fed up. And I'm fed up, too.
Time to Speak Out
It is time, my friends, for every elected official, every educator, every teacher, every Statehouse official and, yes, for the Georgia General Assembly to say to the boys and girls in our schools and to their parents: "We, too, love our children, their schools and their communities, for they are our children, our schools and our communities."
We can tell them by sending a message to the President telling him to assume the position of leadership he said the President should in turning back federal control and the federal police state over education, rather than the position of leadership he now offers to those who strike down freedom of choice and local control of education.
And we must tell Georgia's boys and girls that we stand with them by calling upon the Congress to cease action on all legislative matters until freedom of choice is restored and the federal police state is removed from public education.
I'm begging -- I'm pleading with the members of this august body and with other Statehouse officials to join in the effort by these children, by these teachers and by
- 13 -

by these parents, both black and white, to defend and protect their schools and their education.
For, without freedom of choice for both students and teachers, there can be no freedom for any American.
Let us go from these great halls today and tell these boys and girls that we will no longer charge them with the responsibility of upholding the United States Constitution and defending the rights of all Americans, but that we will finally assume the responsibility that we have so long neglected.
I know this is an election year, but this crisis demands that we cast aside all political considerations and all personal considerations and that we consider only our responsibilities to our people.
We must take our stand in such a way that not only our fellow Georgians, but people throughout the nation, will look and listen and be filled with hope, with encouragement and inspiration.
We must let them know that in Georgia, there has been a rebirth of commonsense government.
God help the members of this General Assembly to rise to this challenge.
May God help our children if you don't.
Not Satisfied Even though we are face to face with this most important of all issues - a threat to all we hold dear - things do look good in most other areas.
We have made progress; we have moved forward; we have kept the fire going. And, while I know that you are all proud of these accomplishments and improvements in government, as I am proud, I cannot believe that you are satisfied.
I know that Lester Maddox is not satisfied.
I'm not satisfied, because I know that we could have done more, we should have done more, and now, we must do more.
With all the progress that we have already made, if we will now meet our responsibility to the Georgia people with courage, foresight and true statesmanship, this could be recorded as the greatest period of progress in Georgia's history.
We could do that for the people who elected us to the high offices we hold.
- 14-

I know that this is an election year, and decisions come more slowly when the weight of the electorate hangs heavy over our heads, but duty to the people demands that we put political considerations aside and base our decisions on one premise - what is best for the citizens of Georgia.
In my Budget Message on Thursday, I will outline to you a program which will test your courage, test your determination and test your statesmanship.
I believe you will pass the test by passing most of this program for progress. I realize the awesome responsibility which you have and I wish you well.
I want you to know that I will work with you in every way possible to better serve the people of Georgia.
To accomplish that end, I will strive to keep an open door, an outstretched hand and an open mind.
I am willing to give and take to get the job done.
Free to Be Fair As long as I am not required to compromise in my duty to my God, to the people of Georgia and to my family, I am willing to try new ways, reexamine old ways and seek a common ground. I ask and expect no more and no less of you.
Believing as I do that state government in Georgia belongs to all the people and docs not belong just to Lester Maddox, nor any other individual, not just to Democrats, Republicans, Independents, whites or blacks, rich or poor, and not just to the young or the old ...
And, believing that state government is dutybound to serve equally, and without fear or favor, small cities and counties, as well as large cities and counties, the Maddox Administration has been able to be fair with all of Georgia and with all Georgians.
This is so because no individual, no political party and no special interest group can come into the Governor's office and force demands upon me which I believe not to be in the best interests of all citizens.
I am free to make my own decisions.
I am free to be fair.
And, with God's help, we will continue to do what is right for all Georgians.
- 15 -

What Makes Maddox Tick And, because the question is often raised as to what makes Lester Maddox tick, there is something else I want you to know.
Ladies and gentlemen of the General Assembly, not only am I a Christian and proud of it, as I know those of you of other faiths are proud of your religion, but I am also an American who loves his state and his country and who is proud to be a citizen of Georgia and of these United States.
My only regret is that I haven't done more to serve my God and my country.
I have never been the Christian, the citizen, the husband, the father nor the governor I want to be and ought to be.
But, just as I have in the past, and as I do now, I will keep praying to God that He give me wisdom, that He strengthen my faith, help me to follow His ways, and that He use me for His glory and forgive my sins.
And, I'll be praying that God do the same for my family and for you and your family.
To give you the basis of this faith, let me tell you something that happened just a few short years ago. Without any knowledge as to how I got there, I found myself in a hospital bed in what appeared to be a very serious condition. The news from the doctor was not good. My family was saddened and disturbed, but it caused me no great alarm, because I was thankful for the many years we had had together, for it could have been only half as many years, or none at all.
So I prayed, "Dear God, if You can use me better in death than in life, and if it be Your will that I die, then I am ready; but if Your will is that I live, that You can use me better in life than in death, and I leave this hospital bed again, then I will spend whatever additional life I am given doing my best for You and seeking Your way in my life."
And I prayed further, promising God that if I did leave that bed alive, I would also spend the rest of my life speaking loudly and standing strongly for liberty, America, consitutional government, the right to private property, private free enterprise aAd honesty and morality in life.
Will Not Retreat This is where I stand, and from this position I will not retreat.
I realize that some of the things which I say and do are not what you would
- 16-

ordinarily expect of a governor. But, you see, I place my faith in God and what I believe to be right ahead of politics and ahead of self.
And, I will be following this philosophy and this belief later this week when 1 outline my legislative program to you.
May God grant each of us the wisdom to give in when we are wrong and the courage to keep fighting when we are right.
Thank you.
- 17-

THE BUDGET MESSAGE
JANUARY 15, 1970
Georgia state government has cheated and wronged her cities and counties and her ad valorem taxpayers and other citizens far too long with an antiquated tax structure. .. which restricts the growth of our State and the prosperity of our people. Governor Lester Maddox

(Text of the Budget Message prepared j(Jr delivery by Governor Lester Maddox to the Georgia Senate and the Georgia House of Representatives, meeting in Joint Session, in the House Chamber, State Capitol, Atlanta. Georgia, 011 Th11rsda1. January 15, 1970, at 12:00 Noon.)
LIEUTF'NANT GOVERNOR SMITH, SPEAKER SMITH, DISTINGUISHED MEMBERS OF THE GEORGIA GENERAL ASSEMBLY, HONORED GUESTS, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN OF THE RADIO AND TELE VISION AUDIENCE, FRIENDS, FELLOW GEORGIANS AND MY FELLOW AMERICANS:
On Tuesday of this week, you honored me with the opportunity to deliver to you and the people of Georgia my State of the State message.
I appreciate, once again, this opportunity to come before you, the distinguished elected representatives of the people and present to you for your study, deliberation and full consideration my Budget Message - one to which I have given long hours of preparation and thoughtful consideration.
At this time, I want to pay tribute to a fine Georgian who was a friend to us all.
I am grieved as I speak to you over the loss of my friend and budget officer and a former member of the Senate and the House, the Honorable Wilson B. Wilkes, who labored at my side for nearly three years and who worked with me on this budget. I shall miss his friendly counsel and quick intellect. He was a public servant in the truest sense of the word.
Honesty, Efficiency and Morality Promised
Before I make my recommendations and proposals that I am convinced will carry our state to her greatest heights and mark her for truly outstanding leadership in this great nation, I want to talk to you, and to my fellow Georgians who arc listening over statewide radio and television, about the business operations of your state government.
As a citizen and businessman who has devoted much of his life to a businesslike and efficient operation, whether it be in government or in business, I want to outline to you how this Administration has worked, and will continue to work. in protecting the dollars and best interests of the people of this state. I do this to assure you and our constituents that the dollars I shall ask for in this Budget Message shall be under the same watchful eye.
- 18-

As a candidate for governor, I promised honesty, efficiency and morality in state government such as had not been witnessed in 20th Century Georgia.
Upon taking office as governor, in too many places I saw waste, inefficiency and, in some places, an utter contempt for real economy. I found coverup of wrongdoing as a normal practice, rather than the exception. The interest of the taxpayers was ignored and some officials and others had covered up for so long that they thought it was right to cheat the taxpayers.
This Administration declared war on such practices.
One of my first budget requests as Governor of Georgia was for funds which enabled us to establish, for the first time, a long-needed management analysis section in the Budget Bureau. Economy experts in this section have made extensive studies of costs, methods and personnel utilization in the various state agencies and have helped to eliminate many of the costly duplications of services, inefficient operations and unbusinesslike practices which had accumulated over the years.
Involvement of the People
As I promised all Georgians, this has been a people's administration from the beginning, and the good, patriotic and honest citizens~ Democrats, Republicans and Independents -- those who supported and those who opposed my candidacy from throughout Georgia and from every walk of life, joined and he! ped us work to make Georgia a better place in which to live.
Legislators, statehouse officials, the news media and all Georgia citizens now enjoy more freedom as it relates to the Governor's office and state government than than ever before. All Georgians, for the very first time, are free to look, investigate, question, comment and criticize openly~ and most of you are taking advantage of this.
In fact, on a few occasions, I feel as though some of you overdo it.
However, I am quick to recognize that some of you may feel the same about me, and when I am finished with what I am about to say, you may be more convinced of that than ever.
Honesty, Efficiency and Morality Practiced
It had always been the practice in state government for gasoline purchases to be made on the basis of political patronage, rather than on the basis of competitive bid. Neither the cost nor the taxpayers was considered. That practice has been ended, and it is estimated that, during this year alone, over $600,000 will be saved.

We have found that $130,000 had been taken from an Employees' Credit Union, and even though others knew about the loss, it was not investigated and cleaned up until this Administration assumed office.
For more than 15 years, hundreds of thousands of dollars had been paid out needlessly to private legal firms for retainers, consultant fees, for the handling of bond issues and other routine matters.
The State Building Authority was set up by the General Assembly in 1951 and, although it disbursed tens of millions of dollars, no regular meetings to conduct Authority business were held.
I was appalled to find that one firm, since 1959, maintained free office and storage space at the Capitol and received over $6 million in construction and renovation contracts without even one competitive bid. It is my opinion that this one unbusinesslike practice cost the taxpayers over $1 million.
1 also found that a building was bought on Pryor Street in 1966, was renovated without bid at $28.50 per square foot, and, when finished could not have been sold at $18 .5 0 per square foot.
We have a State Employees' Cafeteria, selling generally poor quality food, which I found to be losing $3,000 to $4,000 weekly. When I complained, I was told that the state was not supposed to make money from the cafeteria operation.
To this I agreed, but I stated that it was wrong for the taxpayers to have to pay $150,000 or more annually for the waste, losses and inefficiency of such an operation.
Although we have reduced some of these losses, it remains a very poor operation, and I will continue to urge Authority members, as I have in the past, to open this lease for competitive bidding. We can do no less if we are to offer state employees better food and the taxpayers a better deal. It is regrettable that the Authority members would permit such a poor operation to continue.
We have removed some people from state payrolls who had drawn checks for years, although working little or none, cheating the taxpayers.
And in regional state operations, where we found the misuse and misappropriation of personnel, supplies and equipment for the benefit of state supervisors or employees, their businesses or friends, we acted promptly and firmly to correct such injustices to the taxpayers of this state.
- 20 -

And the list goes on and on.
I just wanted to cite to you a few specific examples of what this administration is trying to do to get government to serve the best interests of the people.
But, I also want to express my gratitude to those many faithful and dedicated department heads and employees who have cooperated to the fullest extent and made it all possible. All of us are indebted to the most able career state employees.
Not only have we worked to save tax dollars by insisting upon efficiency in state government, but we are working to save tax revenue everywhere we can. With the legislation passed last year by this esteemed body, Georgia's cities and counties will be able to save untold millions of dollars on their purchases. It is now possible for local governments to buy any article sold to the state at the state's price. A small city government buying one car can get it at the same price that it would cost the state buying a fleet of three or four hundred.
State's Financial Standing
It is with full confidence that the Georgia taxpayer is getting a dollar's worth of service for each dollar spent by the state that I now bring you up to date on the financial standing of our state government and offer my proposals for insuring the continuation of our extraordinary rate of progress and prosperity.
At the beginning of this fiscal year, we had a little more than $27 million in unappropriated surplus. After deleting 4.3 million of these dollars which were required to be transferred to the Highway Department to reflect the net Motor Fuel Tax collections in the preceeding fiscal year, and after adding some $14.3 million of lapsed funds from the various state agencies, we are left with a total of a little over $37 million in surplus funds available for supplemental appropriation.
Supplemental Requests
In order to meet the immediate needs of state agencies for the remainder of the current fiscal year, I am recommending that the fiscal J970 appropriations be increased by $3.5 million, which would bring our present appropriation level to $41.1 million.
These additional three and one-half million dollars will provide for the salary increases and cuntingent expense allowances for judges of the Superior Courts, as required by an Act of the 1969 General Assembly, provide the funds necessary to meet unanticipated increases in roll growth in welfare benefits, and provide a number of other critical items as you see outlined in the budget document before you.
-21-

I am also recommending additional advertising funds for the Department of Industry and Trade, and the presiding officers of both the House and the Senate have graciously consented to continue this Joint Session after the conclusion of my speech in order that you might view a short presentation which, I feel sure you will agree, justifies my recommendation.
Revenue Estimates Revised
Let's turn our attention, now, to the upcoming fiscal year which begins July I, 1970.
In order to insure that we always have sufficient funds in the State Treasury to meet the obligations of state government, it is traditional to be somewhat conservative when estimating anticipated revenue receipts. This is only good business.
After a careful analysis of past and current trends in our economy made by economists, professional revenue estimators, members of our State Budget Bureau and myself, it is a pleasure to report to you that last year we were again conservative when estimating revenue receipts for fiscal 1970 and 1971. I hope this will continue to be true, so that we will always meet appropriations made by the General Assembly.
By including more recent data in our projections, we have revised the estimate of revenue receipts for the current year to provide an additional $24.8 million.
In considering all available information, we all agree that a safe and a reasonable estimate of anticipated revenue receipts for fiscal 1971 is $1 billion, 25 million, which represents a 10.7 percent increase over our revised estimate of the revenue receipts for fiscal 1970.
It is my considered judgment that any higher estimate would be fiscally unsound, particularly in view of the unsettled state of the economy, the present curtailment of industrial production, the slowdown in housing starts, backed-up inventories and slow sales in some fields.
With the $14.3 million in lapsed funds, along with the $24.8 million increase in the estimated revenue for the current fiscal year, and with the other unappropriated surplus currently on hand, it is estimated that we will have a surplus of $58 million, 350 thousand by July 1, 1970.
Two-Part Budget
You will notice in the budget document before you that 1 have divided my recommendations into two categories: The first, which we will call Budget A,
- 22 -

contains recommendations for an appropriation of $1 billion, 82 million, 586 thousand for fiscal 19 71.
Following the presentation of Budget A, I will outline to you the proposals contained in Budget B of your document.
Budget A Proposals
Let's look, now, at the recommendations contained in Budget A. This is a good budget, and one that has been compiled by hard work and sincere efforts on the part of this Governor, the Budget Bureau staff and the various department heads.
In almost every program being carried on by the state, a certain minimum increase must be provided to continue services at a standstill level.
Our estimate of the built-in increases for fiscal year 1971 is more than $50 million. This increase is brought about by the effects of inflation, built-in wage and salary increases, roll growths, increased school attendance, mandated federal programs and the phasing-in of state institutions.
I consider this item a simple statement of fact, rather than a recommendation as such.
Salary Increases
I am recommending a $400 across-the-board salary increase for all employees on the State Merit System pay plan, for school teachers and other state-supported educational personnel employed by the school systems, and for academic and nonacademic personnel of the University System.
I have chosen this across-the-board method of salary adjustment, in preference to the percentage method of granting salary increases because, it is the only fair way.
When special salary adjustments such as this are granted on a uniform percentage basis, with the amount determined by the current salary of an employee, the gap between the low income employees and the higher income employees is widened even further. My proposal, if adopted, will help to avoid the increasing of this inequity.
For State Employees
Actually, when we consider that the last overall adjustments in state employees' pay was back in October of 1968, and that the cost-of-living index increased 6.5
- 23 -

points during the period of January through November of 1969, alone, it is obvious that the pay increase which I propose will not even compensate for inflation over the two years - 1969-1970.
This proposed salary increase is the absolute minimum required. It is not a "get ahead" increase request, but one which, if implemented, will help keep us from falling behind. Since our last pay adjustment for state employees, pay increases from seven to ten percent were granted employees of the federal government and those of our neighboring states. Also, annual wage and salary increases in major industry and business make it even more imperative that we act, and act now, to maintain our position and protect our investments.
For Teachers
And, since our last statewide adjustment in teacher salaries in October, 1968, every state adjacent to Georgia has granted its teaches substantial pay increases.
There is no doubt in my mind that the favorable position enjoyed by our state in in teacher recruitment at this time is seriously threatened by not having provided a salary increase in the present fiscal year. Failure to implement the minimum wage adjustments I recommend could well be disastrous.
For University Personnel
As you will remember, the Board of Regents increased student fees early last year to help offset the deficit in funds needed for salary increases for University System personnel at that time.
My recommendation of $400 per equivalent full time pos1t1on for salary upgrading is the bare minimum necessary if we are to continue the fine progress made by the institutions in our University System.
Education
And, now, we come to a budgetary item of paramount concern, because of its tremendous importance to the majority of the citizens of our state. Of course, I am talking about education.
I am giving highest priority in my budget recommendations to the item of $10.3 million to reduce the pupil-teacher ratio in the elementary grades from 28 to one to 26 to one. I know that you will all agree that an even further reduction in this ratio should be made.
Other major improvements recommended for the Department of Education's budget are:
- 24 -

Five hundred additional teachers and associated expenses for improvement and expansion of special education programs for the mentally retarded, physically handicapped and other exceptional children;
An increase of $ I 00 in the rate of maintenance and operation payments to local school systems;
A $150 annual salary increase for school bus drivers;
An increase in the school lunch grants by one cent per meal to defray drastically increased lunchroom operation costs and to help hold down the price of lunches to the children;
And authority lease-rental funds to finance approximately $27 million, 500 thousand in public school construction. I consider this all the more imperative because our present budget for fiscal year 1970 provides no funds for additional or replacement schoolrooms and buildings.
The total increase for the State Department of Education in this Budget A is $39.3 million, which is nearly $60 million less than requested by that Department.
University System
The Board of Regents requested an increase of $48 million for fiscal 1971. I have trimmed this to the bare minimum of $29.3 million.
In addition to the salary increases, these funds will provide for:
Fifteen hundred positions required to meet the growth in student enrollment and instruction load at the current rates and to improve the level of instructional financing; and,
An additional $979 thousand to finance patient load increases and to provide additional instructional capacity in Talmadge Memorial Hospital.
In order to be ready for the expected enrollment increases from the present 88,000 to 120,000 by 1975, I am recommending $2 million, 500 thousand in authority lease-rentals to initiate a building program totaling $27 million, 500 thousand in fiscal 1971. I remind you that the current fiscal year budget does not include any funds for University System building construction.
Public Health
To continue our nationally recognized progress in the care of the mentally ill, I
- 25 -

am recommending authority lease-rental funds to be included in appropriations to the Department of Public Health in order that we can begin construction in fiscal year 1971 of a regional mental hospital at Columbus as well as a multi-purpose mental hospital and tuberculosis facility at Rome. These two hospitals have already been delayed too long, and I beg you to delay no longer.
My recommendations for the Department of Public Health also include additional funds to:
Fully air-condition existing facilities at Gracewood State School and Hospital, which is a critical need;
Renovate patients' quarters and establish decentralized admission facilities at Central State Hospital; and,
Provide for improved alcohol and drug rehabilitation programs.
In the medical assistance program for welfare recipients, I am recommending an increase in state funds of $4.9 million, which will generate an additional $12.3 million in federal funds for Medical benefits.
The Health Department requested $58.1 million. I cut their request by $28.7 million and am recommending increased funds of $29.4 million.
Family and Children Services
In order to help provide for the basic needs of those of our citizens who are either too old, too young, too sick or otherwise unable to provide for themselves, I am recommending that funds be appropriated to provide for:
The anticipated roll growth in the benefits program for the aged, the blind, the disabled, foster children and for families with dependent-children; and,
A five-dollar cost -of-living increase for 136,000 aged, blind, and disabled adults, a request which I believe you will find easy to support when you consider that the maximum monthly payment is now only $82 and the average monthly payment is a meager $54.
I am also recommending that you appropriate $2.5 million to construct a 200-bed security development center for delinquent boys and an increase of $3 million for grants to counties in the administration of local welfare programs.
-26-

Corrections
In order to bring us even closer to our overall goal, which I am sure you share, of offering men and women in our prisons real rehabilitation rather than just destructive incarceration, I am recommending that funds be appropriated for:
A new prison for women to replace the shamefully inadequate and degrading facility at Milledgeville, which is a disgrace to our state.
And, expanding of the recently initiated, and already-successful, work-release program and building a new work-release center in the Atlanta area.
The Department of Corrections requested an increase of $11.3 million; my recommendation to you is $4.4 million, a reduction of almost $7 million.
Public Safety
We are in trouble - serious trouble - in our Department of Public Safety, and it is costing lives that could be saved, injuries that could be prevented and millions of dollars in property damage which could be avoided.
Georgia led the nation last year in percentage increase of licensed motor vehicles and in percentage increase of gasoline consumption; yet, rather than a critically needed increase in patrolmen in the field, the average number of patrolmen available for traffic enforcement was reduced by recently implemented legislation requiring patrolmen in new programs of traffic safety.
In addition, we are experiencing an ever-rising increase in the number of patrolmen required in areas of civil unrest and elsewhere.
It is this simple: More patrolmen and more lives saved, or no increase in troopers and fewer lives saved.
I recommended funds in my supplemental request for fiscal year 1970 for the immediate recruitment of 25 additional troopers, and I am requesting that you appropriate funds to provide for the employment of 75 more troopers during the first three quarters of fiscal year 1971 .
In the supplement for fiscal year 1970, I have requested funds for five additional GBI agents and funds for another IO are requested in the fiscal 1971 budget.
These men will make up specialized squads to wage war on organized crime and will be especially trained to combat the illegal drug traffic which poses an
-27-

immediate and grave threat to our state. Our need for these agents and additional patrolmen is urgent. I plead with you for early and favorable consideration.
Agriculture
For the Department of Agriculture, I am asking for half of the $250,000 requested by the Department for authority lease-rental funds, together with $50,000 in capital outlay funds for modernization and reconstruction of the Farmers' Markets at Thomasville, Macon, Savannah and Augusta and for site improvements and building modernization at other markets.
Other Departments
In the budget document before you, you will also find recommendations to meet the minimum needs of Game & Fish; Parks; Mines, Mining and Geology; Industry and Trade; Labor; Pardons and Paroles; Probation; Veterans Service; Defense; Revenue; Law and other agencies which I will not discuss in detail at this time.
Let me simply assure you that these recommendations, as with the others, are made only after a thorough and conscientious study of the needs of these various departments and agencies and with full consideration given to the need to utilize available revenues in the best interests of the taxpayers.
Agency Requests Cut
The amount of increased funds requested by the agencies and departments for fiscal 1971 totaled $291.8 million. I cut this, department by department, after a careful study of each, by $140 million.
I am recommending, therefore, in Budget A appropriations of $153 million over the amount originally appropriated, or some $103 million over the earlier appropriations and built-in increases.
Not Enough
I have outlined to you my recommendations for expenditure of funds to be available with no changes in the current tax structure. The budget I have outlined will provide for many of the essential programs and steps which are necessary at this time, but these proposals are not enough ~
Not enough to assure the continued growth and progress to which we aspire ~
Not enough to enable our municipalities, counties, and school systems and the

property taxpayers who support them to survive the severe financial pressures with which they are now confronted-
Not enough to provide for progress in education, and in highway construction which the people of this state need and expect.
Budget B Explained
The B Budget in the document before you is not just a frivolous "add on". It is a product of long study, careful planning and a detailed analysis of the needs of our state and of our people.
Let's look at some specifics. Let's look at what this B Budget can do for our people and our great state and what it will take to finance it.
Tax Revision and Additional Revenue Needed
First, and foremost, I am requesting that you increase the state sales tax from three percent to four percent. This is the tax which most Georgians find to be the most acceptable.
This is true tax revision. It provides a means of revenue other than ad valorem taxes to help finance local education and local government. Failure to provide these funds as recommended will mean that an equal amount will be added to the already heavy burden of the property owner.
Further, the very low income groups will, through sales tax rebate or allowable sales tax credits deducted from income tax liabilities, pay less sales tax under this proposal than under our present three percent tax law. In fact, many Georgians would pay as little as two percent rather than the present three percent.
Assistance to Cities and Counties
In addition to the some $10 million in sales tax rebates and credits to the poor, I am recommending:
Forty and one-tenth million dollars for Georgia's cities and counties, which, with the existing $5 .9 million in grants, will give them a total of $46 million, or 40 percent of the estimated first year's revenue from the proposed sales tax increase.
Local Educational Costs Reduced
Eighteen and one-tenth million dollars to be returned to local school systems, increasing the state's cost for education from 80 percent to 85 percent, and

reducing local cost of education from 19 percent to 15 percent. This would return local education percentage costs to the level in effect prior to the 1964 enactment of Senate Bill 180 which initiated an annual onslaught of destructive and crippling force by the State of Georgia against Georgia's property owners.
Gasoline Tax Increases Forestalled
Twenty-eight million dollars from the sales tax for the State Highway Department which is an amount approximately equal to last year's collection from the motor vehicle tax, which is, in reality, a highway users' tax. These funds would permit us to construct critically needed passing lanes and add two additional lanes to existing overloaded two-lane highways. These additional dollars would go to all regions of the state, improving highway safety and giving a lift to the economy in many areas.
Most importantly, these $28 million going to the State Highway Department from the additional sales tax revenue will serve to forestall a one and one-half to two cent per gallon gasoline tax increase. This, too, would provide us with additional tax revision.
Pupil-Teacher Ratio Reduced
I am recommending $3.9 million to provide an additional reduction in the pupil-teacher ratio. To me, this is the most pressing problem in public education. We simply must apply every dollar possible in this area of education.
By failing to reduce this ratio, we would be cheating our children, their teachers and Georgia.
Just think how a little extra attention could help a child who might otherwise get off on the wrong track. If teachers could spend a few extra hours in the first few grades with such a child, it could make all the difference in the world.
Kindergarten Program Implemented
Five million dollars is being asked to implement Phase I of a statewide kindergarten program. This would represent an excellent start, not for a "head start" or a "play school" type program, but an honest-to-goodness pre-first grade school program.
Kindergartens give our children a chance to get acquainted with adults outside their own home, teach them to understand and cooperate with other children and teach them to use the basic tools of education, such as books, pencils, paper, and, for those like I used to be, erasers.
-30-

Additional Teacher Salary Increases
To provide an additional across-the-board salary increase for teachers, I am requesting $7.3 million. With the huge salary increase to teachers in our neighboring states during the present fiscal year, we cannot afford to not provide additional increase. It could make the difference in the decisions of the teachers who are now considering coming to Georgia and others who are, and will be, considering leaving.
Visitors Help Pay Bill
All of these needed and essential programs I am recommending to you, and to the people of Georgia, can be financed by increasing the state sales tax from three percent to four percent, which would be no more, and in some instances, less, than that being paid by the citizens in most of our neighboring states. The sales tax is four percent in Florida, Alabama and South Carolina, and five percent in Mississippi and Kentucky.
Further, and most importantly, those citizens from our neighboring states and from throughout the nation who come to Georgia to shop, to attend conventions, and to visit and to rest would, without complaint, pay millions of dollars into our treasury annually through this additional one cent increase in the state sales tax. These visitors would thus help to pay our teachers, build our schools, pave our roads, treat our ill and help pay for other vital state services.
This revenue must be raised, so why not let our visitors foot more of the bill rather than make Georgians carry the whole load?
Antiquated Tax Structure
And, why must we move now to face up to our responsibility and do something for all Georgia cities and counties, all Georgians and especially the homeowners and farm owners who pay ad valorem taxes?
Why? Because Georgia State government has cheated and wronged her cities and counties and her ad valorem taxpayers and other citizens far too long with an antiquated tax structure. It is an inadequate, inequitable and unreasonable tax structure which restricts the growth of our state and the prosperity of our people.
It turns industry, investments and jobs from Georgia. It slows the progress of our cities and counties. It denies our people better opportunities and higher income, and denies our state and local governments untold tens of millions of dollars in needed revenue.
- 31 -

Our present tax structure is more punitive and damaging to our ad valorem taxpayers than other citizens because they are forced to pay more than all other local citizens combined for the local cost of operating schools and local governments.
And, what, more than anything else, is responsible for the plight of the owners of homes and farms who are being weakened, beaten down and victimized by ad valorem taxes continuing to increase by tens of millions of dollars?
Why are cities and counties being denied some additional critically needed funds that would otherwise be available?
The answer: Senate Bill I80 - an act of 1964 that established a new Minimum Foundation Program for Education.
This was an outstanding achievement that assured revenue for a continuing improvement of education in Georgia. It has served education well, and it continues to do so.
Plight of Local Governments
Again, I want it clearly understood that, in my judgement, Senate Bill 180 was and is a fine piece of legislation for the cause of education in Georgia. However, anyone with sound financial knowledge must admit that the Act, as passed, and as it remains today, without any provision for a new or additional source of revenue to finance the ad valorem taxpayers' burden, bringing financial harm to most, and financial disaster to many, Georgia farmers and homeowners. By taking the first and major bite from the ad valorem tax dollar, Senate Bill 180 drastically restricts the ability of local government to levy sufficient taxes to provide the personnel, the services and the facilities to grow, to prosper, to attract industry and, thus, get a fair piece of the economic pie shared by much of the state.
I am certain that not one member of the 1964 Georgia General Assembly that passed Senate Bill 180 into law intended for it to be so, but it is probably the most damaging, destructive, unreasonable, unfair and discriminatory action against home ownership and the citizens who pay ad valorem taxes of any piece of legislation ever offered by a Chief Executive, approved by the General Assembly and signed into law within a few days.
This probably accounts for this major piece of legislation, a badly needed program affecting the lives of virtually every Georgian, being passed into law, wholly neglectful of the need to provide an increased source of new revenue to finance it, thus rendering this important legislative act both rudimentary and abortive.
-32-

Those of you who were here at the time will recall the political pressures from high places, the political arm-twisting and the coercive efforts of special interest groups which were vainly aimed at getting all legislators committed to Senate Bill 180 before the 1964 session convened and before the Act was even introduced.
Never in contemporary Georgia history was so much brutal political force used.
And, so, without the willing support of most of those legislators in attendance and over motions to delay, Senate Bill 180 was ramrodded through the General Assembly before adequate time was given for thoroughly studying and amending it to provide supportive revenue sources.
You will all recall, too, I am sure, that you were warned that to attempt to amend this Act, or to "tinker with it," would endanger its passage.
And, so, my friends, this vital Act, Senate Bill 180, was introduced in the Senate on Wednesday, January 15, 1964, and was signed into law by the Governor on Friday, January 24, 1964, after being considered only part of five working days in the Senate and only part of three working days in the Georgia House.
It is no wonder that such an otherwise good and important piece of legislation slipped through with provisions so discriminatory against homeowners and farmers when you consider that this Bill contains 49 pages of words affecting the lives of every Georgian.
This was, and is, too large and too important an act to be studied, debated and amended as necessary in just a few short days.
The damage is done.
But, there is no reason or justification for not correcting this oversight that has wronged, and continues to wrong, the ad valorem taxpayers.
Unfair to Property Owners
Why is Senate Bill 180, as passed in I 964, discriminatory and wrong?
It was an action by state government (not local governments and local school systems) in 1964- which voted an automatic annual ad valorem tax increase of millions of dollars on Georgia owners of homes, farms and businesses.
Each year, the state requires, through Senate Bill 180, that ad valorem taxes be increased on the property owners by millions of dollars as the local cost of
- 33 -

education increases one percent and the state cost decreases a corresponding one percent.
Each year, with the state being able to increase educational dollars by unprecedented amounts, thus making larger appropriations to apply against its percentage cost of education (increased millions of dollars that Senate Bill I80 requires local systems to match), state government, not local governments and local school systems, adds other additional millions of dollars to the wronged and discriminated-against owners of homes and farms.
The time to correct this wrong is now.
This implementation of Senate Bill 180 by state government, without increasing costs to others, increased ad valorem tax burdens of the owners of homes and farms by untold millions of dollars during the years 1965, 1966, 1967, and 1968. And, although we could have stopped or drastically reduced the onslaught in 1969, but didn't, millions of new dollars in ad valorem taxes were added by the state again in 1969, and if you fail to act as I beg you to act now, and as the property owners in Georgia beg you to act, additional millions of dollars will be added to the overburdened, cheated and discriminated-against property owners this year, 1970.
Please, I beg of you, I plead with you with all my being, don't let it happen.
Where incomes are limited or frozen at low levels because of retirement income, social security, welfare or just plain low wages, the ad valorem tax increases voted upon these people by the state every year since 1964, takes:
Food from some of their tables -
Clothes from some of their backs -
Medicine and health care from some of their families -
And makes it impossible for some of them to maintain their homes, thus contributing to the development of more slums.
Our present tax structure is more punitive against and damaging to all of our ad valorem taxpayers than other citizens because they are forced to pay far more of the cost of local governments and local school costs than collected from all other sources combined.
Please, please, please - if you never pass another tax rev1s1on or revenue measure, I beg of you to not allow the 1970 session of the Georgia General Assembly to come to a close without passing meaningful measures which will help
-34-

the property owners that state government has mistreated and beaten down since 1964.
Our existing tax structure is nothing less than an injustice against property owners, against Georgia cities and counties and thus harmful to all Georgians.
The people want it stopped.
I want it stopped.
And, you have it within your power to stop it!
Injustice Corrected by Sales Tax
The one cent increase in the sales tax that I recommend will do more than any other single thing at this time to correct the injustices of our existing tax structure.
It will send hundreds of millions of dollars back into urban Georgia during the seventies for schools, highways, public safety, needed government personnel, water and sewerage systems and other services to build a brighter and more prosperous future.
It will do the same for rural and semi-rural Georgia, too, so that all of Georgia can attract plants, jobs, income and revenue to grow and to prosper. And if we move in this direction and help to eliminate problems in rural and semi-rural Georgia we will prevent their problems from becoming even larger urban Georgia problems.
No form of local option tax will do that.
The additional $58,225,225 I am asking you to collect from, and send back to, local citizens to help defray the cost of operating their schools and local governments will be the greatest possible shot-in-the-arm action this state could take for the continued progress and prosperity of all.
It would be sufficient for many school systems and local governments to reduce their ad valorem tax millage rates and make it totally unnecessary to raise the millage rates in most all other instances.
Further, the $64.2 million going back out into the state for a reduction of the pupil-teacher ratio, the kindergarten program, the $200 teacher salary increase, for highway construction, and for sales tax credits and rebates, makes a total of some 112.5 million additional dollars going back to our communities the first year, and will herald a new and better way of life for Georgia.
- 35 -

Distribution Formula Proposed
If you do not already have them in your possession, I will shortly provide you with copies of a proposed formula for distribution of the increased grants to cities and counties, which will identify increased funds for the first year that your respective cities and counties would receive.
Under this proposal, which appears to be the most equitable from a general point of view, grants to cities and counties would be returned on a basis of 60 percent per capita and 40 percent origin, or source of collection. This is considered a significant change from my earlier recommendations to you, but one for which I have found more enthusiastic and consensus support.
Approval Urged
Ladies and gentlemen, I urge your fullest consideration of these proposals I am making to you.
I honestly believe that a great majority of our fellow Georgians support this program for tax revision and increased revenue, and I do not believe the majority of our constituents would support any other kind of new revenue measure.
It will be passed.
The people know it.
You know it.
I know it.
So why not pass it now and prolong no more the injustice state government levies against homeowners.
Pass it now during this 1970 session of the Georgia General Assembly.
If you do, you will bring more plants, more jobs and more opportunity to all of Georgia.
You will be saying YES to Georgia's cities and counties -
YES, to our children -
YES, to their teachers -
- 36 -

YES, to education YES, to more and better highways YES, to the blind, the aged, the disabled, to those in our hospitals and our prisons -
YES, to all who are less fortunate than we -
To those too old or too young, too sick or too crippled or too confused to care for themselves.
It will take courage.
It will require the best within you.
It will demand long and thorough deliberations, but I believe that when the deliberations are over, your decisions will be favorable to my recommendations to you.
I know they will be your best.
When you have finished with this session, I will be able to go to the homeowners, our children and their teachers, our farmers, to the men and women on the streets, in our hospitals and prisons and to our local governments and, holding my head high, say, "I did my best for you. The program I presented to the 1970 Georgia General Assembly was a vote for you, a vote for every Georgian and a vote for all of Georgia."
I know that you, as elected representatives of the people want to be able to do the same.
To all of you who will be seeking re-election or election to another office this year - I extend my best wishes.
May our God, who gave us life and liberty, continue to bless you and yours with good health, happiness and prosperity.
Thank you.
- 37 -