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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 13, 2026
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Senate GOP Pass Affordability Apocalypse Tax Scam, Crushing Seniors, Middle Class, Small Businesses, Admit Past Lies, Claim We Can Trust Them Now
Watch a Senate Republican admit to lying to Georgians HERE
Brian Kemp’s own economist refused to endorse the Senate Republicans’ middle-class tax hike
Atlanta, Ga. — Senate Republicans passed two tax scam bills yesterday that will cause the sales tax to surge up to 15% and break the backs of seniors, the middle class, and small businesses.
The bills passed less than a week after introduction, having been dropped last Friday before Super Bowl weekend. Republicans rammed it through the Senate Finance committee Monday without showing evidence of the price tag or any public testimony.
Dr. Robert Buschman, the state economist appointed by Governor Brian Kemp, previously slammed eliminating the income tax as an “unrealistic talking point spouted by unserious people.” He said it would require more than doubling the state sales tax to “avert fiscal disaster.” Governor Kemp himself told a room full of Atlanta Young Republicans that this wasn’t realistic.
Senate Minority Leader Harold Jones II (D-Augusta) released the following statement:
“The same day that Senate Republicans admitted to lying about the data center tax credit, they claim that we can trust their word that a $9 billion deficit won’t turn into a massive tax hike. Like Governor Kemp’s economist said, you can’t do this without raising sales taxes. So, Georgians could face up to 15% in sales taxes on everything from school supplies to groceries thanks to the majority’s work yesterday. Republicans crushed our middle class, seniors, and small businesses all so they could fund one more handout to the wealthiest Georgians.”
The Senate Minority Leader is available for comment.
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