(The Center Square) – Even Santa Claus couldn’t get a favorable vote from Georgia Democrats on Tuesday.
The town of Santa Claus and more than 90 other cities and counties sought the opportunity to hold a local referendum on a penny sales tax to offset property taxes.
The referendums needed two-thirds support in the House of Representatives. Democrats consistently opposed the measures, saying they amounted to a tax increase.
Lyons Republican Leesa Hagen said she hopes anyone who voted against Santa Claus would get “nothing but coal in their stocking.”
“Mr. Speaker, is it not true that Mrs. Kringle says she does not want to pay higher sales tax, so Santa Claus, voting against that bill, will be very appropriate,” said Power Springs Democrat David Wilkerson. “And we were saving Mrs. Kringle and the kids a bunch of money.”
The local bills did not create the sales taxes. It allowed counties to ask voters whether they wanted the penny tax to offset property taxes, which have increased by up to 50% in some counties.
House Speaker Jon Burns warned lawmakers as they reconsidered a previous vote that Tuesday would be their last chance to approve the measures.
The legislation required a two-thirds majority (120 votes) and failed 96-71.
The local referendums didn’t fare better in the Senate, where they were also defeated before lawmakers adjourned the special session shortly after noon on Tuesday.