H. "MAC"
GIPSON

Alabama State Legislature

Representative 88th District

Representative Mac Gipson:

Providing Proven, Conservative Leadership for Autauga and Elmore Counties!
 

Mac Gipson Provides Tax Relief for Alabama's Families!
As a member of both the House Education Committee and the Education Trust Fund budget-writing committee, Mac Gipson recognizes the struggles many families face in purchasing supplies, clothes and other materials children need to attend school. He fought tirelessly this session to bring meaningful tax relief to Alabama's hardworking families.
Mac Gipson successfully passed legislation creating a three-day Sales Tax Holiday weekend that suspends the 4% state sales tax on certain goods during the first weekend of each August.
The sales tax holiday applies to most back-to-school items including clothing costing up to $100 per item, computers and software priced up to $750 per item, school supplies up to $50 per item, textbooks up to $50 each and other books up to $30 each.
Following Mac Gipson's lead, many cities and counties across the state are creating local sales tax holidays that fall on the same weekend, providing even more tax relief for hardworking Alabamians.
The sales tax holidays also helps families cope with the high cost of attending colleges and universities across the state.

"At a time when families need it most, this change will let them keep more of their hard-earned dollars. It will offer tax relief to Alabama families from the burden of the state's sales tax on items their children need for school."
-Gov. Bob Riley at the signing ceremony of Rep. Mac Gipson's Sales Tax Holiday legislation.
The 2006 Legislative Session was productive on many fronts and issues:
Tax Relief
The Legislature, at the urging of Governor Bob Riley, passed legislation that will begin to bring tax fairness to Alabama's lowest income families.
Passed a bill that provides an income tax exemption for Alabama's 529 college savings plan.
Unborn Victims of Violence Act
Passed a bill that recognizes the inherent value in all life - born or unborn - by allowing Alabama to charge anyone who kills or injures a pregnant woman with two felony counts instead of one. This legislation, which had been a major agenda item of the House Republican Caucus' the past three sessions, was quickly signed into law by Gov. Riley.
Crime and Punishment
Passed Gov. Riley's package of sentencing reform bills which includes increases in criminal fines, requires sentencing reports on convicted felons and allows use of prior DUI convictions in sentencing.
Passed a bill submitted by Gov. Riley and our Republican attorney general that makes it possible for those who download or create child pornography on their computers to face charges for each individual image they possess rather than a single charge for their entire collection.
Citizen Protection
Passed Rep. Mac Gipson's legislation to levy strong punishments on unethical tax preparers who cheat their clients and prey on the innocent.
Provided funding for 100 new state troopers and granted current troopers a much-deserved pay increase.
Passed a landlord-tenant bill that provides protection for renters while also ensuring fairness to landlords.
Passed a bill that clarifies a citizen's right to defend themselves against intruders in their own home without fear of being sued by the criminal.
Elections
Passed legislation to provide runoff balloting for military personnel deployed overseas.
From historic tax cut measures to legislation protecting unborn life to stiffer penalties on those who possess child pornography, we can say without hesitation that the 2006 legislative session was a success and that Republicans had a major impact on the agenda."
-Rep. Mac Gipson
House District 88
Education Budget
Highlights of the $6 billion Education Trust Fund (ETF) budget include:
A 5% pay raise for all education employees; which when combined with last year's 6% increase, takes a major step toward raising teacher salaries closer to the regional average.
A 7% Cost of Living increase for education retirees.
Full funding of the Department of Education's request for the Alabama Reading Initiative at $56 million and the Alabama Math/Science/Technology Initiative at $22 million.
$11.8 million for an estimated 180 additional special education teachers and $11.8 million for an estimated 180 physical education teachers (grade K-8)
An increase of over $21 million to fully phase-in the school nurse program.
Increases the Classroom Technology allocation from $181 per teacher to $350 per teacher.
Increases the minimum number of classroom days from 175 to 180, bringing Alabama in line with most other states.
During the past four years, education spending in Autauga County has increased by more than $12 million, a whopping 33%.
In the same period Elmore County has seen education spending increase by more than $13 million, a rise of more than 30%.
Rep. Mac Gipson continues to fight for the traditional family values that make Autauga and Elmore Counties a special place to live and raise our children.

Copyright © 2006 H. "Mac" Gipson. All Rights Reserved.
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