Latest news with #Tillery
Associated Press
28-03-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
Fight over voucher spending is key to setting Georgia budget
ATLANTA (AP) — For Georgia lawmakers to agree on a state budget, they must first agree on how much they are going to spend on a new voucher program for private schools and home schooling. Georgia's voucher program is different from some states, with lawmakers agreeing when they created the program last year that lawmakers would decide each year how to spend. The state Senate, which passed its version of next year's budget on Friday, wants to spend $141 million on the program. House members proposed spending only $46 million. It is a key disagreement lawmakers must resolve before Georgia's annual legislative session ends next week At $6,500 per voucher, the Senate amount would provide enough for more than 21,000 vouchers, while the House amount would provide for only about 7,000 slots. The overall budget would spend $37.7 billion in state revenue in the year beginning July 1. Once federal and other money is combined, it would be more than $67 billion. Voucher programs are ballooning nationwide. Many supporters want all students to be eligible, regardless of school performance or family income. States that have adopted universal vouchers, such as Arizona, Florida, Iowa and Ohio, reported more applications than expected, causing costs to bulge. Georgia Democrats fear that happening here, although lawmakers would have to change state law to spend more than 1% of what the state spends on public schools. 'Let's call this what it is, a transfer of public money into private hands,' said Democratic Sen. Nabilah Islam Parkes of Duluth. Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Blake Tillery, a Vidalia Republican, defended the program and spending, arguing that low reading achievement levels point to the need for change. 'The reason we support a voucher program is because kids have to be given an ability to do something better,' Tillery said. 'Their parents have to be given options to take their kids somewhere else. Why? Because we have failed them.' House members, though, have complained that the Georgia Education Savings Authority, the group created to administer the program, interpreted the law in such a way that it made many more students eligible than many lawmakers had expected. The program is midway through its first application period, which runs until April 15. As of Thursday, 4,439 applications had been approved. There are two more application periods set for the summer and fall, but it is unclear how many total applications would be approved. Tillery said Thursday that if the scholarship program doesn't need the entire $141 million, lawmakers can take the money back later. The Senate budget also rejected a House proposal to borrow more than $300 million next year for construction projects. Instead, the Senate plan would spend on construction only from existing state revenue for the third year in a row. 'We're funding that with cash, saving generations 10 and 20 years from now from paying for buildings we're building now,' Tillery said. Gov. Brian Kemp sets the maximum amount that lawmakers can spend, so they can only move money around to different spending items. That means lawmakers must decrease spending on one item to increase spending on another item. So with the Senate rejecting borrowing and increasing spending on vouchers, it pinched spending the House proposed on other items, including supplemental funding to educate students in poverty.
Yahoo
27-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Bill to end gender-affirming care insurance for state workers clears Georgia House panel
Sen. Blake Tillery. Ross Williams/Georgia Recorder A bill aimed at removing gender-affirming care for transgender state workers covered by the state health insurance plan moved forward in the Georgia House Health Committee after committee Chair Lee Hawkins, a Gainesville Republican, broke a tie vote. The bill's author, Vidalia Republican Sen. Blake Tillery, said treatments like hormone therapy or mastectomies will still be available, but not for gender-affirming purposes. 'Senate Bill 39 relates to the state health benefit plan, and it states that the state health benefit plan will not pay for gender-reassignment surgeries or gender care when it's related to a sex that is not someone's sex at birth, that is it,' he said. Democratic state Rep. Kim Schofield of Atlanta questioned the intent behind banning treatments specifically for transgender people. 'I'm concerned about this bill and the public health research on this bill,' she said. 'Where is that? Or is this really just a personal ideology?' 'I don't know that it's a personal ideology,' Tillery answered. 'If it passes the General Assembly, then it would be the ideology of the General Assembly, and if the votes are against it, then it's not in the ideology of the General Assembly.' Schofield wasn't convinced. 'I mean, where's the research? Where's the public health research that this is a problem or we should be taking this issue up?' she said. 'This is a decision between someone's personal life, their doctors and their family. It shouldn't be the General Assembly.' 'Well, ma'am, I beg to differ,' Tillery said.'You're gonna be asked to vote on a budget that we send back over to you that's gonna have over roughly $1 billion in the state health benefit plan. If you think that the state should pay for transgender surgeries–' 'I do,' Schofield said. '– then you should vote against my bill,' Tillery continued. 'And I will,' Schofield said. Public comment on the bill was largely in opposition. Attorney Amanda Kay Seals represented transgender state workers in a 2023 lawsuit after they were excluded from the health plan. In that case, the state paid out a $365,000 settlement and removed transgender exclusions. Seals said passing SB 39 into law will lead to more taxpayer dollars going to settlements. 'Georgia has settled these cases for millions of dollars, not out of the charity to the plaintiffs,' she said. 'It's because these exclusions are legally indefensible, and you will be sued again. The state will be sued again if this bill passes, and again, the exclusions will be legally indefensible. You will spend more money litigating over these exclusions than you would offering this care to state employees and their dependents.' Dr. Jason Schneider, a physician who treats transgender patients, characterized the bill as government overreach that could harm his patients. 'The government should not be able to overrule a person's decision to seek health care for themselves and their families, whether they are transgender or not,' he said. 'And this would allow, this bill allows politicians to interfere with private decisions between me and my patients, my adult patients. It's important to know that the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Medical Association, the American Psychological Association, and every other leading U.S. Medical Professional Association recognizes and supports this care.' Khara Hayden, a transgender state employee who would be affected by the bill, characterized it as heartless. 'I require hormones. I don't produce hormones anymore, so this is essentially taking life necessary care away from me,' she said. 'It boggles my mind as a Georgian. I've been in the state since the first grade. I've grown up here. Where is the care for community? Love your neighbor as you love yourself. Treat others the way you want to be treated. This is specifically targeting a group, a very small group of people for no apparent reason other than trying to save money.' The bill could come up for a full House vote any time between now and the end of the legislative session on April 4. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
USA Today
15-03-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
2025 NFL Free Agency: Kansas City Chiefs sign ex-Minnesota Vikings DL Jerry Tillery
2025 NFL Free Agency: Kansas City Chiefs sign ex-Minnesota Vikings DL Jerry Tillery According to a report from NFL insider Jordan Schultz, the Kansas City Chiefs have agreed to terms on a one-year contract with veteran defensive lineman Jerry Tillery. An impressive pass rusher, Tillery entered the NFL as a first-round pick of the Los Angeles Chargers in the 2019 NFL draft. He played for the Chargers from 2019 until 2022, when he joined the Las Vegas Raiders. Upon leaving the Raiders in 2024, Tillery signed with the Minnesota Vikings. In 11 starts with the Vikings last season, Tillery tallied 28 combined tackles, including one for loss. News of his signing with the Chiefs was posted to Jordan Schultz's official Twitter account: Though Tillery might not be a star at this point in his NFL career, he will provide defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo with valuable depth that could help Kansas City earn its fourth consecutive Super Bowl appearance. Stay tuned to see how Tillery will fit in Spagnuolo's system next season.
Fox Sports
14-03-2025
- Sport
- Fox Sports
Chiefs signing DL Jerry Tillery and bringing back RB Kareem Hunt, AP source says
Associated Press KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Chiefs are signing defensive lineman Jerry Tillery and bringing back running back Kareem Hunt, who stepped in last season and helped them reach the Super Bowl, two people familiar with the deals told The Associated Press on Friday. The people, speaking on condition of anonymity because neither deal had been announced, said that Tillery and Hunt had agreed to one-year contracts. The pair of veterans help to address two glaring holes in the Kansas City depth chart. The 28-year-old Tillery was a first-round pick of the AFC West-rival Chargers in 2019, then continued his tour of the division by playing for the Raiders. He spent last year with the Vikings, making 11 starts while appearing in all 17 games. Tillery has played both defensive tackle and defensive end, and he will most likely line up at both spots in Kansas City, where coordinator Steve Spagnuolo likes some flexibility in his defense. But the biggest hole that the 6-foot-6, 295-pound Tillery will address is at tackle, where the Chiefs had little depth besides All-Pro Chris Jones in the middle of the line. Tiller has made 12 1/2 sacks and four forced fumbles in 50 starts and 96 career NFL games. The 29-year-old Hunt, who began his career in Kansas City before his career was derailed by an off-the-field incident, returned to the team in September, when starting running back Isiah Pacheco went down with an injury. Hunt filled in so admirably that he became the go-to back even after Pacheco returned, finishing with 728 yards and seven touchdowns on just 200 carries while catching 23 passes for another 176 yards. Hunt also had touchdown runs in playoff wins over Houston and Buffalo, though he was held to just nine yards on three carries in a Super Bowl loss to Philadelphia. Hunt has run for 5,164 yards and score 64 total touchdowns over parts of eight NFL seasons. He will join a backfield that includes Pacheco, playing on the final year of his rookie contract, and Elijah Mitchell, whom the Chiefs signed earlier in free agency. Mitchell is the replacement for Samaje Perine, who signed with the Bengals. ___ AP NFL: recommended
Yahoo
14-03-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Chiefs signing DL Jerry Tillery and bringing back RB Kareem Hunt, AP source says
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Chiefs are signing defensive lineman Jerry Tillery and bringing back running back Kareem Hunt, who stepped in last season and helped them reach the Super Bowl, two people familiar with the deals told The Associated Press on Friday. The people, speaking on condition of anonymity because neither deal had been announced, said that Tillery and Hunt had agreed to one-year contracts. The pair of veterans help to address two glaring holes in the Kansas City depth chart. The 28-year-old Tillery was a first-round pick of the AFC West-rival Chargers in 2019, then continued his tour of the division by playing for the Raiders. He spent last year with the Vikings, making 11 starts while appearing in all 17 games. Tillery has played both defensive tackle and defensive end, and he will most likely line up at both spots in Kansas City, where coordinator Steve Spagnuolo likes some flexibility in his defense. But the biggest hole that the 6-foot-6, 295-pound Tillery will address is at tackle, where the Chiefs had little depth besides All-Pro Chris Jones in the middle of the line. Tiller has made 12 1/2 sacks and four forced fumbles in 50 starts and 96 career NFL games. The 29-year-old Hunt, who began his career in Kansas City before his career was derailed by an off-the-field incident, returned to the team in September, when starting running back Isiah Pacheco went down with an injury. Hunt filled in so admirably that he became the go-to back even after Pacheco returned, finishing with 728 yards and seven touchdowns on just 200 carries while catching 23 passes for another 176 yards. Hunt also had touchdown runs in playoff wins over Houston and Buffalo, though he was held to just nine yards on three carries in a Super Bowl loss to Philadelphia. Hunt has run for 5,164 yards and score 64 total touchdowns over parts of eight NFL seasons. He will join a backfield that includes Pacheco, playing on the final year of his rookie contract, and Elijah Mitchell, whom the Chiefs signed earlier in free agency. Mitchell is the replacement for Samaje Perine, who signed with the Bengals. ___ AP NFL:
