PRESS RELEASE: Tom Graves named Representative of the Year by Georgia Retail Association

6.5.2009 (ATLANTA) - The Georgia Retail Association (GRA) and its board of directors has named Representative Tom Graves, representing the 12th District, as its 2009 Legislator of the year, according to John Heavener, GRA President.

Graves, a republican from Ranger, Georgia was the sponsor of two significant pieces of legislation during the 2009 session of the Georgia General Assembly.  "HB 481, the "Jobs Act of 2009" and HB 482, the elimination of the sate inventory tax, both were designed to help the state’s businesses survive in difficult economic times," according to Heavener.  "While HB 481 was vetoed by the governor it included a number of key provisions for the state’s retailers.  One important provision of the bill would have ended the requirement of having merchants estimating their sales tax obligation in advance of collections, and remitting those sales taxes revenue before they were ever realized.  In these days of tight credit and small or negative profits, cash flow is compromised by the existing law.  Georgia is one of the few states that have this unusual requirement."

"Tom Graves clearly understands how revenue is raised – it is through sales and profits, and his efforts to enact HB 481, which was vetoed by the governor, would have helped keep existing companies in business and allow new companies to start-up in these difficult times," according to GRA.

"Graves recognizes the significant role that retail plays in Georgia’s economic well-being, employing one-in-five workers and remitting nearly 42% of all state revenue." ARTICLE LINK