Georgia Labor Commissioner Michael Thurmond says new figures put the state’s unemployment rate at 10.3 percent, matching the record high set last July.

The jobless rate was up .2 of a percentage point from a revised 10.1 percent in November.

Thurmond says that since the recession began in December 2007, Georgia’s workforce has shrunk by 121,257, or 2.5 percent, from 4,823,467 to 4,702,210.

The number of payroll jobs in December decreased 175,000, or 4.3 percent, from December 2008.

WATCHDOGS GROWL AT PSC RATE CASES

A Georgia watchdog group is calling on the governor’s consumer affairs chief to get involved in cases before the state’s Public Service Commission that could boost utility rates.

Georgia Watch said Joseph Doyle has not intervened in a single rate case before the PSC. The group laid out its concerns in a letter Friday to Doyle, head of the Governor’s Office of Consumer Affairs.

Georgia Watch Executive Director Angela Speir Phelps said she wants to see Doyle speak up in Georgia Power’s proposed rate increase case, among others. She said they have the potential to cost Georgia ratepayers billions of dollars.

Doyle’s office did not immediately return a phone call seeking comment.

CAREGIVER LICENSE REQUIREMENT TARGETED

Licensed nurses wouldn’t be the only caregivers allowed to administer home-based care to disabled patients under a proposal being pushed by Gov. Sonny Perdue.

The legislation was introduced by state Rep. Jimmy Pruett, who is a floor leader for the governor helping push his agenda in the House.

The bill allows an unlicensed person trained by a registered nurse to provide a set of skilled services ordered by a physician, dentist or podiatrist for a person who is disabled.

Perdue says the law would let more patients remain at home and make healthcare more convenient, affordable and accessible.

STATE, MICROSOFT PACT BOOSTS TECH TRAINING
By Errin Haines / AP

Gov. Sonny Perdue has announced a partnership between the state and Microsoft that will provide free technology training for Georgians, especially the unemployed.

Perdue on Friday launched the public-private initiative “Microsoft Elevate America’’ with Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer.

“Many individuals do not possess critical skills needed in today’s changing economy,’’ Ballmer said in a news release. “We believe that through a strong partnership with the state of Georgia, the training can lead to employment opportunity and ultimately grow Georgia’s economy.’’

The company will partner with the Governor’s Office of Workforce Development to distribute at least 25,900 vouchers during the next 90 days. They can be used for courses including basic technology literacy, intermediate and advanced level technology skills training and Microsoft Certification exams.

Perdue said the partnership will provide thousands of Georgians with the education and skills they will need once the economy rebounds. While the program is open to all Georgia residents, it is targeted for those hit by the down economy and looking for work.

Georgia’s unemployment rate was 10.3 percent in December, above the national average of 10 percent.

The training vouchers are redeemable for free online training in Microsoft Windows or one of the Microsoft Office suite programs. Certification exam vouchers are redeemable for Microsoft Business Certification exams. Advanced technical professional level vouchers are redeemable for free online training for individuals in technical professional career tracks, including Web development or database management.

Vouchers will be available to Georgia residents through April 22 on a first-come, first-served basis. Individuals must use their vouchers for training and complete certification exams within the 90 day period.

Announced in February 2009, “Microsoft Elevate America’’ is an initiative expected to provide up to 1 million vouchers nationwide for Microsoft e-Learning courses and select Microsoft certification exams at little or no cost to recipients. The program is expected to provide technology training for up to 2 million people during the next three years.

Georgia is the 10th state to participate in the program.

Vouchers will be distributed through the Georgia Work Ready Web site, at participating Workforce Investment Act One Stop Centers and select Goodwill locations.

MEDICAID FUNDS CITED IN CALL FOR ‘BED TAX’
By SHANNON McCAFFREY / AP

Facing a massive gap in Medicaid funding, Georgia’s top health official on Thursday urged state legislators to adopt a tax hike on hospitals and healthcare plans.

The state is staring down a $506 million shortfall in Medicaid funds for the fiscal year that begins July 1, according to state Health Commissioner Rhonda Medows.

The recession has caused enrollment in the health program for the needy to soar. Medicaid rolls for low-income residents have jumped 7.7 percent from June 2009 to 2010 to more than 1 million people.

Meanwhile, hundreds of millions of dollars in federal stimulus money are about to dry up.

The state has few options. To participate in Medicaid, it must provide services to the aged, blind, disabled and low-income children. And because Georgia accepted stimulus cash from Washington it cannot cut back eligibility on optional programs such as dental coverage and prescription drugs, Medows said.

“We are in a box,’’ Medows told a joint budget panel of state legislators on Thursday.

“I cannot find $506 million to fill that hole through cuts, program reductions, layoffs.’’

Gov. Sonny Perdue has put forward a proposal that would charge hospitals and health insurance plans a 1.6 percent fee on their total revenues.

The Republican governor has been careful to label it a fee but Medows called it a tax on Thursday, a word that’s not popular in the GOP-led state Legislature.

It’s the second year Perdue has pushed the proposal, which would leverage additional federal matching dollars. Last year the plan died amid opposition from conservative Republicans. But federal money also came to the rescue. This year, unless Congress approves another infusion of federal cash, Georgia will be left to fend for itself.

State Rep. Mickey Chanell, who oversees health spending on the House Appropriations Committee, said legislators are looking at possible alternative to Perdue’s so-called bed tax.

“The need for additional revenue is real,’’ the Greensboro Republican said. “Our options are all pretty painful.’’

Channell did not elaborate but one alternative in the past has been an increase in the tax on tobacco products.

Federal and state governments share the costs for Medicaid, the health program for needy residents.

Medicaid spending accounts for 9.8 percent of all state general revenue spending in Georgia.

The recession has placed is straining social service programs at the same time state coffers are running dry.

State Human Services Commissioner B.J. Walker told the legislative budget panel on Thursday that over the last two years Georgia has seen a 39 percent jump in demand for social services programs like Medicaid, food stamps and welfare.

INSURANCE MAY COST STATE WORKERS MORE

State employees in Georgia are looking at another boost in their health insurance premiums next year.

State health commissioner Rhonda Medows told a joint appropriations committee on Thursday that Gov. Sonny Perdue’s budget proposal contains another 10 percent premium hike for 2011. That’s on top of the 10 percent jump in 2010.

For an employee covered by United Health Care’s HMO plan that will be an increase of about $10 a month.

State employees have been hit hard by Georgia’s budget woes. They are facing three more unpaid furlough days before June 30 to help the state balance its budget.

FIFTH THIRD BANCORP DONATION OF $100,000 TO HELP HAITIANS

Fifth Third Bancorp has announced a donation of $100,000 to aid the American Red Cross International Response Fund. The funds will go to assist Red Cross disaster relief efforts in Haiti, where more than 3 million people were reported to have been affected by the devastating earthquake that hit the country Jan. 12.

“The scenes of devastation have affected millions, and our 21,000 employees are looking for ways to help,” said Kevin T. Kabat, chairman, president and CEO of Fifth Third Bancorp. “We hope this donation will assist the people of Haiti during this time of immediate need.”

“This is a welcome supplement to the grassroots efforts our employees here and throughout the company are making to raise money in their neighborhoods, churches, synagogues and at their own work locations. We were proud and pleased the company acted so quickly after the disaster,” said Jennifer Castanet, marketing director for Fifth Third Bank in Georgia.

Fifth Third Bancorp, a diversified financial services company headquartered in Cincinnati, has $111 billion in assets and operates 16 affiliates with 1,309 full-service banking centers, including metro Atlanta and North Fulton County.