“The Big Lie About Tax Breaks”: Rep. Davis Calls on Georgians to Demand Truth, Transparency, & Accountability

PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Rep. Viola Davis (HD 87)
Georgia House District 87
DeKalb County, Georgia

“The Big Lie About Tax Breaks”: Rep. Viola Davis Calls on Georgians to Demand Truth, Transparency, and Accountability

STONE MOUNTAIN, GA — Representative Viola Davis is calling on taxpayers and voters across Georgia to demand truth and accountability concerning the growing use of tax breaks, tax credits, and corporate incentives that continue to drain billions from the state budget while everyday Georgians struggle with rising housing, healthcare, transportation, childcare, and education costs.

“For years, the public has been told that massive tax breaks and credits would trickle down to help working families,” said Rep. Davis. “Instead, many of these policies have enriched powerful corporations and special interests while taxpayers are left holding the bill for underfunded schools, infrastructure, healthcare, and public services.”

According to recent reporting by the Georgia Budget & Policy Institute and the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, lawmakers approved more than $3 in new tax breaks for every $1 they eliminated during the 2026 legislative session. The legislation could reduce state revenues by more than $6.5 billion over time through income tax reductions and expanded tax incentives.

Rep. Davis warned that many of these policies are being marketed to the public as broad “tax relief,” while the largest benefits often flow to corporations, private interests, and wealthy individuals.

“The average taxpayer hears the words ‘tax cuts’ and believes their family will finally catch a break,” Davis said. “But behind the headlines are special carve-outs, subsidies, credits, and giveaways that disproportionately benefit corporations while local governments and school systems are forced to do more with less.”

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported that Georgia lawmakers expanded or approved numerous new tax breaks, including credits benefiting timber producers, historic rehabilitation projects, private school scholarship programs, and other corporate interests.

Rep. Davis stressed that the issue is larger than politics.

“This is not about Republicans versus Democrats. This is about honesty versus deception. Division. Deception. Dehumanization. Demonization. These distractions are being used to keep Georgians fighting one another while massive financial decisions are made behind closed doors.”

Davis expressed concern that underserved and under-resourced communities will suffer the most from long-term revenue reductions, especially communities already struggling with healthcare access, transportation inequities, affordable housing shortages, environmental injustice, and underfunded schools.

“When state revenues shrink, somebody eventually pays the price,” Davis continued. “It is often the elderly, veterans, working families, children, and communities already left behind.”

Rep. Davis is encouraging taxpayers and voters to demand:

• Greater transparency regarding corporate tax incentives and credits;
• Public reporting on the true return-on-investment of tax breaks;
• Independent audits showing who benefits and who loses;
• Honest public discussions about the long-term impact on schools, healthcare, public safety, and infrastructure;
• Policies that prioritize people over political talking points.

“Taxpayers and voters are the employers,” Davis stated. “The people deserve the truth about where their money is going and who is truly benefiting.”

Rep. Davis concluded by urging Georgians to become more engaged in the legislative process.

“The future of Georgia cannot be built on distractions, fear, greed, and misinformation. The people must read the bills, ask questions, follow the money, and hold elected officials accountable.”