By James Salzer
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Former Gov. Roy Barnes travels the state slamming special-interest tax breaks and saying they need to be eliminated to fund education.
But for Barnes, the front-runner among Democrats in this year’s governor’s race, that’s a big change of heart.
While serving in the General Assembly, Barnes voted for more than two dozen sales tax exemptions, according to a review of legislative records. He supported exemptions for everything from the sale of solar panels and crab bait to aircraft parts and Girl Scout cookies. As governor from 1999 to 2003, he signed at least 13 more exemptions that are still in effect.