ATLANTA — A state legislative committee is eyeing cutbacks in $30 billion worth of tax credits and tax exemptions to offset the potential elimination of an income tax that generates $16 billion for state government.

“It is not a question of if we go to zero, it’s when and how we take our income tax to zero,” said Sen. Blake Tillery, R-Vidalia, leader of the Special Committee on Eliminating Georgia’s Income Tax. “It’s an issue of competitiveness.”

Senators heard Monday from three invited speakers who advocated for eliminating the 5.19% income tax.

Patrice Onwuka, director of the Independent Women’s Center for Economic Opportunity, said half of the state’s residents live paycheck to paycheck and could use a tax break.

Arthur Laffer described consequences for population, productivity and

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