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March 20, 2013
Greetings!     

 

Wednesday was the 34th day of the legislative session, highlighted by the Senate's first subcommittee hearing on Speaker Ralston's ethics bills - HB 142 and HB 143.

 

The meeting featured a presentation by Rep. Rich Golick to the Senators on the subcommittee detailing the various provisions of the bill, specifically taking time to explain the definitions of a lobbyist and the exceptions on the "ban" of lobbyist gifts to legislators.

 

Following that presentation, the subcommittee heard testimony from the public.  It was a packed house, and citizen activists from all over the state voiced their concerns.  Many believe that the new registration requirements would prohibit concerned citizens from petitioning their government.  Others expressed their concern that the bills, as they are now, do not capture the spirit of the vote this past summer that saw 1.2 million Georgians vote to restrict lobbyist gifts. 

 

Members of Common Cause Georgia, Tea Party, Georgia Conservatives in Action, and the League of Women Voters (who are all a part of the Georgia Alliance for Ethics Reform) presented suggestions on how to strengthen the bills.

  

Tomorrow, Thursday March 21, we hope that the full Rules Committee will vote on a substitute bill that fixes many of the problems that citizens were concerned about at yesterday's subcommittee meeting.  A vote out of Rules is the last step it needs before it goes to the full floor, which could happen as early as Friday.

 

More on that tomorrow, stay tuned!

 

Sincerely,  

 

William Perry
Executive Director
Common Cause Georgia
 
Common Cause Georgia - 100 Edgewood Ave NE, Suite 1275, Atlanta, GA 30303 - 404-524-4598