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AJC.com > Legislature > Georgia Beat > Archives > 2005 > January > 10
Monday, January 10, 2005
Hot under the collar in the House
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
In the House, the largely ceremonial first day’s session ended just before 1 p.m. and shortly after tempers started to flare between the new GOP leadership and Democrats.
Democrats challenged some major changes to the House rules, declaring the changes would give unprecedented power to newly elected GOP Speaker Glenn Richardson of Dallas.
Richardson and newly elected House Majority Leader Jerry Keen (R-St. Simons) cut off some angry questioning by Democrats and won approval of the rule changes, 132-50.
The biggest fight occurred during the creation of hawks, members who can jump into committee votes at the speaker’s direction.
Democrats also questioned new powers given to the rules committee.
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Senate votes to change its governing rules
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
In its first order of real business for the 2005 Legislative session, the Senate today voted 51-5 in favor of a resolution making several substantive changes to the rules that govern the body.
Senate Rules Committee Chairman Don Balfour (R-Snellville) explained the changes and answered questions from his fellow lawmakers.
Several Democrats raised concerns about the changes, such as the revision stating that a senator who misses a committee meeting three times in a row without an excuse could be removed from that committee.
Sen. Steve Thompson (D-Marietta) asked Balfour to hold off on the vote so members could study the rules overnight. They first saw the changes Monday morning. “I’m not smart enough to read these rules and understand the width and breadth of these changes, and the depth,” Thompson said.
Sen. Regina Thomas (D-Savannah) also expressed misgivings about voting on the rules without a chance to review them. “I encourage each and every one of you not to make it a habit to vote on legislation that you don’t know what it entails.”
Sen. Minority Leader Robert Brown (D-Macon) also spoke from the well. “This process seriously and unnecessarily limits debate on the floor,” Brown said. He added: “The Rules Committee becomes the rulers.”
The proposed revisions include:
- Changes in Committee names and sizes. Members will continue to serve on four committees. Membership on the Ethics and Reapportionment Committees won’t count as one of the four, except for the chairs.
- New sexual harassment and discriminatory harassment rules have been added to the Ethics Rules of the Senate. The role of the Ethics Committee has been clarified and expanded. Senators will be able to request confidential opinions from the Ethics Committee regarding questions involving Senate Ethical Rules.
- Failure to attend three consecutive meetings, unless excused from the Senate on that day, is cause for removal from the Committee by the Committee on Assignments.
- The Rules Committee will be able to send a bill back to the Committee from where it came or send it to another Committee. Also, new is that Rules Committee members can also be removed by the Committee on Assignments.
- Members may not abstain from voting unless they have a direct financial interest in the item being voted on. (Similar to the Rule currently in place for voting on the floor of the Senate).
- Engrossment will be allowed by majority vote at the Third Reading. Debate on a motion to engross, which means that a bill can no longer be amended, will be limited to 10 minutes for each side. Also engrossment extends to House amendments of Senate bills that have been engrossed. In other words, a motion to amend a House amendment to a Senate bill which has been engrossed will be out of order.
- The Rules no longer use masculine terms as the sole terms. Rules now use the masculine and the feminine (“he and she”) to reflect all Senators. Committee chairs are still referred to as Chairmen, however.
- Motions to be excused must briefly state a reason why the Senator should be excused. The current rule is that such motions may state a reason.
- No guest will be allowed to address the Senate. Senators may only bring three guests on the floor at a time. Senators may recognize any person or group at any time before the Third Reading. Photos or presentations of groups larger than three will only be held before and after each session.
- All of the Governor’s appointments will go to the Rules Committee for confirmation.
Before noon, the Senate adjourned until 10 a.m. Tuesday.
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In Senate, recalling George Washington
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The 2005 Georgia Senate convened shortly after 10 a.m. with plenty of pomp, circumstance and picture-taking.
Following a long tradition, the first order of business was the Pledge of Allegiance and then a devotional message.
Senate President Pro Tempore Eric Johnson (R-Savannah) introduced Cam Huxford, pastor of Savannah Christian Church, as chaplain of the day.
Huxford opened his message with an anecdote about a visit to Poland. There, he said, some Polish friends asked him and other Americans to sing the national anthem. When Huxford asked his Polish hosts to return the favor, they replied they had no national anthem. Huxford reflected on America’s proud heritage, in particular the strength and courage of President George Washington during battle.
He said that if there was ever a time when Georgia and the nation needed to look to their leaders, who are blessed and guided by God, now is the time.
“We need you to be as confident as George Washington was,” Huxford said. “We’re praying you will play your part.”
Then, the Secretary of the Senate announced role call for the 56 Senators-elect.
Lt. Gov. Mark Taylor announced that state Sen. Tommie Williams’ (R-Lyons) wife had a daughter, Emma, last night. Taylor said of Williams, “He has gone beyond the call of duty,” to be here today. “You might have expected him to be in the hospital today, but he’s here for the people of Georgia.”
Then, Superior Court Judge Jeff Bagley, of Forsyth County, administered the oath of office for the Senate’s new members.
Next, Taylor called for bipartisan support to do the work of the people of Georgia.
“After a contentious election, can we as members of both parties put the public interest over partisan interest?” Taylor asked rhetorically. He urged his fellow lawmakers to work toward improving education, health care, creating jobs, and crafting ethics legislation that keeps the government transparent.”
Johnson, after being unanimously re-elected to his position as top dog in the chamber, welcomed his fellow Senators and offered advice to both veterans and freshman.
“Be grounded. Never forget your family, business and constituents. Be honest. Your word is your currency in this building. Be patient. There are no shortcuts to success. Be civil. We are not enemies. Make friends across the aisle. Visit other districts. Think globally. Have fun. Keep your sense of humor. Take your job seriously, but not yourself,” Johnson advised.
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GOP officially takes control
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The 2005 General Assembly session opened this morning with Republicans taking charge of the House for the first time in 135 years and formally electing the first GOP speaker.
State Rep. Sharon Cooper (R-Marietta) stood before the House just before 11 a.m. to officially nominate state Rep. Glenn Richardson, of Dallas, for the speaker’s job.
“Glenn will put people before politics and will work for the good of the state, not the spoils of politics,” Cooper said.
Her nominating speech drew a standing ovation from Republicans, who control the House, 99-81. Some Democrats, including Minority Leader-elect DuBose Porter, of Dublin, did not stand.
Republicans in the House met shortly after the Nov. 2 elections to pick Richardson as their choice for speaker.
He immediately went to work making plans for major changes in the House, including a new key-card voting system and sweeping changes to rules that govern the 180-member chamber.
Richardson, a Paulding County attorney and eight-year House veteran, was officially picked at 11:10 a.m.
House Democrats, now the minority, offered their own candidate. But even some of them supported Richardson’s nomination.
The official vote was 117-60 in the 180-member House.
“Thank you for having the faith in me,” Richardson told the House, which greeted his selection with a standing ovation.
In his acceptance speech, the eight-year House veteran teared up briefly as he thanked his wife, Susan, and their three children for their support.
“I don’t mean to be emotional. I’m trying not to be,” Richardson told House members and a standing-room only crowd of well-wishers. “The gravity of this moment is overwhelming to me.”
Richardson said the new era of Republican control in the Georgia House since 1870 is “a time for change” and “a time to lead.”
House Republicans in November tapped Richardson to succeed state Rep. Terry Coleman (D-Eastman) as speaker. But his election was not official until the full House vote.
His mark is already on the House. House members used their new key-card voting machines for the roll call and for the speaker’s election.
Richardson said the new key-card voting system will bring a new air of professionalism to the chamber.
Democrats offered their own nominee for speaker, as Republicans used to do when they were in the minority. They nominated state Rep. DuBose Porter (D-Dublin).
State Rep. Mary Margaret Oliver (D-Decatur) said Democrats acknowledge Richardson’s abilities and values, but picked Porter as their nominee “because of the issues that face Georgia” and “because of the way he cares about all Georgia.”
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