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AJC.com > Legislature > Blog > Archives > 2007 > February > 02
Friday, February 2, 2007
Iraq experience moves lawmakers
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Ben Gray / Staff
Rep. Mike Glanton (D-Ellenwood) is surrounded by concerned legislators as he asks for prayers following an extremely emotional week, including the death of his grandmother and uncle and a mortar attack on his daughter's camp in Iraq.
A freshman state lawmaker brought the House of Representatives to tears today with an emotional speech about his daughter narrowly surviving a mortar attack at a U.S. military base in Baghdad.
State Rep. Mike Glanton (D-Jonesboro) cried as he stood in the well of the House speaking about his daughter, Staff Sgt. Latisha Glanton of the Ft. Polk, La.-based 488th Quartermaster Company.
One by one, lawmakers joined Glanton at the podium and placed their hands on his shoulders as he read an e-mail his daughter wrote him Thursday. In it, she described her close call and the injuries her fellow soldiers sustained in the attack.
Reading from the e-mail, Glanton said: “One of my friends pushed me out of the way — praise God — and into safety, but two of my friends were hit. I cannot stop crying, Daddy. When I close my eyes I hear my friend McCall screaming he can’t feel his leg and seeing all the blood on his uniform. I hear Milton screaming ‘Don’t leave me!’ ”
“I don’t want to come off like some wimp, Dad,’” Glanton continued reading. “I can’t leave my troops out here, but I am scared to leave my room. Maybe I just need some time.”
Glanton’s daughter is a 1999 graduate of Morrow High School in Clayton County.
Glanton’s family endured several other tragedies in the days leading up to the mortar attack. His grandmother died Monday. On Tuesday, his aunt suffered a massive stroke and is not expected to survive. On Wednesday, another aunt was rushed to the hospital with complications from diabetes. And Thursday, his uncle died from a heart attack.
“To this body,” Glanton said, “I ask for your continued prayers for my daughter, for my family and for all our service men and women who so bravely serve in our Armed Forces guarding our way of life in this country, serving in harm’s way.”
Fellow lawmakers wept as Glanton spoke. When he finished, Republicans and Democrats alike lined up to embrace him.
“I was sobbing. It was very emotional. I can’t imagine having a daughter in Iraq,” said Rep. Pat Gardner (D-Atlanta). “It was a beautiful experience… I think those kinds of experiences will help bring us together and help us work together.”
Permalink | | Categories: politics
Senate easily passes Charter Systems Act
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The state Senate overwhelmingly passed a bill today that would allow school systems to become charter systems that are exempt from many rules traditional public schools must follow. In exchange, the systems must meet performance goals spelled out in each charter.
The vote was 53-2. Senate Bill 39 now goes to the House Education Committee.
“This bill is a huge step in the right direction for public education,” Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle said just after the vote. “It sets a new platform. It has the potential of impacting the nation.”
Cagle shepherded the legislation through, along with Sen. Dan Weber (R-Dunwoody).
“This model will promote bottom-up management where parents and teachers will be empowered,” Weber said. “We need to have recognication one size does not fit all.”
Currently, schools in Georgia must apply individually to local school boards and the state Board of Education to become charter schools. This bill would speed up that process by allowing several schools at once to gain charter status.
If it becomes law, up to five school systems could be approved in the first year. Each approved system would receive $125,000 from the state to implement their plans. Applicants also would be eligible to receive smaller planning grants.
