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DEL.ICIO.USCan Ga. General Assembly be fixed?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Sure, House Speaker Glenn Richardson can hold a bill hostage until he gets his way. And Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle may be the legislative version of Eddie Haskell, pretending to be a consensus builder in public, but going all Darth Vader on tax proposals coming over from the House. (Read Mike King’s column)
It’s easy to pin the General Assembly’s dysfunction on its two most visible figures. But the problems are rooted much deeper and go back well beyond the Republican Party’s recent control of the state capitol.
It has a lot to do with how the annual sessions are run — insisting, for instance, that passing a budget and tackling every other issue before it must be accomplished in the same 40 days. (Other states break up their sessions by scheduling one for the budget and taxes and another for everything else.)
Some say the dysfunction is so bad, legislators should be bound by term limits. Others say such limits should only be placed on the legislative leadership.
What are some of the best practices of other states? Share some of your ideas for reforming the legislature. I’ll include the best of them in next week’s column focusing on solutions.
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By Red
April 10, 2008 8:28 AM | Link to this
The best solution would be to turn it back over to the Democrats. For all of their failings, they could at least accomplish something each year. I was heartened when at first I saw the Republicans disagreeing. I thought they were going to be lovey-dovey with Perdue like they were with Bush and pass every little thing without debate. Now they are showing their total incompetence. The DOT, once a model for the country, has fallen into ruin in less than 8 years. Other agencies are on the brink. It is a mess. I don’t want to hear how they do it better up north. We know that won’t be true anyway, just like they know how to drive on snow, but have multicar pileups as soon as there is a little on the ground.
By Eric Stoner
April 10, 2008 8:58 AM | Link to this
Republicans have proved, at the local, state and national levels, that they can win elections but they can’t govern.
By Corey
April 10, 2008 9:05 AM | Link to this
The state’s business and problems are much more complex to be adressed and remedied in forty days. We are no longer in the eighteenth century.
By Get Real
April 10, 2008 9:20 AM | Link to this
Did you really think that when you get a bunch of politicians together to make law, whether they are Republicans or Democrats that they are going to agree on anything? They are all totally self serving, it’s all about what does it do for me? Casey Cagle wanted to save those tax breaks for the public to use it to run for Governor, and Richardson is trying to change the way taxes are collected in Georgia to increase the power of his position as Speaker of the House (Which is third only to the Governor and Lt. Governor).
It’s always about their own personal agenda, never about what their taxpayers really want or need.
Get Real.
By Poster
April 10, 2008 9:22 AM | Link to this
What also is ridiculous is the amount of work both chambers aims to accomplish the last few days, instead of working to pass the easier pieces of legislation — the pieces that don’t require a ton of debate, committee hearings or revisions — during the first few weeks of the session, or at least before Crossover Day. It also amazes me how many people are “recognized” each day at the Capitol, and the amount of time that takes up. It’s not surprising a budget agreement was unable to be reached when there’s a high school football team or a beauty queen is near the well.
By Road Scholar
April 10, 2008 9:46 AM | Link to this
When you ask whether they can be fixed, are you refering to neutering? It would be better that most of these aledged leaders could not have children!
By Tom
April 10, 2008 9:56 AM | Link to this
I believe the best approach is to insure the two houses are controlled by different parties, I think its called ‘checks and balances’
By Jan
April 10, 2008 10:15 AM | Link to this
The political party currently in the driver’s seat is of no consequence. It is politicians, in general, that are becoming more self-serving, only interested in their own agendas. I can’t believe anything can be accomplished in 40 days, especially when it requires intelligence and focus to pass legislation benefiting an entire state. Our combined legislators, both parties, have not exhibited these qualities. I, for one, believe the entire body needs revamping in order to obtain needed legislation for this state to prosper in the future.
By James
April 10, 2008 10:23 AM | Link to this
WHAT YOU REALLY MEAN IS CAN IT BE PRIMARILY A LIBERAL, DEMOCRAT LEGISLATURE AGAIN. LET’S HOPE NOT.
By Letmebuybeeronsunday
April 10, 2008 10:35 AM | Link to this
Having been deprived of power for so many years, Georgia Republicans are now drunk on it. I have no doubt that both Cagle and Richardson would both sell their own mothers down the river to further themselves politically. The bickering, public feuds and power grabs are sad and astonishing. Glenn Richardson is undoubtedly the most arrogant person in state politics, perhaps even in the entire world.
By Dave
April 10, 2008 12:08 PM | Link to this
All I know is if they don’t give us the right to vote to decide if we want alcohol sold on Sunday I will vote a straight Democratic ticket.
By ICanRead
April 10, 2008 1:04 PM | Link to this
Dave, nobody has the right to vote. It is a privilege. Check the constitution - if you can read it.
By Mary Hannon
April 10, 2008 1:21 PM | Link to this
ICanRead needs to go back to school. It is indeed a right to vote. Nowhere does the Constitution call it the priviledge of voting.
By droy
April 10, 2008 2:32 PM | Link to this
Glenn Richardson is an ego-maniac.The Republicans in the House better oust this guy as Speaker or the Republicans will lose big next election.He can’t get along with anybody because it’s all about him! He believes it’s his world and the rest of us are just living in it! He’s just posturing to run for Governor. I hope he does. He’ll get the $hit beat out of him.
By Good call
April 10, 2008 3:02 PM | Link to this
Yep, turn it over to the democrats. Having your state run by democrats has done wonders for Michigan. Atlanta, the next Detroit. It has a nice ring to it. Would look great on a billboard. Good call!
By Steve
April 10, 2008 3:44 PM | Link to this
I’d rather have a mix of Dems and Republicans here, but mostly Dems. We need balance in govt. Dems aren’t as greedy and selfish.
By droy's cousin troy
April 10, 2008 5:05 PM | Link to this
House Speaker Glenn Dickson is the absolute worst. He will singlehandedly put the Republicans back in the minority if his party does not remove this dangerous egomaniac from his position.
By Joey J Santana
April 10, 2008 5:58 PM | Link to this
Mike, Georgia is the largest state in the nation that still tries to function with a part-time (non-professional) legislature - so part of the problem is a lack of professional policy people that can do the kind of analytical work that is needed when policy proposals come up. While some changes have been made in recent years, there has not been enought so many proposals just represent a “shot in the dark” and with a lack of solid facts,(lobbyst don’t know it all) it makes it harder to forge a consensus. So a good first step would be to bring in strong policy staff like other “big” states have. Georgia is no longer a small rural state, but the General Assembly in many ways still tries to function as it did in those times.
By Oh Lord
April 11, 2008 8:16 AM | Link to this
I for one am glad that they do not meet more than 40 days. Imagine the mess we would be in if they actually stayed longer. We would never be safe… At least now we are safe most of 9 months out of the year.
By Mark
April 11, 2008 8:23 AM | Link to this
Mary, I’m afraid you are mistaken. There is no ‘right to vote’ in the constitution.
Most Americans may believe that the “legal right to vote” is explicit (not just implicit) in our Constitution and laws. This is not the case. The Constitution only provides explicitly for non-discrimination in voting on the basis of race, sex, and age in the 15th, 19th and 26th Amendments respectively.
By Ed
April 11, 2008 8:31 AM | Link to this
We need some good, moderate legislators and leaders that are only interested in doing what is minimally necessary to make government function efficiently. We do not need for government to be all things to all people. When this happens personal responsibility is thrown out the window. It doesn’t matter if it’s democrats or republicans. Put them in a can, shake them up, pour them, out and you wouldn’t be able to tell the difference. I would like to suggest that the only way to solve the problems our legislature has today is term limits.
By Dennis
April 11, 2008 8:48 AM | Link to this
Exactly how was this session and the last 5 sessions vastly different from all previous legislative sessions?
That’s right, Republicans are in charge. So the AJC feels empowered to give us an “honest” evaluation.
Yes, this session was embarrassing. But in my 63 years, I cannot recall one that wasn’t?
By Jim's a Cherry Picker
April 11, 2008 12:49 PM | Link to this
Hi Mike,
Why doesn’t the editorial staff of the AJC (including Wooten) get together and do a series of both news and editorial pieces on what impact lobbyists have on the legislative process in Ga.
Who are the players? What’s at stake? What’s the bottom line down there? Who’s representing me (the little guy)?
My guess is that, like our federal government, we’re only getting what the highest bidder pays for…but I have no way of knowing.
Thks.
By Time for an Overhaul
April 11, 2008 1:40 PM | Link to this
Get Real - Well put and I totally agree. It doesn’t matter what party, they are all politicians with their own self-serving agenda!!
By Shar
April 11, 2008 2:05 PM | Link to this
I agree with most posters here that, although we currently are afflicted with embarassingly bad state leadership, there is not much difference between the parties, particularly in the event that they control the House, the Senate and the executive. Democrat or Republican, you’ll still have too much control in too few hands, the great majority of low profile legislators waiting to be told what to do, and far too much access by special interests.
Some suggestions for consideration:
Different deadlines for different categories of legislation, with the budget to be passed before any specific allocations are made. For example, the budget would be introduced, debated and passed within the first ten days. Any education-related legislation would be limited to the next ten days, infrastructure to the next ten and criminal/judicial/domestic issues to the next ten. All proposed and passed legislation would be required to have firm budget allocations attached.
Any spending on local projects (read pork) would be limited to .01% of the total budget for the appropriate category. No more than .01% of the total education budget for statewide spending on local education initiatives, for example, with the sponsor required to come to the well and defend the spending to the entire chamber. There should never be an unspecified lump of taxpayer money available for individual politicians to buy votes with.
All contacts between lobbyists and legislators take place in public, with lobbyist donations deducted from legislative per diems. All conversations and materials passing between the parties should be recorded, at lobbyist expense, and transcripts with campaign contribution records should be attached to any legislation introduced by the legislator that could affect the lobbying organization.
All legislators should be subject to the laws they pass. No quickie, illicit divorces, no backdated campaign finance declarations, no winks or nods to drunk driving, violations of fair housing laws, or cousins on the public payroll. Infractions would be punishable by expulsion.
Legislators should be required to return to their districts at least twice during the Session and to hold public forums for constituents on the process of the Legislature to date. The public would be able to express their feelings directly to their representative while their thoughts can still affect the conduct of public affairs. The legislator should also have to declare all contributions during those sessions, so that constituents can clearly understand to whom their representative is indebted.
A bit of humility, transparency and efficiency would help Georgia’s legislative process far more than additional time in session.
By Skeptic Tank
April 11, 2008 2:49 PM | Link to this
What strikes me as troubling is the idiotic partisan banter that is pervasive in most of these posts. “If we had more Dems, blah blah blah”. “If we got rid of the Dems, blah blah blah”. The problem is, we are a country DIVIDED; our electorate has been conditioned to think in terms of us versus them, rather than attempting to seek a common ground. Debate in this country is so dumbed down, it’s no wonder we are mired in stagnation and going nowhere. Meanwhile, our leadership has seized advantage of the citizen’s tug-of-war for ideological superiority, and has sold out to the LOBBYISTS. Folks, it’s not about left versus right, or Republicans versus Democrats anymore. Didn’t 12 years of Republican rule in the national legislature and 7.5 years of George W. Bush teach you that? BOTH sides of the aisle are corrupt and unaccountable. The SYSTEM is broken. And we’re being played like an Italian violin.
By RealityKing
April 11, 2008 3:25 PM | Link to this
Voting is indeed a priviledge. That’s why you can lose it if convicted of a felony..
By Bob
April 11, 2008 3:28 PM | Link to this
Government = Dysfunction
Therefore less government = less dysfunction. Getting it yet Mikey??
By Just Nasty and Mean
April 11, 2008 6:16 PM | Link to this
Yea, the Dems got stuff done, alright. Does anyone else remember Tom Murphy dictating to everybody—especially the Senate—what was and was not going to get done?
Can anyone remember the Dems telling the public they were considering a fuel tax increase, only—at literally the last hour—-coming up with a sales tax increase and enough pork doled out to the leadership districts that even THEIR constituents thought it was an abomination.
Dems don’t remember that—do you?
I would much rather have the infighting and get nothing done, than Tom Murphy’s smoke-filled back room decisions sprung out at the last minute.
So don’t start dishing out platitudes on how well the dems could do it. They were scoundrels of the highest order.