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DEL.ICIO.USHear the speeches: House votes 163 to 5 to override governor’s veto; state Rep. Austin Scott canned
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Shirking any mention of partisanship and proclaiming this a fight for its independence, a somber House on Friday morning voted 163 to 5 to override the governor’s veto of the $700 million, ‘07 mid-year budget.
State Rep. Austin Scott (R-Tifton) was immediately stripped of his chairmanship of the House Government Affairs Committee for casting one of the five votes against the override.
“I was given a choice between my vote and my chairmanship,” said Scott.
House Speaker Glenn Richardson immediately appointed a bipartisan squad of top lawmakers to take the vote to the Senate, and proclaimed that the constitution obliges the the upper chamber to act on it.
The Senate refused. “We cannot respond to a veto until we are in receipt of it. A press conference by the governor does not constitute transmittal,” Cagle said. Here’s the sound.
The House made the veto override the first order of business, handled in a matter of 30 minutes. Five lawmakers spoke: Majority Leader Jerry Keen (R-St. Simons Island; Speaker pro tem Mark Burkhalter (R-Alpharetta); Appropriations Chairman Ben Harbin (R-Evans); Minority Leader DuBose Porter (D-Dublin); state Rep. Calvin Smyre (D-Columbus); and finally, Richardson, the speaker.
Click on a name to hear what they said. Pardon the roughness of the audio.
Of the set, Richardson and Porter were the most eloquent.
More than any other, Richardson dwelt more on the $142 million tax cut contained within the bill, and spoke most personally of Gov. Sonny Perdue.
Said Richardson:
“I respect the man. I’m his friend. First thing he did when he came into office here was to introduce a tax increase that he asked me to carry, and I did. I have voted and supported every position he’s had since he’s been governor.
“But on this one, I respectfully disagree and say its time to stand up and say, ‘No more.’”
Porter gave House members a brief history lesson, tracing the independence of the General Assembly to 1966, when — after Republican Howard “Bo” Callaway failed to win a majority of the vote in the race for governor - the Legislature handed the office to Democrat Lester Maddox.
“The only way to stay relevant in this process is to keep the independence of the House,” Porter said.
Comments
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By John
April 20, 2007 1:06 PM | Link to this
Austin Scott has shown again that he is a legislator with integrity. When Glenn Richardson starts praising Tom Murphy and Mark Burkhalter says nice things about DuBose Porter and Tyrone Brooks, you have to get suspicious about motives. The equating of the blatant political vote of the House to the end of the slave trade in England was over the top. All of us I am sure are waiting with excitement for our 10 cent per day tax rebate.
By Bear
April 20, 2007 1:54 PM | Link to this
It’s about time someone stood up to that do-nothing-except-profit-personally excuse for a governor. Way to go, Glenn! You’ve got my vote in 4 years!
By James
April 20, 2007 2:07 PM | Link to this
After hearing LtGov. Cagle’s weasly excuse for not holding an override vote (he has not received official notice from Governor Veto and that could take up to 3 days), it is quite apparent the Senate will not vote today on HB 94. Cagle’s foot dragging on behalf of Governor Veto will now result in a 5 day special session at a cost of $175,000. I hope the House continues to stand up for taxpayers!
By Eric
April 20, 2007 2:13 PM | Link to this
I hear Rep. Austin Scott is down at Kinkos on Peachtree Street updating his resume. Can somebody post who the other four pork lovers are?
By Georgia Taxpayers
April 20, 2007 2:23 PM | Link to this
CASEY CAGLE: Let our Senators vote Governor Perdue’s veto up or down! Let them vote today! Quit playing games! Enough is enough! LET OUR SENATORS VOTE NOW!!!!!!!!!!
By Glenn
April 20, 2007 2:27 PM | Link to this
Eric - it’s real simple. The “foolish five” are the five porkers having lunch with Porker Perdue right now!