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DEL.ICIO.USThou shalt not lie, unless thou art in the General Assembly, in which case fibs will be overlooked
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
State Sen. Ed Tarver of Augusta, a Democrat, has produced a pair of bills with a bipartisan future — but it’s difficult to get one’s head around the revolutionary concept he has proposed.
Tarver thinks that it should be illegal for witnesses to lie in testimony they present during House and Senate hearings. S.B. 441 would require an oath from the presenter of “any oral evidence in support or opposition of any legislation or request for appropriation to a committee or subcommittee of the General Assembly.”
S.B. 442 would impose a maximum fibbing penalty of not more than $1,000 and five years in prison.
Both bills have the signatures of three Democrats and three Republicans. State Sen. Preston Smith (R-Rome) is the leading Republican on the bill.
From what we gather reading the legislation, the bill would apply to common citizens, lobbyists, and members of the governor’s staff. Even the governor himself.
But it specifically exempts 236 members of the General Assembly.
Comments
By Logical Dude
February 11, 2008 4:09 PM | Link to this
Another “Do as I say, not as I do” type of philosophies.
Does it give any reasons to exempt these persons? You don’t mention the wording of the bill(s), so I wonder if there is an allowance for “spin”.
By Will Jones
February 11, 2008 4:44 PM | Link to this
An elected official in the State of Georgia could be so contemptibly hypocritical as to exempt lies on the part of those of whom so much more is rightfully expected by the Electorate? Please AJC, play this for more than just the laughs it so richly deserves.
You owe it to your readers to run them out of office. We deserve better.
By ed
February 11, 2008 7:50 PM | Link to this
Will you are insane. Quite literally.
By RJ
February 11, 2008 9:40 PM | Link to this
Logical Dude, You are absolutely correct, which is why we citizens must always do our jobs…keep watch over these self serving clowns.
By Tom
February 12, 2008 7:38 AM | Link to this
They are already apparently exempt from the normal divorce laws, so I suppose this should be no different.
By Jerry
February 12, 2008 10:19 AM | Link to this
It is impossible to be an effective politician and be completely truthful all of the time. That’s the ugly fact, but it’s inescapable. Politics isn’t moral or immoral, it’s amoral.
By Will Jones
February 12, 2008 9:45 PM | Link to this
Corrupt politics is a defilement of the lives given at sacrifice on behalf of the People and the Constitution.
Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people.
Dishonesty by those made elect is treason.