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DEL.ICIO.USA case of revenge that almost worked
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
On Wednesday, Democrats in the Senate very nearly pulled off an exquisite maneuver that would have killed the only gun bill Republicans have been able to pass this session.
State Sen. Vincent Fort (D-Atlanta) successfully added an amendment that would have required universities to develop plans for dealing with shooting incidents, like the one at Virginia Tech last year.
The amendment doubled the length of the bill, and Senate rules required the bill be placed on the next day’s calendar. Had Republicans not awarded themselves a generous mulligan, the amendment would have put the bill out of reach for the session.
It’s helpful to remember who’s done what to whom at the state Capitol. One of the originators of the plan to load up H.B. 257 with gun-toting baubles was state Rep. Tim Bearden (R-Villa Rica).
And it’s pretty widely known that Fort blames Bearden — and state Rep. David Ralston (R-Blue Ridge) — for killing his bill to shut down no-knock warrants. The Fort measure passed the Senate, but is going nowhere in the House.
Comments
By Mafuta54
April 3, 2008 12:47 PM | Link to this
Spoiled brat kindergarten schoolyard tactics displayed by State Sen. Vincent Fort (D-Atlanta). Utterly despicable!
By GA Resident
April 3, 2008 1:16 PM | Link to this
Seriously. If state legislators want to fight, play games or call each other names, they’ve got 325 other days a year to do it. For the 40 days they’re in session, they need to put petty differences aside and work for the betterment of Georgians everywhere.
Hey GA House & Senate members: Grow up! All of you! Do what you were elected to do and leave the petty antics alone!
By sickofidiots
April 3, 2008 1:37 PM | Link to this
I think what you fail to realize is that the gun legislation was a bad bill. Georgians are going to be less safe because of it. I don’t think the amendment was for schoolyard tactics but possibly maneuvering to kill a bad bill
By bobs
April 3, 2008 3:16 PM | Link to this
Sen. Fort was simply using strategy and Senate rules to kill a bad bill. The Senate GOP amended this harmless bill related to allowing constables to carry weapons in the courtroom with amendments to allow concealed weapons on public transit and in restaurants that serve alcohol. Hate the game, not the player.