Georgia officials on Wednesday approved a $3.2 million contract for a new security system for the Capitol, though they sought to reinforce it would not impose any new restrictions on the public and the media from accessing the Gold Dome.
Frustrated lobbyists and some reporters complained earlier this year when a new Gold Dome policy shuttered doors to the Capitol after 5 p.m. on most days, sending Troopers around the statehouse to escort those without special badges out of the building.
State officials made other recent changes to Capitol access that raised eyebrows.
Gov. Nathan Deal's staff in 2014 restricted first-floor access to a suite of offices after what was described as "a few unnerving incidents."
And visitors in January were surprised to find the second-floor entrance on Capitol Avenue – just across from the sparkling new Liberty Plaza – was restricted to those with badges, though another first-floor entrance on the same street was opened to the public.
Longtime lobbyist Neill Herring said at the time the switcheroo was a sign of "elitist thoughtlessness." And state Sen. Horacena Tate, D-Atlanta, said the shift sent the wrong message to the public.
"We need to think about what cutting off access means to the people who vote for us, to our constituents and to each one of us when we cut off access," Tate said in a point of personal privilege on the floor of the Senate.
The contract approved Wednesday by the Georgia Building Authority calls for a new system of security badge scanners throughout the Capitol to replace an aging network described as buggy and unreliable. Steve Stancil, the authority’s director, said the current system is “maxed out” and can no longer accommodate new scanners.
“I don’t think the visitors will ever know any difference,” said Stancil. “These are a whole lot cheaper than posting a Trooper at every door. We’ve just outgrown the system.”
Stancil added that he’s not aware of any future policy changes that would affect media or public access to the building. Deal and his deputies tried to underscore that point as well.
“This is about the security of our facilities,” Deal said as the board voted unanimously to approve the new contract.
“Governor, since the AJC is here, you may want to restate: It’s not to keep the AJC out of the Capitol,” said Chris Riley, Deal’s top aide.
“Y’all want to re-vote?” Deal quipped to laughs.
“No comment,” added Secretary of State Brian Kemp.
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