Ga. House approves P-card restrictions
The Georgia House of Representatives passed a bill Tuesday that limits local elected officials’ use of taxpayer-funded charge cards.
The legislation, House Bill 192, was approved on a 167-2 vote, and it now advances to the state Senate for further consideration.
The measure doesn't ban purchasing cards outright, but it would force county commissions, city councils and school boards to adopt purchasing card guidelines — including transaction limits — before they can be issued to elected officials.
Rep. Alan Powell, R-Hartwell, sponsored the legislation after several DeKalb County officials were accused of using charge cards for personal purposes. Former DeKalb Commissioner Elaine Boyer pleaded guilty in September to federal fraud charges that she used her card for personal airline trips and hotels.
About the Author
Mark Niesse is an enterprise reporter and covers elections and Georgia government for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution and is considered an expert on elections and voting. Before joining the AJC, he worked for The Associated Press in Atlanta, Honolulu and Montgomery, Alabama. He also reported for The Daily Report and The Santiago Times in Chile.
