Let’s hope Feb. 25, 2013, will be remembered as a historic day for Georgia.
On the 23rd legislative day of its annual 40-day session, the Georgia House of Representatives passed House Bill 142, the ethics reform bill.
It’s always interesting to watch the Georgia Legislature in action, so I thought I’d share with you the scene as the vote on the bill played out.
As the day opens, the scene at the House isn’t quite what you’d expect; the House honors its traditions and moves swiftly from the mundane to the important matters and back to the ordinary rituals — no matter how serious its work that day.
The day’s business gets underway at 1:09, by my watch, when House Speaker David Ralston asks the clerk to ring the bell.
The session always opens with a prayer offered by the “Chaplain of the Day.” On this day it is Marcus Jackson, brother of Rep. Mack Jackson, Democrat from Sandersville. Apparently Rep. Jackson drafted his brother who happened to be at the Gold Dome for “Clergy Day.” (There are a number of such “days” every day at the Legislature.)
Then the members recite the Pledge of Allegiance.
Of course, Chaplain Jackson and his wife have their pictures taken with the Speaker. (A lot of people have their pictures taken at the Legislature.)
After that, Clerk of the House Robert Rivers swiftly reads through summaries of about 15 bills that members filed, and Ralston just as rapidly assigns them to committees. All the while, members mill about and chat; it sounds like a noisy reception hall.
At 1:34, Ralston orders members to quiet down, and to return to their seats.
The House then hears resolutions to honor a competitive cheerleading squad, and two of the cheerleaders step to the microphone to offer thanks. The House also recognizes a school board member and state championship football team.
These things are important to House members. When their constituents make the long trip to Atlanta, they want them to feel good about it — and remember it at election time.
At 1:47, Ralston bangs his gavel.
But the ethics bill debate waits.
The Speaker moves the House rapidly, and the members vote on three bills in 11 minutes.
At 1:58 p.m., the chamber quiets with just about every member in their seat, and the debate on the ethics bill begins.
House Majority Leader Larry O’Neal (R-Bonaire) steps into the well. Ralston leaves his normal place at the podium, and sits near O’Neal.
Speaker Pro-Tempore (“For the time being” in Latin) Jan Jones, Republican of Milton, takes Ralston’s place at the podium.
O’Neal says he “can’t remember a bill more vetted;” he calls it “common sense.” And, of course, most of the true debate and work has taken place before this floor vote.
Jones reminds members that the debate will be limited to an hour. About a half-dozen members speak in favor of the bill, including Democrat Calvin Smyre of Columbus, “dean of the House,” who has served for 39 years.
“We’ve been talking about ethics for a long time,” he says.
At 2:34 Ralston steps to the microphone. It’s unusual for the House’s leader to speak in support of a bill so this adds to the gravity of the moment.
But he has sponsored the bill, which bans lobbyists’ spending on public officials (with some exceptions), expands the definition of a lobbyist and strengthens the state’s ethics commission.
Ralston tells members that ethics reform is “an issue that we as elected officials must address and confront.”
“This is what the people sent us here to do,” he says. “We know where our duty lies.”
He finishes his remarks at 2:46.
It’s time for the vote. Members of the DeKalb delegation, who’ve been at Gov. Nathan Deal’s press conference where he suspended two-thirds of that county’s school board, rush into the chamber. Some are jogging to their desks to press the button they use to vote.
The large electronic board in the House — out of place in the historic chamber — shows the tally: 164-4 in favor.
Ralston, shaking hands and receiving congratulations from those around him, returns to the podium.
There are more hometown state champion high school teams to honor and photos to take before the House recesses. And it’s “Audiology Day.”
Now the ethics bill is in the Senate’s hands; that chamber must pass it for it to become law. That’s no certainty, though. As at least one old hand around the Capitol said to me: “We’ve been here before.”
