GENERAL ASSEMBLY
Christian lawmakers’ actions raise questions
I was struck by the photo of state Rep. Rick Jasperse high-fiving another legislator subsequent to the passage of his gun bill on the last day of the session. The bill allows guns in churches. On his website, Jasperse describes himself as a Christian, like many in the General Assembly.
I’m wondering if such elation was showed when bills were defeated allowing the use of medical marijuana for Georgia’s sick children and requiring insurance companies to cover children with autism. Or when a bill was passed requiring drug testing for SNAP applicants, the poorest among us.
I understand “dog whistle” politics, but I also believe the following quote from St. Francis of Assisi: “Preach the Gospels every day and only if you have to … use words.” Maybe I’m confused because I’ve always believed that Christian meant being a follower of Christ.
RONALD D. JOHNSON, AUSTELL
Why can’t Legislature deal with Ferdinand?
Why is the state Legislature so afraid of Arthur Ferdinand, the Fulton County tax commissioner? For another year, the Senate has failed to rein in Ferdinand (“Tax chief gets to keep profits,” News, March 24), who uses his position and even county-paid paid employees to enrich his own pockets. As The Atlanta Journal-Constitution has written many times, the Fulton tax commissioner’s office is simply corrupt and taking advantage of taxpayers. Yet the Senate again tables HB 819 rather than deal with the issue. Arthur Ferdinand will have another year under his belt as the the highest-compensated state employee in Georgia.
TIM NEET, ALPHARETTA
Taxpayers will suffer for harebrained laws
Thanks goodness the Legislature has gone. Just like unpleasant relatives with unruly kids, I am happy they have left and even happier they did as little damage as they did. Such harebrained laws as drug tests for food stamp recipients and a Ten Commandments monument on Capitol grounds are going to make a bunch of lawyers rich. I expect that defending these unconstitutional pieces of poorly thought-out legislation will cost taxpayers thousands until they are finally thrown out by our courts.
Unfortunately, nothing was done about foster care and DFCS. I expect we will have to put up with more tragic cases of children being abused or worse while overloaded case workers get blamed. The few bright spots was what did not get passed. My favorite was Senate Bill 167, which would have prohibited testing of students on material tied to the Common Core. How insane was that law? Thankfully, my pocket book and life are safe for another year. The Legislature has left town.
HOWARD STACY, BROOKHAVEN
