From The Atlanta Journal-Constitution March 29, on passage of ethics legislation.
Gov. Nathan Deal: "We were running out of time, and if we ran out of time and didn't have time for conferees to meet on the budget, then it appeared that there would be no alternative other than call a special session, which I did not want to do," he said. "I don't know if that's what got them going, but whatever it was, I'm glad it did."
On the bill's merits: "We all have to judge it not necessarily by the words on the bill now but how it's implemented in the real world," he said. "I have every reason to believe that this is the step in the right direction, but it may not be the final step."
House Speaker David Ralston, R-Blue Ridge: "I was absolutely committed we were going to do a bill this session," he said. "I believed it was important we do that to keep the faith with the people of Georgia."
“There were a lot of cynics and skeptics who felt like at the end of the day that we would not be able to do a bill, that our efforts would fall apart,” Ralston said. “But we did get a bill, and I think it’s a good bill.”
“Sometimes I think it’s more important that you do something rather than nothing. We moved the ball down the field,” he said. “For the first time, we do have a limitation on spending, and I think that’s important. I don’t get my way all the time. We’ll fight another day and keep moving the ball in that direction.”
Julianne Thompson, a tea party activist who worked for an ethics overhaul: "Is it a perfect bill? No. But we are happy with the changes to the definition of lobbyists. We know that Senate leadership went to the mat for us. We know they stood strong and were committed to making sure the First Amendment rights of conservative advocates were protected. We will never forget that."
Sen. Josh McKoon, R-Columbus, who has led the push for ethics reform: "It's not everything we need to do, but it's definitely putting points on the board," he said. "Tonight, let's put this one through the uprights, but let's be prepared to come back next year to score a touchdown on ethics reform."
