The Republican majority in the state House has used its power to temporarily scuttle a series of Democratic bills in apparent response to last week’s failure of a bill raising the Fulton County homestead exemption.
Majority Whip Edward Lindsey, R-Atlanta, led the House through a series of votes that ended with the tabling of more than half a dozen bills. These bills, all dealing with local issues like city limits and court appointments, were sponsored by Democrats and passed last Thursday.
The move is a response to the House’s failure to pass House Bill 541, a GOP-sponsored bill that would increase the Fulton County homestead exemption to $60,000, if voters approve in a 2014 referendum. It needed a constitutional majority of 120 votes and received only 119 on Thursday.
Interestingly, Lindsey also had that bill tabled. The votes were all along party lines. House Speaker David Ralston, R-Blue Ridge, said those bills will remain on the table for the time being.
Democrats in the chamber suspect that Lindsey is holding their bills hostage unless they agree to vote for HB 541.
The fight is part of a Fulton County civil war between Republicans and Democrats. Republican lawmakers now have a majority of that county’s delegation and have worked to make substantial changes to the county’s governance.
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