The Parent Press: Week 6 of the 2021 Legislative Session
The 2021 Legislative Session is approaching Crossover Day, when legislation has to clear at least one chamber in order to become law this year. Efforts to restrict voting are accelerating. 4 pieces of election-related legislation were passed by the Senate this week, although the majority of the recently introduced bills have yet to come up for a vote. Last week, House Republicans introduced an omnibus anti-voter bill. This week, Senate Republicans followed suit, and introduced their own omnibus bill: a package of legislation that combines many of the worst and most restrictive policies that have been proposed. We must make sure this bill does not become law.
The Ongoing Assault on Democracy
Legislation Status: SB 67, SB 89, SB 184 and SB 188 were passed in the Senate this week, with Republicans voting in favor and Democrats voting in opposition.
The one positive development is that the Senate also passed SB 40, a bill sponsored by Democratic Senator Jen Jordan and supported by our caucus. This bill will require election clerks to begin tabulating absentee ballots the second Monday prior to an election. This legislation will ensure that Georgia can quickly log and report election results, rather than forcing the state, and the nation, to endure days of uncertainty due to unnecessary and inefficient restrictions around tabulating ballots.
Actions to Take: if you want to take action to stop these bills, you can make your voice heard by contacting members of the Ethics Committee by phone or email and expressing your opposition to the package of restrictive voting bills. Max Burns (R) is the chairman of the Ethics Committee. Here are the other Republican members of the committee:
Dean Burke — Vice Chairman
Butch Miller —Member**
Mike Dugan — Member**
Jason Anavitarte — Member
Steve Gooch — Member
Bo Hatchett — Member
Randy Robertson — Member
Brian Strickland — Member
**Butch Miller is the Senate President Pro Tempore, and Mike Dugan is the Senate Majority Leader. Therefore, Senators Miller and Dugan would be particularly important people to reach out to in order to express your opposition. You can also contact Lieutenant Governor Geoff Duncan.
I’ll continue to provide you with an updated list of the voting-related bills each week, summarizing the bills that have been introduced so far. Several bills that have been introduced are almost identical. We don't know yet which version of these bills will move forward. These copycat bills are grouped by color coding.
SB 221: a GOP Effort to Put More Money in Politics
On Friday, despite Democratic opposition, the Senate passed SB 221 legislation would allow leadership committees chaired by the Governor or Lieutenant Governor, as well as political party PACs to receive contributions and make expenditures in order to advocate for or defeat candidates in elections. These contributions would not be subject to contribution limits, enabling even more money to flow into our politics.
The amount of money — dark money, in particular — that is already in our politics has been a damaging and corrosive force for years. We do not need laws that make it easier for powerful and wealthy actors to influence the course of our nation and disrupt the will of the people.
SB 241: the Omnibus Voter Suppression Bill
On Wednesday, Majority Leader Mike Dugan introduced SB 241, an omnibus bill that includes many of the anti-democratic proposals that have been introduced in separate bills. If this bill were to be signed into law, the consequences on voters across Georgia would be devastating. Here are a few of the changes it mandates:
Create a voter intimidation and illegal election activities hotline
Limit the ability of the State Election Board and the Secretary of State to enter into certain consent agreements
End no-excuse absentee voting and limit mail voting to election workers, disabled individuals and their caretakers, voters over 65, etc. (see SB 177 description)
The bill would ban the use of mobile voting buses, such as those that were used in Fulton County to mitigate lines
Require voter ID for absentee voting
Ban drop boxes and require that ballots are returned to Election Clerk's offices
Prohibit early in-person voting at non-government owned buildings
Require a court order to extend voting hours
Allow the Secretary of State to audit mail ballots either statewide or to target individual counties
Allows the State Elections Board to recommend a board of elections be removed and replaced with members of their choosing
Require courts to hear election challenges within two days
And more...
I am strongly opposed to this bill, along with my fellow Democrats in the Senate and the House Democratic Caucus, who are fighting off a similar omnibus bill that was introduced in the House.
Additional News from the Gold Dome!
SB 202: Helping Small Restaurants Stay Afloat
Last week, I introduced a bill, SB 205, that would prevent delivery apps from price-gouging small restaurants during a public emergency, such as COVID-19. These fees, which can be as high as 30%, hurt the competitiveness of small businesses and limit their ability to stay afloat during a pandemic that has already wreaked havoc upon the restaurant industry.
My legislation would prohibit third-party food delivery platforms from charging fees for use of its service that run higher than 15 percent of the purchase price for restaurants with fewer than 25 locations in the state. Companies couldn’t reduce the rate of compensation or gratuities paid to deliverers in response.
On Wednesday, a committee hearing was held on my bill. The Georgia Restaurant Association brought in several local restaurant owners to speak about the importance of the measure and how it would benefit them and their employees. The debate helped shine a light on the problem and renew a sense of urgency.
SB 102 is a Threat to Progressive Environmental Action
This week, a hearing was held on SB 102, legislation that would prohibit governmental entities from prohibiting utilities from delivering specific types of energy or fuel. It is an effort to prevent local and municipal governments from taking action as part of an effort to halt climate change and move our country toward a greener future. While Republicans publicly praise the idea of "local control," they quickly abandon this principle when local governments want to enact policies that aren't in line with their vision of the world.
HB 218 Would Put More Guns on Our Streets
On Thursday, the House passed HB 218, which would grant universal recognition to conceal carry permits held by non-Georgia residents. It would require the Georgia Attorney General to enter into formal reciprocity agreements with any state that requires a formal agreement to recognize a Georgia Weapons Carry License.
The bill would also prohibit government officials from suspending or restricting Second Amendment rights during declared states of emergencies — thus, preventing COVID-19 lockdowns at the state or local level from shutting down gun stores or gun ranges. This is an absurd overreach, which baselessly limits state leaders and public health officials from protecting their citizens and preventing the spread of a deadly virus during an emergency that has taken the lives of 500,000 Americans. It will also contribute to the epidemic of gun violence in our streets.
The Effort to Prevent Reforming the Police
This week, the GOP introduced SB 171, a bill that is a threat to the 1st Amendment, peaceful protest and the future of the effort to reform policing in America.
What SB 171 Would Do:
Dramatically expand the scope of laws criminalizing unlawful assembly and increase the attached penalties
Potentially expose activists/social justice organizations to criminal liability under
Georgia’s RICO statute
Establish an affirmative defense for people who kill or injure protesters obstructing
roadways
Incentivize counties and municipalities to crack down on protests by making them
liable for resulting injuries or property damage.
Require counties and municipalities to implement a permit system for any assembly on
public property.
Deny state employment and benefits to anyone convicted of unlawful assembly.
I strongly oppose this legislation, which would trample upon the First Amendment, prevent local governments from meaningfully reining in police responses, and encourage the dehumanization of and maiming and/or murder of protesters.
March 1st Town Hall Announcement!
Please join myself and Representatives Becky Evans and Mary Margaret Oliver on Monday, March 1st from 5:30-7:00 PM for a virtual town hall! See the information below.
Click the above image to register for the town hall, and to submit questions in advance! Or, follow the links below:
Register Here: https://tinyurl.com/LegislatorTownHall
Submit Questions Here: https://tinyurl.com/SubmitTownHallQuestions
COVID-19 Vaccine Rollout Updates
On Thursday, Gov. Kemp announced that hundreds of thousands of Georgia teachers and school employees, along with a group of other vulnerable residents, will be eligible for the coronavirus vaccinations in early March. After pressure from teachers and parents, Kemp announced that the state's 450,000 educators and school staffers will join the vaccine-eligible pool on March 8th, along with adults with intellectual disabilities and parents of children with "complex medical conditions."
This change will, hopefully, allow for schools to reopen for in-person learning in a way that is safer for students, teachers and parents alike.
This dashboard is updated with real-time vaccination information each day. Save this link, and you'll be able to follow Georgia's daily progress: https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/3d8eea39f5c1443db1743a4cb8948a9c/
Below is information on where to get vaccinated, if you qualify, and how to sign up!
Georgia Department of Health Vaccine Hotline: (888) 357-0169 – this number is for questions about the vaccine only! They will not be able to help you schedule appointments.
COVID-19 Vaccine Locator Tool: https://dph.georgia.gov/locations/covid-vaccination-site