What We Learned While Under the Gold Dome |
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The team of volunteers working on the newly revamped Under the Gold Dome agree that this was an eye-opening learning process—not always in a good way. First, a big thank you to them (names listed at the bottom). Second, watch your inbox for the new election-year newsletter from LWVGA. And now, what we learned and what trends we see for the coming year and into the next legislative session.
Some good news about bills that passed (assuming all of these are signed by the Governor in the next 40 days):
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HB1013, the Mental Health Parity Act, will greatly improve access to care. It is a mammoth bill, however, so expect amendments and tweaks next year as the consequences of implementation surface.
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The $30.2 billion budget: Investment in services and facilities across the board thanks largely to relief money from the federal government during Covid.
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SB338 increases post partum Medicaid coverage from 6 months to 12 months.
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HB1435 creates a need-based completion grant program for students who have completed at least 80 percent of their degree program, but face financial hardship, and funded it at $10 million.
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HB1390 provides state protections against workplace harassment to city and county government employees. The bill provides legal remedies for employees who experience harassment and discrimination, requires employers to have formal policies to prevent it and protects employees from retaliation.
What we learned:
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Running for Re-election: Legislators flexed the muscles that come with a comfortable majority in both the House (103/77) and Senate (34/22) . In many instances, it seemed they were less interested in governing and more interested in getting re-elected. The entire session played to one base or the other. Now that everyone is back on the campaign trail, they will tout what they did in Atlanta as reason to re-elect them.
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Second Guessing: They were willing to second guess anyone, any process, any existing management structure. From the Secretary of State to county commissions, healthcare experts to school superintendents, the legislature demonstrated its feeling that it knows best. That’s not all bad; questions need to be asked in the spirit of continuous improvement. This was not typically meant in that spirit, however, but to score points with voters and their party.
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Lack of Transparency: There was the illusion of transparency but not the practice. Citizen comments and live streaming of hearings both happened but it was obvious that they seldom made any difference. Lawmakers had made up their minds before they went public with proposed legislation and citizen comment at committee meetings usually fell on deaf ears. Knowing which committee was meeting when and where was a game of Where’s Waldo. The most controversial legislation was inevitably brought forth at the last possible moment. Some committee chairs repeatedly refused to take comments, cut off microphones mid-sentence and threatened to call security and have mouthy citizens ejected. Pushback was not to be tolerated in most cases.
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Redistricting Cities, Leaving the Rest of the State Alone: The concept of local control was not applied to large urban areas in the state as the legislature over-rode the maps proposed by duly elected local delegations and substituted their own maps that favored the state’s ruling party. These actions ignored the months of work, public input and the considered findings of local elected officials. This appeared to be an effort to dilute the Democratic vote and limit the impact of voters of color. The latter is illegal per the Voting Rights Act and is being challenged in court. The former is politics as usual regardless of which party is in control. Small cities and towns and rural communities, which skew more conservative and white, had their electoral maps approved as drawn by local officials.
Trends to watch:
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Reassertion of State’s Rights: State legislators across the country are inserting themselves more and more into education, healthcare, environment than in previous years. School boards, libraries and classrooms all will feel the effects of the Parents Bill of Rights. When the Supreme Court issues its decision on the challenge to Roe v Wade, the prediction is that decisions about a woman’s right to choose will be decided at the state level. In Georgia, that means that the legislation proposed to make access to abortion pills via mail more difficult is bound to be reintroduced next year—and possibly much more.
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Election Integrity: No investigation or recount will budge the legislature from the call for “greater security” to stop nonexistent election fraud. Georgia enjoyed the trifecta of best practices on voter access: unlimited access to absentee ballots, ample early voting days and times, and automatic voter registration via the DMV. The first two were either significantly modified or curtailed by the passage of SB202 last year. The rushed attempt during this session to further hamstring election officials resulted in SB441 giving the GBI authority over election investigations. Penalizing voters, election officials and especially the current Secretary of State are issues that will likely endure through the next Presidential election. Expect more of the same next year.
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Women’s Issues: Once again, women did not fare well in the legislative session. The ERA is DOA. The ridiculous and insulting tampon tax remains on the books.
In the words of another legislator, the Roman statesman Cicero, “Dum spiro spero.” While I breathe, I hope. As ever, the League of Women Voters believes in the power of the electorate to choose the elected and defend democracy. We hope for better elected leaders this year, for better legislation next year, and for improved collaboration between elected officials for the betterment of the lives of citizens across the state.
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Under the Gold Dome will be distributed to League members and partners each week that the Georgia General Assembly is in session. It is a product of our Education Fund, allowing us to report legislative facts and activities at the State Capitol. The UTGD Team is comprised of LWVGA staff and volunteers, who will be tracking and reporting on legislation and committee hearings throughout the legislative session.
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UTGD Team
Editor: Rebecca Rolfes, LWVCGA
Volunteer legislative observers:
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Mikayla Arciaga
Julie Bolen
Gail Buckner
Blake Caldwell
Mary Kay Clyburn
Daniel Eason
Ashleigh Ewald
Jessica Fields
Gina Hill
Sharon Hill
Keona Lynn Jones
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Alan Kaufman
M Maguire
Rosemary Mackey
Margarita Moldovan
Renee Rubens
Jane Thimme
Laurie Tyson
Michelle Weston
Elizabeth Melville
Maxie Kirk Williams
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League of Women Voters of Georgia | Website
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