Georgia Watch, in collaboration with fellow members of the Georgia Alliance for Ethics Reform, avidly supports House Bill 798, which would strengthen Georgia’s ethics laws by imposing a $100 cap on lobbyist gifts to lawmakers, along with other key provisions. Currently, Georgia law allows lobbyists to lavish our state’s lawmakers with unlimited gifts, which run the gamut from expensive dinners to extravagant trips around the world, as long as they disclose the amounts of these gifts. Georgia is the only southeastern state without a limit on the amount of money lobbyists can spend on legislators. Every one of our neighboring states – Alabama, Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Florida – has adopted strict caps or outright banned lobbyist gifts. Georgians also overwhelmingly recognize the need to reign in the moneyed special interests. In a recent Mason Dixon poll, 72 percent of registered voters in Georgia support a cap on lobbyist gifts.

“If the legislature wants to restore integrity in the political process, as Georgians have overwhelmingly asked them to do, they should stop passing the buck, and find the political courage to pass this bill,” said Georgia Watch Executive Director Angela Speir Phelps. “If our lawmakers choose to not place a cap on gifts, it will be clear that their sense of entitlement far outweighs their sense of duty to the people they serve.”

The Georgia Alliance for Ethics Reform includes Georgia Watch, Common Cause, the Georgia Tea Party Patriots and the League of Women Voters. House Bill 798 was introduced by Rep. Tommy Smith (R-Nicholls), and would place monetary limits on gifts that lawmakers can receive from lobbyists. Click to learn more.

April 15, 2011

The 2011 session was another slow-moving, drawn out session that has become typical in recent years. Once again, the state is facing declining revenues, which made setting a budget a difficult process. Overall, consumer-friendly measures saw little real action, while several potentially harmful measures moved quickly. Here is a wrap-up of some of the consumer issues that Georgia Watch was following in 2011. Read more

April 12, 2011

Georgia Watch and the Georgia Alliance for Ethics Reform are continuing last minute efforts to close the lobbyist loophole allowing undisclosed gifts to staff employees of public officials. Currently, the amendment to fix the loophole has been attached to SB 160, a bad bill that would would allow state regulated utility companies to contribute to political campaigns after a 35 year ban on such contributions.

We are now urging all Georgians to call House Speaker David Ralston at 404-656-5020 or email him at david.ralston@house.ga.gov and tell him, “right amendment, wrong bill.” Read more

March 27, 2011

Georgia Watch and the Georgia Alliance for Ethics Reform are urging state lawmakers to take further steps to strengthen Georgia’s ethics laws.

In a February press conference on the steps of the Capitol, Georgia Watch executive director Angela Speir Phelps called on lawmakers to do more to close existing loopholes and bring more transparency and accountability to the legislative process.

“There is no shortage of lobbyist money for travel, meals, sporting events or concerts at the Capitol. Whether those gifts wield influence over decisions or not – the appearance of impropriety results in distrust of our elected officials,” said Speir Phelps. Click here for full story and video

March 21, 2011

As a proud member of the Georgia Alliance for Ethics Reform, Georgia Watch has been advocating passionately for greater transparency and accountability at the Capitol. Along with Common Cause, the Georgia Tea Party and the Georgia League of Women voters, the Alliance is focusing much of its legislative efforts on fighting two bills that would significantly weaken Georgia’s ethics laws: SB 160 and HB 232. Read more

March 8, 2011

Senate Bill 160, a bill that would allow regulated utility companies to directly contribute to state political campaigns, unanimously passed the Senate Ethics Committee yesterday despite the objections of Georgia Watch and the Georgia Alliance for Ethics Reform.

SB 160 now heads to the Senate Rules Committee which will schedule the bill for a full floor vote. Read more

March 3, 2011

Georgia Watch and the Georgia Alliance for Ethics Reform are urging lawmakers to oppose Senate Bill 160, which would allow regulated utilities to make direct campaign contributions to political candidates, except those running for Public Service Commission.

“This bill would greatly increase the influence of utilities that have state-created monopolies,” said Danny Orrock, Deputy Director of Georgia Watch. “The state already gives them a monopoly and the power to take a citizen’s land through eminent domain. An entity that wields such significant power should not be allowed to play in elections.” Read more

January 20, 2011

Made up of a broad coalition of watchdog and educational groups, the Georgia Alliance for Ethics Reform is urging Georgia lawmakers to take further steps to strengthen the state’s ethics laws. The Alliance includes Georgia Watch, Common Cause, the state chapter of the Tea Party Patriots, and former gubernatorial candidate Ray Boyd.

“The people of this state want action now, and the fact that such a broad alliance as this one has formed, is evidence of that,” said former Georgia House Minority Leader and current Alliance member Bob Irvin. Read more

By Angela Speir Phelps

We hear a lot of talk about ethics in government – particularly the need for more. Candidates for public office often talk about the need for ethics reform and those elected talk about their staunch support for strengthening ethics in government. But talk is cheap. Where the rubber meets the road is how one acts, how they conduct the people’s business, and how they vote when presented with the opportunity to stand up for what’s right. A message from a podium is nothing more than an empty promise if forgotten once elected. Read more

[This editorial was published April 19 in the Georgia Report.]

The Georgia Legislature has an opportunity to pass meaningful ethics reform. They should stop passing the buck and get the job done.

Georgians are hungry for integrity in the political process. It has become tattered and we the people are disgusted with the greed, backroom deals, and unscrupulous antics taking place in our state capitol. Read more