Democratic Party of Georgia

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DPG Statement on Democratic Election Victories

Release:  Wednesday, November 8, 2017  

Atlanta, GA – Democratic Party of Georgia Chair DuBose Porter issued the following statement on last night’s elections results.

“This was a great day for Georgia Democrats. Congratulations to Representative-elect Deborah Gonzalez (HD 117) and Representative-elect Johnathan Wallace (HD 119) for flipping two House seats long-held by Republicans. Their hard work and visions for a better Georgia are commendable and inspiring. Additionally, Democrats won a Senate seat last night. The voters in Senate District 6 were so fed up with Republicans that they sent both of Democrats to the run-off.

“I also want to congratulate two of our own Executive Committee members on their re-elections—Rome Commissioner Wendy Davis and Clarkston Mayor Ted Terry. Our Vice Chair, Nikema Williams made it to the run-off for Senate District 39 and I am pleased for her as well.”

“Georgia Democrats are grateful for every single Democrat who stood up and challenged Republicans across the state up and down the ballot– in every corner of the state. Thanks to their courage, the Democratic values of opportunity, economic mobility, fair wages, and affordable health care were championed in voting booths across Georgia.

“Those who simply chalk our wins up to an anti-Trump movement are discounting our candidates’ hard work and commitment to Democratic principles. This night wasn’t about what we’re against—it was about what we are for and what we are offering Georgia families.

“Now we move forward to pocket even more wins in next month’s runoff races and build on this movement for a string of victories in 2018.”

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Memorial Day Message from Senator Ed Harbison

 

A Memorial Day Message from Senator Ed Harbison

 

 Columbus, GA – Today, Sen. Ed Harbison released the following statement in observance of Memorial Day.

 

“On this solemn day, we honor not only our fallen, but also the families of those lost defending our nation and its values. We owe a debt of gratitude to the loved ones of the servicemen and servicewomen who were left behind.

 

“One of the greatest honors we can give to the soldiers and families who have given the ultimate sacrifice is remembering our obligation to the living. There is much to be done in securing a future where every veteran has an opportunity to pursue an education and receive the quality health services he or she deserves.

 

“Let us honor the legacy of these brave men and women by renewing a call for sacrifice. Too often in modern times, generations drift from the selflessness embodied by those who were willing to lay down their lives for their fellow countrymen. My challenge for every Georgian this Memorial Day is to set aside their own self-interest and take more responsibility for their communities and country.”

 

Senator Ed Harbison has represented Georgia’s 15th Senate District since 1992. He currently serves on the Senate Banking and Financial, Insurance and Labor, Interstate Cooperation, Reapportionment and Redistricting, Regulated Industries and Utilities, and Veterans, Military and Homeland Security Committees.

 

Sen. Harbison served as a sergeant in the United States Marine Corps and is a Purple Heart recipient.

Georgia Democratic Leaders Mark 60th Anniversary of Brown v. Board of Education Decision

Release:  Saturday, May 7, 2014     

                                                                                     

Georgia Democratic Leaders Celebrate 60th Anniversary of Brown v. Board of Education Decision

 

Atlanta, GA – Today, leaders of the Democratic Party of Georgia released the following statements in honor of the 60th anniversary of the Brown v. Board of Education Supreme Court decision, which prohibited racial segregation in our nation’s schools.

 

“Today, we are reminded that America is a nation discontent with the notion of oppression,” said Chairman DuBose Porter. “Often, the journey to equality is excruciatingly slow and seemingly unending. And our work in the fight for equality and tolerance is certainly unfinished. But this decision—which abandoned hatred and discrimination in favor of justice—demonstrates our nation’s desire to become a more perfect union.”

 

“It has been 60 years since the Brown v. Board of Education decision. The decisions pave the way for voting rights, and through the courage of many, a generation of children became the leaders of our pursuit of justice,” said Democratic House Minority Leader Stacey Abrams. “Though we are far from a full integrated educational system, this anniversary remains a lodestar for those committed to advocate for and fight against prejudice and injustice wherever we find it.”

 

Senate Minority Leader Steve Henson marked the anniversary with a call to action, adding “On this historic date, we are reminded that it is required of us to ensure that every American should have a chance for a quality education. We must not allow inequality to creep into our public system or to let any child be left behind.”

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A watchdog not controlled by those in power

The following is an op-ed  published in the AJC by Senate Leader Steve Henson

 

A watchdog not controlled by those in power

 

Honesty and transparency in government should be a cornerstone of a democracy. Transparency is what protects us all from corruption. No one or nothing should be excused from this scrutiny. It is what the delegates to the 1787 Constitutional Convention had in mind when they framed our government.

In a transparent government, there is no place for sweetheart deals, cronyism, or pay-to-play legislation. There is no place for shady maneuvering in order to protect those in elected office. We are elected to represent the citizens, and no one’s political career or personal or business interests should trump the best representation we can provide to our constituencies.

The past few years have revealed an inadequacy of ethics enforcement in Georgia government. Allegations and findings of misconduct require our immediate attention. There is simply no reason not to have a government process that is open and transparent, unless you have something to hide.

The restoration of the public’s trust and confidence through meaningful ethics reform is imperative to restore and re-energize citizen participation in government. It is imperative to hold together our democracy.

Senate Democrats have renewed our call for an independent state ethics commission after a trial found the secretary general of the ethics commission was unfairly treated when she began investigating Gov. Nathan Deal’s campaign fundraising. The jury found that Stacey Kalberman should be paid $700,000, in addition to legal fees.

Three additional cases, with similar sets of facts, will play out this summer. The cost to the taxpayers will likely exceed $2 million — money that could have been used to end the backlog of ethics cases and enhance the funding of the ethics commission.

Governor Deal and the Georgia Legislature must not allow the reality or perception that political and personal interests are placed over those of the citizens of Georgia.

The people of Georgia deserve ethics enforcement that is unbiased and not controlled by the very people it’s investigating. While the governor tries to distance himself from the case, saying this is an internal administration squabble, the truth is the squabble was created by an investigation of his actions. Is it in the best interest of government transparency that the governor appoints three of the five members of the ethics commission and recommends what their annual budget will be each year?

Democrats recognize that politics can never be fully removed from the political process, but we believe there are ways we can make our government more open and more transparent. We can create a more independent ethics commission. We can provide a funding formula so the commission’s budget is not dependent on political maneuvering.

For several years, we have proposed legislation that would legitimize ethics enforcement in Georgia by removing control of the ethics process from those subject to its power. Instead of a commission appointed by legislators or the governor, Democrats have proposed the creation an ethics commission appointed by the Chief Justice of the Georgia Supreme Court and the Chief Justice of the Court of Appeals, who would be instructed to strive for diversity on the commission and 180 days to adjudicate claims.

Georgia Democrats have been moving forward on improving ethics for decades by advancing financial disclosures of elected officials and lobbyists; capping the amount of political contributions; and, preventing campaign contributions during the legislative session. We were leaders in the introduction of legislation in the recent fight to limit lobbyist gifts to legislators, and we will continue to fight to make any state agency charged with the responsibility to watch over our activities to be independent and effective.

It is time to restore public trust in governance. The governor should ask for the resignation of the present members of the ethics commission and work with other leaders in the state to appoint new members that will restore public trust. He should support a new proposal that removes his office and the Legislature from the appointment process of this agency. Now is the time to act to improve the state’s government transparency and ethics.

Senate Dems Warned of State Ethics Oversight

Senate Dems Warned of State Ethics Oversight

Henson asks for GBI-FBI investigation

Atlanta, Ga. – Sept. 19, 2013 – Georgia Senate Democrats have renewed their call for an independent state ethics commission in the wake of news that ethics investigations against Gov. Nathan Deal’s ethics have been at least mishandled and at worst covered up.

 

“Senate Democrats introduced legislation to create an independent ethics commission, but now we are asking for a GBI, FBI investigation,” said Steve Henson, Democratic Leader of the Senate Democratic Caucus.

 

The head of Georgia’s ethics commission is accused of improperly intervening into an ethics investigation of Deal, raising serious questions about the independence of the state panel charged with keeping watch over Georgia’s elected officials.

 

Current and former commission employees told news agencies today that Holly LaBerge ordered documents removed from the official state investigative file on Deal and met with top aides to the Republican governor while the probe was ongoing.
“Governor Deal has demonstrated a pattern of misconduct,” said Sen. Vincent Fort, Senate Democratic Whip. “From his congressional days, now through his term as Governor, Deal has demonstrated that he has a disregard for the rules. Deal vacated his congressional office under investigation and a cloud of misconduct,” said Fort.

 

“Naming your own appointees to an ethics commission when you are under investigation is simply wrong,” said Henson. “Ethics enforcement in Georgia should not be biased and controlled by the very people it’s investigating.”

 

The governor has engaged in extension cronyism and demonstrated personal and political interest over that of the citizens.

 

Earlier this year, the ethics commission lacked the state funds to send ethics violations notices.

 

Former State Senator Connie Stokes, now a candidate for Governor, said this breach in ethics is one of the reasons is running for Governor of Georgia.

 

“The people of Georgia want a government that is accountable. Georgians want and need a leader who will answer to them, not act in their own personal interest,” said Stokes.

 

Georgia Democrats have asked for a number of ethics reforms over many years.