Quote(s) of the day:

“You can’t stop the change that has been and is coming to Georgia. The Democrats will become a majority in this legislature. They will take back offices across the state. When we do I can assure you that fair maps will be the priority and things will change.”

 — Sen. Jason Esteves, D-Atlanta 

“There’s an old legal maxim. When you have the facts on your side, you argue the facts. When you’ve got the law on your side, you argue the law. When you don’t have either, you just yell loudly and pound on the table and  that’s what we’ve seen for the last few days.  In this case, the facts are on the side that back this map. This is equal. The law is on our side. We are complying with the law and in compliance with [U.S. District] Judge[Steve] Jones’ interpretation of the law. We’re doing what he said.”

— Sen. Bill Cowsert, R-Athens

Biggest thing that happened today: 

The Georgia Senate gave final passage to a Republican-drawn state House district plan, HB 1EX, by a vote of 32-21. It now heads to the governor’s desk. Senators also passed the Republican-drawn congressional map by a vote of 32-22. It now heads to the House.

Interesting observation inside the Capitol:

Sen Esteves brought his 8-year-old son Jaeden to work with him today.

Also, Black senators Gloria Butler,  Ed Harbison, Michael “Doc” Rhett and Harold Jones — all members of the Senate Reapportionment and Redistricting Committee —  submitted “Minority Reports,” a written objection to the Republican-drawn House district plan and the congressional plan. 

Here’s what they said about the House plan: “HB 1EX is a partisan gerrymander that does not empower any voters to choose candidates of their choice. This map weakens the power of Black votes. It exists only to entrench the power of the current majority.”

Here’s what they said about the congressional plan: “This proposal strips minority voters from selecting the candidates of their choice across the map. Some 1.56 million voters of color are packed into four metro Atlanta districts. These voters currently have five minority opportunity districts. This proposal reduces minority voting power across the board.”

Sen  Sally Harrell, D-Atlanta, tearfully recognized the family of Georgia native Sgt. Rose Lubin, who was killed in Jerusalem during a terror attack while on  border patrol duty. Lubin’s family was  in the gallery to hear Senate Resolution 11EX read in her honor.

What’s for lunch?

Senators dined on sandwiches and chips, available in an anteroom that serves as the chamber’s mini cafe. 

 — Tammy Joyner

[email protected]

Quote(s) of the day:

“The Republican plan moves Black voters around like pawns in a game. Republicans’ manipulation of the Senate maps fails to provide Black voters identified in the voter dilution area with new opportunities to elect their candidates of choice.”

— Rep. Kim Alexander, D-Hiram, a member of the House redistricting committee

“Some of the members in the chamber seem to think they’re better experts of the Voting Rights Act than Judge [Steven] Jones. The order doesn’t find any specific districts illegal. … This is not judicial GPS.”

— Rep. Rob Leverett, R-Elberton, chair of the House redistricting committee

Biggest thing that happened today:

After over an hour of vigorous debate, the House voted 98-71 to adopt SB 1EX, the Republican majority’s electoral map for the state Senate.

The House Reapportionment and Redistricting Committee began to consider proposed congressional maps.

The committee heard from Sen. Shelly Echols, chair of the Senate redistricting committee, who presented the Senate’s plan for the U.S. House, which she said fully complied with a federal judge’s order by creating one new Black-majority district.

The committee also heard from House Minority Leader James Beverly, R-Macon, who said the Republicans’ congressional plan violates the Voting Rights Act and the judge’s order by dismantling U.S. House District 7 in Gwinnett, a minority opportunity district with a 67% minority coalition made up of Black, Hispanic and Asian voters. Beverly presented the Democrats’ proposed congressional plan, which he said would remedy the violations in both the 2021 enacted map and the new map proposed by the GOP.

Interesting observation inside the Capitol:

The Georgia Legislative Black Caucus held a press conference to complain about all of the maps submitted so far by the Republican majority for the state House, state Senate and U.S. House. Sen. Nikki Merritt, D-Grayson, said all of the GOP maps fail to align with the court’s order to better serve the growing population of Black voters in Georgia, and “risk dragging us back to square one, as we may find ourselves returning to the court for a decision on maps that truly serves the principles of democracy and justice.”

Happening while lawmakers are in session:

Members of the 4^th Congressional Federation of Democratic Women protested outside the Capitol the “unlawful maps” they said were created by the Republican majority. “We want to be treated equally,” said the federation’s President Phyllis Hatcher. “These maps are taking away our voting rights.”

What’s for lunch?

Members of the House Republican Caucus enjoyed pasta and salad from Ippolito’s Italian restaurant.

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                                                — Jill Jordan Sieder
                              [email protected]

In case you missed it, here’s what you need to know about the special legislative session.

• What is a special session of the Georgia Legislature, and why is it happening?
• Legislators schedule special assembly to address redistricting, but will they make headway?
• Say what? Terms you may hear during the special session

Subscribe to State Affairs so you will have unlimited access to all of our stories.

We’d love to hear from you. If there’s something you would like us to report on during the special session or just have a question about what’s going on, shoot us an email at [email protected].

Quote(s) of the day:

“Don’t act in this body based on the way people treat you, act in this body because it’s right, it’s just, it’s wise.  Do what’s right because it’s the right thing to do.”

— The Rev. George Dillard, pastor of  Peachtree City Christian Church, speaking to the Georgia Senate.

“Isn’t it true that the only good thing that ever came from Alabama is I-20?”

— Majority Leader Sen. Steve Gooch, during the point of personal privilege portion of the Senate session in response to Sen. Shawn Still’s “roll tide” utterance in the well. (“Roll tide” is a University of Alabama phrase used to rally Crimson Tides fans.)

Biggest thing that happened today: 

Gov. Brian Kemp, backed by House and Senate members, announced plans to introduce a bill in the upcoming legislative session to accelerate tax cuts for Georgia taxpayers, to the tune of an estimated savings to their individual income tax of $1.1 billion.

The Senate Reapportionment & Redistricting Committee approved by a vote of 7-4 the “Proposed Congressional Districts of Georgia” map that was released Friday afternoon. The committee  also approved the House’s Republican drawn maps by a vote of 7-4.

Interesting observation inside the Capitol:

The 33rd Christmas Tree Lighting ceremony featuring the Atlanta Boy Choir and the Atlanta Boy Choir Alumni Choir.  The  25-foot red cedar tree was donated by the Roy family of Ringgold.

Happening while lawmakers are in session:

Lots of school  children touring the Capitol, including the Marietta Center for Advanced Academics.

What’s for lunch?

Visitors to the Capitol — and there were many on Monday due to the Christmas Tree Lighting ceremony — were treated to complimentary red and green sprinkle Christmas cookies and bottles of water. 

If any senators missed lunch, they had a giant bag of Georgia peanuts waiting for them on their chamber desk for the afternoon session, compliments of Sen. Russ Goodman, R-Cogdell. 

  — Tammy Joyner

[email protected]

Quote(s) of the day:

“There is no way to create a brand new district or two new districts and not make changes to other districts that surround it. … Creating a new district is like dropping a rock on a still pond, and the ripples go out.”

          –  Rep. Rob Leverett, R-Elberton, House redistricting committee chair, responding to a question from Rep. Sandra Scott, D-Rex, about why the Senate map was “changed drastically.”

“The one thing we’re missing is the thousands and thousands of lives that have been lost on all fronts, Jewish and Palestinian … This resolution needs to be a call for peace, a call that condemns the terror but also the unilateral killing of civilians on all sides.”

        – Rep. Spencer Frye, D-Athens, on HR 4EX, condemning Hamas terrorism and expressing support for the Jewish people, which passed after an hour of debate on the House floor.

Biggest thing that happened today

The House Reapportionment and Redistricting Committee voted 9-4 to approve the Senate redistricting plan passed by the Senate last week. Earlier, the committee released its proposed electoral map for the U.S. House in Congress. Public comment on the map will occur tomorrow, and can be made online here.

Interesting observation inside the Capitol:

After the Atlanta Boys Choir performed, Lane Howard spoke on behalf of Clark’s Christmas Kids and her husband, radio and tv personality Clark Howard, who she said was being prepped for heart surgery. This year the charity is collecting gifts for about 12,000 Georgia children in foster care, both online and at Walmart stores across the state.

Gov. Brian Kemp said he was not surprised that Howard’s heart needed a bit of repair, “since he works that heart hard” in his effort to bring joy to foster children.

Happening while lawmakers are in session:

Among the groups of school kids visiting today were students from the Wesleyan School in Peachtree Corners, who proposed a series of new laws to their district representative, Rep. Scott Hilton, while gathered in the balcony of the House. Many of their proposals would allow children to drive before age 16.

What’s for lunch?

Tables with bags of holiday snack mixes of Chex cereal, pretzels, nuts and M&Ms were available to Capitol visitors.

                                                — Jill Jordan Sieder
                              [email protected]

In case you missed it, here’s what you need to know about the special legislative session.

In case you missed it, here’s what you need to know about the special legislative session.

• What is a special session of the Georgia Legislature, and why is it happening?
• Legislators schedule special assembly to address redistricting, but will they make headway?
• Say what? Terms you may hear during the special session

Subscribe to State Affairs so you will have unlimited access to all of our stories.

We’d love to hear from you. If there’s something you would like us to report on during the special session or just have a question about what’s going on, shoot us an email at [email protected].

Quote(s) of the day:

“In the maps being drawn by the Republican majority, 80% of the Black voters on the map who are being redistricted come from outside these new growth areas where there are large and growing Black populations. And yet the court specifically identified disenfranchisement areas within the order. Eighty percent of Black voters are being shuffled around. This is like the Republicans’ mother scolded them and said, ‘Clean your room.’ And instead of doing that, they hung up a couple of shirts and left all of the dirty underwear all over the floor.”

— Sen. Elena Parent, D-Atlanta, said of the proposed map change 

“It hurts my feelings. I get defensive because I feel like I’m essentially being called a racist for supporting a map that is compliant with racial numbers the judge wants.”

— Sen. Bill Cowsert, R-Athens, who gave an eloquent history of redistricting in Georgia

Biggest thing that happened today: 

The Congressional map proposed by the state Senate for the U.S. House was quietly released Friday afternoon to little fanfare after both chambers’ sessions had adjourned. Next week’s session will clearly focus on that map.

Meanwhile, after more than four hours of debate, the Senate passed Senate Bill 1 EX by a vote of  32-23. The bill is the proposed revised district map, which drew lots of opposition from voting rights groups and Democrats who say the map still dilutes Black voting power and violates Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act. 

Lots of partisan volleying back and forth. Democrats accused the Senate Committee on  Reapportionment and Redistricting of not allowing enough time for people to speak about the map. Republicans held firm that the map meets U.S. District Judge Steve Jones’ order. 

After the Senate map’s passage, the Senate Redistricting Committee met briefly to hear public comment on  House Bill 1 EX — the House’s proposed district map, which also passed the House on Friday. No action was taken.

Interesting observation inside the Capitol:

A group of children, babies in strollers and their parents with South Cobb Homeschool filed through the Capitol.

Happening while lawmakers are in session:

A group of health care professionals greeted lawmakers and visitors as they entered the Capitol with signs urging safe storage of firearms. They handed out information that noted  4.6 million children live in homes with at least one loaded, unlocked firearm. They mentioned HB 161, hoping that bill will see some movement when the Legislature reconvenes on Jan. 8.

What’s for lunch?

There was no official break for lunch. Some senators worked through lunch, grabbing snacks from the nearby mini cafe off the side of the chamber. 

— Tammy Joyner

[email protected]

Quote(s) of the day:

“This map is an undemocratic, un-American, blatant exercise of partisan gerrymandering that harms the freedom of Georgians to elect their candidates of choice … Unfortunately it seems that we are repeating the mistakes of our dark past under Republican control of the Georgia Legislature.”

 — Minority Whip Sam Park, D-Lawrenceville, on the proposed state House map

“I had to take a test to vote … I understand why voting matters … and as an attorney, I understand that when a judge tells you to do something in an order, you comply. He said to create five majority-Black districts — not opportunity districts or coalition districts or crossover districts. Chairman [Rob] Leverett’s map complies with everything the judge required.”

— Rep. Soo Hong, R-Lawrenceville, Gov. Kemp’s floor leader

Biggest thing that happened today:

The state House voted 101 to 78 along party lines to pass the proposed House electoral map crafted by Republican leadership, over the intense objections of Democrats, who said the map violates the Voting Rights Act by breaking up two minority opportunity districts and unnecessarily eliminating or vastly changing Democratic districts.

Minority Leader James Beverly, D-Macon, said the GOP maps “failed to remedy the wrong directed toward our African-American electorate that was disenfranchised” by the maps enacted by the Republican-controlled Legislature in 2021. He was also frustrated by the earlier decision of House redistricting committee chair Rob Leverett, R-Elberton, to bar a Democratic amendment that would have presented an alternate map for the committee to consider. The amended plan would have decoupled six incumbent Democrats and two incumbent Republicans who were paired in the same districts in the GOP plan.

Leverett said he could not find a way to comply with the court order to create five majority-Black districts without creating some incumbent pairings, noting, “we did not inflict political casualty solely on the opposing party — we took some damage ourselves.”

Interesting observation inside the Capitol:

Facility staff put the finishing touches on holiday decorations inside the Capitol, including putting the star on the giant Christmas tree in the rotunda, which will be decorated with much fanfare on Monday.

Happening while lawmakers are in session:

The Christmas decorating wasn’t limited to inside the corridors of the Statehouse. Facility staff were also sprucing up the outside with Christmas cheer, too.

What’s for lunch?

Some House members enjoyed pizza, and this intrepid reporter had what is certain to be her first — and last — Hot Pocket.

                                                — Jill Jordan Sieder

[email protected]

Subscribe to State Affairs so you will have unlimited access to all of our stories.

We’d love to hear from you. If there’s something you would like us to report on during the special session or just have a question about what’s going on, shoot us an email at [email protected].

Quote(s) of the day:

“Don’t take life for granted.”

— Sen. Rick Williams receives a standing ovation from his peers after conveying his ordeal getting medical help in his rural community following a  Nov. 3 heart attack.

“Do the right thing here, people, it’s not that hard.”

            — Community organizer Michelle Sanchez

Biggest thing that happened today: 

After some heated exchange, the Senate Reapportionment & Redistricting Committee approved its proposed map, rejecting the Democrats’ plan. The 7-5 vote fell along racial and party lines, with the committee’s five Black members voting in favor of the Democratic-drawn map. Sen. Gloria Butler, who presented the Democratic plan to the committee, expressed concern about the way the process was handled regarding the two maps.  The map now goes to the Senate floor.

“Yesterday [when the Republican plan was presented], the committee didn’t ask questions. Today, the committee members got to ask questions. All of the public did not get an opportunity to express themselves but they did yesterday. So in my view, that’s two processes. We need to be consistent,” said Butler.

Interesting observation inside the Capitol:

Senators arrived for the afternoon session to find two books wrapped in a bow at their chamber desk. One book was photos of the lawmakers during the 2023 session. The other book was “Unlimited” by Benny Tate. The books are an early holiday gift from Lt. Gov. Burt Jones, president of the Senate. Tate is senior pastor of Rock Springs Church in Milner, where Jones attends services.

Happening while lawmakers are in session:

Unlike Wednesday’s opening session when community activists, school children and other visitors swelled the hallways of the Capitol, Thursday’s special legislative session was rather low-key.

What’s for lunch?

Senators had a catered lunch of chicken and steak fajitas from On the Border.

— Tammy Joyner

[email protected]

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Quote(s) of the day:

“The truth of the matter is that we have delivered a map that we’re sure complies with the judge’s order. Y’all have not. There is a remedy. If we were to look at the area south and west of Atlanta, there’s one representative that you’re trying to save, but that one representative that you save is going to cost us all in the end. If you accept our map, then one representative may be eliminated. That’s the will of the voters. If you don’t accept our map and the judge has to do a special master, then every last one of us, 180 of us, are in jeopardy. Y’all have some big decisions to make.”

— House Minority Leader James Beverly 

Biggest thing that happened today: 

In the House Reapportionment and Redistricting Committee meeting, Republican members rejected an alternate House district plan proposed by Democrats and the committee voted 9 – 5 along partisan lines to approve the Republican chair’s plan already submitted.

House Minority Leader James Beverly, D-Macon, and civil rights attorney Bryan Sells presented the Democrats’ proposed plan. Sells said it cures a problem in the Republicans’ plan, which “unravels or dismantles two protected coalition districts” with majority minority voters, which he said would likely cause a federal judge to find the plan in violation of the Voting Rights Act.

Rep. Mary Margaret Oliver, D-Decatur, who has served in the Legislature for 25 years, told the redistricting committee she was shocked to learn her House District 82 in Dekalb County has been redrawn in a way that tears apart a growing coalition district of diverse minority communities. She called the changes a “glaring violation” of voting rights law that Judge Jones is likely to take issue with, and offered to help GOP lawmakers to remedy the plan.

Interesting observation inside the Capitol:

During their morning session House members watched a 120-second time-lapse video of the renovation work performed inside the Capitol over the summer and fall, which included painting virtually all the walls, columns and balconies in the building. After watching the blur of scaffolding, ladders and workers transform several spaces, members applauded all of the workers responsible for the transformation. 

https://twitter.com/GaHouseHub/status/1730347934338666868

Happening while lawmakers are in session:

There was nothing of note happening outside the Capitol today.

What’s for lunch?

Members of the House Agriculture & Consumer Affairs Committee enjoyed Jersey Mike subs today, including roast beef, turkey, Italian and club sandwiches.

— Jill Jordan Sieder

[email protected]

Our stories explaining what’s behind the special legislative session: 

• What is a special session of the Georgia Legislature, and why is it happening?
• Legislators schedule special assembly to address redistricting, but will they make headway?
• Say what? Terms you may hear during the special session

Subscribe to State Affairs so you will have unlimited access to all of our stories.