ATLANTA— House Speaker David Ralston (R-Blue Ridge) today released the following statement discussing the 2011 Georgia General Assembly Special Session:
“I applaud Governor Deal’s decision to sign the House and Senate legislative district maps. Today marks a great step forward for our state as we approach the conclusion of this special session. I made it a priority for the House to consider maps that are fair, sensible, and constitutional. I believe these maps signed into law today accomplish that, and I am proud of the work that went into them under the guiding hands of House Legislative and Congressional Reapportionment Committee Chairman Roger Lane.
“Additionally, with the leadership of Governor Deal and working with the Senate, the T-SPLOST measure has been removed from consideration for this special session and the House will forego any further action on it. Reaching a workable consensus on the T-SPLOST measure during this special session is simply not within reach.
“Now, the attention of this body will be directed at passing the congressional map and then adjourning this special session. Governor Deal showed tremendous leadership in his first legislative session as governor by addressing key issues like the HOPE Scholarship, illegal immigration reform, and passing a balanced state budget. He built on that performance during this special session, exercising strong leadership and a willingness to make the tough decisions facing our state.”
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