ATLANTA – State Representative Elena Parent (D-DeKalb County) today announced the introduction of the Government for Georgians Legislative Package, which includes three pieces of legislation to strengthen lobbyist registration regulations, reform state campaign contribution laws, and create an independent redistricting commission.
“Georgians, as well as Americans in general, have made it known that they are tired of the special interests and unhealthy partisan politics that have too tight a grip on our government,” said Rep. Parent. “Our constituents elected us to represent their interests, not the interest of lobbyists and narrow special interest groups. These three bills make sure we do that by reforming lobbyist regulations, limiting special interest group contributions, and taking the divisive partisanship out of redistricting.”
Under current law, the term “lobbyist” includes individuals that spend more than 10 percent of their working hours engaged in activities designed to promote or oppose legislation. The first bill in Rep. Parent’s government reform package, House Bill 1140, would broaden this definition of “lobbyist,” so that it would include anyone who spends more than 5 percent of their working hours engaged in those activities. Additionally, the bill would clarify the meaning of “lobbyist” by adding that the term applies only to those who earn more than $1,000 a month from lobbying activities and made more than one lobbying contact within the last year. This new definition would ensure that average citizens petitioning their representatives are not considered lobbyists, but increases the transparency of those that do lobby the General Assembly for pay. For more information on HB 1140, please click here.
House Bill 1138, the second bill in the Government for Georgians Legislative Package, would lessen the amount of campaign contributions individuals, corporations, political groups, and other entities can make to state campaigns, ensuring that individual citizens can give more money to candidates than special groups or corporations. For example, HB 1138 would limit contributions to candidates for the General Assembly by capping contributions from individuals at $2,000 for a primary or general election and $1,000 for a run-off election. Corporations and other entities would be capped at $1,000 for a general or primary election and $500 for a run-off election. For more information on HB 1138, please click here.
“Government is supposed to be by the people, for the people,” said Rep. Parent. “Unfortunately, today corporations and interest groups can drown out the people’s voices by supplying the money that enables representatives to get elected. Money talks, and this bill would ensure that the voices of the people – the ones who should have the most influence at the General Assembly – can have their voices heard the loudest by their elected representatives.”
House Bill 1139, the third and final bill in the reform package, would create an independent Citizen’s Redistricting Commission, which would be tasked with creating reapportionment maps for congressional districts, state House districts, and state Senate districts when necessary. The commission would also hold public hearings throughout all areas of the state so that members could receive public input prior to creating the maps. After the commission has drawn and approved their proposed maps, the commission would then submit the maps to the General Assembly for approval.
“Currently, partisan politics, not keeping communities of interest together or other principles meant to guide the process, is the driving force in redistricting,” said Rep. Parent. “This benefits political parties at the expense of the interests of citizens. The General Assembly should be reflective of Georgia’s communities, and the independent redistricting commission will apply redistricting principles fairly, whereas a partisan political body is incapable of doing so.”
The Citizen’s Redistricting Commission would consist of seven citizens, with the Speaker of the House, minority leader of the House, Lieutenant Governor, and minority leader of the Senate each appointing one member. The governor would appoint two members, but only one of these could be from the same political party as the governor. These six appointees would then select the seventh member, who would serve as the chairperson of the commission. If members were unable to decide on the final appointment, the decision would be made by the Supreme Court.
As a requirement for serving on the commission, members must not hold or run for any federal or state elective office while serving on the commission or for a period of two years after service. The individuals must have also been registered to vote for federal and state offices in Georgia for the two most recent state-wide November general elections. In creating proposed congressional and state House and Senate districts, the commission would be required to hold at least one public hearing in each congressional district of the state. The proposed plan must contain districts that are as compact as possible, maintain communities of interest, and are in compliance with federal Voting Rights Act of 1965. For more information on HB 1139, please click here.
Representative Elena Parent represents the citizens of District 81, which includes portions of DeKalb County. She was elected into the House of Representatives in 2010, and currently serves on the Children and Youth, Defense and Veteran Affairs, and Code Revision committees.
###