As the Legislature Turns
The growing spat between Speaker Ralston and Senator Josh McKoon of Columbus got a bit more tense today. To review, on Thursday, as the House was preparing to pass the Pastor Protection Act, Senator McKoon took to the well to lament that the Pastor Protection Act was in reality a Politician Protection Act. As the bill was being debated in the House, Sen. McKoon tweeted his thoughts:
HB 757 is a Politician Protection Act. Do not be deceived. #gapol #rfra #gagop
— JoshMcKoon (@JoshMcKoon) February 11, 2016
As Jessica noted, Sen. McKoon got into a spat with the Speaker’s Legal Counsel, Terry Chastain, which was well documented on WSB-TV.
This morning, Sen. McKoon took to the well again. His speech is below:
Just before a lunchtime recess of the House, the Speaker had this to say regarding Mckoon’s speech about firing the speaker’s legal counsel:
I have really been busy over here trying to do the work that the people sent us down to do, and I really haven’t had time to listen to what he or any other member of that chamber has to say. I understand that some people are driven by their need for publicity and attention. I’m not, and I’m just going to continue to do the work of the people here.
Much of McKoon’s angst is over the prospect of passing the Religious Freedom Restoration Act, which McKoon initially introduced during the 2014 session, and which sits stalled in the House Rules committee. After today’s Rules Committee meeting, in which a substitute bill combining the Pastor Protection Act with the Senate’s First Amendment Defense Act, McKoon had no comment on the combined bill, other than a desire to eventually pass a RFRA. The Speaker’s office had no further comment.
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Jon Richards
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Josh,
In case you did not understand the basic concept below. the point is for you to grow up, and act like an adult. If you ever had to debate Trump, I would suggest to bring a diaper.
…………I have really been busy over here trying to do the work that the people sent us down to do, and I really haven’t had time to listen to what he or any other member of that chamber has to say. I understand that some people are driven by their need for publicity and attention. I’m not, and I’m just going to continue to do the work of the people here. ……….
“There is no limit to what a man can do who does not care who gains the credit for it.” – Ronald Reagan, quoting various others via a plaque in the Oval Office…..and apparently not talking about some who have decided they are entitled to their version of a religious liberty bill on their terms and with their wording only.
I’m not a McKoon fan by any means but I agree with him that pushing PPA in order to dodge a bigger fight on RFRA is really designed to give pols cover in the greater cultural wars, especially come election time. That’s just not a fact you stand up in the well and complain about. McKoon got out-maneuvered and lost big. He should take his medicine and save his whining for his constituency.
I would have preferred Ralston et al dismiss both bills as needless at best and an inflammatory waste of time at worst, but I’ll willingly take PPA if that means we dodge RFRA .
In all seriousness Sen. Josh McKoon grew up in a generation of all kids getting trophies for participation not real accomplishments. Many from his generation are very sensitive via this PC mind set. I am sorry I made the diaper comment, because I do think it is a real issue. I really hope Josh seeks help, because this over sensitive life style creates an environment of blaming others over taking real responsibility for the situation.
Is this the Georgia version of the Boehner-Cruz thing?