Bullies under the Gold Dome?
According to a report by the AJC’s Greg Bluestein, a state rep from North Georgia was threatened by Governor Deal’s top aide. Representative Matt Gurtler (R-Tiger) said the threat was a loss of funding to his district by Chris Riley.
“I am appalled by Mr. Riley’s actions of intimidation and bullying tactics of an elected official”, Gurtler said. “His actions were wrong and unethical, and this type of behavior goes against our system of separation of powers.”
This is not the first time legislators have reported less than cordial conversations with the Governors Chief of Staff. For his part Riley said,
“If he felt threatened by what I asked him and my defense of the governor’s position, we probably have bigger issues to address than separation of powers.”
While the rub seems to center on a number of “No” votes from the freshman representative, it should come as no surprise to those who followed Gurtler’s successful campaign of less government interference and fewer taxes.
About Author
IrishPat
Patrick Malone is a Business Advisor and Leadership Mentor headquartered in Blairsville, Georgia. He co-hosts Mountain Daybreak and Mountain Mornings, weekday news programs, and hosts This Week in Blairsville a weekend program on WJUL/WJRB. He is a mentor in Union County High School, serves on his church council and writes a monthly column on leadership in the animal healthcare industry.
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The meat of the article:
“State Rep. Matt Gurtler said Deal chief of staff Chris Riley “threatened” him at a Jan. 31 breakfast for first-term lawmakers at the Governor’s Mansion after he told Riley he voted against the spending plan because he opposed subsidies and government interference in the free market.”
Sounds like a case of “Sucker don’t want no help, sucker don’t get no help.”
Seems like a non-story story to score political points back home and stake some ground in the anti-#Establishment camp.
If he wants to oppose the majority of bills based on principle, that’s fine. That’s what the majority of in his district wanted, but he shouldn’t be surprised that he’s going to get pressed by the governor’s office and, eventually, members of his own chamber. My question is, will he run to the media each time someone comes to him and “talk tough” about policy?
For the sake of his constituents, I hope he’s making good relationships with those in both chambers if he wants to get his own bills through.
Governor Riley doesn’t threaten to do things. They just get done.
Ha, Governor Riley. Sadly that statement is very true.
Anyone who knows me knows that I’m not the biggest fan of Chris Riley. But in the world of politics this is nothing. Rep. Gutler needs to put his big boy pants on and defend his vote or quit whining. Because that’s what this is, whining.
Everyone naive and not admit that Spiro Amburn or Chris Riley will lean on House members for being too conservative raise your right hand. I’ve heard several complaints directly from freshmen conservative members over the years of Spiro Amburn telling conservatives the same thing within days of being sworn in. This is the sausage making aspect of the legislature we abhor. The threats also belittle the office of the men Amburn and Riley serve and that is the “bigger issue” that needs to be acknowledged.
Those from GeorgiaPol that haunt the halls surely have heard the same legislators complain of being leaned on by the chiefs.
The naivete here is that when a freshman decides to make a statement about not wanting government subsidies or interference and the “chief” explains that he can make that happen, the freshman believes it is a threat.
Words and statements have consequences. Sometimes people make dumb statements and have to live with the consequences. It’s the same with voting. If you want a legislator to go down and throw bombs, buck the leadership, and vote “no” on everything your district gets the consequences. That might not sit well with people, but that is the way it is. It is naive to believe there will be a different outcome.
I am reminded of all the good Trump voters on Hilton Head who are dismayed to find FEMA funds are not coming to clean up their GOP enclave. Political reality sucks.