Representative Matt Gurtler Is Acting Like A Child
“When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.” – 1st Corinthians 13:11
Representative Matt Gurtler is the latest in a series of post-Tea Party elected officials who demands to have his cake and eat it too. He’s thus far been the only Representative to vote against the Amended Budget (supplemental budget), and was the only vote against the Speaker’s pet initiative to provide firefighters with a supplemental cancer policy to cover cancers related to the line of work.
For this Representative Gurtler has “earned” the kudos of the part of the GOP base that anything short of voting “no” against everything is capitulating to corrupt RINO’s. But to earn something there is usually a cost. Time, labor, or something of value must be given in order for something to be earned.
What is usually given for such stands of “principle” is an understanding that a member’s district doesn’t get the spoils of the system they found corrupt. Right or wrong, that’s how this ugly system works. The expectation that a member can grandstand while others vote on budgets and bills they don’t find perfect but they do find more good than bad and face no consequences is silly. That’s not just a problem for Gurtler, but for every member who ends up looking morally inferior to Gurtler for accepting less than perfection in a budget or a bill.
Representative Gurtler finds parts or all of the budget troublesome. He still wants all of the upside of that budget he finds troublesome. He believes in getting the applause. He just doesn’t believe in taking the lumps that come with it.
One might say this is an entitlement mentality. Representative Gurtler apparently believes he should be able to get all the adulation for voting no, but that his constituents and his district remain entitled to receive all the perks of programs he won’t vote to fund. That’s a very, very childish view of politics.
Now having been informed that actions have consequences, Representative Gurtler has doubled down by claiming that he’s being bullied. See this as what it is: 1) A temper tantrum, and 2) An attempt to play the victim card to help insulate him from consequences that are certain to follow.
Both are acts of a child. Representative Gurtler put his name on the ballot and got himself elected. He can choose to represent his constituents however he sees fit, and run for reelection on his record – AND the associated consequences of his record. Hopefully, he’ll learn that lesson soon. It’s up to him which way he chooses to proceed, and either may work for him. But the thought that he can both vote against everything and his constituents still get everything they want is simply childish. It’s time to step up and be a man, Tiger.
About Author
Charlie
Founder of GeorgiaPol.com; Now weekly columnist Very interested in Georgia and Georginas. Interest in politics is waning daily.
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So our newly minted State Representative got taken to the woodshed by the powers that be and now we have Charlie to make sure we all understand the nature of Representative Gurtler’s sins in not succumbing to the orgy of lobbyist fueled out of control spending that is the expected norm in Atlanta.
Charlie, perhaps you should come up with Irish Pat and spend a few days up here in the North Georgia Mountains to understand our principals and values. Before Matt we had Representative Stephen Allison and he too carried on the same principals of limited government and measured every vote on the constitutional nature of the legislation.
We had a clear choice in the GOP Primary runoff, Matt’s opponent, flush with cash from Terry England and other big names in the legislature said he could not find a single cent to cut from last year’s 23.7 billion dollar state budget (a budget that had increased by over two billion from the previous budget) and then we had Matt who did not promise a treasure trove of goodies from Atlanta but principled government.
By a 61% voter margin we elected the 27 year old guy who has a clearer understanding of constitutional governance vs. our own local Santa Clause who would be showered with lobbyist gifts if only he would join in on all of the fun under the gold dome and acquiesce to the status quo of out of control spending.
Sorry Charlie…..The Governor’s office has been taking House District 8 Republicans to the wood shed for nearly a decade, we are not looking for our share of pork barrel spending. Matt is doing the job we elected him to do and if he finds himself standing alone on numerous 1 to 173 votes perhaps others will listen and take notice of the one young man in the entire legislature not afraid to stand on principle and speak truth to power.
I know and respect Rep Allison, and I spend a good bit of time in the N Georgia mountains and the 9th congressional district as a whole. As I said above, if that’s what you voted for, then you will be real happy with Rep Gurtler and he can have a long career in the Georgia General Assembly.
You also need to expect that if this is what you think principle looks like, then there will be consequences. If he’s demanding cuts in the budget, then there will be cuts. And they’re going to start at home, in his district.
Him getting what he’s demanding isn’t bullying. It’s good government. If if that’s what the majority of his constituents want, then they should be ecstatic with the forthcoming cuts, not whining that you’re not getting your fair share.
You made a clear choice, and the results of that are equally clear.
Charlie, the belt tightening that Matt advocates should be across the board, should involve all agencies of the state government but we understand that is not how things work. Just here in Rabun County we have three state parks, in the entire 8th district we have six…just the beginning of the low hanging fruit upon which the budget writers will, no doubt, make an example.
It is not good governance but retribution, pure and simple, to target one house district out of 174 and wipe out funding to hopefully silence one sole voice of reason. You seem quite comfortable with that Machiavellian approach to budget writing but it does nothing but underscore the level of corruption and those scribes who kowtow to the party line of go along to get along. So when the rewards of lobbyists fail to woo our young representatives it is time to take out the knives to try and kill him off in the next election? IT REALLY REEKS TO HIGH HEAVEN UNDER THE GOLD DOME!
All caps doesn’t persuade. Neither does your/Matt’s friend that’s reposted his inane Facebook comment four times in hope (I guess) that he’ll get an immediate response. I waste enough time on here, I don’t get into endless fights on Facebook for others’ gratification and amusement.
As for the across the board cuts, the state has to prioritize budgets. I’m sure the people in your district will still get their required K-12 education contributions, anyone that qualifies for Medicaid will get Medicaid, etc. As for anything else, the state has to make choices somewhere when specific offices are opened or closed, or buildings are built or not.
You guys voted for cuts. It’s ridiculous to whine that the state is about to give you what you demand.
It is possible, btw, to both stand up for limited government and acknowledge the realities of the budget. Sounds like the Rep. bit off his nose to spite his face.
Charlie, sometimes I just don’t understand you. You rail against establishment politics and then tell someone who stands up to politics on principle, “nyah, sucks to be you now!”
I’ve seen it with 3 mavericks that were effectively destroyed by the GOP leadership within the past few years. And your reply is ‘too bad, so sad?’
The gist of your comment seems to be ‘the punishment for this should squarely fall on all citizens on his district. That is some straight up kristallnacht ‘get what you deserve for pissing off the psycho powerful State elite’ stuff you are advocating.
And that is wrong. Reform comes from within, or it comes from the mob. Pick one.
Dang it. We are agreeing on things way too often here lately. Little Rep. Gutler needs to grow a set and defend his votes or stay home. I hear things 1,000 time worse than this on a daily bases. He will never make it in the big leagues.
he needs to grow a bigger a-hole in order to play a role in politics.
Is that what you assert?
Ah…27 years old…when idealism still has probably not yet met reality….
You can be young and dumb at 16, 27 or 40. It’s all relative. Some people just get a grasp on reality before others.
yep.