“Extra-Inning” Special Session to Redraw Districts
Psst! They Can Pass Other Bills, too!

The Constitution of the State of Georgia authorizes the governor to convene a special session by issuing a proclamation, citing its purpose, and setting the time and date for it to commence. At the end of each decade, when the Census tallies are available, the General Assembly must equally divide the state population into 180 State House Districts, 56 State Senate Districts and 14 U.S. Congressional Districts. Districts are re-drawn to adjust for population changes during the past decade and meet the constitutional requirement of equal representation for everyone. Since the Census Bureau has indicated additional information will be sent in August, Georgia‘s
special session is expected to convene in September. So, consider what happened a decade ago.

2011 Governor Deal’s Call: On August 10, 2011, Governor Nathan Deal, joined by House Speaker David Ralston and Lt. Governor Casey Cagle, issued a proclamation and letter, calling for the 2011 special session to convene Monday, August 15, at 10 a.m. (a) to redraw district maps for the Georgia House, Georgia Senate and U.S. Congress, (b) make technical changes to the 2012 TSPLOST referendum and (c) ratify the governor‘s gasoline tax rate freeze.

2011 Special Session: By August 31, 2011, the House had introduced 64 bills and the Senate had introduced 10 bills, some of which drew new district lines for local boards of education and county commissions. When the session ended the first week of September, 2011, it was dubbed, ―The shortest special session in Georgia history,‖ as well as, ―The most transparent and inclusive re-drawing of Georgia‘s political boundaries in modern history. Among legislation that passed during that special session, Governor Deal signed the following:

• H.B. 1EX Reapportion and Redraw Georgia‘s 180 Districts for the House of Representatives
• H.B. 2EX Limited Time Tax Exemption for Motor Fuel and Aviation Gasoline
• H.B. 20EX Redistrict Congressional Maps for 14 Members of Congress (Increased from 13)
• S.B. 1EX Composition and Number of State Senatorial Districts

I said all that to say this …
1. After each Census, governors call a reapportionment and redistricting special session.
2. Georgia‘s call is made by a proclamation explaining the agenda, which may be amended.
3. Governor Kemp‘s agenda for the 2021 special session should include passage of laws that Prohibit Mandatory Vaccination for COVID-19 and Vaccine ―Passports‖
Prohibit teaching Critical Race Theory (CRT) in public schools K-12 and higher learning.

Read more on the Special Session and other newsletter items here.

Front-Line Issue: Opposition to Critical Race Theory (CRT)

September 22, 2020: President Trump issued EO 13950 to ban CRT training in Federal entities. January 20, 2021: President Biden’s EO 13985 reinstated CRT for federal entities, revoking Trump’s ban. April 27, 2021: Republican Congressmen warned USDOE Secretary Cardona about pushing CRT in schools. May 7, 2021: America First Legal asked USDOE to withdraw its April 19, 2021 rule1 proposal.

U.S. Senator Cotton (R-AR), “I’ve introduced bills that ban CRT from being taught in our military and classrooms and I’m going to keep asking Joe Biden’s team the tough questions.”

Headlines

Biden has embraced lunatic ‘critical race theory’ – but you can fight it, by Max Eden 1-25-21
On his first day in office, President Biden rescinded former President Trump’s executive order that prohibited CRT training for federal agencies and federal contractors.

Governor Kemp opposes ‘CRT’ in letter to state board of education, Donesha Aldridge 11Alive 5-21-21
On Thursday, May 20th, Governor Kemp used Twitter to send a letter to the Georgia State Board of Education. The letter defined CRT as “a divisive and anti-American agenda.”

Carr rejects Federal governments call for CRT in Schools, 5-19-21
Georgia Attorney General Carr joined 20 state attorneys general, urging Biden’s Administration to reconsider imposing CRT, the 119 Project and other similar curriculum into schools. 5-19-21

Read more on the Critical Race Theory and other newsletter items here.