HB67 - Civil Rights

What we are doing with HB 67 is a travesty.

It goes well beyond giving up "home rule", making the state government MORE intrusive into local governments and the lives of families - even though we are limited this session to passing bills that help families.

It treads on our rights as individuals Individualism is one of the primary values which has made our nation great. It depends on each person taking responsibility for self and working hard to achieve to the extent of their abilities. We expect that they will be rewarded for taking advantage of opportunities and for working hard to achieve.

BUT this value is supported by our belief - and the belief of almost all religions - Christian, Islam, Jewish and others - that the welfare of others and the common good are part of that individual's responsibility.

It also includes a basic respect for each other, for each human being..

What this bill does is deny the City of Atlanta - a City whose Mayor has certainly made me proud - the right to grant rights to members of its community. We always claim to care about voting, tax-paying citizens and their families.

Why is it today that we say we only care about SOME of those families?

This great state has the opportunity to grow and prosper as the progressive and forward looking state it has been for the last 50 years.

This legislature can help that by paying attention to helping businesses prosper, by focusing on improving public education and by showing the nation how to provide health care to our children and families.

And we have done that by providing a friendly business environment, by providing accountability and expenditures for public education and by creating one of the nation's best children's healthcare programs. Let's continue to focus on those important issues.

Let's stop this focus on the issues designed to divide and conquer -

I urge you to vote against HB 67 not only because it is morally wrong but also because it sets a dangerous precedent..

Pat Gardner, State Representative