A volatile debate over taxes in the Senate
Brown, at the Senate podium, speaks below a photograph of Johnson. Kim Smith/AJC
It would be hard to overstate the rancor generated in the state Senate this afternoon by debate over S.R. 452, a measure by Eric Johnson (R-Savannah) to permit the state revenue commissioner to rat out lawmakers who don’t pay their taxes — so they can be disciplined by their fellow legislators.
The speech in opposition from Senate Minority Leader Robert Brown (D-Macon) — though not the only one — must be counted among the most pointed ever heard in the chamber. My AJC colleague Mary Lou Pickel offers these details:
A bill that would let state senators more quickly investigate tax evaders in the state Legislature, failed in the Senate on Thursday by six votes. The bill got a vote of 32 to 16, but needed ‘yes’ votes from two-thirds of the 56-member chamber to pass.
The vote came after a very personal speech by Senate Minority Leader Robert Brown (D-Macon) who said he had filed an extension for his taxes after being sick in the hospital for months last year. There has been no indication that Brown is on any list of tax evaders.
Brown spoke about “blood-suckers” in the Legislature and posted a large photograph of Sen. Eric Johnson (R-Savannah) holding the old state flag with the Confederate battle symbol on a screen in the Senate chamber.
Another Democrat alluded to Johnson’s run for lieutenant governor and called his ethics bill “political theater.”
It’s late, and I wish I had the time to transcribe some of the debate in detail. But I don’t. So I offer two pieces of audio that are well worth listening to.
Click here to listen to Johnson’s presentation of the measure. And here for Brown’s lengthy response.
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8 comments Add your comment
Charles Mobley
March 5th, 2009
7:29 pm
Those elected to office should have to pay taxes like the rest of us. If you do’t pay your taxes you have no business writing laws for others to follow. Elected officials that do’t pay should be thrown out of office.
Denny Pettway
March 6th, 2009
8:49 am
Cowards! All of them!
Stan
March 6th, 2009
9:41 am
Anyone know when that photo of Eric Johnson was taken?
Twittering on the debate over taxes | Political Insider
March 6th, 2009
10:42 am
[...] Furious debate over S.R. 452 resulted in its defeat, mainly along party lines. Democrats warned that it would result in the politicization of the state’s version of the IRS, and deprive legislators of the due process allowed other citizens. [...]
DannyX
March 6th, 2009
11:39 am
Democrats in Georgia had a chance to make some good gains in the state because of the incompetence shown by the Republicans on issues such as traffic, water, Sunday alcohol sales, Georgia Power and the budget.
Instead Democrats further entrenched their image as a party that defines itself as a racial antagonist more interested in playing the role of the victim. Responsible leadership does not try to deflect the serious issue of not paying taxes into a game of politics regardless of the political grandstanding of their opponent. Strong ethics in government must be the single most important concern of every politician.
Democrats totally blew it on this one and ended any hope of gaining seats and positions in the next election.
Tax Guru
March 6th, 2009
12:37 pm
I think some of my fellow posters are right – there was an opportunity for the Democrats to gain some ground and that opportunity was squandered today. It will be interesting to see the backlash to this in the upcoming weeks.
http://www.nwtaxsolutions.com
Cagle on H.R. 452: The measure shouldn’t have come to the floor | Political Insider
March 6th, 2009
6:06 pm
[...] after that raucous debate in the Senate floor on Thursday, over Eric Johnson’s attempt to make it easier to out lawmakers [...]
Jason
March 6th, 2009
6:52 pm
The picture of Johnson was taken at a Savannah St. Patrick’s Day Parade before 2002. It was either when it was still the official flag of the State or immediately after the flag was changed to the Barnes flag. In other words, it was a cheap, cheap shot to use the picture.