GA House Repubs change the rules.

[MGKrebs]

I can't believe this.

"Republicans wasted little time consolidating their newly won power. The new House rules let Richardson appoint legislative "hawks" who can swoop in to any committee with the authority to vote the way the speaker wants them to.

The rules do not specify how many "hawks" Richardson can name, but he said there will probably be no more than two or three. Democrats immediately bristled, arguing the move guarantees Republicans can win any dispute in committee. "I hear them crying," Richardson told reporters later. "I promise we're not going to abuse this."

The House approved the rule changes 123-50. More than 20 Democrats — including former Speaker Terry Coleman (D-Eastman) — sided with the Republicans.

"There's some political whoring going on, but that's not unusual," said Porter, the highest-ranking Democrat in the House."

http://www.ajc.com/news/content/metro/legis05/0105/11legrules.html

So if a committee is in danger of voting against the Speaker's wishes, he can temporarily appoint as many of his pathetic lapdogs as he wants to the committee to override the wishes of the people's representatives. We'll never even get a bill out of committee!

We have malpractice protection (aka tort reform) coming up, a bill in which the father must be named even for artificial insemination, and who knows what all else.

Makes Sherman look kind in comparison.

[Boredtodeath]

1. Revenge

for 130+ years of Democratic control.

I feel for you Georgians. Maybe some people will wake up about electronic voting now?

[recovering democrat]

2. Dem votes

Total 180 in the house - lots of Dems voted for this rule change too.
Hopefully the Dems that are left will get it together soon and practice being Democrats again.