Georgia State Capitol

SB 469 seems to be a response to Occupy Atlanta teaming up with unions to challenge AT$T’s decision to lay off over 700 workers in the Southeast. The trail isn’t hard to follow: AT$T sits on the board of the American Legislative Exchange Council, several legislators associated with sponsoring the bill and passing it through committee are members of ALEC, and there was an ALEC lobbyist present. Most of us can’t call up a state legislator and have a bill which serves our interests introduced, but most of us are not corporations. The bill was pushed through committee and passed in the Georgia Senate…without debate…in just two weeks. It must still be considered in the House.

It seems appropriate for us to understand a piece of legislation we apparently provoked. Therefore we will discuss it, in a special General Assembly on the steps of the Georgia State Capitol building on the Washington St. side. Additionally, we have offered the Democratic senators the opportunity to speak on the bill’s merits and flaws which they were denied by their colleagues, and two have already indicated they will attend. If any of the Republican senators wish to defend the bill they voted for, they are also welcome. As always, our General Assembly is open to all.

End corporate influence in politics and government.