It is our job to refute the lies. Timothy Snyder writes: To abandon facts is to abandon freedom. If nothing is true, then no one can criticize power, because there is no basis upon which to do so. If nothing is true, then all is spectacle. The biggest wallet pays for the most blinding lights.

The looting of public coffers is continuing at the Gold Dome as new bills take more of our public education funding to hand over to private institutions. The so-called “culture wars” is smoke and mirrors for this kleptocratic effort. The use of all of the tricks in the book to keep people from noticing that our tax dollars are being misused and misspent, means that the children of Georgia will pay a steep price for their future.

To top that off as we head for crossover day (the day bills move to the other house) more anti-voting bills. This all needs your attention.

School funding: Fund Georgia’s Future has the following call to action:
Senate Bill 601, a new voucher that’s primed to prioritize private schooling over Georgia’s system of public education, is on the Senate calendar for tomorrow–the last day a bill must cross over from one chamber to the next in order to be able to become a law. Your emails and phone calls matter, and we need to make sure our senators know that the people of Georgia want them to vote NO on SB 601. 

SB 601 would create the state’s third voucher bill at a dollar amount higher than public schools receive to educate many of their students (from a Georgia Budget and Policy Institute analysis of a similar bill). Any dollar spent on this program is one that could be used to expand mental health supports, lower class sizes, or offer enrichment opportunities for students. Private schools can and do exclude students by income, religion, sexual orientation or ability. 

Remember, polite but firm language is always best. Don’t be afraid to say a version of:
“Hello Senator _____,
My name is _____ and I am one of your constituents. I’m calling/emailing you to ask you to vote NO on Senate Bill 601. Our public schools need state investment now more than ever–any money spent on this voucher is money that would be better spent in the state’s public system of education. Children deserve the freedom to explore opportunities inside a strong, inclusive public school. Vouchers divert these necessary funds instead to private schools that discriminate in enrollment. Please invest in a strong, diverse, and inclusive public school system by voting NO on Senate Bill 601. Thank you.”
Click here to find your senator.

Anti-Voting Bill
A new bill HB1464 picks ups where SB 202, passed in last year’s session, left off. This bill will be devastating to local Boards of Elections with unfunded mandates and more. See the summary of the bill below:
“A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 1 of Chapter 3 of Title 35 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to general provisions regarding the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, so as to provide the Georgia Bureau of Investigation with original jurisdiction to investigate election fraud and election crimes; to provide the Georgia Bureau of Investigation with subpoena power to further such investigations; to provide for penalty; to provide for related matters; to provide for an effective date and applicability; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.”

Call Speaker Ralston at 404-656-5020 and ask him to oppose this bill.
“I’m (your name) and my zip code is (_______) and I’m calling to ask that the speaker oppose HB1464. Thank you for passing my message along to him.”