Ehrhart wants public votes on Speaker
State Rep. Earl Ehrhart wants a public vote on when the Republican caucus decides on their candidate for Speaker:
Rep. Earl Ehrhart, chairman of the House Rules Committee and fierce Glenn Richardson partisan, wants a public vote - not a secret ballot.This is intimidation and just another example of why Richardson needs to go. This the latest example of House leadership using these sort of tactics to get their way. It needs to stop.That almost certainly means that only the most daring would vote for challenger David Ralston.
Ehrhart said that’s not his motive. “I don’t think he has 10 votes,” he said.
Rather, Ehrhart said it’s a matter of making the public’s business more open. “We’ve been talking about changing to public votes for DOT races. I can’t think of any justification for secret votes for anything the Legislature votes for.”
He said he hasn’t discussed the idea with other ranking members of the GOP Caucus yet but he’s completely serious about the idea. “I’ll make a motion. It’s almost dishonest to have a secret ballot on this or FOT or anything else.”
As for who will be the next Speaker, Ehrhart said Richardson probably has more than 95 House Republicans solid for him now. “He’s got Jerry (Keen), Mark (Burkhalter), me. I can’t find anybody that has any standing that’s supporting (Ralston.)”
Comments
Anytime you feel intimidation will give you an edge you use the open vote. The reason for secret ballot is not to keep the public from knowing who the elected want as a leader it is to keep the timid in line and stop those who want change from gaining strength. Kinda like "if you know what is good for you,be quiet" that kind of threat is very effective against the feint of heart.
Don Henderson
Posted by: Don | July 22, 2008 09:40 PM
This is the type of discourse that the people of Georgia are tired of. The arrogance and bullying displayed by Richardson, Ehrhart, and his crew, is not what represents the People's House.
Posted by: D.M. | July 23, 2008 03:06 AM
Oh it's going to be another fun year in Atlanta I see, watching the children fight in the sand box.
Posted by: Trev | July 23, 2008 09:21 AM