Vote No on GA Amendments

There are 4 ballot questions on the November 8^th 2016 ballot in Georgia and all of these Amendment proposals deserve a NO vote. 

Amendment #1 would allow the State to take over failing public schools.  This destroys voter control through school boards and sets up unelected governance like the Soviets.

Amendment #2 earmarks revenue for the safe harbor for sexually exploited children fund.

Amendment #3 disbands the Judicial Qualifications Commission and gives it to the GA Legislature. 

Amendment #4 earmarks sales tax revenue for fireworks sales.

https://ballotpedia.org/Georgia_2016_ballot_measures

The Georgia Secretary of State’s Office has published a summary of four proposed constitutional amendments that will also be on the ballot in November. The summary can be found in the agency’s website, www.sos.ga.gov.

The most notable among the four is a question whether to allow the state to take control of local schools deemed to be perennially failing. The measure, which would create a so-called “Opportunity School District” statewide, is a signature issue for Gov. Nathan Deal but has been met with howls of protest from educators who say it misses the point of why those schools are struggling.

Also controversial has been a push to abolish and remake the state’s Judicial Qualifications Commission, which investigates allegations of judicial impropriety and has the authority to remove judges. Some have said it is an attempt to gut the commission’s independence to serve as a watchdog agency.

Another question asks if voters want to dedicate an existing 5 percent sales tax on fireworks toward the state’s trauma care network, training and equipment for Georgia firefighters, and local governments’ public safety efforts.

Finally, voters are also being asked to create the Safe Harbor for Exploited Children Fund, which would create a dedicated source of state funding to pay for victims’ housing, counseling and medical treatment. It would be paid for through new $2,500 fines for anyone convicted of human trafficking crimes and from a new $5,000 annual fee on strip clubs and other adult businesses.

http://www.ajc.com/news/news/state-regional-govt-politics/georgia-voters-could-decide-to-alter-the-states-co/nsLzf/

Reasons for voting no: Schools should remain in county school districts. Revenue should not be earmarked and sales taxes should go to the general fund. Candidates for Judgeships should be selected by sitting Judges. Judicial misconduct should be judged by sitting Judges.

Numbers 1 and 4 are power grabs.  Numbers 2 and 3 are sloppy, ill-conceived, nanny-state debacles. This needs to go through the budget process each year and not be earmarked. 

Norb Leahy, Dunwoody GA Tea Party Leader