'Lawmakers': Veterans service and prosecuting attorneys top a busy Day 30 at the Georgia Capitol

Lawmakers argued about a familiar topic at the Georgia Capitol today as they reached the three-quarter mark in the session.  

The House debated an oversight board for district and other prosecuting attorneys — again.  

Senate Bill 332 would remove the original language for the Georgia Supreme Court’s framework for the board, at the court’s request, saying it was beyond the court's jurisdiction. The commission has already been created but can’t get to work until the bill is signed into law, supporters say.  

Rep. Joseph Gullett (R–Dalla) spoke in support of the bill. Opponents of the bill, and of the council, including Rep. Sam Park (D-Lawrenceville), say it inhibits justice. Both Democrats and Republicans, including Rep. Stacey Evans (D–Atlanta) and  Rep. Chuck Efstration (R–Gwinnett) accused the other side of politicizing the justice system. 

SB 332 passed the House 97 to 73 in a party-line vote. It now moves to the governor’s desk to be signed into law.  Speaker of the House Jon Burns praised the Legislature for passing the measure. 

The House overwhelmingly passed one other bill: SB 375. That bipartisan bill adds the Commissioner of Veterans Service to the Behavioral Health Coordinating Council. 

The Senate, holding true to its threat yesterday of not looking at any House bills until it gets the fiscal year 2025 budget, adjourned without conducting any business. The House scheduled the budget bill for a vote on Thursday. 

A coalition of multi-faith leaders called Listen to Georgia, including Edward Ahmed Mitchell, deputy executive director of the Council on American Islamic Relations, held a press conference this morning at the Capitol urging Georgians to leave the Democratic presidential nomination ballot blank this March. 

The House and Senate return on Thursday for Day 31. In the meantime, the Senate Special Committee on Investigations will hear from its subpoenaed witness, Ashleigh Merchant, a lawyer who launched the allegations against Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis and special prosecutor Nathan Wade.  

Join host Donna Lowry and capitol reporter Sarah Kallis for GPB's Lawmakers at 7 p.m. ET.