New Ga. Flag Clears State Senate Rules Committee

Atlanta Journal & Constitution ^ | 04/17/03 | Rhonda Cook

[kcordell]

Rules committee approves flag bill

By RHONDA COOK Atlanta Journal-Constitution Staff Writer

The Senate Rules Committee today unanimously approved a new state flag and a pair of referendums asking voters what banner should represent Georgia.

Although the approval was unanimous, only one of the five Democrats on the committee was there for the vote. Two did not attend at all, Sen. Peg Blitch (D-Homerville) and Sen. Nadine Thomas (D-Ellenwood), an African- American legislator who boycotted a previous hearing. Sens. Michael Meyer von Bremen of Albany and Rene Kemp of Hinesville walked out when the Republicans rejected an amendment to move the words "In God We Trust" from the center of the flag to the blue vertical field.

The one Democrat who stayed in the committee was Sen. Nathan Dean (D-Rockmart).

Committee Chairman Don Balfour (R-Snellville) said the committee wanted to avoid making any changes because of fears that no flag would be approved this session.

Any modifications the Senate makes to the legislation would have to be approved by the House, where black legislators took six hours of debate to blast the referendum.

The bill is expected to be put to a Senate floor vote on Tuesday, the scheduled 39th day of the 40-day session.

The banner that is now being considered is a modification of the original flag of the Confederacy and much like the state symbol that was replaced in 1956. If the bill, as it is now written, is approved, the new design would immediately go up but voters would be asked in the presidential primary next March whether to keep it.

If they reject that design, they would be asked, in a binding referendum in the 2004 summer primaries, to choose between the previous state flag, which is dominated by the St. Andrew's Cross, or the flag that flew until 1956.

University of Georgia professor Ed Jackson, an expert on the Georgia flag, warned the committee that the current legislation has some design and legal problems. He said the bill is not specific enough as to the colors and the size and placement of the 13 stars on the blue field.

He said the flag described in the legislation is not the standard size of 3 feet by 5 feet Ñ instead it is 3 feet by 6 feet Ñ so it would be more expensive to make.

Jackson also said courts have ruled that the Legislature cannot delegate its responsibility to approve changes of state law to the voters.

[kcordell]

Didn't know how to post picture. Maybe one of you cyber geniuses can.

[smith288]

[Paul C. Jesup]

You do realize that the current unvoted on GA Flag may violate Federal law or regulation by having the U.S. American flag in it as a sub-set symbol in it.

[smith288]

So? Im from Ohio! Only pennet shaped flag in the union! Whoo hoo! Not only do we have an odd ball goofy governer, we also have an odd ball flag!

[Paul C. Jesup]

OUCH!!

I'll support changing your flag, if you support changing mine.

[Lazamataz]

I have no opinion about this issue.

[doodad]

That's the current flag that was changed without a vote and designed by the Six Flags company as best I can tell. The new one looks like the pre-1956 flag. Do a search there was a thread recently.

[Illbay]

Sen. Peg Blitch (D-Homerville)

Yikes! What a terrible name to have for a female Democrat politician!

[Illbay]

You know, that doesn't really look like a "flag," so much as it does a poster that's part of a fifth grader's history fair project!

[HELLRAISER II]

Bring back the battle flag!

[Illbay]

The old one was changed without a popular vote, too.

In those days the thought that there should be a referendum or plebescite would have been humorous.

[HELLRAISER II]

Homerville is about an hour away, it's not much of a town but it's got one hell of a speed trap. You speed in Homerville, you come home with a ticket.

[Illbay]

Actually, I was talking about her surname, "Blitch."

[HELLRAISER II]

I know, I was just telling you about the city that Blitch was from to give you a little insight on her personality.

[sierkahn]

Sure Hellraiser II bring on the battle flag and we will have another boycot on our hands. They should go back to the pre 1956 flag and stop messing around with it. I was a citizen, born and raised in Georgia until 1985 when I moved to South Carolina. We have had our problems with the battle flag here and our State government caved in and movet it to the Confederate monument. Now the ACLU and the NAACP want to move it agin. Come on all ready. Get a life, please! We are talking about history, yours, mine and their's. Go complain about something that means something to everyone. maybe the price of gas and oil. That would be a good one to work on.

[jsraggmann]

EVERYTHING violates Federal Law or regulation!

[Savage Beast]

It looks like the placemat in a fast food restaurant. Does it come in plastic?

[smith288]

Look at the image title.

[Paul C. Jesup]

You missed my point.