ATLANTA – Speaker David Ralston was re-elected to the state House’s top job Monday, calling for civility among Georgia lawmakers and reasserting the chamber’s independence from the governor as the state Legislature opened its 2017 session.
The House and Senate got their 40-day session off to a typically slow start, with lawmakers being sworn in and both chambers electing leaders and adopting changes to internal rules. Things should pick up at the Capitol midweek as Gov. Nathan Deal is scheduled to lay out his legislative agenda in his State of the State speech Wednesday.
Ralston, R-Blue Ridge, easily won another term as speaker by a 169-6 vote. All votes against him were cast by Democrats, including House Minority Leader Stacy Abrams of Atlanta. The last time Ralston was re-elected to the speaker’s post two years ago, he received unanimous approval, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported.
“It is my hope we will begin this work with a spirit of optimism and with a commitment to the ideals of civility, mutual respect and decorum,” Ralston said. He also told lawmakers that “regardless of gender, age, ethnicity or sexual orientation, you are each a member of this people’s House.”
As lawmakers prepare to hear from Deal this week, Ralston noted that 50 years have passed since the House staked its independence from the governor by taking the power to elect its own speaker and to control the appointment of committee heads.