The Georgia Star News asked State Senator Burt Jones (R-Jackson), current candidate for Lt. Governor, why some Georgia Republicans seem resistant to passing more election integrity legislation.
“Why resistance to doing anything further on election integrity? That’s the million-dollar question right there,” he said. “I’m the one that dropped in a couple bills, getting rid of drop boxes and Dominion machines. I could never get a hearing on that. That was Senate leadership that killed it. Butch and Duncan blocked it.”
“Those were basic transparent measures that I don’t know why anyone would be against that. That’s a question I’ve been asking for a year and a half,” he continued. “I think it’s a shame that we went through the whole session that we didn’t address the concerns. I think it is outrageous that we weren’t even allowed to be heard. We didn’t even have a hearing in the Senate on some of the bills.”
Jones also told The Star News his reaction to Lt. Governor Geoff Duncan’s blockage of election integrity bill SB89.
“I’ve been watching these election reform efforts for a year and half. None of them looked to me like they’ve been passionate about election integrity,” he said.
The Star News previously reported that Lt. Gov. Geoff Duncan (R), allegedly on the behalf of Georgia Governor Brian Kemp, blocked state Senate legislation that addressed ballot chain of custody and would have placed a ban on private donations directly to counties.
Jones took issue with Senate leadership over the timing of consideration of the legislation. “I don’t think there was ever any intention of bringing that bill forward. They took a break right before and it was 11:30 at night. Brandon Beach and I were calling around and trying to get the bill several days before day 40, the last day of session. The Senate stood at ease and the Senate leadership, along with Butch Miller, went to Duncan’s office.”
“After they came out, Miller acted like he was going to bring it up and Duncan wouldn’t recognize him,” he added.
Jones said he thinks the vote to overrule Duncan’s ruling was a stunt orchestrated by the Senate Republican leadership that was not intended to be successful. “It looked like it was orchestrated by Duncan, Butch Miller, and the leadership didn’t want it. That’s what it looked like it to me. I think it was a political stunt that they pulled, trying to fool the public.”
“I took notice that the Senate leadership didn’t vote when the ruling was challenged. That many deciding not to vote didn’t give us the numbers to overrule Duncan,” added the candidate for Georgia Lt. Governor.
Jones characterized State Senator Butch Miller’s (R-Gainesville) actions on the Senate floor as fishy and staged. “It looks fishy. It looks staged. Which is not surprising,” he said. “He’s run the entire campaign running as someone that he’s not. He’s never been interested in election integrity until he announced he’s running for governor.”
Current Lt. Governor Geoff Duncan is not running for re-election. Senator Jones and Senator Miller are vying for the Republican nomination to replace him. The primary is scheduled for May 24.
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Aaron Gulbransen is a reporter at The Georgia Star News and The Star News Network. Email tips to [email protected]. Follow Aaron on GETTR, Twitter, and Parler.
Photo “Burt Jones” by Burt Jones. Background Photo “Georgia Capitol” by Autiger. CC BY-SA 2.0.
