House Democrats Look To Influence Debate On Key Issues

Rank-and-file Republicans aren’t yet sold on either measure, so Democrats may be needed to pass the bills. Rep. Howard Mosby, D-Atlanta, says there’s been chatter about the possibilities.

“I’ve heard individual legislators say, ‘Hey, I might be able to get something done now because if they want this and they might need my vote, maybe I can get my stuff,’” Mosby said.

Many Democrats want to stop a Republican bill that would cut the number of early voting days in Georgia. Critics have called it a voter suppression bill. Some speculate Republican leaders have held the bill in committee to keep Democrats happy.

Virgil Fludd, chair of the House Democratic Caucus, didn’t comment on that, but said Democrats are making their priorities known.

“I can’t speak to the Republican strategy, but clearly they recognize that a bill that a Democrat would be strongly against doesn’t help in building an esprit de corps about the very big, important bills that need to get done,” Fludd said.

So far, there’s no bigger piece of legislation than the transportation bill. Right now, it doesn’t include a long-term funding source for transit, which has many Democrats concerned.

Fludd says it’ll be one point he’ll push in the weeks ahead.

“It makes it very difficult for me as chairman of the caucus or state representative to support a funding mechanism for transportation that doesn’t have transit in it,” Fludd said. “We have to find some money. Without a doubt. How we get there will have to be negotiated.”

Some expected the full House to begin debate on the transportation bill Friday, but that didn’t happen. Over the last two weeks, several Republicans have expressed concern the bill would raise taxes and hurt local governments. It’s unclear how many of them are willing to buck party leaders and vote against the measure.

Democrats no doubt will be paying close attention.