Immediate Release

Georgia Heritage Coalition is busy at work at the Georgia General Assembly with the State Flag Fair Vote Act, drafted by GHC.

We determined to introduce the bill in the senate and have made good progress in gaining commitments but we still need more to move the bill thru the process. At the moment most of our concentration is in the senate where we must win to advance.

The listings will be Republican only since they hold the majority, the leadership and the chairmanships. They can kill or cure our bill. We can deal with the Democrats, many who support us, once we get introduced and to committee. Our bill will be introduced as bipartisan, both Parties in the sponsorship.

To those in Georgia and to our friends outside Georgia who have friends or relatives who can help, here are some folks in the senate who have either not responded to our calls, or who have declined to give he people of Georgia a fair vote as opposed to the rigged vote the legislature has put before them.

E-mails usually get little response since they get so many their staff people flip thru them and usually discard those whose names they don't recognize.

Faxes are better and letters even better, but slow. Phone calls where you request a personal contact with the senator are best. Usually, you'll get an assistant who will want to know what you want to talk about. Tell them, and say you expect to hear directly from the senator as your future support depends on it. Leave your number.

When you talk to the senator the key words are: "How could any fair minded person refuse to give the people the right to a fair vote on their state flag ? What harm do you see in allowing all the people to fairly select from all three flags regardless of your own personal choice? Are you telling me you support the idea of depriving a majority of Georgians their right to vote?" (cite recent Mason-Dixon poll supported by earlier Zogby poll)

Whatever your communication be firm and resolute, but courteous and respectable.

Senators will be home thru Monday the 19th then can be reached at their offices or at home, at the 20th. If you can't locate their phone numbers go to state government in your yellow pages, or call your local newspaper.

The following are Republican Senators who have either indicated opposition to the Fair Vote Act, or have failed to communicate with us:

Don Balfour, Snellville

Rooney Bowen, Cordele

Chuck Clay, Marietta

Ginger Collins, Smyrna

Randy Hall, Augusta

Bill Hamrick, Carrollton

Seth Harp, Midland

Jack Hill, Reidsville

Ralph Hudgens, Comer

Eric Johnson, Savannah

Brien Kemp, Athens

Dan Lee, LaGrange

Dan Moody, Alpharetta

Mitch Seabaugh, Sharpsburg

Charlie Tanksley, Marietta

Ross Tolleson, Perry

Renee Unterman, Loganville

[ Contact information is available at:
http://www.legis.state.ga.us/cgi-bin/gl_peo_list.pl?List=stsenate ]

We're only three or four votes away from a majority in the Republican Caucus. You and your friends can make the difference. They're in this list. Report your progress to Jim Dean, jimdean@aol.com

Thanks for your help in getting those votes we all need. Several senators have told me the flag is no issue in their district. Is that right? CHARGE

Jeff Davis, 1418 Cleveland
Chairman, Georgia Heritage Coalition

"Knowing is not enough; we must apply. Willing is not enough; we must do."
-Johann von Goethe