FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
CONTACT: Hank Gurley, Director of Communications
(404) 583-0455
Austin Scott again calls for state-wide grand juries to fight government corruption
Atlanta, GA — In response to allegations of misconduct in the State House of Representatives, Rep. Austin Scott today called again for the creation of state-wide grand juries with the power to investigate any government body or official in the state.
HR 75, introduced by Scott on January 16, 2009, would allow the State Attorney General to empanel a state-wide grand jury to investigate “corruption in the executive, legislative, or judicial branch of the state, any political subdivision or municipality of the state, or any authority or instrumentality of the state…”
“The need for the people to have a direct means of fighting corruption and holding their elected representatives accountable has been obvious for a long time,” Scott said. “The situation we find ourselves in today shows clearly that allowing government bodies to police themselves is unacceptable. Given the current environment, I expect the people of Georgia will demand the passage of this resolution. I will again seek the support of my fellow House members for HR 75 this session.”
HR 75 can be accessed at (http://www.legis.ga.gov/legis/2009_10/versions/hr75_LC_28_4399_a_2.htm)
Scott, a candidate for governor, is a Republican from Tifton who has served House District 153 for 14 years. He is Chairman of the House Governmental Affairs Committee. As a member of the Republican leadership, he has never done business with the state, any political subdivision of the state, or any organization that receives funding from the state.
To learn more about Austin Scott for Georgia visit www.ScottForGA.com or follow him on his Facebook and Twitter web pages. He now holds the record for the longest walk (1,068 miles) by an American politician. His summer walk around the state eclipsed the record previously held by former Florida Governor and U.S. Senator Lawton Chiles in 1970.