♪♪ >>> GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO "LAWMAKERS."

I'M DONNA LOWERY IN ATLANTA.

IT'S DAY TWO OF THE 2021 LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

SECURITY IS AT AN ALL-TIME HIGH AT STATE CAPITOLS ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND THINGS ARE NO DIFFERENT HERE IN GEORGIA.

THAT COMES AMID WORD THAT DOZENS OF GEORGIA LAWMAKERS ARE IGNORING THE RULES TO GET TESTED FOR COVID-19 DURING THIS LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

AS EXPECTED CORONAVIRUS MEASURES AND SECURITY DOMINATED GOVERNOR KEMP'S LATE AFTERNOON PRESS CONFERENCE.

ANOTHER MAJOR ISSUE THIS SESSION IS POSSIBLE ELECTION REFORM AND WE'LL TALK ABOUT THAT WITH TWO LAWMAKERS LATER IN THE SHOW.

>>> BUT WE BEGIN WITH THE PANDEMIC RELATED ISSUES AS WE GO TO CAPITAL CORRESPONDENT BRENDA WATERS AT THE GOLD DOME TONIGHT.

BRENDA, AT THE START OF TODAY'S SESSION THE SPEAKER THE HOUSE BLASTED LAWMAKERS OVER GETTING TESTED, DIDN'T HE?

>> Reporter: THAT'S RIGHT, DONNA.

TO SAY THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE IS ANGRY IS AN UNDERSTATEMENT WHEN HE MADE NOTE OF HOW MANY REPRESENTATIVES HAD NOT BEEN TESTED FOR COVID.

REMEMBER, ALL MEMBERS AND STAFF ARE TO BE TESTED TWICE A WEEK.

>> I DON'T KNOW IF YOU ALL ARE AWARE BUT WE'RE IN THE MIDDLE OF A PANDEMIC.

74 MEMBERS OF THIS BODY DID NOT GET TESTED THAT WERE PRESENT IN THE BUILDING.

AND THAT'S A BIPARTISAN CAMP, BY THE WAY.

SO YOU KNOW, WE'RE DOING EVERYTHING WE POSSIBLY CAN TO KEEP YOU SAFE, BUT IT TAKES A LITTLE BIT OF INITIATIVE ON YOUR PART IN FOLLOWING THE RULES, BECAUSE IF YOU DON'T WANT TO KEEP YOURSELVES SAFE, I'D LIKE FOR TO YOU KEEP YOUR NEIGHBORS SAFE AND ME SAFE, AND THOSE AROUND YOU SAFE.

>> Reporter: WITH THAT SAID, REPUBLICAN SENATE MAJORITY LEADER MIKE DUGAN SAYS HE HAS TESTED POSITIVE FOR COVID-19.

HIS RESULTS CAME EARLY YESTERDAY, THE FIRST DAY OF THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

THIS AFTER TAKING THE TEST, NOW HE ADDED THAT HE WAS TESTED LAST THURSDAY AS WELL AND THOSE RESULTS WERE NEGATIVE.

SENATOR DUNCAN INDICATES THAT HE WILL ISOLATE HIMSELF AT HOME.

>> BRENDA, I'VE BEEN DOWN THERE AND I KNOW SECURITY HAS BEEN BEEFED UP AROUND AND INSIDE THE CAPITOL, ALL IN PREPARATION FOR POSSIBLE RALLIES OR VIOLENT PROTESTS.

I KNOW YOU ATTENDED THE GOVERNOR'S NEWS CONFERENCE THIS AFTERNOON, WHERE HE AND OTHER OFFICIALS TALKED ABOUT WHAT WE CAN EXPECT, RIGHT?

>> Reporter: WE DID TALK ABOUT THAT TODAY NOW.

IF YOU'RE AT THE STATE CAPITOL, IT CERTAINLY IS A NEW DAY AND HAS A NEW LOOK, ALMOST LIKE A SCENE FROM A MOVIE, WITH POLICE ARMED TO THE TEETH.

BOOTS ON THE GROUND BY STATE POLICE, AND OFFICERS FROM OTHER LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES, INCLUDING THE S.W.A.T.

TEAM.

THERE'S A MODE OF HIGH ALERT ACROSS THE COUNTRY, FEARING MORE VIOLENCE AFTER THE ATTACK ON THE U.S. CAPITOL, AND TIGHTENING UP SECURITY FOR THE UPCOMING INAUGURATION.

GEORGIA, LIKE DOZENS OF OTHER STATE CAPITOLS, PLANS TO BE PREPARED.

AT A NEWS CONFERENCE THIS AFTERNOON, GOVERNOR BRIAN KEMP AND HIS SECURITY TEAM LAID OUT THEIR PLAN WITHOUT BEING SPECIFIC, SO AS NOT TO REVEAL ALL OF THE CONFIDENTIAL DETAILS.

>> I WANT TO ASSURE EVERYONE FROM LEGISLATORS, STAFF, VISITORS AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC ON DOWN THAT THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY, THE GEORGIA STATE PATROL AND THE GEORGIA NATIONAL GUARD TAKE THE SAFETY AND SECURITY OF THE CAPITOL AND THE PEOPLE HERE VERY SERIOUSLY.

GIVEN THE DISGRACEFUL UN-AMERICAN ACTS WE SAW LAST WEEK IN WASHINGTON, THESE GENTLEMEN AND THEIR TEAMS ARE FULLY PREPARED TO DEAL WITH ANYTHING AND EVERYTHING THAT MAY HAPPEN IN THE DAYS AND WEEKS AHEAD.

BUT LET ME BE CLEAR.

LAW-BREAKING LIKE WE SAW LAST WEEK WILL NOT BE TOLERATED HERE, PERIOD.

>> WE ARE CONTINUOUSLY MONITORING INTEL AND CONSTANTLY UPDATING OUR SECURITY PLAN ON A CONTINUOUS BASIS.

WE'RE WELL POSTURED AND WELL PREPARED TO HANDLE ANYTHING THAT MAY COME IN OUR DIRECTION THAT WE MAY HAVE TO DEAL WITH.

>> AS YOU JUST HEARD, THE GOVERNOR AND HIS TEAM SAY VIOLENCE WILL NOT BE TOLERATED IN THE STATE OF GEORGIA.

>>> AND ANOTHER IMPORTANT LEGISLATIVE STEP TODAY, AS THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR AND THE STATE SENATE HAS ANNOUNCED NEW COMMITTEE ASSIGNMENTS, INCLUDING THE NEW COMMITTEE CHAIRS.

NOW, HERE ARE SOME OF THE HIGHLIGHTS FROM THAT.

SENATOR LARRY WALKER WILL CHAIR AGRICULTURE.

SENATOR CHUCK PAYNE WILL CHAIR EDUCATION.

SENATOR MARTY HARBIN WILL CHAIR GOVERNMENT OVERSIGHT.

SENATOR BRIAN STRICTLAND CHAIRS JUDICIARY.

SENATOR FRANK GINN CHAIRS TRANSPORTATION AND SENATOR JOHN F. KENNEDY CHAIRS THE REAPPOINTMENT AND REDISTRICTING.

ALSO WORTH NOTING, BRANDON BEACH AND BURT JONES ARE NO LONGER COMMITTEE CHAIRS.

THAT'S MY REPORT FROM THE CAPITOL TODAY.

DONNA, BACK TO YOU.

>> THANKS GOING TO ON THERE, THANKS, BRENDA.

>>> NOW, WE'RE GOING TO DELVE INTO SOME OF THE ISSUES THAT THE GOVERNOR TALKED ABOUT THIS AFTERNOON.

GEORGIA HAS SEEN MORE THAN 6,000 NEW ON FIRMED CASES OF CORONAVIRUS.

THERE HAVE BEEN MORE THAN 10,444 DEATHS IN GEORGIA, AN INCREASE OF 145 SINCE YESTERDAY, AND JOINING US TO TALK ABOUT WHERE GEORGIA STANDS NOW AND WHAT THE LEGISLATURE COULD DO THIS SESSION ARE TWO PHYSICIANS, STATE SENATOR KAYE KIRK TA PATRIC OF MARIETTA, RETIRED ORTHOPEDIC SURGEON ON THE GOVERNOR'S CORONAVIRUS TASK FORCE AND BRAND NEW TO THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY, SENATOR MICHELLE AWL OF JOHNS CREEK AND ANESTHESIOLOGIST.

I THOUGHT I WOULD MESS THAT PART UP AND I DID.

WELCOME TO "LAWMAKERS," BOTH OF YOU.

SO GLAD TO HAVE YOU HERE.

I UNDERSTAND YOU TWO MET LONG BEFORE THE CORONAVIRUS.

WE'LL TALK ABOUT THAT IN A MINUTE.

BUT LET'S START BY HEARING A LITTLE BIT OF WHAT THE GOVERNOR HAD TO SAY AT HIS PRESS CONFERENCE AND THEN REACT TO IT.

>> WE'VE ALSO UNFORTUNATELY RECEIVED REPORTS OF LARGE PROVIDERS HOLDING VACCINE IN RESERVE.

LET ME BE CLEAR, IF YOU ARE A PROVIDER WHO HAS SIGNED A CONTRACT WITH THE STATE AND ARE RECEIVING VACCINES, WE EXPECT YOU TO BE ADMINISTERING THOSE DOSES QUICKLY AND AS SAFELY AS POSSIBLE.

IF THIS ISSUE CONTINUES, THE STATE WILL TAKE POSSESSION OF THOSE DOSES AND ENSURE THAT VACCINATIONS CONTINUE.

IF IT TAKES ME FIRING UP MY PICKUP TRUCK AND DOING IT MYSELF, SO BE IT.

>> WE DON'T KNOW IF HE'S GOING TO FIRE UP HIS PICKUP TRUCK, BUT SENATOR KIRKPATRICK, YOU'RE ON THE CORONAVIRUS TASK FORCE.

YOU WERE AT THE PRESS CONFERENCE TODAY.

I THINK THAT WAS NEW INFORMATION TO A LOT OF US, THAT THERE WERE PEOPLE HOLDING BACK ON THESE VACCINE DOSES.

TALK ABOUT THAT A LITTLE.

>> WELL, I THINK PEOPLE ARE TRYING TO BE SURE THAT THERE'S ENOUGH VACCINE FOR THE SECOND DOSE, BUT WHAT WE THINK IS GOING TO HAPPEN IS THAT THERE WILL BE AN ONGOING ALLOCATION OF VACCINES THAT WILL BE COMING TO THE STATE, AND THAT'S WHERE THE SECOND DOSE SHOULD COME FROM.

RIGHT NOW, WE NEED TO GET VACCINE IN ARMS AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.

>> EVEN THOUGH THEY'RE HOLDING THEM BACK, THEY'RE THINKING THEY'RE NOT GETTING ANY NEW DOSES.

>> THAT'S THE CONCERN THAT THEY WON'T BE, BUT WE KNOW THAT THERE ARE TWO MORE VACCINES IN THE PIPELINE THAT WE SHOULD BE GETTING SOON, DIFFERENT VENDORS, DIFFERENT COMPANIES, AND WE'LL CONTINUE TO GET AN ALLOCATION FROM THE EXISTING COMPANIES THAT ARE MAKING VACCINE NOW.

>> STICKING WITH VACCINES, PEOPLE ARE TRYING TO GET APPOINTMENTS BUT PHONE NUMBERS BEING BUSY, WEBSITES CRASHING.

THE GOVERNOR SAYS THERE ARE 1.3 MILLION PEOPLE OVER THE AGE OF 65 IN GEORGIA AND THE CENSUS SAYS THERE ARE 537,000 HEALTH CARE WORKERS AND I THINK THAT'S THE KEY.

I DON'T THINK WE AS A PUBLIC UNDERSTOOD THE NUMBERS.

SENATOR OWL, WHAT CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT HOW DIFFICULT THIS IS TO GET OUT TO SO MANY PEOPLE?

>> I THINK THIS IS A VERY COMPLICATED PROBLEM TO SOLVE AND I THINK IT COMES DOWN TO THREE PARTS.

THE FIRST PART IS ESSENTIALLY WHAT WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT, THAT THERE REALLY IS NOT ENOUGH VACCINE TO COVER EVERYONE WHO NEEDS IT RIGHT AT THIS MOMENT.

THAT'S THE FIRST PROBLEM.

THE SECOND PROBLEM IS THERE ARE LOGISTICAL ISSUES IN DELIVERING THE VACCINES TO THIS MANY PEOPLE ESPECIALLY WITH THE EXPANSION OF 1A PLUS TO INCLUDE PEOPLE WHO ARE 65 AND OLDER.

THAT'S A HUGE EXPANSION SO A LOT OF PEOPLE TO COVER.

WHEN WE TAKE THIS VACCINE AND PUNT IT DOWN TO OUR COUNTY LEVEL PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENTS AND ASK THEM TO DO THIS REALLY MONUMENTAL TASK ON THEIR OWN, STAND-UP REGISTRATION, SOFTWARE, STAND-UP INFRASTRUCTURE TO DELIVER VACCINES, HAVE THE STAFFING TO COVER ALL THESE PEOPLE, THAT'S A VERY DIFFICULT THING TO DO.

THERE'S A DELIVERY ISSUE, TOO.

THE THIRD ISSUE WE TALK ABOUT LESS BUT SHOULD BE DISCUSSED THERE IS VACCINE HESITANCY IN THE COMMUNITY AND SORT OF DIFFERENT IN DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE COMMUNITY BUT NOT EVERYONE WHO IS QUALIFYING FOR VAC EVEN IN THIS MOMENT OR BEING OFFERED VACCINE IS WILLING AT THIS POINT TO TAKE IT.

SO THAT'S THE THIRD ISSUE.

>> AND YOU'VE BEEN ON THE FRONT LINES, BOTH OF YOU HAVE, IN TERMS OF GIVING VACCINES AND I THINK THAT IT'S GREAT TO HAVE YOU BOTH HERE WITH US.

WE KNOW THE GOVERNOR SAID THERE'S BEEN A 97% INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF DOSES GIVEN OUT IN THE PAST WEEK, SO THAT'S REALLY GOOD.

HE ALSO MENTIONED THAT ALL RESIDENTS OF NURSING HOMES WILL HAVE THEIR DOSES BY THE END OF THIS MONTH.

THAT'S MONUMENTAL, DON'T YOU THINK?

EXPLAIN HOW THAT SITUATION IS GOING RIGHT NOW.

>> WELL, PART OF THE ISSUE THAT PEOPLE DON'T UNDERSTAND IS WE'RE GETTING 120,000 DOSES OF VACCINE, AND 40,000 OF THOSE ARE IMMEDIATELY GOING TO THE NURSING HOME PROGRAM, THE FEDERAL PROGRAM.

THAT'S ALL FEDERAL, NOT STATE.

THAT LEAVES US WITH ONLY 80,000 DOSES OF THE VACCINE THAT WE HAVE TO SPREAD AROUND.

AND IF YOU DO THE MATH, THE DEMAND OUTSTRIPS THE SUPPLY AND IT'S GOING TO FOR SOME TIME SO IN THE MEANTIME, THIS PROGRAM EXPANSION STARTED YESTERDAY AND SO PEOPLE ARE FREAKING OUT, BECAUSE ONE DAY HAS GONE BY AND THEY HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO GET AN APPOINTMENT AND I GET IT.

IT'S PENT UP DEMAND.

PEOPLE HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR THIS FOR MONTHS.

SO WE'RE JUST NOT ONLY ALL GOING TO HAVE TO BE A LITTLE BIT PATIENT BUT ALSO GOING TO NEED A CONTINUOUS WITH ALL THE ABCs THAT ARE BASICS ABOUT WEARING OUR MASK AND SOCIAL DISTANCING AND PEOPLE ARE TIRED OF HEARING ABOUT IT, BUT WE CAN'T START GOING BACK TO NORMAL YET.

WE'RE IN A THIRD SURGE WITH JUST REALLY SCARY NUMBERS, AND WHEN THE CASES GO UP, YOU KNOW WHAT FOLLOWS AFTER THAT.

SO WE HAVE TO STAY THE COURSE AND HANG IN THERE A LITTLE BIT LONGER.

>> I WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE FACT THAT BOTH OF YOU HAVE ALSO RECEIVED THE VACCINES, SO TELL US A LITTLE BIT, SENATOR OWL, WHAT THAT WAS LIKE FOR YOU, AND TRY TO HELP PEOPLE UNDERSTAND HOW THEY'LL FEEL.

>> IT'S AN INCREDIBLE HONOR TO RECEIVE THE RECEIVE THE VACCINE AND PART OF THAT IS YOUR CIVIC RESPONSIBILITY.

IT IS IMPORTANT TO PROTECT YOURSELF AND MORE IMPORTANTLY YOUR COMMUNITY AND FAMILY BY GETTING THIS VACCINE AND SECONDLY WHEN I CONSIDER GETTING THE VACCINE IT COMES PERSONALLY I HAVE TO SAY WITH A LITTLE BIT OF GUILT BECAUSE THERE ARE SO MANY MORE PEOPLE WHO ALSO NEED IT.

IT'S DIFFICULT TAKING CARE OF PATIENTS AND KNOWING I'M ON TRACK TO GET THE VACCINE BUT TO V TO WAIT LONGER.

NOW THAT WE'RE EXPANDING THE TIERS I HOPE WE CAN GET EVERYONE VACCINATED QUICKLY.

>> EVERYBODY'S PRETTY GOOD ABOUT IT.

THOSE WHO GET IT ARE GRATEFUL.

>> EVERYONE IS EXTREMELY GRATEFUL TO HAVE ACCESS TO THE VACCINE.

PEOPLE LOVE TO TAKE VACCINE SELFIES, PEOPLE ASK IF IT'S OKAY ALMOST LIKE THEY'RE EMBARRASSED BUT IT'S A BIG MOMENT FOR THOSE OF US WHO WORK IN HEALTH CARE AND SEE THE DAMAGE AND DEVASTATION THIS DISEASE HAS WROUGHT, THIS IS THE FIRST STEP TOWARDS THE END OF THE TUNNEL IS A HUGE JOY FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE.

>> I IMAGINE YOU FEEL THE SAME WAY.

>> I'M IN THE AGE GROUP ACTUALLY, IN ADDITION TO BEING A PHYSICIAN, AND THE REASON THAT I WAS ABLE TO GET THE VACCINE IS BECAUSE I'M INVOLVED WITH THE MEDICAL RESERVE CORPS WHICH IS A VOLUNTEER GROUP OF PHYSICIANS, AND WILL BE ASSISTING AT THE MASS VACCINATION SITES AROUND THE STATE, AND IN MY CASE, IN COBB COUNTY AT JIM MILLER PARK, SO MY ARM GOT A LITTLE SORE, THAT'S ABOUT IT, AND IT'S NOTHING TO BE SCARED OF.

IT'S JUST SOMETHING THAT IS HOPEFULLY AGAIN THE BEGINNING OF GETTING US OUT OF THIS.

>> LET'S TALK, I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE GET THIS IN.

YOU GUYS HAVE MET BEFORE, RIGHT?

YOU'RE NOW COLLEAGUES IN THE SENATE.

YOU MET BEFORE.

TALK ABOUT THAT.

>> WE'VE MORE THAN MET.

WE WORKED TOGETHER FOR MANY YEARS.

I'M AN ANESTHESIOLOGIST AND SHE WAS ON THE SURGICAL SIDE AND I ON THE ANESTHESIA SIDE, MAKE SURE THE PATIENT WAS DOING WELL AND SAFE AND HAVE A GOOD RESULT.

IT'S A DELIGHT TO WORK WITH HER AGAIN AND SHE WAS ONE OF THE FIRST PEOPLE I SPOKE TO WHEN I WAS DECIDING IF I SHOULD RUN FOR STATE SENATE, BECAUSE WHO BETTER TO UNDERSTAND THE VALUE OF TRANSITIONING FROM ONE TYPE OF WORK TO ANOTHER THAN ANOTHER FEMALE PHYSICIAN DOCTOR WHO HAS GONE THROUGH THAT SAME PATH.

>> ON EITHER SIDE OF THE AISLE BUT STILL WORKING TOGETHER.

>> I CAN SAY IS I MISS MY OLD JOB A LOT AND BUT WE'RE DEALING WITH VERY IMPORTANT HEALTH CARE ISSUES ON A DAILY BASIS IN THE LEGISLATURE AND SO IT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO HAVE THOSE VOICES OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE KIND OF BEEN IN THE TRENCHES TO MAKE SURE THAT WE UNDERSTAND THE DOWNSTREAM EFFECT OF OUR DECISIONS.

>> YES.

I KNOW YOU'RE ON THE GOVERNOR'S TASK FORCE.

WOULD YOU BE INTERESTED IN THAT, TOO?

>> I SLOO WOO ABSOLUTELY AND CALLED THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE A COUPLE TIMES TO TRY TO TALK WITH THE POLICY ADVISER ABOUT IDEAS.

THAT WOULD BE WONDERFUL.

>> WE'LL WAIT TO SEE AND THAT TRY TO HAVE THAT AS BREAKING NEWS.

I WANT TO SHIFT BIT, WE HEARD EARLIER IN BRENDA'S SEGMENT ABOUT THE SPEAKER RALSTON AND WHAT HE HAD TO SAY ABOUT THE VACCINE TO HIS FELLOW LAWMAKERS AND LET'S HEAR A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT, THE VACCINE ROLLOUT, IN THE HOUSE.

>> MULTIPLE EMAILS ADVISING OF TWO THINGS, ONE THAT MEMBERS WERE REQUIRED TO BE TESTED EVERY MONDAY AND THURSDAY, AND THAT TESTING WOULD BE AVAILABLE HERE IN THE CAPITOL AS IT WAS YESTERDAY.

>> I SAID VACCINE ROLLOUT, I MEANT TESTING.

THE TEST SOMETHING TAKING PLACE DOWN THERE AND 74 LAWMAKERS YESTERDAY APPARENTLY DID NOT GET TESTED.

PRETTY UPSET ABOUT THAT.

YOU GUYS ARE DOING BETTER IN THE SENATE?

>> THE SENATE IS PERFORMING VERY WELL.

IT'S IMPORTANT BUT IT'S NOT VERY INTERESTING, THE SALIVA TEST WHICH IS VERY ACCURATE AND WE'RE DOING IT TWICE A WEEK ON THE SENATE SIDE AND OHOPEFULLY THE HOUSE WILL GET THE MESSAGE SOON.

I THINK THEY GOT A STRONG MESSAGE TODAY.

I BET YOU THEY'LL BE SHOWING UP ON THURSDAY FOR THEIR TESTS.

>> THE SALIVA TEST PRETTY ACCURATE.

>> IT'S A PCR TEST NOT APPROVED BY THE FDA BUT USED AT GEORGIA TECH AND SEEMS VERY ACCURATE, USING THE GOLD STANDARD FOR DETECTING VIRAL DNA SO I FEEL GOOD ABOUT IT AND WE'RE LUCKY TO HAVE THE CHANCE TO HAVE THIS LEVEL OF SURVEILLANCE.

THIS IS VERY FORWARD-THINKING BY OUR GENERAL ASSEMBLY TO HAVE THIS TWICE A WEEK TEST SO LONG CATCH CASES AS EARLY AS POSSIBLE AND ESPECIALLY ASYMPTOMATIC CASES.

>> I NEED TO TALK ABOUT THE FACT WE'RE HEARING ABOUT ESPECIALLY IN SOME OF THE RURAL AREAS THAT PEOPLE EVEN IN THE HEALTH CARE INDUSTRY ARE NOT TAKING THE VACCINE.

WHAT ARE YOU SEEING AND SAYING?

>> THE VACCINE PRODUCTION AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL DID NOT CUT ANY CORNERS.

ALL THE BOXES WERE CHECKED.

IT IS POSSIBLE TO DO THINGS SAFELY BUT FASTER AND I THINK WE HAD A GREAT AMPLE IN ATLANTA WHEN THE I-85 BRIDGE BURNED DOWN AND A PROCESS THAT AUK TWO YEARS TOOK TWO MONTHS AND THOUSANDS OF CARS DRIVE ACROSS THE BRIDGE EVERY DAY.

IF I DIDN'T THINK THE VACCINE WAS SAFE I WOULDN'T HAVE TAKEN IT MYSELF.

>> THE FACT THE HEALTH CARE WORKERS AREN'T GETTING IT IS A BIG CONCERN, RIGHT?

>> IT'S A BIG CONCERN WITH ANYONE IN A GROUP THAT SHOULD BE GETTING THE VACCINE DOESN'T GET IT.

WE HAVE TO REMEMBER THE REASON THAT HEALTH CARE WORKERS HAVE BEEN PRIORITIZED FIRST TO GET THE VACCINE IS BECAUSE IT IS ESSENTIAL WE KEEP OUR HEALTH CARE WORKFORCE SAFE AND ABLE TO WORK SO WE CAN CONTINUE TO TAKE CARE OF PEOPLE.

THAT'S WHY WE'VE GOTTEN IT.

>> OKAY.

I WANT TO FIRST OF ALL WELCOME YOU TO THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY AND HOPE YOU'LL COME BACK TO "LAWMAKERS" AND CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU ON YOUR CHAIRMANSHIP TODAY.

YOU ARE ON THE CHAIR OF SENATE VETERANS MILITARY AND HOMELAND SECURITY.

LOOKING FORWARD TO IT.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

I CAN'T WAIT TO GET STARTED WITH IT.

>> ALL RIGHT, YOU'LL HAVE TO COME BACK AND TELL US MORE ABOUT WHAT YOU'RE DOING WHEN WE GET STARTED.

THANK YOU BOTH FOR BEING HERE TODAY.

I THINK WE LEARNED A LOT.

>>> COMING UP ON "LAWMAKERS," WE'LL TALK ELECTIONS.

ARE CHANGES AHEAD ON HOW WE VOTE?

WE'LL HEAR FROM TWO LAWMAKERS ON WHAT THEY THINK MIGHT HAPPEN.

YOU'RE WATCHING "LAWMAKERS" ON GPB.

>> SMKZ BROUGHT TO YOU BY GEORGIA FARM BUREAU, WITH OVER 84 YEARS OF HELPINGING ACURL TOUR INEUR STATE.

THE LEGISLATIVE TEAM WORKS TO REPRESENT ALL GEORGIA FARMERS AT THE STATE CAPITOL DURING THE SESSION AND YEAR-ROUND.

GEORGIA FARM BUREAU, THE VOICE OF GEORGIA FARMERS.

>>> WELCOME BACK TO "LAWMAKERS."

I'M DONNA LOWERY.

GEORGIA BECAME THE BATTLEGROUND OF THE POLITICAL UNIVERSE DURING THE RECENT ELECTION CYCLE ESPECIALLY WITH THE TWO U.S. SENATE SEATS.

THAT SPOTLIGHT PROVED GOOD AND BAD FOR THE STATE, AND HAS LED TO TALK OF CHANGES IN ELECTION LAWS AND VOTING PROCEDURES.

JOINING US NOW TO TALK ABOUT THAT ARE REPUBLICAN SENATOR CARDIN SUMMERS OF CORDIEL AND STATE REPRESENTATIVE DEE WYNN OF ATLANTA.

THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE ON "LAWMAKERS."

LET'S START WITH WHEN WE TALK ABOUT ELECTIONS THE SECRETARY OF STATE'S OFFICE, HOUSE SPEAKER DAVID RALSTON HAS MENTIONED TWO POSSIBILITIES.

ONE IS THE TENNESSEE PLAN.

THE SECRETARY OF STATE IS APPOINTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY AND NOT ELECTED.

THAT CHANGE WOULD HAVE TO COME BEFORE VOTERS IN A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT.

HE MENTIONS THE OTHER POSSIBILITY AT A PRESS CONFERENCE.

LET'S HEAR IT.

>> I'M ALSO LOOKING AT POSSIBILITY DOING A, TAKING THE ELECTIONS FUNCTION OUT OF THAT OFFICE AND DOING A CHIEF ELECTIONS OFFICER WHICH WOULD NOT REQUIRE A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT, AND SO THAT THERE IS SOME MORE ACCOUNTABILITY THERE.

>> SO REPRESENTATIVE WYNN, WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY OF A CHIEF ELECTIONS OFFICER?

>> WELL, WE'RE IN A POSITION NOW IN THE STATE OF GEORGIA AND ACROSS THE COUNTRY WHERE ELECTIONS ARE BEING CHALLENGED IN THE STATE OF GEORGIA AND ALSO ACROSS AMERICA, AND MILLIONS OF AMERICANS ARE WORRIED AND AFRAID THAT THEIR VOTES ARE NOT GOING TO BE TAKEN SERIOUSLY.

WE HAVE NO EVIDENCE OF VOTER FRAUD AND YET THERE'S AN ATTEMPT TO OVERTURN THE ELECTION.

I DON'T THINK IT BODES WELL WITH THE VOTERS IN GEORGIA TO KNOW THERE'S ANOTHER POSSIBILITY OF ELIMINATING THEIR RIGHT TO ELECT A SECRETARY OF STATE, AND THERE ARE ALSO CONCERNS AROUND HOW THAT APPOINTMENT PROCESS WOULD WORK AND WOULD IT TRULY BE A THAT REPUBLICANS HAVE CONTROL OF BOTH THE HOUSE, THE SENATE AND EVERY STATEWIDE SEAT IN THE STATE OF GEORGIA.

>> THE APPOINTMENT PROCESS BUT ALSO PULLING THAT ELECTIONS PROCESS OUT OF THE SECRETARY OF STATE'S OFFICE, YOU STILL HAVE A LOT OF QUESTIONS YOU'RE SAYING.

>> YES, I DO.

>> HOW ABOUT YOU, SENATOR SUMMERS?

>> WELL, SPEAKER RALSTON, HE'S OBVIOUSLY GOT, HE'S AHEAD OF US ON THE SENATE SIDE.

WE HAVE NOT DISCUSSED THAT.

WE WOULD OBVIOUSLY TAKE THAT LEAD IF HE BROUGHT IT TO THE SENATE BUT THE SENATE'S FOCUSING ON BRINGING SECURE, FAIR ELECTIONS TO GEORGIA, AND WHATEVER THAT MEANS, THAT'S A BIG TOPIC, BUT WE WANT PEOPLE NEVER TO FEEL LIKE THEY'RE BEING DISENFRANCHISED AND THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT WE'LL TRY TO DO IS BRING THAT TO THE TABLE.

>> WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING AT IN THE SENATE AT THIS POINT.

>> WELL, OBVIOUSLY WE HAVE ABSENTEE AND MAIL-IN BALLOTS.

THE ISSUE RIGHT NOW, NOT TALKING ABOUT MACHINES, THE ISSUE IS MAIL-IN BALLOTS.

THERE'S NO CHECKS IN BALANCE.

YOU GO TO VOTE YOU HAVE TO SHOW YOUR I.D., ET CETERA, WHEN YOU VOTE IN PERSON.

WHEN YOU DO THAT REGARDING MAIL-IN BALANCE THE LOS THERE'S NO CHECKS AND BALANCES.

WE HAVE TO COME UP WITH A WAY TO MAKE SURE MAIL-IN BALLOTS ARE SAFE AND SECURE.

THAT'S IT.

>> WE DO HAVE A STATEMENT FROM THE SENATE REPUBLICAN CAUCUS LAST MONTH, GOING TO PUT THAT UP ON THE SCREEN.

IT SAYS THAT THEY'RE LOOKING TO REFORM ELECTION LAWS BY ELIMINATING AT-WILL ABSENTEE VOTING, REQUIRE PHOTO IDENTIFICATION AND CRACKING DOWN ON BALLOT HARVESTING BY OUTLAWING DROP BOXES.

OUT OF THAT, LET'S TACKLE THE NO EXCUSES OR AT-WILL FIRST AND WE'LL GO TO YOU, REPRESENTATIVE WYNN ON THAT.

>> THE 2005 GEORGIA LAW THAT CREATED NO EXCUSE ABSENTEE BALLOT WAS PASSED BY REPUBLICANS AND USED WIDELY BY REPUBLICANS HISTORICALLY.

IT WAS ONLY THIS PAST 2020 ELECTION WHEN DEMOCRATS CHOSE TO USE ABSENTEE VOTING BECAUSE WE'RE IN A PANDEMIC AND SO I AGREE WITH SENATOR SUMMERS THAT WE HAVE TO DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO MAKE SURE WE'RE NOT DISENFRANCHISING VOTERS.

THERE IS NO EVIDENCE THAT THERE IS ANY FRAUD THAT HAS OCCURRED WITH MAIL-IN BALLOTS AND THERE'S NO EVIDENCE THAT MAIL-IN BALLOTS INCREASES FRAUD, THE SAME WITH USING SECURE DROP BOXES.

THERE ARE THINGS WE HEARD FROM THE SECRETARY OF STATE AND THE GOVERNOR, NO EVIDENCE OF FRAUD.

ON THE SIGNATURE MATCH PROTOCOL, I THINK WHAT WE SHOULD TALK ABOUT IS HOW SIGNATURE MATCH ACTUALLY DISENFRANCHISES VOTERS, OVER 9,000 BALLOTS WERE FLAGGED FOR SIGNATURE MISMATCH OR MISSING A SIGNATURE.

THE MAJORITY OF VOTERS WHO ARE FLAGGED ARE OLDER VOTERS OR VOTERS WITH DISABILITIES.

IF YOU PARTICIPATE IN A BALLOT CURING PROGRAM GOING DOOR TO DOOR OR MAKING CALLS TO VOTERS, MANY VOTERS ARE OLDER VOTERS.

MY 70-YEAR-OLD NEIGHBOR WAS FLAGGED AND WHEN I WENT TO HIS HOUSE, HE'S LIVED IN THIS HOUSE FOR 60 YEARS, HE SAIDLY DO MY BEST.

HIS HAND WAS SHAKING AS HE TOOK OUT A PEN, AND IN ORDER FOR ME TO SUBMIT THIS INFORMATION TO CURE HIS BALLOT AND MAKE SURE HIS VOTE COUNTED I HAD TO USE MY EMAIL BECAUSE HE DIDN'T HAVE ACCESS TO INTERNET.

WE'RE LOOKING AT HERE IS HOW DOES THIS IMPACT OLDER VOTERS, VOTERS WITH DISABILITIES, VOTERS IN RURAL GEORGIA WHO DO NOT HAVE ACCESS TO INTERNET BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE THE SAME RESOURCES IN RURAL GEORGIA.

HOW ARE WE MAKING SURE WHEN WE ARE LOOKING AT ELECTION LAWS, WE'RE NOT GOING TO DISENFRANCHISE VOTERS.

WE WERE ABLE TO CURE ALMOST HALF OF THOSE 9,000 BALLOTS BECAUSE THE REALITY IS OVER 70% OF BALLOTS THAT ARE FLAGGED FOR SIGNATURE MISMATCH OR NOT INCLUDING A SIGNATURE ARE VALID LEGAL VOTERS IN THE STATE OF GEORGIA.

>> AS WE KNOW, SENATOR SUMMERS, THAT WHOLE ISSUE WAS VERY BIG DURING ESPECIALLY IN THE SENATORER TOIAL RUNOFF.

>> DONNA, WHEN THE DEMOCRATS WIN AND THE REPUBLICANS LOSE, IT CAUSES AN ISSUE.

WHEN REPUBLICANS WIN AND DEMOCRATS LOSE, IT CAUSES ISSUES.

IT'S A DOUBLE-EDGED SWORD THERE.

SIMPLY THIS.

WE HAVE TO COME UP WITH A WAY TO SECURE ELECTIONS, PERIOD.

DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS WILL WORK TOGETHER TO DO THAT.

THAT'S WHAT WE'RE HIRED TO DO, AND BY DOING THAT, WHATEVER IT TAKES.

WE'RE LIVING IN THE -- THIS IS 2021.

BIOMETRICS ARE AVAILABLE, THERE'S ANY KIND OF WAY TO MAKE THINGS DONE.

RURAL WHEN SHE MENTIONED ABOUT INTERNET, A HUGE ISSUE PEOPLE DON'T HAVE THAT BUT THERE IS CODES.

THERE'S TD AMER KATRADE DOES IT EVERY DAY, CODES YOU CAN USE ONE TIME TO SECURE YOUR BALLOT AND THERE'S WAYS TO DO IT.

WE DON'T WANT TO DISENFRANCHISE ANYBODY.

I DON'T KNOW IF WE COULD GO TO ALL MAIL-IN BALLOTS IF WE HAD TO.

PEOPLE DON'T TRUST THE MACHINES ANYMORE.

I DON'T THINK THEY TRUST IT ON BOTH SIDES, WHETHER THEY WERE THERE, HOOKED UP TO THE INTERNET OR WASN'T.

THE REALITY OF IT IS, WE HAVE SOME PEOPLE OUT THERE ON BOTH SIDES THAT HAVE TAKEN GREAT ISSUE WITH OUR ELECTION AND I WANT TO GO TO A LITTLE POINT AS GIB REEL SAID THERE ARE, IS, AND WILL ALWAYS BE VOTER FRAUD.

THE QUESTION IS HOW MUCH VOTER FRAUD IS THERE OUT THERE.

>> YOU TALKED ABOUT MAIL-IN BALLOTS AND WE HAVE ANOTHER SOUND BITE, HEAR FROM SPEAKER RALSTON A LITTLE BIT TALKING ABOUT ABSENTEE VOTING, SO LET'S HEAR FROM THAT NOW.

LET'S HEAR IT.

>> HERE IS MY GOAL ON ABSENTEE BALLOTS, OKAY?

I THINK THE LEVEL OF SECURITY SHOULD BE JUST THE SAME FOR AN ABSENTEE BALLOT AS IT IS FOR IN-PERSON VOTING, OR WHETHER IT'S EARLY VOTING OR DAY OF ELECTION VOTING.

FOR NO EXCUSE, I'M GOING TO BE VERY, I'LL GO TO MY ANSWER IS MR. PRITCHARD'S QUESTION EARLIER, SOMEBODY'S GOING TO HAVE TO MAKE A REAL STRONG CASE TO CONVINCE ME OTHERWISE.

>> DO YOU AGREE WITH THAT?

>> ABSOLUTELY AND I THINK WHEN YOU GO INTO IN-PERSON TO VOTE YOU FURNISH YOUR I.D., SIGN THE PAPERS, YOU DO EVERYTHING.

WHEN YOU DO A MAIL-IN BALLOT, NO DISRESPECT TO ANYBODY OUT THERE, BUT YOU JUST PHEW AND IT MAY OR MAY NOT BE YOUR SIGNATURE.

THERE IS NO CHECKS OR BALANCES ON A MAIL-IN BALLOT THAT WILL PREVENT VOTER FRAUD FROM HAPPENING AND THAT'S WHAT HE'S DEAD ON WHAT HE'S SAYING.

>> OKAY, I DO WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE PHOTO I.D.

BECAUSE AS THE "AJC" REPORTED GOVERNOR KEMP WOULD LIKE TO LOOK AT THAT POSSIBILITY.

WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON IT?

>> LET ME SAY THIS FIRST.

WE DID AN AUDIT IN COBB COUNTY LOOKING AT 15,000 BALLOTS AND OF THOSE 15,000 BALLOTS, THERE WERE TWO BALLOTS THAT CAME BACK, BOTH LEGAL, VALID VOTERS IN THE STATE OF GEORGIA.

ONE CASE WHERE A WIFE SIGNED THE BALLOT FOR HER HUSBAND, WHICH SHE SHOULDN'T HAVE DONE BUT AS THE SECRETARY OF STATE HAS ALSO SAID, THE MAJORITY OF THESE SINGLE ISOLATED CASES ARE NOT INTENTIONAL VOTER FRAUD.

IT'S SIMPLY A VOTER WHO MAY NOT UNDERSTAND ELECTION LAWS.

THE SECOND CASE WAS A VALID LEGAL VOTER WHO SIGNED ON THE BACK OF THE NFL.

WE HAVE TWO SIGNATURE MATCH PROCESSES, ONE WE'RE CHECKING THE SIGNATURE AGAINST THE REGISTRATION OR THE SIGNATURE ON THE APPLICATION AND SECOND, IT IS CHECKED AGAINST THE SIGNATURE ON FILE, WHICH IS OFTENTIMES THE DRIVER'S LICENSE.

SO WE'RE MAKING TWO CHECKS, SO IT SIMPLY ISN'T SOMEBODY WITHOUT ANY SECURITY AND THE SECOND POINT IS, WE HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO IDENTIFY NOT ONE SINGLE CASE OF FRAUD IN THE STATE OF GEORGIA, AS IT PERTAINS TO MAIL-IN BALLOTS.

NOTHING PROSECUTED, SO WHEN WE'RE LOOKING AT THAT, THOSE ARE THE FACTS AROUND MAIL-IN BALANCE THE LOS.

STATES MOVED TO PRIMARILY MAIL-IN BALLOT SYSTEMS BECAUSE IT WORKS AND IT DOES NOT HAVE ANY INCREASES OF ANY KIND OF VOTER FRAUD.

ON THE I.D.

PORTION -- >> UNFORTUNATELY, WE HAVE TO LET THAT BE THE LAST WORD, I'M SORRY, WE'LL HAVE YOU BOTH BACK.

>> THANK YOU, DONNA.

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