>>> WE'RE STILL IN A PANDEMIC.

I MEAN, YOU KNOW AS WE HAVE TALKED THIS WEEK, AND THEN, YOU KNOW IN THE LAST 24 HOURS, I HAVE LOST TWO FRIENDS.

>> HOUSE SPEAKER DAVID RALSTON GETS EMOTIONAL ABOUT THE PERSONAL TOLL THAT THE CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC HAS TAKEN ON HIM AND THAT HOUSE SPEAKER DAVID CLARK ABOUT WHY HE REFUSED TO GET TESTED FOR THE CORONAVIRUS.

THIS IS DAY 27 OF THE HOUSE LEGISLATIVE.

AND ALSO ABOUT GETTING TESTED FOR THE CORONAVIRUS AND TESTING NEGATIVE.

MORE ON THAT IN A MOMENT.

AND NOW THE BIPARTISAN SUPPORT OF DOING SOMETHING ABOUT THE GEORGIA'S CITIZEN ARREST LAW AND FIRST ENACTED TO CATCH RUNAWAY SLAVES AND ABOUT DEBATING WITH OF REPEALING OR REFORMING THE LAW.

AND ALSO, GETTING RID OF SOME OF THE STATUES TO HONOR SOME OF THOSE NAMED FOR THE LAW, AND ALSO, HONORING HANK AARON.

AND WE WILL GET TO THOSE STORIES, BUT BRENDA WATERS IS JOINING US TO TALK ABOUT SOME OF THE LAWS THAT PASSED THROUGH THE GOLDEN DOME TODAY.

>> HEY, DONNA, THAT IS THE NEWS.

HOUSE BILL 80 PASSED THE HOUSE TODAY.

IF YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT IS, IT IS THE AMENDED BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 2021.

HOUSE SPEAKER DAVID RALSTON WAS ANXIOUS TO SPEAK TO THE HOUSE REPORTERS.

>> WE PASSED THE AMENDED BUDGET FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE FISCAL YEAR OUT OF THE HOUSE TODAY AND I WAS PLEASED WITH WHAT WE WERE ABLE TO DO.

I HOPE THAT THE SENATE WILL AGREE WITH THE PROPOSALS THAT WE HAVE MADE.

I THINK THAT WE HAVE ADDRESSED THE NEEDS OF TO THE EXTENT THAT WE COULD OF GEORGIANS AT A DIFFICULT TIME AND CHALLENGING TIME AT THE PANDEMIC, BY INCREASING SOME FUNDING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH, SO ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR HUMAN SERVICES, AND THINGS THAT I THINK ARE IMPORTANT IN THE LIVES OF GEORGIANS.

>> GEORGIA TERRY ENGLAND BREAKS DOWN THE NUMBERS IN THE AMENDED BUDGET.

>> THE AMENDED NUMBERS OF $26.5 BILLION IS BUILT ON THE MODEST 2.5% INCREASE OVER LAST YEAR.

THE 2.5% OF $654 MILLION.

>> TWO BIG AREAS OF INTEREST, DOLLARS ALLOTTED TO PUBLIC EDUCATION AND PUBLIC HEALTH.

REPRESENTATIVE ENGLAND SAYS IT MAY LOOK LIKE LESS MONEY FOR EDUCATION IN THE STATE BUDGET, BUT WE HAVE TO CONSIDER THE FEDERAL DOLLARS.

>> WE HAD TO LAST YEAR IN JUNE REDUCE QV BY $950 MILLION AND THE GOVERNMENT ADD BACK IS 460 MILLION AND C.A.R.E.S.

DOLLARS WENT TO THE SCHOOL SYSTEMS.

AND I AM NOT BRIGHT AND I WENT TO CAROLINA ELEMENTARY IN BEXAR COUNTY AND I CAN DO ELEMENTARY ADDITION AND SUBTRACTION BUT THAT IS $21 MILLION AHEAD OF WHERE THEY WERE HAD QB BEEN FULLY FUNDED.

>> AS FOR THE HEALTH, THE FISCAL YEAR 2021 BUDGET ALSO INCLUDES $18 MILLION TO REPLACE AND MODERNIZE THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH'S OUTDATED SURVEILLANCE SYSTEM OR GRITS IN ORDER TO ADDRESS THE PANDEMIC.

THE HOUSE VERSION OF THE AMENDED VERSION NOW GOES TO SENATE.

THE SENATE WILL BEGIN HEARINGS TOMORROW MORNING AT 6:30.

>>> WHILE AN EMOTIONAL DAY IN THE HOUSE ON THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE TEARING UP TO A LEGISLATOR WHO CONTRACTED THE VIRUS, COVID-19, AND WAS IN THE HOSPITAL FOR ALMOST TWO WEEKS, BUT SHOWS UP EVERYDAY IN SESSION WITH THE OXYGEN TANK IN TOE.

>> OVER 400,000 PEOPLE DIE WITH WHAT I HAVE, SO I JUST THANK GOD FOR THE BLESSING TO GET ME PAST THIS.

>> Reporter: REPRESENTATIVE DEXTER SHARPER LOST HIS MOTHER TO COVID IN JULY AND THEN HE CONTRACTED THE VIRUS.

IRONICALLY, HE HAS BEEN A GEORGIA CERTIFIED PARAMEDIC FOR 20 YEARS.

WHEN ASKED ABOUT REPRESENTATIVE DAVID CLARK WHO WAS REMOVED FROM THE FLOOR EARLIER THIS WEEK FOR REFUSING TO BE TESTED FOR COVID, THIS WAS HIS RESPONSE.

>> HE REALLY DOESN'T UNDERSTAND IN HIS LOGIC OF WHAT HE IS TALKING ABOUT AS FAR AS HAVING TWO TESTS A WEEK.

>> Reporter: MEANTIME, REPRESENTATIVE CLARK WAS BACK ON THE HOUSE FLOOR TODAY AFTER DECIDING TO FOLLOW PROTOCOL.

>> I TOOK THE TEST AND I AM NEGATIVE AND I WILL FOLLOW THE PROTOCOL.

>> Reporter: THIS IS SPEAKER RALSTON'S RESPONSE.

>> THE WRONG THING TO DO IS TO COME DOWN HERE AND PARADE AROUND THE TV CAMERAS AN TURN THIS THING INTO A FOOLISH CIRCUS.

WE HAVE WASTED TOO MUCH TIME ON THAT WHOLE ISSUE THIS WEEK.

HIS FAMILY NEEDS TO SEEK OUT SOME HELP FOR HIM.

THEY NEED TO INTERVENE.

I THINK THAT WE ARE AT THAT POINT, AND I HATE TO SAY THAT PUBLICLY, BUT AS LONG AS HE IS GOING TO MAKE IT A PUBLIC ISSUE, THEN I'M GOING TO CALL IT OUT.

>> Reporter: SPEAKER RALSTON IS ADAMANT ABOUT THE COVID TESTING AND HE BECAME EMOTIONAL WHEN HE TALKED ABOUT IT.

>> WE ARE STILL IN THE PANDEMIC, AND AS WE HAVE TALKED THIS WEEK, AND THEN IN THE LAST 24 HOURS I HAVE LOST TWO FRIENDS.

EVERYBODY IS LOSING FIRMS, FAMILY MEMBERS.

>> Reporter: AND OTHER HAPPENINGS, A NEWLY SWORN IN LEGISLATOR INTRODUCES A BILL BASED ON HER OWN PERSONAL EXPERIENCES.

IT IS HOUSE BILL 133 CALLED THE CRIMES VICTIMS BILL OF RIGHTS AND 133 IS A PARTNER BILL TO THAT BILL.

>> I HAVE BEEN STALK BY THE SAME PERSON FOR TWO YEARS.

JOINED MY CHURCH.

FOLLOWED ME WHEN I COME OUT OF A STORE.

ANY EVENT.

PARKED AT MY HOUSE.

IN MY DRIVEWAY.

I AM DOING THIS LEGISLATION, BECAUSE THERE ARE LOOPHOLES IN THE SYSTEM.

SOME OF THE LOOPHOLES THAT I HAVE NOTICED THAT THE LEGISLATION WILL FIX IS ONE, THAT IF YOU CALL 911, OFTENTIMES IN MY CASE THE POLICE WILL NOT DO A POLICE REPORT.

>> Reporter: REPRESENTATIVE MAYNOR SAYS SHE CAN'T GO INTO THE DETAILS OF WHAT HAPPENED TO HER, BECAUSE IT IS AN ONGOING CASE.

>>> MEAN TILE, A PHOTO-OP FOR THE WOMEN OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY TODAY.

THE DEMOCRATS OF THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE WORE ALL WHITE AND PEARLS AND THEY WORE CHUCKS IN HONOR OF VICE PRESIDENT HARRIS.

BEAUTIFUL SHOT.

>>> WELL, THAT IS MY CAPITOL REPORT, AND BACK TO YOU, DONNA.

>> LOTS HAPPENING.

THANK YOU, BRENDA.

>>> WE WILL TALK NOW ABOUT PROPOSED LEGISLATION THAT IS DRAWING ATTENTION NATIONALLY GEORGIA'S CITIZENS ARREST LAW.

THIS LAW DREW ATTENTION AFTER THE KILLING OF AHMAUD ARBERY.

THIS IS BECAUSE THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY CITED THE GEORGIA'S CITIZENS ARREST LAW AS JUSTIFICATION FOR THE KILLING.

AND NOW, TO TALK ABOUT IT IS REPUBLICAN REPRESENTATIVE AND A DEMOCRATIC REPRESENTATIVE.

SO FAR, WE KNOW THAT DOING SOMETHING ABOUT THE CITIZENS ARREST LAW HAS BI-PARTISAN SUPPORT, AND WE ARE GLAD ABOUT THAT INCLUDING FROM GOVERNOR BRIAN KEMP, AND WE WILL TALK ABOUT THAT MORE IN A MOMENT.

BUT REPRESENTATIVE JACKSON, LET'S START WITH A HISTORY LESSON ON WHAT THE CITIZENS ARREST LAW IS ALL ABOUT.

>> YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU ARE THINKING ABOUT THE CITIZENS ARREST LAW, DONNA, IT DIDN'T JUST START YESTERDAY.

WHEN YOU ARE LOOKING AT ABOUT 400 YEARS AGO WHERE DEPUTYS THE BACK THEN 400 YEARS AGO, DEPUTIZED CITIZENS TO LOOK FOR LAWBREAKERS, THOSE LAWBREAKERS LOOKED LIKE ME.

BUT THOSE DEPUTIZED INDIVIDUALS, THOSE CITIZENS DIDN'T CARRY THE SAME KIND OF IMMUNITY AS A REGULAR POLICE OFFICER.

SO WITHOUT GOING INTO ANY GREAT DETAIL, CITIZENS ARREST TODAY STILL HAVE THAT GHOST OF 400 YEARS AGO WHERE THESE DEPUTIZED CITIZENS WOULD TRACK DOWN INDIVIDUALS, LOOKING LIKE YOU AND I, AND CALL IT A CITIZENS ARREST.

>> RIGHT.

SO 105-YEAR-OLD RUNAWAY SLAVES AND THIS IS GOING BACK A LONG WAY, AND IT HAS BEEN ON THE BOOKS FOR A LONG TIME, AND REPRESENTATIVE, YOU WERE THE LEAD ON THE HATE CRIMES BILL, BUT THERE ARE REMNANTS OF THE HATE CRIMES BILL IN SOME OF THE THINGS THAT CAME OUT IN THAT TIME IN THIS CITIZENS ARREST BILL.

>> BY WORKING ON THE BIPARTISAN HATE CRIMES LAW AND SEEING IS IT PASS IN 2020, EVERYONE RECOGNIZED THAT THIS IS JUST PART OF THE STATUE THAT WAS CITED IN THE KILLING CAN OF AHMAUD ARBERY, AND CITED BY LAW ENFORCEMENT, AND IN WHO WORKED AROUND THE LAW ENFORCEMENT HAVE NEVER SEEN THE CITIZENS ARREST STATUE USED AND SO WHY IS THAT ON THE BOOKS AND SHOULDN'T IT BE REPEALED SO THAT THE LAW IS CLEAR.

WE HAVE LAW ENFORCEMENT AVAILABLE WHEN YOU CALL 911 AND SO THERE IS NO REASONABLE EXCUSE FOR CITIZENS TO BE TAKING EACH OTHER INTO CUSTODY AND BRINGING THEM BEFORE THE JUDGE.

THE LAW NEEDS THE BE REPEALED.

>> WE WILL LOOK INTO IT SO FAR AND I HAVE BEEN AVOIDING REPEAL OR REWRITE THE LAW.

>> AHMAD WAS VICTIM OF A VIGILANTE TYPE LAW.

THE DERANGED BEHAVIOR WAS EXCUSED AWAY BECAUSE OF A LAW RIFE FOR ABUSE AND SINISTER MOTIVES THAT.

IS WHY MY ADMINISTRATION PLANS TO INTRODUCE SIGNIFICANT REFORMS TO THE CITIZENS ARREST STATUE.

>> THE GOVERNOR IS TALKING ABOUT REFORM VERSUS REPEAL WHICH IS DOING AWAY FROM IT ENTIRELY, AND UNPACK WHAT THAT MEANS.

START WITH YOUR THOUGHTS THE, REPRESENTATIVE JACKSON, ON JUST REFORMING IT, INSTEAD OF REPEALING IT.

>> YES, SO S REFORM IS NOT PART OF MY VOCABULARY, AND I THINK THAT IT SHOULD BE REPEALED.

THIS IS THE REASON WHY.

BECAUSE AS REPRESENTATIVE EFISTRATION SAID, HOW IT SHOULD BE REVEALED BY THE CITIZENS, WE DON'T WANT THE CITIZENS TO BECOME VIGILANTE, BECAUSE MY CONSTITUENTS BELIEVE THAT THE ARREST BILL REALLY EMPOWERS THE CITIZENS TO BECOME VIGILANTES, AND SO THEY DON'T, THEY ARE NOT LOOKING FOR REFORM, BUT THEY ARE LOOKING FOR A REPEAL OF THE LAW.

>> IN IS GAINING NATIONAL ATTENTION FOR THAT REPEAL PART OF IT.

>> THAT IS CORRECT.

>> YES.

SO I WANT TO TALK ABOUT REFORM, AND WHAT THAT MIGHT LOOK LIKE, AND TALKING ABOUT THINGS WITH REFORM OF THE PEOPLE CONCERNED ABOUT NOT BEING FOR INSTANCING SOMEBODY WHO STOPS A SHOPLIFTER AT A WALLWALMART, AND THEY WANT HOLD THEM UNTIL THE POLICE COMES, AND THAT IS ALLOWED UNDER THE CURRENT LAW?

>> A SHOPKEEPER IS ALLOWED TO HOLD SOMEONE WHO IS SUSPECTED OF SHOPLIFTING AND SO I CHAIR A COMMITTEE THAT IS LOOKING AT THIS LAW, AND ARE THERE POTENTIAL CIRCUMSTANCES TO BE EXPLICITLY PROVIDED FOR IN THE LAW, SO IF SAY, SOMEONE BREAKS INTO YOUR HOME TO HOLD THEM WHILE THE LAW COMES AS OPPOSED TO HARMING THEM.

AND WHAT ABOUT AN OFF DUTY LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER, AND THESE ARE IMPORTANT QUESTIONS THAT HAVE TO BE DISCUSSED.

WE HAVE NOT SEEN THE GOVERNOR KEMP'S LEGISLATION YET, AND WE DON'T KNOW WHAT IT MAY LOOK LIKE, BUT WE WILL BE EXPECTING TO HAVE THESE CONVERSATION IN THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY, AND THAT IS A GOOD THING.

>> SO THERE IS A POSSIBILITY THAT WE COULD REPEAL AND HAVE SEPARATE LAWS TO DEAL WITH SOME OF THE THINGS THAT YOU MENTIONED?

>> THAT IS RIGHT.

WHAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT AND ON MY MIND WHEN WE DISCUSS AND THE COMMITTEE THAT I SHARED IS THE REPEAL OF THE STATUE, BUT A SPECIFIC CIRCUMSTANCE THAT WOULD PROVIDE FOR THE DEFENSE IN BIPARTISAN TREATMENT WHILE SOMEONE IS DETAINED WHILE SOMEONE RESPONDS RATHER THAN HARMING THAT PERSON OR DOING SOMETHING FAR WORSE.

SO THIS IS, I BELIEVE THAT THERE IS BIPARTISAN AGREEMENT OF THE NEED TO REPEAL, BUT IT IS A COMPLICATED ISSUE WHEN YOU GET BELOW THE SURFACE, AND THINKING OF THE CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES THAT COULD ARISE.

>> HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT THIS REFORM?

>> WELL, THERE IS A CONUNDRUM, BECAUSE YOU IMPLICIT BIASES, AND THINKING ABOUT EVERY POSSIBLE SCENARIO THAT WAS JUST DESCRIBED, WE HAVE OTHER BILLS ON, LIKE CASTLE DOCTRINE FOR EXAMPLE.

>> EXPLAIN THAT A LITTLE BIT.

>> THE CASTLE DOCTRINE SIMPLY MEANS THAT IF SOMEONE BREAKS INTO MY HOME, I HAVE THE RIGHT TO DEFEND MYSELF AND PROTECT MY FAMILY, RIGHT?

BUT THAT BILL DOESN'T EXTEND TO MY NEIGHBOR TO SEE SOMEONE WALKING OUT OF MY HOME WITH A 65 FOOT INCH TELEVISION TO TAKE ACTION INTO THEIR OWN HANDS.

SO WE HAVE SOME LAWS ON THE BOOKS TO HELP TO MITIGATE SOME OF THE SCENARIOS THAT MY COLLEAGUE JUST MENTIONED, BUT THE CHALLENGE IS, DONNA, THERE IS IMPLICIT BIASES OUT THERE, AND SO WHATEVER SCENARIO THAT WE CAN POSSIBLY THINK OF UNDER THE GOLD DOME, BECAUSE WE HAVE IMPLICIT BIASES, THAT IS WHY IT IS IMPORTANT TO REPEAL AND NOT REFORM, BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO DO A CERTAIN LEVEL OF EDUCATION AND AWARENESS AND UNDERSTANDING FOR THESE, FOR THESE BILLS TO REALLY CARRY OUT WHAT THEY ARE DESIGNED TO DO, AND STAND YOUR GROUND LAWS, AND CHOKE HOLD, NO KNOCK WARRANTS, AND THESE ARE ALL OF THE BILLS THAT WE ARE LOOKING AT PROPOSING THIS YEAR TO HELP REALLY CLARIFY WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE TO KEEP GEORGIANS SAFE.

THAT IS THE INTENT OF THE BILL.

IF THE BILL DOES NOT KEEP GEORGIANS SAFE, THEN WHAT WE ARE DOING UNDER THE GOLD DOME, WE HAVE MISSED IT.

THE FAMILIES NEED TO GET JUSTICE AND SO AHMAUD ARBERY AND BREONNA TAYLOR AND THE LIST CONTINUES, SO WE HAVE TO DO THE RIGHT THING IN THE STATE OF GEORGIA TO ENSURE THAT THE SAME SCENARIOS DON'T CONTINUE TO OCCUR, BECAUSE OUR CONSTITUENTS ARE ASKING FOR NO MORE HASHTAGS OR CANDLELIGHT VIGILS AND MAKE SURE THAT THE LAW IS CLEAR, AND NO MORE LOOPHOLES IN THE LAW SO THAT THE CITIZENS ARE NOT TAKING MATTERS INTO THEIR OWN HANDS.

IF YOU SEE SOMEBODY DOING SOMETHING WRONG, SIMPLY DIAL 911, BECAUSE THE OFFICERS ARE TRAINED AND THEY KNOW HOW THE DECONFLICT THE SITUATIONS.

YOU HAVE MENTAL ILLNESS WHICH IS ANOTHER SCENARIO, AND SO WE DON'T WANT THOSE WHO ARE NOT TRAINED CITIZENS, AND I'M A RETIRED NAVAL OFFICER AND I'M TRAINED THE, BUT I AM NOT TRAINED TO DO ALL OF THE THINGS TO DECONFLICT A SITUATION HAPPENING BETWEEN TWO CITIZENS.

LET THE LAW ENFORCEMENT THAT ARE TRAINED TO DO THE RIGHT THING, BUT WE HAVE TO WRITE THE LAWS IN A MANNER WHICH IS INTERPRETED BY EVERYONE, THE LAW ENFORCEMENT, AND OUR CITIZENS SO THAT GEORGIANS ARE KEPT SAFE.

>> IT SOUNDS LIKE THERE IS AGREEMENT OF THE DEMOCRATS AND THE REPUBLICANS, TOO, TO PASS SOMETHING WITH CITIZENS ARREST AND NO-KNOCK WARRANTS WE MAY HEAR ABOUT, BUT THIS IS THE BIG ONE, ISN'T IT?

>> I HAVE BEEN WORKING ON THIS CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM FOR YEAR, AND GEORGIA IS A NATIONAL LEADER FOR CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM, AND PASSING THE HATE CRIMES LAW IN 2020 AND THE CITIZENS IS ARREST REFORM NOW WILL BE SENDING A MESSAGE NATIONWIDE AND I AGREE BIPARTISAN AGREEMENT, AND LAW ENFORCEMENT GROUPS AND CIVIL RIGHTS GROUPS, AND THAT IS A STRONG INDICATION THAT WE WILL GET SOMETHING PASSED THIS YEAR.

>> THAT IS A STRONG CONVERSATION.

THANK YOU BOTH FOR BEING HERE TO TALK ABOUT THIS, AND WE WILL MAYBE HAVE YOU BACK AS WE SEE HOW THINGS GO.

>>> WHEN WE COME BACK, WE WILL TALK ABOUT THE BILL DEALING WITH CONFEDERATE MONUMENTS AND A BILL TO NAME A BRIDGE AFTER A LATE HANK AARON.

YOU ARE WATCHING GPB.

>> "LAWMAKERS" IS MADE POSSIBLE AFTER GEORGIA FARM BUREAU.

>>> WELCOME BACK TO "LAWMAKERS."

I'M DONNA LOWRIE.

THE DEATHS OF AHMAD LOWRIE AND BREONNA TAYLOR SPARKED DEMAND OF RACIAL JUSTICE.

IT LOOKED AT THE MONUMENTS LINKED TO THE CONFEDERACY OR THOSE THAT PROMOTE RACIST VIEWS.

AND LOOK AT THE STATUES AND MORE, AND THE REPRESENTATIVES THE OF AL WILLIAMS OF THE MIDWAY, AND JIM BENTLEY OF JEFFERSON.

SO I WANTED TO START WITH YOU, REPRESENTATIVE WILLIAMS, BECAUSE YOU HAVE A BILL TO REPLACE THE STATUE AT THE U.S. CAPITOL THERE OF THE FORMER GOVERNOR ALEXANDER STEPHENS WITH THE LATE CONGRESSMAN JOHN LEWIS, AND TALK ABOUT THAT.

>> THIS CAME ABOUT AFTER THE PASSING OF JOHN LEWIS, AND THERE WERE THOUGHTS OF HOW TO PROPERLY HONOR HIS MEMORY, AND IT IS VERY PERSONAL FOR ME, BECAUSE I CROSSED THE JOHN PETTUS BRIDGE WITH HIM AS A HIGH SCHOOL SENIOR, AND I LOOKED AT OTHER LEGISLATION, AND THIS MIGHT BE A GOOD WAY THE ODO IT.

I SPOKE WITH THE SPEAKER, AND HE WAS IN AGREEMENT, AND WHAT THIS IS GOING TO DO IS THAT IN STATUTORY HALL IN THE CONGRESS, EACH STATESTATUES, AND THIS GOING TO REPLACE ALEXANDER STEVENS WITH JOHN LEWIS AND THE LEGISLATURE LAID OUT HOW IT CAN BE DONE AND HOW SOON WE CAN DO IT, AND IT IS LAID OUT THAT THE GOVERNOR HAS FOUR APPOINTMENTS AND THE SPEAKER HAS TWO, AND THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR HAS TWO, AND WE HAVE TO BE EXTENSIVE OF WHAT WE WILL DO WITH THE STATUE FOR ALEXANDER STEVENS, AND THERE HAS TO BE A PLACE DESIGNATED BEFORE WE MOVE FORWARD AND IT SPEAKS WELL FOR GEORGIA THAT WE ARE AT THIS POINT, BECAUSE IT IS VITALLY IMPORTANT THAT NOW THAT WE ARE INCLUSIVE THAT SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WERE DONE WHEN NOBODY HAD A CHANCE TO SAY, AND NOBODY WHO LOOKED LIKE ME SAID, THAT I LIKE THIS, SO LET'S PUT UP ALEXANDER STEVENS, AND THIS IS GOING TO LET THE ENTIRE CITY OF GEORGIA TO HAVE AN INPUT.

>> AND NOW, REPRESENTATIVE BENTON, HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT SWITCHING THOSE STATUE, BECAUSE I KNOW THAT YOU ARE A STUDENT OF HISTORY?

>> WELL, FIRST OF ALL, WE HAVE TO LOOK AT ALL OF THE POSSIBLE PEOPLE WHOSE STATUE COULD GO UP THERE.

THERE ARE A TREMENDOUS NUMBER OF PEOPLE IN GEORGIA HISTORY THAT IN MANY OPINION WHO HAVE DONE AS MUCH OR MORE AS REPRESENTATIVE LEWIS DID, AND WHETHER THEY ARE BLACK, WHITE, INDIAN THAT ARE A PART OF OUR HISTORY.

REPRESENTATIVE LEWIS IS NOT A NATIVE GEORGIAN.

ALABAMA, AND NOT EDUCATED IN GEORGIA, SO I THINK THAT WE CAN LOOK TO NATIVE GEORGIANS FIRST AND GO FROM THERE.

>> SO YOU ARE NOT AGAINST REMOVING THE STATUE OF THE FORMER GOVERNOR?

>> WELL, I DON'T BELIEVE IT HAS TO BE MOVED JUST BECAUSE IT IS BEING MOVED THAT BECAUSE HE WAS A CONFEDERATE OR HAPPENED TO BE A MEMBER OF THE CONFEDERATE GOVERNMENT DURING THE WAR BETWEEN THE STATES BETWEEN THE TATES, BUT IF YOU ARE LOOKING AT THE BACKGROUND AND ALL OF THE THINGS THAT HE DID FOR THE STATE, HE STANDS AND EVEN THOUGH HE WAS A LITTLE MAN, HE STANDS TALL IN GEORGIA HISTORY AND SO FORTH.

>> ALL RIGHT.

SO I WANT TO KNOW HOW YOU FELT, AND IS IT IS BECAUSE OF WHAT THE STATUE IS OF STEPHENS THAT YOU WANT IT REMOVED OR MORE THAT YOU WANT CONGRESSMAN LEWIS REMEMBERED?

>> WELL, CERTAINLY, I WANT CONGRESSMAN LEWIS REMEMBERED AND A COUPLE OF THINGS THEY WANTED TO SAY THAT YES, CONGRESSMAN STEPHENS DID A FEW THINGS, BUT THE NOTORIETY RESTS WITH HIS CORNERSTONE IN GEORGIA WHERE HE SPECIFICALLY SAID WHITE SUPERIORITY RESTS FOREVER, AND THE CORNERSTONE SPEAK FOR ITSELF, AND YES, MANY PEOPLE COULD BE HONORED BY HAVING A STATUE, BUT JOHN LEWIS WHEN HIS BILL, WHEN HE CROSSED THE EDMUND PETTIS BRIDGE, THERE WERE MANY PLACES IN GEORGIA WHERE YOU COULD NOT VOTE, AND WHEN IT WAS SIGNED INTO LAW BY PRESIDENT JOHNSON, I WAS STANDING ON THE COURTHOUSE GROUNDS IN GEORGIA AND PEOPLE WHO WERE QUITE ELDERLY WHO HAD NOT BEEN ABLE TO VOTE, AND HIS CONTRIBUTION WAS NOT JUST TO GEORGIA, BUT IT WAS TO THE ENTIRE SOUTH.

AND JESUS WAS NOT FROM GEORGIA, BUT I WORSHIP HIM.

>> AND IF I COULD ADD ONE MORE THING, WHAT HE SAID IN THE CORNERSTONE SPEECH IS NOT ANYTHING DIFFERENT FROM WHAT OTHER POLITICIANS OF THE DAY WERE SAYING INCLUDING ABRAHAM LINCOLN, AND SO IT IS NOT TO BE USED IN THAT WAY, BECAUSE WE HAVE PLENTY OF STATUES OF LINCOLN AROUND, AND HE WAS VERY MUCH AGAINST THE EQUALITY OF THE RACES.

>> SO WHAT DO YOU THINK SHOULD BE DONE WITH THE CONFEDERATE STATUES?

YOU WANT THEM REMAINING IN PLACE?

>> WELL, THE CONFEDERATE STATUES ARE THERE, BECAUSE OF THE CULTURE WANTS TO LEAVE SOMETHING BEHIND THAT IT CAN BE REMEMBERED FOR.

THEY SHOULDN'T BE REMEMBERED FOR THE FACT THAT THERE WAS SLAVERY IN THE COUNTRY, AND I WANT TO POINT OUT THAT THIS COUNTRY WAS FOUNDED AND SLAVERY WAS IN EVERY STATE, AND WE, AND SOME AREAS IT DIDN'T WORK VERY WELL.

IT WORKED WELL IN THE SOUTH BECAUSE OF THE AGRICULTURE, BUT IF WE GO AROUND TEARING DOWN STATUES BECAUSE OF THE FACT THAT THEY MAYBE OWNED SLAVES AND I WANT TO POINT OUT THAT MOST OF THE PEOPLE WHO LIVED IN THE SOUTH DID NOT OWN SLAVES THAT THEY WERE SMALL FARMERS JUST LIKE MOST OF THE PEOPLE WHO ARE SMALL FARMERS TODAY.

WE HAVE THIS IDEA THAT EVERYBODY IN THE SOUTH OWNED SLAVES, AND THEY DIDN'T.

IT IS CLOSE TO ABOUT 10% OF THE PEOPLE IN THE SOUTH DURING THAT PERIOD OF TIME OWNED SLAVES, BUT TO EQUATE SOMEBODY'S COMMENT AND NOT USE THAT SAME TYPE OF TEXT FOR SOMEBODY ELSE I THINK IS WRONG.

>> WHAT ABOUT THE FACT THAT SOME PEOPLE ARE JUST TOTALLY OFFENDED BY THE STATUES?

THEY ARE REMINDERS OF THINGS -- >> I DON'T KNOW WHY THEY WERE OFFENDED IF THEY WOULD READ A LITTLE HISTORY, THEY MIGHT READ A LITTLE HISTORY TO FIND OUT SOMETHING ABOUT THESE PEOPLE THAT THEY HAVE BEEN FOR LACK OF A BETTER TERM BRAINWASHED AS TO WHAT THESE PEOPLE STOOD FOR.

FOR EXAMPLE, STONEWALL JACKSON WHO IS ON STONE MOUNTAIN, HE NEVER OWNED A SLAVE.

ROBERT E. LEE DIDN'T OWN A SLAVE.

NOW HIS WIFE DID, BUT HE DIDN'T OWN ANY SLAVES AND A LOT OF THE CONFEDERATE LEADERS DID NOT OWN SLAVE AND THE WAR WAS FOUGHT NOT, AND IT EVENTUALLY ENDED SLAVERY, BUT IT WAS NOT FOUGHT FOR THAT.

>> I WANT TO GIVE YOU A CHANCE.

>> I BELIEVE IN REDEMPTION, AND I HAVE NOT BEEN BRAINWASHED BECAUSE I LIVED WITH THIS.

SOME OF THE STATUES BEGAN GOING UP IN THE 20th CENTURY, AND YOU ARE GLORIFYING AND NO MATTER HOW WE CLEAN IT UP AND I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THAT YOU CAN TAKE A SKUNK AND WASH HIM UP GOOD AND SPRAY CHANEL, AND NO MATTER WHAT, YOU CAN PUT HIM UP AND GLORIFY INSURRECTION A WAR BETWEEN THE STATES, AND IT IS NOT JUST SLAVES, BUT, I BELIEVE IN REDEMPTION, AND YES, LINCOLN HAD A CROSS TO BEAR, AND HE SIGNED THE EMANCIPATION PROCLAMATION, BUT THAT IS ENOUGH TO FORGIVE HIM.

>> BUT HE SIGNED IS IT FOR ONLY THE SLAVES THAT FREED THEM, AND HE OMITTED KENTUCKY AND DELAWARE AND OTHERS, BECAUSE HE FEARED THEY WOULD SECEDE AS WELL.

>> SO NOW, SOME OF THE PEOPLE WANT TO CHANGE THE SPAN OF THE BRIDGE NEAR HIS PARK TO CHANGE IT TO MADDOX WHO WAS A STAUNCH SEGREGATIONIST, AND THEY WANT THE BRIDGE NEAR THE BRAVES' STADIUM NAMED AFTER HANK AARON.

>> HE REPRESENTED NOT BY SOMEONE WHO IS KNOWN AS THE LEGACY BY A SEGREGATIONIST OR SOMEONE WHO IS KNOWN FOR CHASING BLACK PEOPLE OUT OF HIS RESTAURANT BY A AX HANDLE, BUT THE LEGACY OF WHAT REPRESENTS GEORGIA IS TRULY HANK AARON.

>> ALL RIGHT.

REPRESENTATIVE WILLIAMS?

>> YES.

I THINK HANK AARON, BECAUSE EVEN THOUGH MR. MADDOX WAS THE GOVERNOR, HE WAS A STAUNCH SEGREGATIONIST, AND HE CHASED FOLKS FROM HIS RESTAURANT WITH AX HANDLES, AND EVERYBODY HAS DONE GOOD, BUT HE HAS NOT DONE GOOD, BECAUSE HE USUALLY CHASED BLACKS WHO WOULD GO ALONG AND THEY WERE -- >> OKAY.

REPRESENTATIVE BENTON, YOUR CHOICE.

>> WELL, LESTER MADDUX RAN AS A SEGREGATIONIST, BECAUSE THAT IS THE PLATFORM THAT HE NEEDED TO BE ELECTED.

>> SHOULD THE BRIDGE NAME BE CHANGED?

>> I HESITATE TO SAY YES, BECAUSE THERE ARE OTHER THINGS THAT MIGHT BE APPROPRIATE FOR HANK AARON TO BE NAMED FOR.

>> THIS IS A CONVERSATION THAT WE COULD HAVE AT A DIFFERENT TIME AND WE NEEDED MORE TIME TO TALK TO BOTH OF YOU.

I APPRECIATE BOTH OF YOU BEING HERE.

>> I ENJOYED BEING HERE.

>> THANK YOU.

>> AND WE ENJOYED YOU BEING HERE FOR "LAWMAKERS" AND TUNE IN FOR US TUESDAY FOR LEGISLATIVE DAY NINE.

HAVE A GOOD EVENING.