State Representative Jason Ridley has introduced House Bill 1362 in the Georgia General Assembly. The bill aims to prevent individuals with financial interests tied to the State of Georgia from holding certain public offices.
“For too long, wealthy insiders have used profits from massive state contracts to bankroll their political ambitions,” said Rep. Ridley. “This bill ensures that no one can use your tax dollars to buy their way into the governor’s mansion. We are ending the cycle of pay-to-play once and for all. This is a ‘drain the swamp’ measure for Georgia. It tells the donor class and the contractor class that the state government is not a private ATM for their political playbooks.”
If passed, HB 1362 would make officials ineligible if they, a family member, or a business they are connected to conduct business with a state agency or hold a financial interest in a state contract. Any conflict would require vacating office, though previous official actions would remain valid. The rule would apply to positions such as governor, lieutenant governor, secretary of state, attorney general, state school superintendent, and commissioners of agriculture, labor, and insurance.
“The governor oversees the very agencies that award state contracts,” added Rep. Ridley. “It is a fundamental conflict of interest to run for an office where they would essentially become the boss of their own biggest customer. If a candidate’s wealth is tied to state-funded contracts, they aren’t an outsider, they are a part of the government machine. With this legislation, Georgia is following the lead of states like Arkansas and South Dakota by requiring candidates to choose between their private government-funded interests and the public trust.”
The full text of HB 1362 is available online.
Jon G. Burns was elected as a Republican representative for Georgia’s 159th House District in 2005.