Sen. Colton Moore Permanently Banned From Georgia House
By LYDIA BERGLAR
News Editor
On March 14th, after asking fellow senators to oppose Senate Resolution 687, Senator Colton Moore was banned from ever returning to the Georgia House. The resolution was to urge the University of North Georgia to name a building after the late House Speaker David Ralston. The nearly unprecedented ban raises questions about freedom of speech and also decorum among politicians.
The livestream of the session is available on the Georgia State Senate’s YouTube channel with the title, “Legislative Day 35 | 2024 Session | 3/14/2024 (pt. 1).” Introduction and discussion of the resolution begins at the 1:52:20 mark and concludes at the 2:25:50 mark.
Some of Moore’s statements include, “This body is about to perpetually memorialize, in my opinion, one of the most corrupt Georgia leaders we’ll ever see in our lifetime.”
He referenced a rape victim whose assailant hired Ralston as attorney; a drunk driver who, after maiming a woman and killing her child, hired Ralston; and other criminal cases. Moore stated that Ralston delayed these and “thousands” of other cases.
Articles by numerous news sources were published in 2019 about the accusations against Ralston.
As to how Ralston delayed the cases, Moore said, “We heard about him being chairman of judiciary non-civil. Well, back in 2006, there was a bill called Senate Bill 503. The man created the legislative leave and then profited off of it…The truth is hard to hear.”
Moore was then warned about decorum rules and asked to wrap up his statements, later being told, “Not the time or place.”
Moore used no vile language. He did display indignation and fervor.
After Moore’s remarks, others rose to praise Ralston as a great man, mentor, and friend who worked across party lines. Some said this was not the proper time or place for Moore’s statements. One cited the professionalism and kindness that Ralston displayed as an attorney.
Later that day, House Speaker Jon Burns announced that Moore was permanently banned from any property of the Georgia House, saying, “His comments imputed the integrity of my dear friend, and we all know they were not true.” Burns’ announcement was met with applause and cheers.
Senator Moore has been expelled from the Senate Republican caucus and removed from attending any House functions. What good is he doing for his constituents? Please note that the removal from local to general for actions by Sen. Moore were do to his refusal to move local government legislation forward. He seems to spend more time outside his district touting for the Freedom Caucus than working for his constituents. President Eisenhower said, “Any extremes to the right or left of any political dispute are alway wrong.” I submit that Sen. Moore is always wrong.
Extremism in the defense of liberty is no vice.
So now as his constituents are being taxed – they are not allowed representation – THIS WILL NOT STAND. It’s the same bs that Turtle tried to pull – HOW DAMN DARE ANYONE to remove a constituents representation and then demand taxes from them!