Harris County Republican Rep. Vance Smith says vote against Georgia litigation reform cost him his chamber job
COLUMBUS, Ga. () — Most Georgia Republicans fell in line behind the governor on his signature piece of civil litigation reform legislation.
Rep. Vance Smith, R-Pine Mountain, did not. And the longtime lawmaker says that vote cost him his job as President of the Harris County Chamber of Commerce.
'I was told that I didn't represent I wasn't representing the chamber, which is full of businesses,' Smith said. 'I wasn't representing the chamber for the way I voted on that bill. And I disagree, but I don't vote for images. I vote for what's in legislation. I don't vote to hold up an image. I vote for good legislation, and I vote against not good legislation.'
Harris County Chamber of Commerce Board Chairwoman Theresa Garcia Robertson did not discuss the specifics of Smith's termination.
'We do not comment on personnel matters,' she said in a statement. 'What I can tell you is that we hold Vance in high regard personally and appreciate his service to our community and his district.'
Smith said one of his issues with the bill was a provision that he said takes some of the decision-making away from judges in civil lawsuits.
'There is a section in there that allows a judge to run his courtroom on certain cases, but not on other cases,' Smith said. 'I thought the judge was in charge of the courtroom. … To me, the Speaker of the House is in charge of the House, the Lt. Gov. is in charge is in charge of the Senate — I guess, I know more about the House. Why wouldn't a judge be in charge of his own courtroom, setting his dockett? I don't want any outside influence on a judge setting his docket for his courtroom.'
The civil litigation reform bill set up a lot of dicey situations for lawmakers. Rep. Carolyn Hugley, D-Columbus, is an independent State Farm insurance agent. Large insurance companies and business leaders were pushing for the legislation. In addition to being a Columbus legislator, Hugley is also the House minority leader, and voted against the legislation.
'I got no pushback from State Farm,' Hugley said. 'State Farm has never contacted me on how I voted on any piece of legislation.'
Hugley was joined in her vote against litigation reform legislation by fellow Columbus Democrats Teddy Reese and Debbie Buckner. Columbus Republican Carmen Rice voted in favor of the reform.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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