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Yahoo
03-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Ban on taxpayer-funded sex changes for prisoners sparks Dem walkout in Georgia House vote
Georgia state House Democrats staged a walkout to protest a vote on a bill headed to the governor's desk for his signature prohibiting taxpayer-funded sex change surgeries for inmates. The bill passed on a 100-2 vote, and both recorded no votes were from Democrats. The legislation, SB 185, sponsored by Republican state Sen. Randy Robertson, bars the Georgia Department of Corrections from providing taxpayer-funded transgender medical treatments, including surgeries and hormonal treatments, to prison inmates. Robertson contends there are about five inmates incarcerated in the DOC that receive treatments. The bill now heads to Republican Gov. Brian Kemp's desk for his signature. Prisoners Have No 'Constitutional Right' To Sex Changes, Red State Ag Tells Court In Brief Backing Trump "This disappointing stunt underscores a troubling disconnect between Democrats and the values of the people they serve," Republican House Majority Whip James Burchett told Fox News Digital. "They knew they had no response to the substance of the bill. So, rather than debate its merits, they chose to abandon their duties by leaving the chamber." Read On The Fox News App However, Democratic House Whip Sam Park contended it was Republicans playing politics, not Democrats. "Republicans continue to waste time on their manufactured culture wars while Georgians struggle with increasing costs of housing, food, healthcare and an increasingly uncertain economy due to Republican leadership in D.C.," Park said. "We walked out to make it clear: Georgia Democrats are here to fight for working families, not political distractions." Trans Inmate In Prison For Killing Baby Must Get Gender Surgery At 'Earliest Opportunity': Judge Georgia Republicans have taken an aggressive approach toward transgender issues this legislative session with the introduction of several bills that seek to align with President Donald Trump's executive orders. Some of those bills, in addition to SB 185, include blocking taxpayer-funded medical treatments for state employees, prohibitions on prescribing puberty blockers to minors and a ban on biological males competing in girls high school sports. It's unclear how much cosmetic or surgical transgender treatments cost each taxpayer in Georgia, but the Gender Confirmation Center estimates alterations can be anywhere from $8,000 to $50,000, depending on the type of procedure. Other states this year have moved to introduce similar bills banning taxpayer-funded transgender treatments for inmates, including Utah and Kentucky. California was among the first states to provide transgender procedures for prison inmates in 2017 after a legal battle launched by an inmate two years earlier. Aclu Sues Indiana Over Denial Of Sex Reassignment Surgery For Inmate Who Strangled 11-Month-old To Death In January and February 2025, Trump signed executive orders rolling back federally-funded "gender ideology" initiatives. These orders define "sex" strictly as male or female, mandate federal agencies to conform to this definition and prohibit transgender individuals from using single-sex federally-funded facilities. They also prevent federally funded transgender treatments for both inmates and minors and ban biological males from competing in women's sports. "Yesterday's walkout by Georgia Democrats during a vote to ban taxpayer-funded sex reassignment surgeries for prisoners is a disgraceful display of misplaced priorities," Rep. Houston Gaines, vice chairman of the Georgia House Majority Caucus, said. "By storming out of the legislative session, these lawmakers abandoned their duty to represent their constituents and engage in the democratic process, all to grandstand over an issue that most Georgians find absurd."Original article source: Ban on taxpayer-funded sex changes for prisoners sparks Dem walkout in Georgia House vote
Fox News
03-04-2025
- Politics
- Fox News
Ban on taxpayer-funded sex changes for prisoners sparks Dem walkout in Georgia House vote
Georgia state House Democrats staged a walkout to protest a vote on a bill headed to the governor's desk for his signature prohibiting taxpayer-funded sex change surgeries for inmates. The bill passed on a 100-2 vote, and both recorded no votes were from Democrats. The legislation, SB 185, sponsored by Republican state Sen. Randy Robertson, bars the Georgia Department of Corrections from providing taxpayer-funded transgender medical treatments, including surgeries and hormonal treatments, to prison inmates. Robertson contends there are about five inmates incarcerated in the DOC that receive treatments. The bill now heads to Republican Gov. Brian Kemp's desk for his signature. "This disappointing stunt underscores a troubling disconnect between Democrats and the values of the people they serve," Republican House Majority Whip James Burchett told Fox News Digital. "They knew they had no response to the substance of the bill. So, rather than debate its merits, they chose to abandon their duties by leaving the chamber." However, Democratic House Whip Sam Park contended it was Republicans playing politics, not Democrats. "Republicans continue to waste time on their manufactured culture wars while Georgians struggle with increasing costs of housing, food, healthcare and an increasingly uncertain economy due to Republican leadership in D.C.," Park said. "We walked out to make it clear: Georgia Democrats are here to fight for working families, not political distractions." Georgia Republicans have taken an aggressive approach toward transgender issues this legislative session with the introduction of several bills that seek to align with President Donald Trump's executive orders. Some of those bills, in addition to SB 185, include blocking taxpayer-funded medical treatments for state employees, prohibitions on prescribing puberty blockers to minors and a ban on biological males competing in girls high school sports. It's unclear how much cosmetic or surgical transgender treatments cost each taxpayer in Georgia, but the Gender Confirmation Center estimates alterations can be anywhere from $8,000 to $50,000, depending on the type of procedure. Other states this year have moved to introduce similar bills banning taxpayer-funded transgender treatments for inmates, including Utah and Kentucky. California was among the first states to provide transgender procedures for prison inmates in 2017 after a legal battle launched by an inmate two years earlier. In January and February 2025, Trump signed executive orders rolling back federally-funded "gender ideology" initiatives. These orders define "sex" strictly as male or female, mandate federal agencies to conform to this definition and prohibit transgender individuals from using single-sex federally-funded facilities. They also prevent federally funded transgender treatments for both inmates and minors and ban biological males from competing in women's sports. "Yesterday's walkout by Georgia Democrats during a vote to ban taxpayer-funded sex reassignment surgeries for prisoners is a disgraceful display of misplaced priorities," Rep. Houston Gaines, vice chairman of the Georgia House Majority Caucus, said. "By storming out of the legislative session, these lawmakers abandoned their duty to represent their constituents and engage in the democratic process, all to grandstand over an issue that most Georgians find absurd."
Yahoo
03-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Georgia House Democrats walk out in protest over bill banning gender-affirming care for inmates
The Brief Georgia House Democrats staged a walkout during the debate on Senate Bill 185, which bans gender-affirming care for state prison inmates. Senate Bill 185 is part of a series of Republican-backed legislation targeting transgender individuals, including bills affecting state employees and youth. The bill passed the House with a 100-2 vote and now awaits Governor Brian Kemp's decision for approval or veto. ATLANTA - Georgia House Democrats staged a dramatic walkout Wednesday as lawmakers debated a bill that would ban gender-affirming care for state prison inmates. It marks a growing tensions over a slate of Republican-backed legislation targeting transgender residents. What we know The protest occurred during a debate over Senate Bill 185, which passed the House in a 100-2 vote. All Democrats abstained by leaving the chamber. The backstory SB 185, sponsored by Sen. Randy Robertson, a Republican from Cataula, would prohibit the Georgia Department of Corrections from providing gender-affirming care to incarcerated individuals. According to Robertson, about five people currently incarcerated in Georgia receive such care. What they're saying According to Robertson, there are currently about five people who are incarcerated in Georgia who receive this care. Big picture view This is one of several transgender Senate bills making their way through the legislature this session. Senate Bill 185 would ban gender-affirming care for state prison inmates. Republican lawmakers have also introduced transgender bills to prohibit gender-affirming care for state employees, prevent medical professionals from prescribing puberty blockers to children and teens and a bill to ban biological males from participating in girls' sports. What's next The bill now goes to Governor Brian Kemp's desk for his signature or veto. The Source FOX 5's Deidra Dukes has been covering the 2025 Georgia Legislative Session.
Yahoo
03-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
House Democrats stage walkout to protest GOP focus on transgender Georgians
House Minority Leader Carolyn Hugley of Columbus characterized the bill as part of a Republican fixation on a small population of transgender Georgians and a waste of time. Ross Williams/Georgia Recorder A bill aimed at banning gender-affirming care for inmates housed in Georgia prisons passed the state House Wednesday 100-2 after nearly all House Democrats walked out on the vote. House Minority Leader Carolyn Hugley of Columbus characterized the bill as part of a Republican fixation on a small population of transgender Georgians and a waste of time. Friday is the final day of the annual 40-day legislative session. 'This is day 39, day 39 and we don't have a budget, and many of our members' bills have not been heard,' Hugley said. 'We came here to focus on the opportunity for Georgians to live, learn and earn. And what do we get? Political theater. What do we get? Bills that want to legalize discrimination. What do we get? A whole lot of nothing. And our citizens deserve better than this. They deserve better than this. I've been in these halls over 30 years, and I know that we can be better than what we're seeing today.' As far as either side can tell, there are five people incarcerated in Georgia attempting to seek gender-affirming care. Gender-affirming care can range from hormone pills to surgeries, and it's not clear what the five are seeking. Republican lawmakers have said the Georgia Department of Corrections requested the bill. The ban on gender-affirming care in Georgia's prisons is one of five GOP bills focused on transgender Georgians this legislative session, including a pair of dueling measures banning transgender athletes from girls' sports in K-12 and college that were melded into one proposal that now sits on Gov. Brian Kemp's desk. Democrats said the walkout was less about the specific bill before them Wednesday and more about what they called an all-out attack on LGBTQ Georgians. 'We have so many bills with so little data on the reason why we're even drafting these bills, and it's a step that had to be taken,' said Rep. Imani Barnes, a Democrat from Tucker. 'There's too many trans bills. They're attacking the LGBTQ community for no reason. I'm a part of that community, and it means a lot to me.' Duluth Democratic Rep. Ruwa Romman called the prison bill 'strike three' after the House passed the two bills aimed at eliminating transgender participation in school sports. 'We have had no bills on raising the minimum wage,' she said. 'We have had one bill pass about housing. We have had no bills on Medicaid expansion. I don't even know what's going on with the budget. And you're telling me that we are going to spend more time on another bill to discriminate?' The Democrats walked out after Rep. Tanya Miller, an Atlanta Democrat who serves as House minority caucus chair, delivered a searing speech on Republicans' focus on transgender Georgians and what she called a manufactured crisis. 'We could be solving and tackling the big problems that we are sent here, this body of 180 members, with the learned speaker, collectively representing the state, solving as best we can the big problems, but yet we waste time,' Miller said in her speech. Critics of the ban on gender-affirming care in prisons argue it is unconstitutional and will invite legal challenges. Republicans blasted the Democrats for walking out instead of staying to debate the merits of the bill and representing their constituents through a vote. Several Republicans could be seen taking photos of the vote board on the wall that showed dozens of Democrats absent. They continued the one-sided debate as a sea of seats were left empty. While lawmakers from both parties commonly 'take a walk' on hot issues, including on some of the transgender-focused bills this year, a coordinated walkout is rare. Several Democrats walked out during a bitter debate over abortion restrictions in 2019. House Majority Leader Chuck Efstration, a Republican from Mulberry, said the Democrats who participated in Wednesday's walkout should be punished at the ballot box. 'Rather than support a common sense measure to ensure that Georgia taxpayer dollars don't fund sex changes for criminal prisoners, Democrats left,' Efstration said. 'That's tantamount to saying they're not going to represent their district, they're unwilling to put a vote up on the board. And I think that their actions should be considered accordingly.' The bill's author, Cataula Republican Sen. Randy Robertson, framed the issue similarly. 'While I appreciate the fact that we're not always going to agree on everything that goes on up here, I think we have to have the stamina, the backbone, and the gumption to stay in the fight, to push for those who send us up here, and to never surrender and turn our backs and walk out on our constituents,' Robertson said. Not all Democrats participated in the walkout. Three Democratic representatives – Lynn Heffner of Augusta, Tangie Herring of Macon and Dexter Sharper of Valdosta – stayed and voted for the bill. Two others – Albany Democratic Rep. David Sampson and McDonough Democratic Rep. Regina Lewis Ward – voted against it. Those who stayed were applauded by Republican lawmakers. 'I will be supporting this bill because I support an individual's choice but I support the people's decision on whether or not they pay for those elective procedures,' Heffner said. Opponents of the bill counter that gender-affirming care encompasses more than surgeries and can be necessary for a person's wellbeing. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Yahoo
23-03-2025
- Yahoo
Atlanta man tried sneaking drugs, underwear and more into Georgia prison, deputies say
An Atlanta man and a 17-year-old from central Georgia are facing charges after deputies say they tried sneaking contraband into a state prison. At 3:45 a.m. on Friday, a Washington County deputy noticed a suspicious car in front of Washington State Prison. When the deputy tried pulling the driver over, the driver sped off and a passenger threw a bag out of the window and onto the prison grounds. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] After a short chase, the car crashed in a ditch and both the driver and passenger tried to run. K9s from the Georgia Department of Corrections and Washington County tracked the suspects for three miles before finding and arresting them. The suspects were identified as Dequavious Robertson, 33, and Zanija Allen, 17. Photos of what deputies seized show underwear, speakers, charging cords, drugs and lighters. Deputies say they recovered nearly 20 grams of ecstasy, 2.5 pounds of tobacco and more. TRENDING STORIES: Man charged with trying to kidnap child from Acworth Walmart Suspended UGA lineman arrested after crashing car into apartment complex, report says Atlanta-area rapper pleads guilty to bringing stolen loaded 'machinegun' into hospital labor unit Robertson was charged with trading with inmates, two counts of crossing guard lines, threes counts of items prohibited by inmates, two counts of possession with the intent to distribute controlled substances, two counts of obstruction, fleeing and other traffic violations. Allen was charged with trading with inmates, two counts of crossing guard lines, threes counts of items prohibited by inmates, two counts of possession with the intent to distribute controlled substances and two counts of obstruction. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]
