Latest news with #HoustonGaines
Yahoo
31-07-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
This Athens native has plans to run for congress seat vacated by Mike Collins' run for Senate
Many Georgians have had their eyes on the gubernatorial and U.S. Senate races, but they are not the only races to pay attention to. Mike Collins, who has represented Georgia's 10th Congressional District in the U.S. House since 2023, is now running for Jon Ossoff's seat in the U.S. Senate. That leaves his own congressional seat open for anyone to take. Where is Georgia's 10th Congressional District? The area of Georgia's 10th Congressional District represents a large chunk of the state between Atlanta and Athens. Some cities in the area include Athens, Covington, Greensboro, McDonough, and Sparta. Who is Houston Gaines? Georgia State Rep. Houston Gaines announced his campaign on Thursday morning on his social media platforms. A lifelong native of Athens, Gaines has served in Georgia's House since 2019. He is a Republican particularly proud of being the chief sponsor of HB 286 which was signed into law in 2021, blocking local governments from defunding law enforcement agencies. "Being your state representative for the last seven years has been the honor of a lifetime," Gaines said. "Together, we've accomplished so much. But it's time to take the fight to Washington, D.C. If we're ever going to turn this country around, we need good, common sense people to run for Congress to help President Trump continue to deliver for the American people." Who is Lexy Doherty? Lexy Doherty is running as a Democrat and is an educational consultant. She previously ran for this race against Collins in November. According to Ballotpedia, three areas she is particularly interested in include rural economic development and innovation, improving access to healthcare, and the John Lewis Voting Rights Act. "Our partisan affiliations can often be a distraction," Doherty said. "There are two parties in this country that matter. I don't mean the Democrats and Republicans; I mean the ultra-rich and the rest of us." When is the next election for US House of Representatives in Georgia? Next year's Election Day on Tuesday, Nov. 3 will have Georgians vote for their next leaders in both the U.S. Senate and House. With the recent announcement of Mike Collins' Senate race, we are still watching for new confirmed candidates in the GA-10 race. If you know of one that's not on here, contact Miguel Legoas by emailing mlegoas@ This article originally appeared on Athens Banner-Herald: Georgians running to succeed Mike Collins on US House of Representatives
Associated Press
20-02-2025
- Politics
- Associated Press
Advocates fear Georgia bill advanced by Republicans could land more homeless people in jail
ATLANTA (AP) — Georgia House Republicans advanced a bill Wednesday that would let property owners get compensated by local governments if they don't enforce bans on homeless encampments and sanctuary laws that limit local cooperation with federal immigration authorities. The bill comes weeks after Cornelius Taylor was killed when a bulldozer crushed him inside his tent while destroying a homeless encampment in Atlanta. It also comes amid a slew of proposals across Republican states, including Georgia, to reinforce rules for local law enforcement agencies to cooperate with federal immigration officials. The bill passed 8-5 along party lines and would let property owners file claims amounting to lost property value or incurred expenses from local governments failing to enforce laws also prohibiting panhandling, shoplifting, public urination and loitering in addition to encampments and sanctuary policies. 'Our hope with this bill is it is never used,' said Athens Republican Rep. Houston Gaines, the bill's sponsor. 'Our hope is that local governments simply do their job and enforce the laws of our state and their local governments, and then no one would ever be able to utilize this.' Opponents, including housing advocates, lawyers and affordable housing providers, said the bill could lead to frivolous lawsuits and would lead police to jail more homeless people, which would only make their situation worse. Many cities aren't equipped with enough programs and infrastructure to house homeless people, leaving many with no place to sleep but the streets. 'Pressure on cities and counties to increase incarceration for crimes and survival is a mistake that benefits no one,' said Michael Nolan from Intown Cares, a nonprofit that serves homeless people. 'If we want to reduce the effects of homelessness on Georgians, we have to reduce homelessness, point blank. This bill would only kick that can further down the road.' Going to jail interferes with homeless people's ability to get housing, opponents testified during Wednesday's hearing, which would keep them homeless for longer. For example, people with criminal records aren't able to get into certain housing programs and people could get removed from a housing waitlist while in jail without knowing. It also could worsen their mental health. State lawmakers should instead invest more in affordable housing, opponents said. A lack of affordable housing is widely cited as a root cause of homelessness. Supporters of the bill said it does not criminalize homelessness and doesn't stop local governments from investing in other programs. They say it merely holds local governments accountable for keeping constituents safe, especially when shelter isn't immediately available for homeless people. 'We've got to protect everybody, and we do need to find better ways to serve people in the community,' said Rep. Jesse Petrea, a Savannah Republican. 'There's a better solution than doing what we're doing.' Rep. Yasmin Neal, a Jonesboro Democrat, asked whether the bill would penalize local law enforcement for not having enough resources to respond to all the crimes mentioned in the bill. Gaines, the bill's sponsor, responded, saying the bill deals with a 'systematic' failure by governments to enforce the law rather than individual police actions. Noah Roenitz from the Georgia Municipal Association worries the bill could penalize local governments for decisions by district attorneys to dismiss charges. The bill would also protect businesses from illegal activity near their storefronts, which impacts customers and employees, supporters said. Voters last year approved a similar ballot measure in Arizona that would let property owners apply for a property tax refund if a locality doesn't enforce laws on public camping, panhandling and others mentioned in Georgia's bill. Alethea Allison, who was once homeless with two daughters after she was injured in a car accident in 2020, urged lawmakers at the Gold Dome to oppose the bill. She now works for Project Community Connections, which helped her get housing, but worries this bill would hinder people from escaping unfortunate circumstances by incentivizing officers to put them in jail. 'Pushing people to the brink and then punishing them for that is not the right choice,' Allison told lawmakers. 'We don't need anything like handcuffs. We need help.'
Yahoo
11-02-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Georgians could use e-driver's licenses if new bill passes
State lawmakers are weighing a bill that would let Georgians use a digital driver's license while they're out on the roads. State Rep. Houston Gaines (R-Athens) introduced House Bill 296. The legislation would amend state code so drivers wouldn't be limited to just a physical driver's license. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] The Georgia Department of Driver Services first launched a digital option for driver's licenses in 2023, but it did not apply to driving purposes. Georgians can only use them right now at select TSA security checkpoints, including some at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. If approved, HB 296 would remove that restriction. Law enforcement officers would have to accept the electronic driver's license if it's presented to them. But if you're caught without either form of a license, the bill doesn't get rid of a fine. A driver who is pulled over without a physical or digital license would pay a $10 fine after showing the license in court. As of Tuesday, the bill is before the House Motor Vehicles Committee. If approved by the committee, the bill would head to the full Georgia House for a vote. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]
