Columbus Ledger-Enquirer

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
APRIL 7, 2016

McKoon not villain here

Despite the unforgettable assertion that revenge-based abuse of power on funding legislation is merely “part of the political game,” most Georgians reject the concept that we should blame Senator Josh McKoon for the underhanded CSU financing snub from Governor Nathan Deal and Speaker David Ralston

McKoon serves as the benchmark of honest, hard-working conservatism in the state Capitol and if he is to be the focus of seemingly endless and undeserved attacks, it should also be recognized that the retaliation from Ralston/Deal for McKoon’s courage in speaking truth to power extends much further than financing CSU and the Infantry Museum.

McKoon was the only legislator in the entire state willing to carry legislation (SB6) aimed at ending the Deal administration’s policy of giving the same driver’s license to illegal aliens issued to foreign diplomats and Mercedes-Benz executives.

McKoon also sponsored legislation (SR675) that would have allowed all Georgia voters to decide on a ballot question in November asking if the state constitution should be amended to make English the official language of government in Georgia — and if we should constitutionally codify commonsense protections for non-English speakers in official actions. Pretty radical stuff, eh?

Both bills passed the senate with 2/3rds majorities and had the votes to pass the House. Republican Speaker David Ralston used his underbosses in the House committee system to kill any chance for a floor vote because of his personal animosity for McKoon. This is not “grown-up” government.

The Ledger-Enquirer has used extensive quotes from former Nathan Deal henchman Brian Robinson regarding McKoon and Deal. For many Capitol insiders — including this one — Robinson’s sanctimonious remark that Deal “does not hold grudges” is viewed with a similar level of amusement that would be given an assurance from Valerie Jarrett that Obama is not a Saul Alinsky Marxist radical.

D.A. KING, MARIETTA

Read more here: http://www.ledger-enquirer.com/opinion/letters-to-the-editor/article70515797.html#storylink=cpy