Democrats try to get on the same page at the Georgia Legislature | www.myajc.com

Raising the minimum wage. Preventing racial profiling. Strengthening the state’s ethics agency. Even legalizing the recreational use of marijuana.

Georgia Democrats’ stinging defeat at the ballot box last month appears to have only galvanized rank-and-file members ahead of the Jan. 12 legislative session. But while the flurry of proposals may energize their base, it has yet to bridge a strategic divide among Democratic leaders in the House and Senate that could ruin their chance at playing spoiler.

That matters because Democrats more than ever this year have a chance to influence policy on some of the state’s most pressing issues. Expected votes on raising money to repair and replace Georgia’s aging transportation network, for example, could cause some conservative lawmakers to balk because of expected tax or fee increases, giving the minority party leverage to ensure passage.

“We do believe as an opposition party that we have a role to play to hold the majority party accountable,” said Senate Minority Whip Vincent Fort, D-Atlanta.

Georgia Senate Democrats will pursue an agenda this year that would, among other issues:

• Raise the state’s minimum wage to $10.10 an hour.

• Allow same-day voter registration.

• Independently appoint state ethics commission members.

• Strengthen Georgia’s whistleblower statute.

• Restrict “no knock” police warrants.

• Require all police departments to use body cameras and “dash cams.”

via Democrats try to get on the same page at the Georgia Legislature | www.myajc.com.