Law Makers and Corporations Beware

Today a diverse group of Atlantan's representing various communities and organizations gathered outside of the apartment that Senator Don Balfour uses during the legislative session, the same apartment he has come under fire for using tax payers money to rent.

The purpose of gathering was not only to celebrate our collective victory in defeating SB 458 and SB 469, but also to draw the clear connections between corporate money and Georgia law makers. Folks who turned out made it clear that the days the politicians can do the will of the 1% and expect no push back are over.

Senator Balfour was an Obvious target. He's a member of the American Legislative Exchange Counsel(ALEC) which has come under fire, largely due to national occupy movements collective actions, for the first time in 30 years. ALEC model legislation is responsible for anti immigration legislation(like HB87), pro-gun laws(like,"Stand Your Ground" law in Florida), and anti free speech laws(like SB 469).

At ALEC conferences the model legislation is created, then it's crafted to fit various legislative bodies(state and federal) and it's usually sponsored by lawmakers that are members of ALEC, like Don Balfour.

ALEC has surely reshaped our political landscape over the last 30 years, and it's exciting that people form different communities are connecting the dots and unifying to defeat ALEC bills and educate the public about has this shady crew rolls.

On a side note, Coca Cola dropped out of ALEC today as a result of political pressure. Coca Cola was one of 28 ALEC board member corporations.

Tim Franzen
American Friends Service Committee

SB 469 VictoryMarks New Direction In The Fight Against Corporate Greed

Tomorrow(4/4)at 11am a press conference will be held In front of Senator Balfour's $29,000/year condo: Spire Condominiums 860 Peachtree St. NE. to celebrate victory over defeating SB469 and to launch the Spring Offensive of the 99%


Balfour was the author and sponsor of SB 469 which sought to criminalize actions like protests in front of private residences. Ethics complaints have been filed against Balfour for his unscrupulous spending of public monies.

Background of SB469 campaign and Launch of 99% Spring:

News of the 1st amendment crushing, anti-worker SB469 came out just over a month ago. Word spread like wildfire amongst Georgians of the need to mobilize. Despite the seeming unconstitutionality of the bill it quickly became apparent that Senator Balfour and his corporate backers ALEC (American Legislative Exchange Council) and the Chamber of Commerce would stop at nothing to ram the bill through. The bill was pushed through the senate with no debate allowed on the controversial bill, a rare and undemocratic move.

Thousands of everyday Georgians including trade unionists, civil rights leaders, community members, people of faith rallied at the capitol in clear opposition of the bill. Civil rights leaders loudly proclaimed that our community would put our bodies on the line to stop this bill. In response, Balfour pushed harder, leveraging his deep monied connections to hold a back door Industrial Relations Committee meeting on SB469 giving no public notice to slide the bill through to the house and again trying to bypass our democracy.

This blatant attack on free speech, working people and democracy galvanized Georgia to resist. The tea party came out in support of organized labor against the bill. Dozens were prepared to commit civil disobedience. The overwhelming pressure forced cracks in Balfour's ranks, the alliance forged between labor and the Georgia community stopped the bill in its tracks. The clock struck midnight on the last day of the legislature and the bill had been killed by a historic labor and community alliance.

This victory marks beginning of a 99% spring offensive. Everyday Georgians will gather in-front of Balfour's Atlanta condo to announce our historic victory and plans to go on the offensive to take our state back from corporate giants and the politicians they own like Senator Balfour. As part of the 99% Spring over 100,000 community members in our state and country will be trained in collective non-violent action and people's economics to take our economy and government back from the 1%.

SB 469 Defeated!!

Just over a month ago, we caught wind of anti-free speech and anti-worker Senate Bill 469. This terrible bill was introduced at the hands of some of Georgia’s most powerful corporate and political figures: State Reps Don Balfour, Vice President of Waffle House, Bill Hamrick , Bill Cowsert, and Ross Tolleson, all of who are members of American Legislative Exchange Council(ALEC). We knew that SB 469 was the product of not only ALEC, but the Georgia Chamber of Commerce.



As the bill progressed through the legislature, a diverse coalition—organized labor, Occupy Atlanta, faith-based communities, social justice organizations, and Georgia’s immigrant community—grew from dozens to hundreds to thousands, hitting the streets with one clear message: “Kill this bill!”



As part of our outreach and overall strategy, we reached out to folks on MARTA and at Waffle Houses in Balfour’s district. Our strategy also included lobbying our legislators and training and recruiting for mass civil disobedience.



Today we had people from all walks of life and political persuasions at the capitol from 9:00 am till midnight, dozens of whom were prepared to commit non-violent civil disobedience if the bill passed. This deep commitment from a broad coalition stopped the bill from ever making it to the house floor.



While harmful bills impacting our allies were passed today, the defeat of SB469 sustains free speech for Georgians and empowers us to overcome future legislative attacks. The very human right to publically call out injustice in our communities was renewed and reinforced today.



Like a modern day David and Goliath the resources of the 1% were not enough to beat the resourcefulness of the 99%.

*Photo credit:
Erik Voss

Deep Concerns With SB 469

In the AFSC tradition we regard no person as our enemy. While we often oppose specific actions and abuses of power, we seek to address the goodness and truth in each individual.

We are called to confront, nonviolently, powerful institutions of violence, oppression, and injustice. Such actions may engage us in creative tumult and tension in the process of basic change. We seek opportunities to help reconcile enemies and to facilitate a peaceful and just resolution of conflict.

Last week in Georgia, Senate Bill 469 was introduced, and it has captured the attention of the nation. If it passes, it’s likely to open the door for similar legislation. Why is the AFSC community moved to express deep concern with this bill?

We live in a time of unprecedented wealth disparity. All over the country, unemployment, foreclosures, homelessness, and a bevy of other social concerns have driven thousands into political engagement. What we are seeing is a totally new section of our population rising up against injustice in their communities, and in many cases reclaiming power. Senate Bill 469 seeks to dismantle not just people power, but constitutional rights, and human rights as well.

The Bill would make it illegal to picket or protest outside of any non-governmental building. Those that choose to participate in a nonviolent picket could be fined $1,000 per day, and organizations, like AFSC, that supported such actions could be fined $10,000 per day. To make matters worse anyone who is involved with planning civil disobedience actions that result in a criminal trespass charge (this is usually what the charge is for nonviolent sit-ins) would be charged with felony Conspiracy. Under the law AFSC staff, volunteers, and interns who facilitate nonviolence training for groups in the Civil Disobedience(CD) planning process could be charged with felonies whether they participated in the CD action or not.

More troubling is the origins of the Bill. The Bill was introduced by four Georgia Senators, all of whom are members of an organization call the American Legislative Exchange Council(ALEC).To be a member of ALEC lawmakers pay $50 every two years; corporations pay $50,000 per year, and they pay thousands more for every task force they want to be on(there’s nine different task forces).

ALEC holds three big conferences a year and dozens of smaller regional/statewide meetings. The conferences and meetings are always super exclusive and law makers are usually given scholarships along with their families.

One of the things that happens at these conferences is that law makers and corporations draft model legislation, corporations then pick their favorite drafts and lawmakers go home and introduce the corporate approved legislation. One in five pieces of ALEC drafted legislation gets passed.

Senate Bill 469 is the worst kind of ALEC legislation, and a sad example of Georgia lawmakers putting the needs of corporations above the needs of the people.
It’s widely known that AT&T is one of the heavy hitters on the board of ALEC. SB 469 appears to be a direct response to coordinated actions by Occupy Atlanta, Atlanta Jobs With Justice, and Communication Workers of America to stop AT&T from layoff 740 southeastern employees.

AFSC Atlanta challenges members of the Georgia Senate to ensure SB 469 does not pass. We regard no person as our enemy. While we often oppose specific actions and abuses of power, we seek to address the goodness and truth in each individual. Many who live in the Atlanta area plan to converge on the Georgia Capitol at 9:30am sharp and then again at 12pm in front of AT&T at 675 West Peachtree street.You can also call the sponsors of the bill and ask them to reconsider their support for a bill that would have made a felon out of Martin Luther King Jr.

Don Balfour (R-9th)- (404) 656-0095
Bill Hamrick (R-30th)- (404) 656-0036
Bill Cowsert (R-46th)- (404) 463-1383
Ross Tolleson (R-20th)- (404) 656-0081

Tim Franzen
American Friends Service Committee