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Urban Affairs Committee delays adopting rules after missing quorum; three new members introduce themselves
Summary
The Urban Affairs Committee postponed adopting its rules after members determined it lacked a quorum; the panel introduced three new representatives and said rule adoption will wait for Speaker assignments.
The Urban Affairs Committee of the General Assembly adjourned without adopting its rules after members determined they did not have a quorum and postponed formal action.
Committee members said the panel set its quorum at eight of 16 members and that a majority will be required to vote on committee business. The committee instead used the time to introduce three newly assigned members.
Committee Chairman (name not specified) called the meeting to order and asked Representative Scofield, the committee secretary, to lead a brief prayer. After reviewing a draft list of committee rules, members concluded they lacked enough members present to approve the rules and deferred adoption until a future meeting.
"Basically, we have 16 members to the committee, and basically we just took it in half. And, so that's where we go," the chairman said while explaining the committee's quorum threshold of eight members.
Representative Edna Jackson, the committee's vice chair and a representative from the 165th District, introduced herself and said, "I am from Savannah, Georgia. I represent the 165th district. I've been up here, what, 3 years now. This is my 3rd 3rd year? 3rd, I believe." Representative Tangie Herring, who represents District 145 (Macon, Bibb and Monroe counties), said Macon is "thriving" and noted local projects; she said she looked forward to serving on the committee. Representative Syrah Draper, who represents House District 90 (portions of the city of Atlanta and unincorporated South DeKalb), also introduced herself and said she was "pleased to be here."
At one point, members noted Representative Davis was off the floor; Representative Scofield said Davis had gone downstairs to retrieve a phone left in the committee room. With members absent, the chair said the committee would wait to adopt the rules at a later meeting based on assignments the Speaker delivers to the committee.
The meeting ended without formal votes or other committee actions. Committee members said adopting the rules will be the first order of business at the next meeting once Speaker assignments and any additional members are recorded.
