After ICE shootings, Georgia mulls stiffer penalties for obstructing police

Renee Good died last month in Minneapolis after a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Officer shot her during an encounter while she was in her vehicle. Now, Republicans in Georgia are working to make it a felony to use a vehicle to obstruct police operations.

Supporters say the legislation, House Bill 1076, is rooted in a pattern of problems across the nation. But critics see it as a rash reaction that could hinder people’s right to protest.

People can already be charged with a felony in Georgia if they use a vehicle as a weapon that harms or kills someone. But the bill by state Rep. Ginny Ehrhart would go further by making any obstruction a felony, including by stationary vehicles.

Ehrhart says confrontations between police and drivers are dangerous to begin with, and her goal is to make the penalties so high that it prevents them from happening in the first place.

“Nothing in this bill impedes upon the right of citizens to peacefully protest,” Ehrhart said.

At least 13 people have been shot by federal immigration officers since September. Nine of them involved vehicles, according to reporting by NBC News.

Chuck Clay, a former state senator who supports the bill, said the bill wasn’t simply a response to Good’s death in Minnesota. He said police are often interfered with by people who are not connected to the crime scene but motivated by a “resentment of police.”

“We try not to have any legislation bearing specifically on one set of facts,” Clay told lawmakers during a hearing last week.

Mazie Lynn Guertin, executive director of the Georgia Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, suggested instead of making it a felony to classify it as a “high and aggravated misdemeanor” — an idea Republicans appear open to considering.

“Fear of penalty is rarely going to stop someone. What is going to stop someone is fear of getting caught,” she said.

Things to know

Credit: Arvin Temkar/AJC

Credit: Arvin Temkar/AJC

Good morning! We’re 27 days away from the special election to replace Marjorie Taylor Greene in Congress. We’re 97 days away from the primary for U.S. Senate, governor and other races.

Here are three other things to know for today.

Donation intrigue

Credit: Abbey Cutrer/AJC

Credit: Abbey Cutrer/AJC

A few months before jumping into the governor’s race, Republican Rick Jackson’s company cut an $8,400 check to Lt. Gov. Burt Jones.

The Sept. 11 check was one of several political contributions Jackson made this cycle. But this one, of course, carries extra weight. The recipient is now his chief opponent in the Republican primary.

Expect Jones and his allies to highlight the contribution as the primary fight escalates.

Jackson spokesman Dave Abrams said the donation came before Jackson soured on the lieutenant governor.

“He tried to help Burt but saw that Burt’s laziness and corruption put us in danger of letting Brad Raffensperger or radical Democrats win,” Abrams said. “Conservatives need a candidate who will win big for Georgia.”

Meanwhile, Jones’ campaign is also clearing the way for far bigger financial help. Georgia’s three Republican National Committee members signed letters that could allow the organization to break its neutrality and back Jones in the primary.

Committeewoman Amy Kremer said she signed the letter before Jackson got in the race “based on what I believed was best for Georgia and election integrity.” But she said her position hasn’t changed.

“Georgia deserves stronger leadership, real accountability, and restored trust in our elections.”

Batter up

Credit: Miguel Martinez/AJC

Credit: Miguel Martinez/AJC

Third time’s the charm?

Attorney General Chris Carr tried challenging Georgia’s law allowing some politicians to use leadership committees to raise unlimited funds.

So did Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger.

Now Republican candidate for governor Rick Jackson is aiming for the 2021 law, which applies to Lt. Gov. Burt Jones but doesn’t extend to other candidates.

He’s taking a different tack than Carr and Raffensperger, modeling his lawsuit after similar complaints brought by former Republican U.S. Sen. David Perdue and former Democratic gubernatorial nominee Stacey Abrams against Gov. Brian Kemp in 2022.

That resulted in a federal judge ordering Kemp to stop raising or spending money through the committee until he won the nomination.

Similarly, Jackson’s lawsuit argues the “unequal treatment gives incumbent candidates a significant competitive advantage over other candidates running in the same election.”

Jackson is self-funding his campaign, pledging to spend at least $50 million.

Georgia 2028

Credit: AP

Credit: AP

Politico is calling it Gavin Newsom’s “red-state reading tour.”

The California governor and likely 2028 Democratic presidential candidate is swinging by Atlanta’s Rialto Center for the Arts on Feb. 22 to discuss his book. It’s part of a tour that also includes stops in Tennessee and South Carolina.

Of course, Newsom isn’t the only potential White House hopeful to make an early stop in Georgia, a perpetual political battleground. Former Vice President Kamala Harris held an event in Atlanta during her book tour last year and is headed to Macon tonight.

Frankly

Credit: Miguel Martinez/AJC

Credit: Miguel Martinez/AJC

Republican U.S. Rep. Mike Collins of Jackson used his congressional office’s funds to pay for ads promoting his support for an illegal immigration crackdown.

The ads are part of a long-standing practice, known as "franking," that allows members of Congress to use public funds to promote their work in office. Under House rules, these ads cannot be explicitly political and must be approved by chamber officials.

Still, the 30-second spot closely mirrors Collins’ campaign messaging. It features pictures of him with President Donald Trump as a narrator says he “increased enforcement, increased deportations and increased safety for Georgia.”

Records show Collins has spent roughly $200,000 on the ads, which are scheduled to air through March. A Collins aide did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Under the Gold Dome

Credit: Abbey Cutrer/AJC

Credit: Abbey Cutrer/AJC

It’s Day 17 of the legislative session. Some happenings:

Listen up

Credit: Miguel Martinez/AJC

Credit: Miguel Martinez/AJC

Today on the “Politically Georgia” podcast Republican strategist Stephen Lawson joins the show to discuss Rick Jackson’s entry into the governor’s race.

You can listen and subscribe to Politically Georgia for free an Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.

Have a question or comment for the show? Email us at politicallygeorgia@ajc.com or give us a call at 770-810-5297 and you could be featured on a future episode.

Nationalizing elections

The U.S. House today could vote on a Republican-led bill that would create new national standards requiring proof of citizenship to register to vote.

The House Rules Committee voted along party lines to advance the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act, or SAVE Act. House Republicans are expected to approve it as early as today, and then the pressure will be on Senate Republicans to change the filibuster rules so that it can be approved in that chamber.

The push on the SAVE Act comes after President Donald Trump encouraged congressional Republicans to “nationalize” election laws in the aftermath of the raid of the Fulton County election office.

Democrats and voting rights groups say the bill would stop millions of people from voting because of its strict registration requirements, such as providing a passport or birth certificate to prove citizenship. The bill also requires that photo ID be required to vote on election day, which aligns with current law in Georgia, and directs states to remove noncitizens from their voter rolls.

Republicans say their goal is to prevent fraud and ensure that only U.S. citizens vote in federal elections, which is the current law.

“Democrats oppose the SAVE America Act because they want illegal aliens voting in our elections,” U.S. Rep. Andrew Clyde, R-Athens, wrote on X. “It’s really that simple.”

Today in Washington

Credit: Alex Brandon/AP

Credit: Alex Brandon/AP

Happenings:

Shoutouts

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Credit: Courtesy photo

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Before you go

Credit: Arvin Temkar/AJC

Credit: Arvin Temkar/AJC

House Speaker Jon Burns moved quickly to quash speculation he won’t run again, telling Republicans on Tuesday in a private meeting: “We’ve got work left to do, and I have every intention of being here to see it through.”

That’ll do it for us today. As always, you can send your best scoops, gossip and insider info to greg.bluestein@ajc.com, tia.mitchell@ajc.com, patricia.murphy@ajc.com and adam.beam@ajc.com.