Leaving the legislature

The Georgia General Assembly has gaveled out sine die and members have returned home from Atlanta. The Easter holiday is likely the only down time for many, as May 24 primaries for legislative and congressional offices are less than two months away.

Many of those who have chosen to stand for re-election have primary opponents. In an era when support for Donald Trump and Bernie Sanders both demonstrate lack of support for the status quo, virtually every primary opponent must be taken seriously.

Others have decided their time as citizen legislators has come to an end. Some, such as Senators Tommie Williams of Lyons and Bill Jackson of Appling, as well as Representative Joe Wilkinson of Dunwoody, resemble what we would traditionally call a retirement. They have many years of honorable service under their belt and it’s perhaps time to simplify matters to enjoy life a bit.

There are others who are leaving that offer a glimpse into a troubling trend within the ranks of the General Assembly. They are leaving despite being relatively early in their careers and with potential significant upward mobility in leadership positions still ahead.

Leading this list is House Majority Whip Matt Ramsey of Peachtree City. Ramsey earlier passed on a contest to replace retiring Congressman Lynn Westmoreland and then surprised many Capitol observers with the announcement that he would not seek re-election, either.

Others who have also decided to take a pass include Mike Dudgeon of Johns Creek and B.J. Pak of Lilburn. Like Ramsey, both cited growing professional obligations as part of the reason why they have decided to turn their efforts away from the happenings under Atlanta’s gold dome.

The salary of a state legislature is about $17,000 per year. This “part-time” job takes up 40 official days per year, but legislators can expect to spend three months minimum in Atlanta, and in some years that commitment has stretched to almost five.

The reality, however, is that the time commitment is year round. Legislation is crafted throughout the year via study committee or other engagements. Civic and partisan groups have a myriad of breakfasts, luncheons, and receptions where attendance of the local legislator is expected.

While many have visions that legislators make up for this pay with various unspoken perks, most slog through the year eating cold sandwiches brought in to working meetings or other banquet food that would hardly pass for home cooking.

Then there’s the declining perception of our public servants in this age of Trump. An increasingly angry public seems now to reserve the right to question the character and motivations of anyone for even having the temerity to offer themselves for public service, much less for getting elected.

Six years ago I ran into one of those also retiring this year, Representative Stephen Allison of Blairsville, outside the House Chamber on the day after Sine Die. Legislators were cleaning out their offices and in a passing conversation he asked, “How did we do?” I gave him perhaps an overly harsh grade for the concluded session. Our chance conversation ended up lasting almost two hours.

He responded with direct and candid talk about what he did – and didn’t do – as a legislator. He noted that he had to give up legal clients for a good part of the year. That he missed getting to participate in a lot of family activities during the session. That he went home every night rather than participating in a lot of the Atlanta receptions and whatnot that some undertake when the legislature is in session.

He asked that I consider looking at legislators as individuals rather than “paint with a broad brush.”

I’ve not forgotten that conversation. And as I’ve gotten to know many more members and the general lack of glamour that surrounds the work of the legislators, I’ve come to the following conclusion:

Legislators are underpaid, as evidenced by the numbers who are not only not running for re-election but those that are leaving mid-term when career opportunities call. And there’s no way I would put up with what is expected of a legislative “public servant” these days for their compensation package, including all of the “perks” that are more rooted in myth than reality for most legislators.

This story was originally published March 29, 2016 at 5:46 PM with the headline "Leaving the legislature."