David Ralston Asks Senators to Look Into Transgender Bathroom Policies Mandated by the Federal Government
House Speaker David Ralston, who represents Fannin County has written a letter to U.S. Senators Johnny Isakson and David Perdue asking them to look into the matter. In the letter, Ralston expresses his concern about federal overreach:
[M]y concern regarding this issue is that the federal government is dictating to our locally elected Board of Education with regards to the policies they enact in a way never before seen.
Using the power of the purse strings to bring about such change is, in my opinion, a vast overreach of federal authority, and one that must not go unchallenged. I recognize that there are no easy answers. But decisions on issues such as this should be left to the locally-elected school boards and should be free of threats and coercion of the federal government.
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Jon Richards
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good grief, i guess now that gay marriage is more or less settled law this bathroom stuff is gonna be what the powers that be use to keep their constituents whipped up over “teh geyz”
are there even any known transgender students in fannin freaking county???
Fannin County Schools enrollment PreK – 12 is less than 3,000. There are probably fewer transgender students that fingers on one hand, if any are even out.
It does double duty for the party of no in tis appeal to both the anti-LGBT and anti-federal government crowds.
Reality check. This is about states that pass discrimination laws and states that nullify local anti-discrimination laws (ex. North Carolina). Eventually these will end up in the Supreme Court as states try to impose local controls over non-issues by passing clearly discriminatory laws. Stop creating stupid legislation that actually compels the federal government to step in to halt the madness and undo blatant, unnecessary discrimination.
This is another issue pushing the GOP out of the mainstream of America. The focus needs to be on fixing real problems, especially declining real wages.
……….The poll finds that 57 percent of people are against laws that require transgender people to use bathrooms that match their biological sex. Only 38 percent support these laws. Nearly 40 percent strongly oppose such laws, while 25 percent are strongly in favor……….
……….The poll finds that Republicans are split on the issue, with 48 percent in support and the same percentage against these types of laws. Moderate and liberal Republicans were generally more against such laws, while conservative Republicans were more in favor………
http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/279220-poll-nearly-60-percent-oppose-bills-like-nc-bathroom-law
Apologies. I went after the meat of the letter and not the apparent source of this maybe/maybe not problem. After reading the news link, I would ask, “Is there no discrimination if the transgender student can use the bathroom of choice (gender identity)?”
This would seem to void any controversy, and ‘threats and coercion of the federal government,’ over creating third gender (or gender neutral) bathrooms in all schools and the potential renovation expenditures.
The law gets on a slippery slope by trying to legalize or criminalize something based on how someone feels. Biologically, medical tests/observations are easy.
The question then becomes should biology determine what restroom one is mandated to use. Then we get caught up in absurb violations like parents and children of the opposite sex, or disabled, or helping a sick/drunk date, or women in men’s room avoiding long lines at sporting events…hoping for common sense today ? Nah……. or do we leave the law to criminal violations that have long been in place for both sexes ?
Legally defining every social behavior we don’t like is for the far left. The right is for protecting individuals from their rights being trampled on and if a transgender minds their own business, so what ? If we are concerned for our children, accompany them without fear of breaking a law. To be clear, I don’t want anyone of any sex to enter my personal space uninvited.
Much of the angst expressed in Fannin county and by Speaker Ralston was worrying that something like this would happen. And tonight the Obama Administration issued its executive orders.
O is flexing his muscle for a Common Cause.
Jon,
Obama is baiting the GOP, because he saw the polling numbers on this issue. Not any more complicated,most people do not want the potty police.The problem is the McKoon side of the GOP across the country, will use this for fundraising, and headline grappling spewing contest. At the end of the day, rest of us pay for it, by a lack of focus on real issues. I was at a local GOP event when a woman I know, came up to me and a person running for office, she said “I am a life long southern baptist, but I do not understand how politicians, and my church can show such hate toward my son” _”Jesus does not hate” Think about it?
All good with the Jesus references. But I don’t think the President is baiting the issue. It was made an issue by social conservatives and those who represent/pander to them. The speed of the President’s response indicates to me that he want to cement this issue before the election, and cement this aspect of his historical civil rights legacy.
You know, I never really thought about it much but so what if men and women went into the same bathrooms. Who cares? Desegregate bathrooms, I don’t care. What difference is it going to make?
I don’t know what bathrooms some of you go in but for me it is about doing business, washing hands, etc and getting out.
The guy is running for reelection in a district where he was previously denigrated by his opponent for possessing a MARTA Breeze card. I’m willing to cut him some slack but only if I don’t have to hear about it ad nauseum in the next legislative session a la RFRA. Grandstanding atop a populist platform is to be expected prior to elections in these parts, just don’t later confuse the dais at the front of the chamber as your grandstand.
The latest mandate from the Obama Administration is just another example of federal government gone astray…Washington knows best as they say. Of course if we really followed the Constitution, the Fannin County issue would not be an issue as there is no mention of education among the responsibilities of the federal government…you know, when you get federal money, there will be strings attached……
Awww..Ralston, my ni**a.
One of the poorest districts in GA he runs.
He supports arresting grandmas for medical marijuana
He supports the phrase “In God We Trust” over “We, the People”.
He wraps himself in the Blood o’ Jesus because that is what you do in Ellijay, a bedroom community/suburb of Blue Ridge.
He sponsors hate, er faith based legislation he knows is unconstitutional because he knows he can just shrug at the sheep and go “I tried. Oh and there is a legal bill you taxpayers have to foot, but its not MY fault”.
So I go to early vote. And I’m staring a what party to vote for. The slate was adequate for the R’s not so much for the D’s and I’s.
I’m looking at these names who want to represent me: “preacher Doug” Collins, “Mad Doctor” Paul Broun and an assortment of me-toos. Then I’m looking at the rest of the RIFA clowns. I was supposed to be on that ballot, but I withdrew. Something about the GOP and me is like water to Vampire LeStat.
CAN WE GET A JEW TO RUN UP HEAH?
I see someone has started smoking early this morning.
The backlash of a person’s psychological identity being a legal Federal position is going to be fun. Bathroom disagreements won’t help Common Cause then the biggee, identity on contractual preferences.
So many businesses are registered in wives names or minorities, some might be unnecessary if they identify differently. How will the City of Atlanta approach a bid from a claimed female transgender ? Take his word for it ? Litigate it ?
Nah, just the usual kickback percentage would suffice.
How do they do it now? Do you have to provide a birth certificate?
my guess is that this doesn’t end with pure psychological identity, but identity that can be verified by either birth records, or medical records indicating hormone treatment or diagnoses like gender dysphoria
Transgender by definition is not biological and birth records assign sex by genetalia……treatment with drugs for dysphoria is becoming controversial. The incredible increase in children identifying as the opposite sex causes fair questions about societal influences.
I don’t personally care what bathroom you use and strongly suggest children be accompanied to a public restroom. But to start mandating these matters to permit personal identification over biology is beyond nuts (pun intended).
And nothing Obama likes more is to create in your face divisiveness and use Fed $$ as a billy stick.
Besides, if this is a step towards gender equality, eventually the city won’t need to offer incentives for disadvantaged gendertypes.