Minority Whip Carolyn Hugley, D-Columbus, center, reacts after the total votes for House Resolution 1162 is shown on the voting board during Legislative Day 17 in the House Chambers Wednesday, Feb. 8, 2012 in Atlanta. The Georgia House rejected a change to the state constitution Wednesday that would give the General Assembly the power to create new charter schools, a rebuke for Republican leaders. (AP Photo/Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Jason Getz)
The 114-49 vote Thursday allows Republican Rep. Jan Jones to hold another vote on the amendment itself. That vote has not been scheduled.
Local lawmakers voted on the measure for charter schools Wednesday as follows:
Katie Dempsey (R-Rome) Y
Christian Coomer (R-Cartersville) Y
Barbara Massey Reece (D-Menlo) N
Rick Crawford (D-Cedartown) N
Jones fell short Wednesday of the two-thirds majority needed to change the state constitution. The state Senate and Georgia voters would also need to approve the amendment before it could take effect.
The amendment responds to a state Supreme Court ruling that found a commission that created a dozen charter schools was unconstitutional because it created schools and allocated money without the consent of local school boards. Opponents have said creating more charter schools will deprive public schools of already scarce state funding.
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