It was my honor to attend the 18th Annual 2020 Martin Luther King Community Breakfast for Glynn, McIntosh, Liberty, Camden and Bryan counties on Friday, January 17, hosted by the Coastal Georgia Area Community Action Authority at the College Place United Methodist Church.

Dr. King's life ended when he was only 39 years old and in those few short years, his life, his message and his leadership left a lifetime impact on our country. I have often wondered what the totality of Dr. King's life could have been if still alive today; on January 15, 2020 Dr. King would have been 91 years old.

June 5, 2019

Mr. Mark Williams, Commissioner
Georgia Department of Natural Resources
2 Martin Luther King, Jr. Drive, SE
Suite 1252 – East Tower
Atlanta, GA 30334

SUBJ: Request for Alternative Public Boat Ramp Access to the
DNR/Musgrove/Guale Reserve Boat Ramp

Dear Commissioner Williams:

By this letter, on behalf of the residents and property owners of the historic German Village neighborhood known as Village Bluff on St Simons Island, I am formally requesting that the Georgia Department of Natural Resources initiate and grant approval for an access road across the Musgrove Plantation/Guale Reserve property to the DNR boat ramp located in the northeast corner of the above referenced property. The GA DNR has the full authority to grant such access by virtue of long-standing policy and practice, by virtue of the documents filed with various state and federal agencies related to acquisition of portions of the Musgrove Plantation property, and under the terms of the conservation easement applicable to the property.

If you believe Georgia House Speaker David Ralston should immediately resign, please contact your Georgia State Representative today. Politely tell your State Representative you think David Ralston should resign and urge your Representative to immediately contact Gov Kemp's office @ 404-656-1776. Tell the Governor you will stand with him and Republican House members in demanding Speaker David Ralston to resign.

To find and reach your State Representative,  Please take action today... CLICK HERE!

With kind regards, 

Rep. Jeff Jones, HD167

PS... Legislators are not above the law, justice delayed is justice denied! Will you stand with the victims and demand David Ralston resign?

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Thursday, April 18, 2019

Contact: Jeff Jones
(404)656-0177
jeff.jones@house.ga.gov

House Members Call for Speaker Ralston to Resign as Speaker of the Georgia House of Representatives

ATLANTA – State Representative Jeff Jones (R-Brunswick, D167), along with a number of other House Members, announced his continued support for Rep. David Ralston (R-Blue Ridge, D7) to immediately resign his position as the Speaker of the Georgia House of Representatives.

In February, 2019, news outlets reported that in a 2-year period, Speaker Ralston had filed 57 requests for continuance on 21 cases. Of the 93 days that Ralston told the courts he was unavailable, 76 (81%) were outside of the legislative session. “It was because of the initial reports of Speaker Ralston’s abuse of the legislative leave law that I decided to sign on to House Resolution 328 calling on Speaker Ralston to resign his position as Speaker of the House of Representatives”, explained Rep. Jones. “I knew in my heart that this was just the tip of the iceberg which has since been proven to be true.”

“Since the Atlanta Journal Constitution first broke the story about Ralston’s abuse of Georgia’s legislative leave law a few months ago,” said Jones, “additional research has turned up an astonishing number of abuses of legislative leave in criminal and civil cases Ralston handles.”

Week 9 & 10, Ending March 15 and March 22, 2019

At this stage of the 2019 session, with “Crossover Day” behind us, legislative and political posturing and maneuvering is in full-court press, to borrow from NCAA Basketball “March Madness” jargon.  For a few days during Week 9, the Legislature is in a bit of a holding period while each body holds committee hearings on legislation that has “crossed-over.” During the upcoming week, two full days are set aside for committee hearings giving each body has ample time to consider and discuss bills that are still in play. This is also that time when Legislators have to be on full alert so bad legislation doesn’t slip through the cracks.  As always, please contact me if you read, see or hear of legislation that I need to be alert to; I count on your eyes and ears to watch all of these moving parts.

Georgia’s Heart-Beat Bill Legislation HB481 – I voted YES

This is a very personal, emotional issue for many and I believe I understand the argument that some women make that they do not want the government or anyone telling them what to do with their bodies or the babies they carry in their wombs.

In stark contrast to that view, I believe every life is precious and that abortion should not be used a “birth control” as opponents of HB481 support.

When a heartbeat is detected, then that is a clear, definitive sign of life, a precious life that deserves the full legal protection of the State of Georgia.  In the Senate, there were a couple of substantive changes made to make the bill even better that I also support. Here is a link to an excellent explanation of the “Heartbeat Bill” by Sen. Ligon, of Senate District 3, with the Senator’s permission.

Week 8, Ending March 8, 2019

Thursday, February 28 this past week was that important annual legislative date we call “crossover day” in the Georgia General Assembly.  Any bills not passed by either the House or Senate have no chance of being signed into law by Governor Kemp.  Sometime that’s a good thing, except of course unless its legislation I am working on.  That is said only partially tongue-in-cheek.

A Crisis in House Leadership

Because of the stand I and others have taken publicly regarding a serious crisis in our State General Assembly leadership at the highest levels, important legislation I have been working on in behalf of the citizens of Georgia is “politically” stuck, and will not move in 2019. I could easily spend this entire newsletter discussing this issue, so much more information that the public has yet to hear, but instead please indulge me while I share one particularly inspiring, but typical, comment I received from a District 167 supporter, and then I will move on to other important state matters:

“Thanks, Jeff. And thank you for standing up for all of us in your efforts to assure that our state leaders are worthy of honor. I stand with you.”  - Mark N. Glynn County, GA

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Week 7, Ending March 1, 2019

We ended the seventh week, also the 25^th day, of the 40-day 2019 legislative session on Friday, March 1, 2019, after a five-day session; the month of February just flew by for me. Next Thursday, March 7 is “cross-over day”, that critical annual deadline when legislation must have passed out of at least one body (House or Senate) to continue to be in play for signing onto law in 2019.

Southwest Georgia Disaster Relief Continues

On Monday, the House passed another bill to support and provide disaster relief to farmers in South Georgia impacted by Hurricane Michael. Hurricane Michael had a catastrophic impact, what I would characterize as “generational damage”, on the citizens and the economy of southwest Georgia; agriculture was particularly devastated. Commercial pecan groves and commercial pine tree stands will take 10, 15 years and longer to return to their marketable maturity. As another common sense measure, House Bill 105 would provide a Georgia income tax exemption for income received as payments from a disaster relief or assistance program if those payments are connected to Hurricane Michael and administered by the United States Department of Agriculture. Those affected by Hurricane Michael would not be taxed on this federal aid over the next three years under this bill to ensure citizens are given the relief and time to rebuild Georgia's agriculture industry.

District 167 Constituents of Glynn, McIntosh and Long Counties and Citizens and Residents of the State of Georgia.

As most of you know, I am working hard every day to represent the citizens of House District 167 and the State of Georgia by following sound and honorable practices. You are to whom I report and to whom I am held accountable in my legislative activities.

Today, February 22, 2019 ended day twenty of the 2019 session, and I am pleased to report that I am making significant progress on the legislation listed on my published 2019-20 legislative agenda. My progress includes filing the very important Georgia Mariculture Development Act of 2019 (HB450).   I have hearings scheduled for two coal ash bills (HB93 & HB94) this coming Monday and Tuesday, February 25^th and 26^th, and a tentatively scheduled hearing on Oyster Mariculture next week as well. Plus progress on changing the drivers licenses issued too non-citizens in our state.

There are many activities going on in addition to working on my legislation.

Today, Friday, February 22, 2019, I signed on to a resolution asking House Speaker David Ralston to voluntarily step down from his position as Speaker of the House of Representatives of the Georgia General Assembly.  This was not a decision taken lightly.

My dedication and commitment to work and honorably serve the citizens of District 167 and the State of Georgia is unwavering.  Despite my having signed the resolution, I am fully expectant that Speaker Ralston will separate the politics of the office he holds as Speaker of the House of Representatives from fulfilling the same solemn oath both Speaker Ralston and I made on opening day of the 2019 session. The oath of service I made is to you.

In your service, I remain,

Sincerely,

Jeff Jones

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Related>> More Georgia lawmakers call for Ralston to resign as House speaker - AJC 2/22

Families accuse state Speaker of the House of intentionally delaying court cases - WSB-TV2 2/13