State Senator District 9. Wife to Anthony, mother of two, CWA Local 3204 union member, Gwinnett County resident, Gen Xer, proud Georgia Democrat ๐๐
Georgia made the list of worst vaccine rollout in the nation. I am disappointed by Governor Kemp's failure to excute a responsive plan to get more eligible Georgians vaccinated.
I proudly watched Noah fill out his voter registration application today!! Parents of teens like my son Noah who will turn 18 by January 5th can register by December 7th to vote in the
#Ossoff
#Warnok
Runoff. 5 votes for each candidate from our family!
Well the
#BuckheadCity
bill will die, the Lt Governor assigned the bill to Urban Affairs a majority Democrat committee ๐๐พ๐๐พ
#Atlanta
#gapol
With so many Georgians facing hardships resulting from pandemic related unemployment, I filed bill SB 206 yesterday so tenants would not be refused a rental or lease agreement solely based on a previous eviction during COVID-19 public health emergency.
#gapol
JUST IN: A group of Republican Georgia Senators call for a special session to "address structural issues with our voting system before the January runoff."
@FOX5Atlanta
#gapol
While Trump was rightfully being impeached
I signed on to several bills including, Ratifying Equal Rights Amendment
Non-partisan redistricting, minimum wage increase to $15
Extending Medicaid eligibility period for post partum and lactation care.
Ended Day on
@gpbnews
Lawmakers
My bill SB253 passed the Senate unanimously today. In the case of changes to polling locations, the bill requires signs to be posted at both the original and new polling place. I look forward to my bill being heard in the House and becoming law.
#gapol
@ComediansResist
The Republicans tried to draw me out of the Georgia General Assembly.
But I'm not going anywhere.
I will never apologize for being good at my job.
And Iโm not done yet.
I am running for the Georgia State House in District 50.
Help us start strong:
My condolences to Laken Riley's family. It's disturbing to see comments exploiting her tragedy for political gain.
If Republicans truly cared about border issues, they'd have passed recent bipartisan immigration reform instead of pandering to Trump. The hypocrisy is unreal.
Freshman Orientation! First day of school! Such an honor to be able to do the people's work in such a beautiful space with the coolest two Senate freshman
@AuforGA
@KimforGeorgia
Did you know the Gullah Geechee community of Hogg Hammock on Sapelo Island GA is facing a crisis of extinction? Proposed amendments threaten their cultural heritage and ancestral lands in favor of big money developers.
#ProtectHoggHammock
#GullahGeechee
#CulturalHeritage
๐ก๐ฟ๐
State Legislators Hold Press Conference with Hog Hammock Residents, Call on McIntosh County Officials to Reconsider Proposed Zoning Ordinance Amendment. Read more:
#gapol
#gasenate
@GaHouseHub
TV and film crews in Georgia and elsewhere are prepping to strike for the first time in decades, seeking better work hours and more equitable pay. It would impact tens of thousands of workers in Georgia, from writers & actors to hair stylists & caterers.
Advocating for our unemployed.
Over 400,000 Georgians are jobless, many struggling to feed their families or worse, face evictions.
#GADOL
Commissioner Butler's refusal to adequately address severely backlogged unemployment benefits has Georgians desperate for relief.
#gapol
#SB253
the bill I sponsored
was hijacked into SB 202, a 94-page bill making it harder rather than easier to vote like my bill would alone. I am outraged my bill is now tainted. Not the first time Republicans have stolen positive Democratic bills for their own partisan agenda.
Georgia claims to be the best state for business, but it's time we address the needs of our workforce. Low wages, lengthy commutes, and inadequate housing are underming the quality of life for workers. It's time for Georgia to prioritize the well-being of our working class.
Standing with, and cheering on those fighting for our Democracy. Thank you all for showing up and speaking out!
No to voter suppression bills
#HB531
and
#SB241
in Senate Ethics Committee 3pm today!!
Memorial Service to honor and remember the lives lost. Proud to stand in support and solidarity with our Asian-American community today.โค
#StopAsianHate
Iโll be on Fox 5 tonight discussing the proposed ban on ballot drop boxes. This is another anti-democracy reaction to a changing Georgia from those who will try to cling to power by any means.
Georgia continues to vaccinate people at a slower pace than any U.S. state, a troubling trend even as officials make millions of more residents eligible for the vaccines.
#gapol
Thank you President Biden for taking steps to dismantle a system that has for years unfairly targeted black and brown Americans. We must now hold Georgia's governor accountable to follow through with state level pardons.
First: Iโm pardoning all prior federal offenses of simple marijuana possession. There are thousands of people who were previously convicted of simple possession who may be denied employment, housing, or educational opportunities as a result. My pardon will remove this burden.
Breaking barriers! I am thrilled!
@senatorjen
is the intelligent, bold, courageous leadership Georgians need.
As my Senate colleague I can depend on her guidance and trust her to fight for our most vulnerable.
Happy
#InternationalWomensDay
! I'm so grateful for the bold and courageous women who work to improve their families and communities every day. "If youโre doing something outside of dominant culture, thereโs not an easy place for you. You will have to do it yourself." Ava DuVernay
Today I had the honor of being elected as the Chair of the Gwinnett County Senate Delegation.ย ย
Looking forward to the next 2 years working together for Gwinnett County!
Congratulations Vice Chair
@NabilahIslam
and Secretary Shawn Still
@OlympicShawn
What yesterday's Runoff Primaries revealed,
Stacey Abrams can mobilize votes, Georgians reject extremist views back by the former president and making Gwinnett BoEd races nonpartisan changed nothing.
#gapol
#SB114
has failed! This bill would have created Buckhead City, which would have bankrupt Atlanta and had broader, unknown economic fallout for our state. What happens in Atlanta affects all of GA
#GAPol
The most diverse General Assembly in history now has more diverse leaders. The new delegation chairs for Fulton, Gwinnett, and DeKalb counties:
@sonya4ga
,
@merritt4ga
, and
@KimforGeorfoa
. All Democrats and all women of color.
#gapol
Gwinnett we need you! Gwinnett we need you!
#SB369
Bad Bill alert!! Georgia Republicans want to dilute black voting power and make it harder for voters in
#Gwinnett
to elect their school board member of choice. Speak out!!
My name is Nikki Merritt and I'm the Democratic candidate for State Senate in District 9. With your support in the upcoming June 9th Democratic Primary we will build a better future for Georgia where everyday people have a voice in our government.
#gapol
#gadems
#gwinnett
Today I stood with my colleagues in staunch opposition to SB5EX & SB6EX, legislation that is a betrayal of good governance and precedent in how our legislature and local delegation is supposed to operate.
#gapol
Increases in COVID-19 infections and hospitalizations makes it necessary for us to take advantage of every opportunity available to keep our communities healthy and safe.
Joined the Atlanta North Georgia Labor Council to demand help for unemployed Georgians.
Benefits are stalled or not paid and the public has no way to contact the
#GaDol
for help.
Kemp says Georgia is open for business maybe he should start with unlocking the doors to
#GaDOL
@SenatorWarnock
Warnock gets tepid applause from the Georgia Chamber crowd when he called for a federal voting rights law.
"I submit this to you: That voting rights is above politics ...Restricting access to the ballot is not good for Georgia. And itโs certainly not good for Georgia business."
Oh look more scandalous reasons Justice Thomas shouldn't have a State monument, yet Georgia Republicans attempted to push the bill through again this session! Flashback Feb 7, 2022, you were warned.
For decades, Justice Clarence Thomas has secretly accepted luxury trips from a major Republican donor, newly obtained documents and interviews show.
The extent and frequency of these apparent gifts to Thomas has no known precedent in modern SCOTUS history... ๐งต๐
This morning I spoke against the classroom censorship bills brought forth this session along with
@georgiayouthco
& other advocates.
I am inspired by these young leaders. Our future is bright. (1/2)
Another bad for Georgia Republican, so much for the party of law and order. Our state senate needs legislators committed to keeping our families safe on the roads.
BREAKING: My Republican opponent was arrested for a DUI and then advocated to loosen drunk driving laws. I canโt believe I have to say this but drunk driving is dangerous and we should not make it easier for people to drink and drive.
Senator Warnock is coming to
#Snellville
#gwinnettcounty
this Saturday make plans to come out and meet him!
Saturday November 5, 2022
9:45 AM
Berean Christian Church
1465 Highpoint road
Snellville GA 30078
Republican state senators introduced a package of bills Monday to ban automatic voter registration, ballot drop boxes and no-excuse absentee voting in Georgia.
#gapol
The Georgia Board of Education adopted a resolution today asserting that the state and country are not racist โ and that there should be limits around classroom discussions about race and controversial events.
#gapol
Today I was happy to endorse
@andreforatlanta
for Mayor of Atlanta. Our entire region benefits when Atlanta is thriving, and I believe Andre is the best choice to lead the city forward.
We are having a great time at the Gwinnett NAACP Souls to the Polls!!
Stop by, enjoy some great food and music!!
Let's get this done Gwinnett. DEMOCRATS ALL THE WAY DOWN BALLOT
This is beneath the dignity of the GA Senate. I will continue to speak truth to power & represent the views of my community. Workers were harmed b/c GOP members couldnโt handle dissenting views on a controversial figure who shouldnโt be honored w/ a statue. I stand by my comments
A GOP candidate for Sec of Labor used
#BlackHistoryMonth
as a shield to cancel hearing a pro-jobs bill by
@merritt4ga
, a Black woman, because of her comments on Clarence Thomas. The
#GASenate
should be helping Georgians, not doling out petty punishments that hurt GA jobs.
#gapol
#redistricting
Here is the schedule for all of the GA redistricting townhalls.
Curious
#GwinnettCounty
is excluded๐ค considering it's the 2nd largest most diverse County in the state.
Instead of enacting legislation to actually improve lives Republicans use their power for petty culture issues that promote exclusion and judgment of others. We are better than this Georgia.
This afternoon, my bill SB 253 was assigned by the rules committee to be heard on the floor Monday. This legislation requires signage when polling places relocate. I will continue to fight to make it easier to vote, not harder!
Rules Committee adds SBs10,62,69,71,72,74,90,93,96,97,98,106,120,141,144,162,164,166,178,199,202,213,214,218,225,226,232,234,237,238,240,241,247,252,253,256,258,260, and 276; and SRs 100,102,134,154, and HB156 to the calendar for Monday (Crossover Day) and remains at ease.
#gapol
๐ฃYesterday in a shameful, dark of morning display GA Senate Republicans blocked public access to subcommittee hearings on anti-voting bills
#SB67
and
#SB89
Today 7 AM, both bills advance to full Ethics Committee hearing w/little to no public testimony.
โSen. Nikki Merritt, a Grayson Democrat, offered amendments that would have made all school boards statewide nonpartisan, subject to a statewide referendum. โIf weโre going to go after one county, letโs make this for all counties,โ Merritt said. (1/2)
Proud to welcome our new freshman class of state Senators. Looking forward to working with these great individuals during the upcoming 2021 legislative session.
#gapol
Our most vulnerable children are in crisis and we are failing them.
Itโs time to rethink our approach to foster care and put the safety and well-being of the children in our state first.
โThe longer we delay in vaccinating our teachers and school staff, the more we risk having to close our doors once again.โ A group of 11 metro Atlanta school superintendents ask
@GovKemp
to put teachers and education staffers in the highest priority vaccine category.
#gapol
Today, I attempted to give the people of Gwinnett the final say on this issue by putting it directly on the ballot.
Rโs blocked the measure & passed their bill. Letโs be clear, we have seen zero evidence that voters in Gwinnett County want non partisan school boards. (1/2)
UPDATE: A proposal to allow Gwinnett County voters to decide on whether to keep its school board elections partisan or switch to nonpartisan elections fails in the Georgia State Senate.
#gapol
@merritt4ga
Thanks
@MDRPalacios
who opened remarks is Spanish pointing out the limited language access during the redistricting process
"the language you speak is the language you want us to hear"
Say it louder for our GA Governor
@GovKemp
"Job hunting has been muted in 12 states that opted out of federal unemployment programs in recent weeks, suggesting the policy may not be working as planned"
Working class citizens in Gwinnett work 7-8 hours a day they should not have to wait 8 hours to vote! If you are at the Board Elections Office consider going to one of the other 8 locations open until 7pm today. Polls open all week. No stopping the Democrat tsunami.
#gapol
Happy qualifying day! I am honored to serve the people of the 9th district and remain committed to working for a better Georgia. Vote in the primary on May 24th and the general election on November 8th!
District lines did change verify your Senator โคต๏ธ
We need a state Attorney General like
@senatorjen
ready to act on establishing protections for women's health. Jen Jordan, our choice, our voice this November!!!
#VoteBlueIn2022
I fear living in a country where my son can get pulled over by police for something minor and not make it home.
We don't want thoughts and prayers. We must demand and enact policies to end the over-policing of black and brown bodies.
#TyreNichols
As we close on the 5th anniversary of
#BMHW22
lets continue to promote awareness around
#BlackMaternalHealth
Georgia tops the list of states with the highest maternal mortality rate, racial inequities in healthcare create even higher maternal mortality rates among black woman
Elected representatives should reflect the people who elected them. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Gwinnett County today is a reflection of what the United States will look like by 2040.
We are Gwinnett, welcome!
Via the
@ajc
: โ
#Gwinnett
is the face of social, political and demographic change. Recent photos of the delegation at the Capitol are reminiscent of the old Benetton ads, with all hues and shapes of humanity standing shoulder to shoulder in common purpose.โ
Thank you
@ComediansResist
for sharing your idea and experience. Thank You
@NabilahforGA07
for bringing the issue to my attention. Our bill
#253
passed unanimously, heads over to the House๐๐
Black people do not fall for the "banana in the tailpipe", wake up, these are the same Republicans who passed an aggressive voter restriction bill which includes making it illegal to pass out water or snacks while waiting to vote.
A pro-Herschel Walker outside group gave away $4k worth of fuel vouchers today in a heavily Democratic part of Atlanta to highlight high gas prices.
#gapol
#gasen
Making housing affordability worse, outside investor takeovers rip away homeownership dreams while turning homes into poorly maintained rental properties.
It's time for the state legislature to strengthen renter protections, reform landlord laws and regulate predatory pricing.
Sen
@merritt4ga
this morning spoke about this AJC article and how outside investors are fueling the housing affordability crisis:
#gasenate
must act to address our constituents' concerns
#gapol
The team breaking to enjoy our Crossover Day Chili Cookoff!!
@AuforGA
and I have a wonderful group of staff supporting us behind the scenes. Thank you all!!
Georgia voters should be asking why state elected officials are so adamantly trying stop a single Saturday?! Especially since the law in question does not apply to run-off elections.
Metro counties have already publicly posted Saturday voting. Voting shouldn't be this hard.
UPDATE: The Georgia Attorney General's office is asking the Georgia Court of Appeals to grant an emergency stay of a Fulton County judge's ruling to allow in-person early voting this Saturday.
If granted, it would stop it.
#gapol
Read the filing here:
Georgia families preyed upon and undermined by investment firms snatching up affordable homes while renting them under deplorable conditions amounts to nothing more than abuse enabled by Georgia laws.
Time to ask our Republican run state for swift responsive action.
#gapol
Quoted again in the
@ajc
re: institutional investors in housing, re: the need for balanced regulation. B/c full deregulation = monopolies, high prices, & poor conditions, but too much = too-rigid zoning w/too-high costs on affordable housing developers.
"Redistricting in this wayโdrawing districts so contrived
as to be ludicrous, to shore up power that is clearly fadingโreads like a balding man trying to fool the world with an embarrassing combover."
@AuforGA
#gapol
#redistricting
@RepMikeCollins
Respectfully, it's Senator Merritt. I'm aware of H.R. 2 passed by Republicans and the bipartisan border security package that the Senate failed to pass this month largely due to Republican obstruction to keep Trump happy. Maybe consult a U.S. Senator or two on an agreeable plan.
Officially qualified and on the ballot in battleground Senate District 9 in
#Gwinnett
. This is the most flippable State Senate in Georgia and a strong progressive candidate is running for the first time. Chip in to help us get the word out
#gapol
#gadems
#NabiscoStrike
We were out today in solidarity to support
#bctgmlocal42
Nabisco workers.
In 2020, during the height of the pandemic Nabisco made $3.6 BILLION in profit.
How does Nabisco repay loyal employees?
By, slashing middle-class jobs and sending work to Mexico,
stripping
BLERGH. The highly contagious coronavirus variant first seen in India and now overrunning Great Britain has been detected in Georgia, a potential threat to progress the state has made fighting the pandemic.
#gapol
It's catching on, because we all know it's good for our citizens and smart for business. My bill,
#SB76
is up for a vote in the GA State Senate today, which would cap insulin costs for state employees at $35/day.
#GAPol
>
@SenatorWarnock
long pressed for a $35-per-month limit on the out-of-pocket costs for insulin. He succeeded in capping the cost for patients on Medicare, but now one of the nation's largest drugmakers is taking the step on its own.
#gapol
#gasen