• FACT: House Bill 15 (HB-15) was filed in December 2004 by Representative Tim Bearden.
• FACT: A Mason-Dixon Poll in December 2004 showed that 79% of all Georgians favored having a Fair Vote on Georgia's State flag to include the 1956 flag as a leading contender.
• FACT: House Speaker Glenn Richardson (R, Hiram) assigned the bill to a committee chaired by Rep. Austin Scott, where the bill has languished, completely ignored, and where members have not held hearings or otherwise considered the bill.
• FACT: Governor Sonny Perdue's election in 2002 was a state-wide mandate for a Fair Vote on the State flag. Candidate Perdue promised Georgians across the state a Fair Vote and many were unambiguously promised a vote that included the '56 flag.
• FACT: When Candidate Perdue was promising a Fair Vote on the State flag, there were only two flags in contention: the 2001 Barnes flag and the 1956 flag.
• FACT: Gov. Perdue's 2003 Counterfeit flag came out of nowhere and the 2004 sham referendum that Perdue claims 'endorsed his flag 3-to-1' was an insulting hoax. The Fair Vote was traded away for concessions on a tobacco tax. Perdue's promise has NOT been fulfilled.
• FACT: Governor Sonny Perdue has indicated recently (Jan. 2006) in a face-to-face meeting with heritage organizations that the Fair Vote bill is NOT a priority for his administration.
• FACT All indications are that the Republican controlled House, Senate and Governor intend to ignore the will of the People of Georgia with regard to a Fair Vote. Despite the poll, they say they're NOT hearing from their constituents about a Fair Vote----so it's NOT a priority.
• FACT: Gov. Perdue has the power to make a Fair Vote happen or prevent it. He has stated that he will NOT stop any legislative effort. So, it's up to the people to convince their representatives in the General Assembly.
• FACT: To date, only six Representatives have signed on HB-15 as sponsors. They are listed below.
• FACT: If there were 25 or 40 names signed on, the bill would at least get a hearing and consideration for an up or down vote by the House.

So there you have it, folks. Does your Representative know where you stand on the issue of a Fair Vote on the state flag? Have you written and called your Representative? Have you requested and encouraged your Representative to sign HB-15 as a sponsor?

The six representatives currently listed as Sponsors of HB-15 are:
(1) Bearden,Timothy 68th
(2) Hatfield,Mark 177th
(3) Benton,Tommy 31st
(4) England,Terry 108th
(5) Powell,Alan 29th
(6) Bridges,Ben 10th

Here's where all the General Assembly stand now