Last week, despite receiving many calls and emails from concerned Georgians urging him to veto the bill, Governor Brian Kemp signed into law an appalling, unjust, anti-Republican bill, SB 144 which gives pesticide makers immunity from lawsuits if their products harm consumers. Pesticide producer Monsanto/Bayer has faced more than 150,000 lawsuits over Roundup.
“It is shocking that in the wake of the MAHA movement (“Make America Healthy Again”) our Republican state legislators would be so tone deaf as to give special immunity to Bayer/Monsanto,” said Nathaniel Darnell, GRA President.
Reuters reported that Monsanto/Bayer “has paid about $10 billion to settle disputed claims that Roundup, based on the herbicide glyphosate, causes cancer.”
“We are exploring every possibility to end this litigation,” said Bayer.
Which Republican Legislators Voted for SB 144 and helped them avoid accountability in the courtroom?
State Representatives:
• Victor Anderson, Dist 10 (Cornelia)
• Bethany Ballard, Dist 147 (Warner Robins)
• Carter Barrett, Dist 24 (Cumming)
• Matt Barton, Dist 5 (Calhoun)
• Shaw Blackmon, Dist 146 (Bonaire)
• Josh Bonner, Dist 73 (Fayetteville)
• James Burchett, Dist 176 (Waycross)
• Mike Cameron, Dist 1 (Rossville)
• Beth Camp, Dist 135 (Concord)
• Joe Campbell, Dist 171 (Camilla)
• Chas Cannon, Dist 172 (Moultrie)
• John Carson, Dist 46 (Marietta)
• Johnny Chastain, Dist 7 (Blue Ridge)
• Mike Cheokas, Dist 151 (Americus)
• David Clark, Dist 100 (Buford)
• Rob Clifton, Dist 131(Evans)
• Sharon Cooper, Dist 45 (Marietta)
• John Corbett, Dist 174 (Lake Park)
• Brent Cox, Dist 28 (Dawsonville)
• Clint Crowe, Dist 118 (Jackson)
• Katie Dempsey, Dist 13 (Rome)
• Robert Dickey, Dist 134 (Musella)
• Sandy Donatucci, Dist 105 (Buford)
• Matt Dubnik, Dist 29 (Gainesville)
• Emory Dunahoo, Jr. Dist 31 (Gillsville)
• Chuck Efstration, Dist 104 (Dacula)
• Ginny Ehrhart, Dist 36 (Marietta)
• Chris Erwin, Dist 31 (Homer)
• Tim Fleming, Dist 114 (Harlem)
• Jaclyn Ford, Dist 170 (Tifton)
• Lehman Franklin, Dist 160 (Statesboro)
• Houston Gaines, Dist 120 (Athens)
• Matthew Gambill, Dist 15 (Cartersville)
• Gerald Greene, Dist 154 (Cuthbert)
• Joseph Gullett, Dist 19 (Dallas)
• Stan Gunter, Dist 8 (Blairsville)
• Leesa Hagan, Dist 156 (Lyons)
• Matt Hatchett, Dist 155 (Dublin)
• Lee Hawkins, Dist 27 (Gainesville)
• Scott Hilton, Dist 48 (Peachtree Corners)
• Bill Hitchens, Dist 161 (Rincon)
• Soo Hong, Dist 103 (Lawrenceville)
• Jutt Howard, Dist 71 (Carrollton)
• David Huddleston, Dist 72 (Roopville)
• Rick Jasperse, Dist 11 (Jasper)
• David Jenkins, Dist 136 (Grantville)
• Jan Jones, Dist 47 (Milton)
• Todd Jones, Dist 25 (South Forsyth)
• Trey Kelley, Dist 16 (Cedartown)
• John LaHood, Dist 175 (Valdosta)
• Rob Leverett, Dist 123 (Elberton)
• Eddie Lumsden, Dist 12 (Armuchee)
• Chuck Martin, Dist 49 (Alpharetta)
• Reynaldo “Rey” Martinez, Dist 111 (Loganville)
• Karen Mathiak, Dist 82 (Griffin)
• Danny Mathis, Dist 133 (Cochran)
• Derrick McCollum, Dist 30 (Chestnut Mountain)
• Lauren McDonald, Dist 26 (Cumming)
• Steven Meeks, Dist 178 (Screen)
• Martin Momtahan, Dist 17 (Dallas)
• Kimberly New, Dist 40 (Villa Rica)
• Mark Newton, Dist 127 (Augusta)
• Angie O’Steen, Dist 169 (Ambrose)
• Butch Parrish, Dist 158 (Swainsboro)
• Don Parsons, Dist 44 (Marietta)
• Holt Persinger, Dist 119 (Winder)
• Jesse Petrea, Dist 166 (Savannah)
• Alan Powell, Dist 33 (Hartwell)
• Matt Reeves, Dist 99 (Duluth)
• Trey Rhodes, Dist 124 (Greensboro)
• Carmen Rice, Dist 139 (Columbus)
• Gary Richardson, Dist 125 (Evans)
• Jordan Ridley, Dist 22 (Woodstock)
• Jason Ridley, Dist 6 (Chatsworth)
• Steven Sainz, Dist 180 (St. Marys)
• Mitchell Scoggins, Dist 14 (Cartersville)
• Devan Seabaugh, Dist 34 (Marietta)
• Deborah Silcox, Dist 53 (Sandy Springs)
• Lynn Smith, Dist 70 (Newnan)
• Tyler Paul Smith, Dist 18 (Bremen)
• Vance Smith, Dist 138 (Pine Mountain)
• Ron Stephens, Dist 164 (Savannah)
• Steve Tarvin, Dist 2 (Chickamauga)
• Darlene Taylor, Dist 173 (Thomasville)
• Brad Thomas, Dist 21 (Holly Springs)
• Rick Townsend, Dist 179 (Brunswick)
• Will Wade, Dist 9 (Dawsonville)
• Dale Washburn, Dist 144 (Macon)
• Bill Werkheiser, Dist 157 (Glennville)
• Marcus Wiedower, Dist 121 (Watkinsville)
• Noel Williams, Jr., Dist 148 (Cordele)
• Bill Yearta, Dist 152 (Sylvester)
Republican State Senators who voted “Yes” to SB 144:
• John Albers, Dist 56 (Roswell)
• Jason Anavitarte, Dist 31 (Dallas)
• Lee Anderson, Dist 24 (Grovetown)
• Brandon Beach, Dist 21 (Alpharetta)
• Timothy Bearden, Dist 30 (Carrollton)
• Matt Brass, Dist 6 (Newnan)
• Max Burns, Dist 23 (Sylvania)
• Bill Cowsert, Dist 46 (Athens)
• Clint Dixon, Dist 45 (Gwinnett)
• Greg Dolezal, Dist 27 (Cumming)
• Drew Echols, Dist 49 (Gainesville)
• Frank Ginn, Dist 47 (Danielsville)
• Steve Gooch, Dist 51 (Dahlonega)
• Russ Goodman, Dist 8 (Cordell)
• Marty Harbin, Dist 16 (Tyrone)
• Bo Hatchett, Dist 50 (Cornelia)
• Billy Hickman, Dist 4 (Statesboro)
• Mike Hodges, Dist 3 (Brunswick)
• John F. Kennedy, Dist 18 (Macon)
• Kay Kirkpatrick, Dist 32 (Marietta)
• Chuck Payne, Dist 54 (Dalton)
• Randy Robertson, Dist 29 (Cataula)
• Ed Setzler, Dist 37 (Acworth)
• Shawn Still, Dist 48 (Johns Creek)
• Brian Strickland, Dist 42 (McDonough)
• Carden Summers, Dist 13 (Cordele)
• Blake Tillery, Dist 19 (Vidalia)
• Larry Walker, III Dist 20 (Perry)
• Ben Watson, Dist 1 (Savannah)
• Sam Watson, Dist 11 (Moultrie)
• Rick Williams, Dist 25 (Milledgeville)
Lawsuits are one of the primary means of providing accountability for corporations when their products harm consumers. In fact, lawsuits and the threat of lawsuits, encourage pesticide manufacturers to develop safer products.
It is simply unjust for the government to give preferential legal treatment to big corporations (or to anyone). The Republican principle of equal justice requires that laws apply equally to everyone regardless of the size of their business or the business owners’ friendships with politicians.
“This is cronyism at it’s worst,” said Darnell.
“It is my personal held belief and the Caucus’ that most of the Republicans with the “R”s are actually Democrats,” said Mallory Staples, Executive Director of the Georgia Freedom Caucus, in a recent address to GRA members in Canton.
Georgia Freedom Caucus members were some of the few who courageously voted “No” to this legislation.
Republicans who voted “No”:
- Rep. Noelle Kahaian Dist 81 (Locust Grove)
- Rep. Charlice Byrd Dist 20 (Woodstock)
- Sen. Colton Moore Dist 53 (Trenton)
MAHA proponents in Georgia are livid. Sandi Marcus with the Georgia Coalition for Vaccine Choice has been warning that this legislation is very similar to the National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act of 1986 which made vaccine manufacturers not liabile for harm caused by vaccinations.
Nothing says “we lack confidence in the safety of our product” like “you can’t sue us if something goes wrong.” Furthermore, the 7th Amendment to the US Constitution protects the right to a jury trial. The establishment referred to “significant bipartisan support,” for SB 144. But whenever you hear that phrase, you can know they mean “uni-party” support, where fake Republicans join with Democrats to support unprincipled legislation.
You can be sure that big corporations are celebrating right now. And whichever lobbyist who persuaded your state representative to abandon his principles? He’s celebrating too.
“Lobbyists – that’s who’s running the government in the state of Georgia right now,” said Staples.
This law takes effect January 1, 2026.
What can we do?
If you know any farmers or landscapers that have been harmed by pesticide exposure, encourage them to share their story with MAHA Georgia. Please contact your state legislators and ask them why they voted for SB 144. Be respectful, but firm. Let them know you do not appreciate them voting for laws that give preferential treatment to big corporations, and strip away the rights of citizens.
Second, make your friends and family aware of the massive lobbyist-led uni-party problem under the Gold Dome that hurts Georgia families. There are likely thousands of principled Republican voters in your community who have no clue that their legislator voted for such an outrageous bill. They will be shocked to learn the truth.
Politicians are accountable to “We The People” and our civic duty includes more than merely voting on Election Day. We have a duty to pay attention to how we are being represented and take action if our state Representative gets corrupted by corporate lobbyists. Please help your community understand that every Republican who voted in favor of giving Monsanto/Bayer legal immunity needs to be replaced. You can utilize GRA scorecards too. GRA scorecards reveal how well or poorly Georgia state legislators adhered to the Republican Party platform during the legislative session and they help you see the pattern in your legislator’s voting history.
To replace a legislator, you need a team, and GRA chapters are organized to help recruit and elect real Republicans who will implement Republican policy that is just and protects the God-given rights of all Georgians.