Thank you for visiting my web site.  It is an honor to serve you in the Georgia General Assembly.  Over the years I have worked hard to voice your views, opinions and values.  Our close contact by phone, e-mail and personal talks help me to better understand your views on proposed legislation.  I am honored that so many of you take the time to contact me. Please continue to do so.

With your vote and support on November 4th, together we can continue our work to strengthen and improve the quality of life in North West Georgia.

Sincerely,
Barbara Massey Reece
State Representative
11th District of Georgia

Experienced, Trusted, Proven Leadership for the 11th District!

Endorsed by the National Rifle Association   

Endorsed by the Georgia State AFL-CIO  

Endorsed by the Georgia Association of Educators

Endorsed by the Georgia Concervancy and the Georgia Sierra Club

To the Veterans and Citizens of the Eleventh District,
Like all of you I was raised a patriot, to honor and respect the veterans of our country. We owe them for the many freedoms we enjoy as a citizen of the United States of America.  The lives lost for our freedom is a debt we will never be able to repay. Recently my loyalty and respect for the veterans has been questioned.  From the beginning of my political career I have honored and represented the veterans of the 11th district with the utmost respect.  I pledge to continue the same support for the Heroes of our community as I have throughout my service to you.
The following is a timeline of HR-1231
The House vote approving, Senate substitution for HB-1231 was taken 3/22/00
   
HB 1231 was originally passed by the House with only one part-(a)naming a bridge for James Williams, a retired military man and Mayor of Byron, Ga.

As it passed through the Senate, it was amended with 3 more parts:

(a) naming a bridge for corporal Howell Dees, Marine, killed at Guadalcanal.
(b) naming highway exit for Rankin Smith, Former owner of the Atlanta Falcons
(c) naming portions of State Hwy 154 and State Hwy 10 (Memorial Drive) for Congresswomen Cynthia McKinney.
Nowhere in the bill or on road maps is any reference to Memorial Drive ever being Veterans Memorial Hwy. or Veterans Memorial Drive.
The final votes in the House and Senate approved all four-2 military heroes, Rankin Smith and McKinney.
McKinney’s encounter with DC police occurred 6 years later on March 29, 2006, well after this vote was taken. 
No deal was made with any Caucus. I don’t make deals or sell my vote to any group. I strive to always represent the views of the citizens of the 11th district. No particular group was pushing for this bill’s approval.  The Representative or citizens from local communities request the naming of streets and highways.
Voting in favor of the final bill were a number of Republicans including our Lt. Governor Casey Cagle(R), who was a State Senator at that time and Rep. Lynn Westmoreland (R) who at that time was the House Republican Leader and is now a U.S. Congressman.
Voting for the bill containing 4 parts in no way diminishes my support and respect for veterans.
Since that time, I have received a commendation from Pete Wheeler, Commissioner Georgia Department of Veterans Services for continued support of Veterans and Veteran programs in Georgia.
Thank you for allowing me to affirm my position on supporting our Veterans who we all owe our sincerest admiration.
Respectfully,
Barbara Massey Reece