European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - April 8, 2007, Darmstadt, Hesse Page 14 stars and stripes sunday apri 8 2007 in the states a ownership of slaves could Sway apology debate by Russ Bynum the associated press Savannah a several Georgia lawmakers have opposed efforts to Issue an official state apology for slavery but they could be swayed knowing their predecessors authorized the state Purchase of slaves a legislator said As state lawmakers debate issuing an official apology for slavery similar to those passed by the Virginia legislature and the North Carolina Senate an associated press review of 19thcentury records kept by the digital Library of Georgia at the University of Georgia shows the states role went beyond regulating and taxing slave owners Georgia bought and sold slaves As Well knowing this might Sway some Legisla tors who have been reluctant to support an apology for the sins of Lon dead Southern planters and industrialists said state sen Eric Johnson the to ranking Republican in the Kopcon trued Senate some resist expressing any sort of apology because they or their family we rent involved said Johnson the senates presi Dent protein if the state actually did buy and sell and own slaves that May make it More comfortable for people in the state to express regret Over slavery needing workers to build roads and improve River transportation in 1829 Georgia lawmakers authorized spending to buy a stat owned labor Force of 190 Able bodied slaves the Legislatures foray into government slave holding at least on a Large scale proved Short lived by 1834 the state sold its slaves along with horses mules wagons and tools for is 17464 state rep Tyrone Brooks an Atlanta Democrat who Heads the Georgia association of Black elected officials said the states slave owning history makes a huge difference in the apology debate it was absolutely the government participating As an Active partner the govern ment itself rather than individuals Brooks said some state Republican leaders have expressed scepticism recently about issuing an apology people be held responsible for the sins of their fathers state Senate majority Leader Tommie Williams said last month state House speaker Glen Richard son said last month he was not sure what we ought to be apologizing for Johnson said he Only recently discovered the state had owned slaves he said Hes been working with fellow republicans and Black democrats to try to Craft a state ment with Broad enough support to pass the legislature before it adjourns for the year Likely by late april the Virginia legislature and the North Carolina Senate have both approved state ments expressing regret for their role in slavery the North Carolina House of representatives still must approve the measure there Bush chides democrats on delay of War funding the associated press Crawford Dent Bush criticized democrats on saturday for going on vacation without first giving him what he wants a War spending Bill free of orders to pull troops Home i recognize that democrats Are trying to show their cur rent opposition to the War in Iraq Bush said in his weekly radio address from Crawford where he is on a break of his own they see the emergency War spending Bill As a Chance to make that statement Bush said yet for our men and women in uniform this Emer gency War spending Bill is not a political statement it is a source of critical funding that has a direct Impact on their daily lives in response democratic National committee chairman Howard Dean said Bush was sticking to a my Way or the Highway approach to govern ing it is time for the president and republicans in Congress to Stop trying to bully their Way through this and work with democrats to end the War Dean said in his party weekly radio address if s time for the president to show respect to the american people who voted overwhelmingly to leave Iraq Bush has asked Congress for More than billion to pay for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan this year the House and Senate have approved the Money but their Bills aim to wind Down the War by including timelines for troops to president Bush come Home something Bush wont accept the Senate Bill would re quire a us troop exit in Iraq to begin within 120 Days with a completion goal of March 31 2008 the House Bill orders All combat troops out by sept 1 2008democratic leaders have yet to negotiate a final version to Send the president and Bush has already made Clear he will veto it anyway which will Start the process All Over Gonzales aide resigns wont testify on firings Washington top aide to us attorney general Alberto Gonza Les abruptly quit almost two weeks after telling Congress she would not testify about her role in the firings of Federal prosecutors As the Justice departments Liaison to the White House Monica m Good Lings refusal to testify has intensified questions about whether the us attorney dismissals were proper Good Lings resignation came less than two weeks before Gonzales planned testimony to the Senate Sev eral Republican lawmakers have joined democrats in calling for Bis resignation or dismissal Over the fir Ings and other mistakes at the Justice department Mccain to argue Iraq War is win Itable Washington sen John Mccain Ariz will launch a High profile Effort this week to con Vince americans that the Iraq War is the unpopular As he attempts to bid forthe presidency with the Virginia military Institute As to argue in a speech that Victory in to american Security and that presi Dent Bush War machine is finally getting on track after four years aides and advisers said 7 Man pleads guilty to assaulting vet Skowhegan Maine a Pitts Field Man has pleaded guilty to assaulting a disabled Veteran with a Metal chair during an argument Over unpaid rent Giro olwares54 assaulted Gerald Barber in december in a dispute Over Money hat Barber owed to Vares who was Barbers landlord Barber 58 has extremely limited movement and can communicate Only in on word sentences police said he raised is Cane toward Oli Vares who then picked tip the Metal chair and Barber from the associated press it if to end of of Ilis
