State Senator Colton Moore said on the floor of the state senate on Wednesday of this week that he was “beside himself” because he was angry that a bill that he refused to advance in the senate was being voted on.  The bill that came from the Georgia House would allow Chattooga County, Summerville and Trion to implement an excise tax on hotels, motels and bed and breakfasts and other tourist facilities.  That tax would then be used to promote tourism in the county.

Chattooga County Commissioner Blake Elsberry, Trion Mayor Lanny Thomas and Summerville Mayor Harry Harvey and the councils of Summerville and Trion were all in favor of the bill.  Moore said that it was a tax increase and that he disagreed with part of the proceeds of the tax going to the Chattooga County Chamber of Commerce.  Moore said that the bill was advanced in the senate over his objections in “retaliation” for a speech he made last week blasting the legacy of former Georgia House Speaker David Ralston.

Normally local legislation like the hotel/motel tax are introduced and advanced by the senator representing the area the local legislation impacts.  Since Moore refused to shepherd the bill in the senate, local leader were able to get Republican Majority Caucus Vice-Chair, and the Chairman of the Senate Rules Committee Matt Brass to do so.

In the end, the entire senate – Democrats and Republicans – all voted in favor of the local excise tax for Chattooga County with only Senator Moore voting “no”.

You can watch Senator Moore’s speech on the senate floor HERE  (starts around 2:28:53).