Ed Setzler - Political Career

Political Career

Since first being elected in 2004, Representative Setzler has been a leader in statewide education reform and in the protection of individual liberties.

As the Chairman of the House committee on Science & Technology, Rep. Setzler is responsible to provide leadership in promoting scientific research, the growth of a vibrant high technology sector in Georgia, and in employing technology to address the state's public sector needs.

Rep. Setzler has played an important role in providing real public school choice options for Georgia’s families. As a leader in Georgia's effort to pass a statewide constitutional amendment to allow state-authorized charter schools, Ed's efforts provided students from all ends of the socioeconomic spectrum increased options in obtaining a high quality public education.

Ed’s commitment to educational choice for all Georgia families supported the creation of the SB-10 (2007) scholarship program to support special needs children that are underserved by their local public schools. Additionally, Ed’s support of HB-1133 (2008) created a nationally recognized program in which low-income and middle class families can defray the cost of private education by qualifying for tuition scholarships funded by local businesses and individuals who make tax-deductible contributions to scholarship foundations.

As the Chairman of the 2006 House Study Committee on Biological Privacy, Rep. Setzler brought together a panel of nationally recognized experts to advance policies to prevent governments and private entities from using emerging technologies to violate the personal privacy rights of citizens. Rep. Setzler was also instrumental in the passage of SB-77 (2006) the Unborn Victims of Violence Act. With its passage, Georgia became one of approximately 30 states that will now prosecute a violent crime against a pregnant woman as crimes against two distinct persons. Under SB-77, a person found guilty of causing the death of an unborn child shall be guilty of “feticide”, a crime punishable by life in prison. Not only did SB-77 provide tougher penalties for crimes against women, it provided protections under Georgia law for unborn children beginning at the moment of conception.

Additionally, Rep. Setzler is the sponsor of HR-9 (2009) the Freedom of Ownership Amendment (FOA) to the Georgia constitution. When adopted by statewide referendum, this innovative measure will allow Georgia property owners to make an advanced payment to local governments equaling 20 times the current year's property tax obligation. Once this payment is made (estimated at 30% of the property value), the subject property will be permanently and unconditionally free from ad valorem property taxation, a benefit that will be transferable upon sale to all subsequent owners. Similar to a small public retirement system, this 20 year cash payment will provide an annuitized stream of investment revenue equal to or greater than the annual tax revenue generated by a property. This measure failed to secure final passage during the 2009 session of the Georgia General Assembly.