Statuary Hall

U.S. House votes to give Georgia’s confederate statue the boot

The U.S. House voted Tuesday to remove a statue of former Georgia governor Alexander Hamilton Stephens from Statuary Hall at the Capitol, as well as evict stone monuments to other men who fought for the Confederacy or served in its government. Also flagged for removal is a bust of 19th century Supreme Court Chief Justice Roger Taney, a Marylander who wrote the despised Dred Scott decision. The legislation passed on a vote of 285-120, with all the nay votes from Republicans and 67 of them voting with Democrats. Georgia’s delegation voted along party lines. The marble bust of Taney, which is displayed…

Georgia lawmaker says people have been ‘brainwashed’ about slavery

The Gist: A Georgia lawmaker sparked controversy after remarks he made Thursday night on Georgia Public Broadcasting's "Lawmakers" show. The Players: Northwest Georgia state representative Tommy Benton was on "Lawmakers" debating Rep. Al Williams on a measure to replace a statue of the Vice-President of the Confederacy that sits at the U.S. Capitol with a statue of Civil Rights icon John Lewis. Benton is a Republican and Williams is a Democrat. The Quote: Benton, who was defending the statue of Confederate Vice-President Alexander Hamilton Stephens, was asked what he thought about the fact that some people are offended by confederate…