MLK Statue Legislation On Fast Track

House Majority Leader Larry O’Neal recently joined top ranking Democrats in sponsoring the enabling legislation.

“What I wanted to make sure and why I was so honored to be able to sign it is because I want to make sure it’s a sincere honor of one of Georgia’s favorite sons and one of the greatest heroes in Georgia history,” said O”Neal.

House Bill 1080 calls for an MLK statue to be placed somewhere on the Capitol grounds. Location, statue design, and funding are all unknown at this point, but O’Neal isn’t worried. He’s says beginning construction in 2015 is more than feasible.

“I think the plans can come together fairly rapidly and ambitious(ly) maybe ’15 but certainly construction by then,” said O’Neal.

He expects the bill to be fast-tracked through the House in order to be approved by Monday’s Crossover Day deadline. Then it would need the greenlight from the Senate and Gov. Nathan Deal.

On Martin Luther King Day in January, Deal said he was committed to finding some way to honor King at the Capitol.