ATL Report – Atlanta News and Gossip

State Rep. Bill Hembree of Winston, one of several candidates for House speaker, sent the letter below to the Republican membership on Friday.

Hembree’s communication isn’t as detailed as the platform sent out by state Rep. Larry O’Neal sent to House members – no promises to do away with the hawk system or dissolve the speaker’s political action committee.

However, it’s fair to say that Hembree puts a larger emphasis on the moral issues raised by the Glenn Richardson situation. And like O’Neal, Hembree promises not to embarrass his colleagues:

In less than one week we will come together again to choose a new Speaker. This is an opportunity for each member of this caucus to vote their conscience and to put this week’s rhetoric into action. We cannot afford to continue down the path of talking about family values and ethics reform on the campaign trail but turn a blind eye at the State Capitol. It must end now and it must start in the Speaker’s office.

The 2010 …