Newly elected Speaker of the Georgia House David Ralston of Blueridge has eliminated the appointments of the Hawk positions.

A Hawk was a lawmaker who was assigned to all committees and subcommittees of the House.

They could swoop like hawks into any committee meeting and influence the vote in favor of the Republican House leadership.

Ralston called it a tool strictly for partisan purposes. He said earlier this week that he would stop the hawk system. In a statement the Republican said he is committed to working with Democrats to ensure an equal voice.

The Hawk system was created in 2005 under a series of rule changes.

Ralston says the three lawmakers who were the hawks, Clay Cox, David Casas and John Lunsford, voluntarily resigned from the post.

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