Jason Spencer Explained

Jason Spencer
Birth Name:Jason Chauncey Spencer
State House:Georgia
District:180th
Term Start:January 10, 2011
Term End:July 31, 2018
Preceded:Cecily Hill
Succeeded:Steven Sainz
Party:Republican
Birth Date:14 November 1974
Birth Place:Offutt AFB, Nebraska, U.S.
Alma Mater:University of Georgia (BS)
South University (BS)
University of Nebraska (MPAS)
Residence:Woodbine, Georgia, U.S.
Signature:Jason Spencer signature.png

Jason Chauncey Spencer (born November 14, 1974) is an American physician assistant and Republican politician.

Spencer was elected to the Georgia House of Representatives in 2010, representing district 180, and serving into July 2018.[1] [2] He was defeated by Steven Sainz in the May 2018 Republican primary for Georgia House of Representatives District 180.[3] He strongly opposed the Affordable Care Act and helped prevent Medicaid expansion in Georgia.

Spencer faced widespread criticism in July 2018 for his behavior during an episode of the satirical television show Who Is America? in which British comedian Sacha Baron Cohen, disguised as an Israeli counter-terrorist expert, led Spencer to drop his pants and shout multiple racial slurs.[1] Criticized by Republican leaders, Spencer announced later that month that he would resign from the Georgia House of Representatives, and was replaced by Steven Sainz.[4]

The family moved in 1978 to Moody Air Force Base in Valdosta, Georgia, and a year later to Alapaha, Georgia. Spencer graduated from Berrien High School in 1993.[5] He attended Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College before transferring to Alabama State University, a historically black college (HBCU), on a full athletic scholarship for tennis. He transferred again to the University of Georgia, from which he graduated in 1997 with a degree in exercise & sport science. Spencer studied and trained as a physician assistant, receiving a second bachelor's degree from South University in Savannah and a master's degree in physician assistant studies from the University of Nebraska Medical Center in 2005.

Political career

Electoral history

An active member of the Tea Party movement in coastal Georgia, Spencer was first elected to the Georgia House of Representatives in 2010 after defeating incumbent Cecily Hill in a primary runoff.[6] His district centers on Woodbine in southeastern Georgia.[1] He was reelected in 2012, 2014, and 2016.

Legislative mentions

Spencer served on the following committees in the Georgia State House: Science and Technology; Games, Fish and Parks; Juvenile Justice; Human Aging and Relations, and served as the Secretary to the House Special Rules Committee.[7] He voted for legislation that relaxed “live-aboard” boating restrictions and legalized home brew beer competitions in Georgia.[8] [9]

Spencer served as an advocate for survivors of child sexual abuse, introducing and gaining passage in 2015 of a landmark civil statute of limitations (SOL) reform legislation, known as the Georgia Hidden Predator Act (HB 17, 2015). This legislation removed or extended the civil SOL so survivors can gain justice and expose the identities of hidden child abusers in the state of Georgia. The Hidden Predator Act was instrumental in leading to the unraveling of one of the largest sex scandals in U.S. sports history: the exposure of Dr. Larry Nassar, who was later convicted of serial child molestation committed while serving the USA Gymnastics organization.[10] Rep. Spencer received Voice Today's "Voice of Gratitude Award" for his efforts authoring the legislation.[11]

In 2018, Spencer attempted to amend this 2015 law to strengthen it and provide more time for survivors to file cases, but the bill was weakened by lobbying efforts from the Atlanta Archdiocese of the Catholic Church,[12] the Boy Scouts of America, and other powerful interest groups. It narrowly failed to pass on the last day of the 2018 legislative session.[13] [14] [15]

In 2017, Spencer introduced and passed legislation, known as the Georgia Space Flight Act (House Bill 1, 2017), to attract the commercial space industry to Georgia as part of an ongoing effort to establish the state's first commercial spaceport.[16] [17]

Issues during tenure

Spencer was one of the strongest opponents in the Georgia House to President Barack Obama's administration's Affordable Care Act (ACA).[18] He authored legislation that effectively blocked Medicaid expansion in Georgia. Spencer also blocked the establishment of the state's insurance marketplace, and forced the University of Georgia to terminate its "Obamacare" Navigator program under the Act.[19] [20] [21] In 2014, Spencer introduced legislation to block the state from "using of its resources to implement any portions of the health care law."[22] When this legislation was tabled by Senate Majority Whip Cecil Station (R-Macon) and other opponents in committee, Spencer issued a press release blaming fellow Republicans for an "eleventh hour betrayal" and likening them to "Benedict Arnolds, the King George the Third and his myrmidons."[23] [24]

In 2016, after facing bipartisan opposition, Spencer withdrew a bill that was perceived to have banned Muslim women from wearing religious garments such as burqas or niqābs in driver's license photographs or while driving cars.[25] The legislation aimed to amend an existing 1951 Georgia law intended to prohibit members of the Ku Klux Klan from wearing masks and hoods; it had been constitutionally upheld by the Georgia Supreme Court in State v Miller, 1990 to unmask members of the group.[26] [27] Many, including the Council on American–Islamic Relations (CAIR) and American Civil Liberties Union, accused Spencer of Islamophobia.[28] [29]

Spencer accused a constituent of treason and supporting terrorism for donating $10 to CAIR Georgia in response to his bill.[30] Spencer supported his charge of potential treason in a letter written to his constituent stating that the Council on American–Islamic Relations (CAIR) was designated as a terrorist organization by the United Arab Emirates due to the organization's alleged ties to Hamas, an organization which has been designated a terrorist organization by the U.S. Department of State.[31] In addition, Spencer stated that CAIR was named by the U.S. Justice Department as an unindicted co-conspirator in the largest terrorism funding trials in U.S. history, known as United States v Holy Land Foundation, et. al.,[32] [33] [34] claims which CAIR has rejected.[35] As a result of the backlash of submitting this legislation, Spencer said he had received death threats.

In 2017, Spencer attracted controversy in the debate over the removal of Confederate monuments and memorials. In a Facebook post, he issued a warning to LaDawn Jones, an African American attorney, former Georgia House colleague and current State Director for Bernie Sanders' Presidential Campaign, that she might "go missing in the Okefenokee," a swamp in southern Georgia (and partly in Spencer's district), if she followed through on her intentions to bring advocates to southern Georgia to remove Confederate monuments.[36] [37] [38] [39]

Primary defeat

In May 2018, Spencer was defeated in the Republican primary by a primary challenger, 24-year-old political newcomer Steven Sainz. A local party leader attributed Spencer's loss in part to his "antics" in office.[40] Spencer said "if he rubbed anyone the wrong way," he was doing so by standing up to powerful special interest representing the plight of "little guy." “My tactics won against them and that is one of the reasons why I stayed in office for eight years, because I effectively beat them at their own game,” said Spencer to the Brunswick News.[41] In a radio interview with WGIG 1440 AM, Rep. Jason Spencer said that he had often been a target of individuals on the ideological left and establishment politicians for introducing legislation that challenged powerful special interests. He believed such opponents blocked a bill in 2018 to strengthen a law extending civil justice to survivors of child sexual abuse.[42] [43]

Who Is America? controversy

Spencer was featured in an episode of the satirical television show Who Is America? that aired on July 22, 2018. The episode showed British comedian Sacha Baron Cohen, disguised as an Israeli counter-terrorism expert, leading Spencer to drop his pants, imitate a Chinese tourist using racial stereotypes that mixed various East Asian stereotypes, use a selfie stick to take an upskirt picture under a woman's burqa, and repeatedly yell "nigger".

Georgia House Speaker David Ralston urged Spencer to resign, saying that he had disgraced himself. Governor Nathan Deal tweeted that Spencer's actions were "appalling and offensive". Spencer apologized for what he described as "this ridiculously ugly episode" but initially refused to step down, saying that the show's producers had exploited him "for profit and notoriety".[44] [45] He said that Baron Cohen and the television crew had falsely promised that he would be able to review and approve the final footage before release. Spencer later announced his resignation on July 24,[46] effective as of July 31.[47]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Sopan Deb. Georgia Leaders Condemn Jason Spencer, Lawmaker Who Used Slurs on Sacha Baron Cohen Show. The New York Times. July 23, 2018. July 23, 2018. April 10, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190410211322/https://www.nytimes.com/2018/07/22/arts/television/jason-spencer-sacha-cohen.html. live.
  2. Web site: Representative Jason Spencer. house.ga.gov. 23 July 2018. April 10, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190410211210/http://www.house.ga.gov/representatives/en-US/member.aspx?Member=789&Session=25. live.
  3. Web site: Steven Sainz. Ballotpedia. en. 2019-03-23. April 10, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190410024701/https://ballotpedia.org/Steven_Sainz. live.
  4. Web site: France . Lisa Respers . Georgia lawmaker who came under fire after yelling 'n-word' on 'Who Is America?' says he'll quit . CNN . Cable News Network . 25 July 2018 . July 25, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180725111942/https://edition.cnn.com/2018/07/25/entertainment/jason-spencer-who-is-america-resigns/index.html . live .
  5. Web site: Rep. Jason Spencer R-180 Biography. house.ga.gov. July 24, 2018. July 23, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180723122512/http://www.house.ga.gov/Documents/Biographies/spencerJason.pdf. live.
  6. Web site: Gordon. Jackson. Hill falls short in bid for 4th term. The Florida Times-Union. August 10, 2010. July 23, 2018. July 24, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180724032235/http://www.jacksonville.com/news/georgia/2010-08-10/story/hill-falls-short-bid-4th-term. live.
  7. Web site: Rep. Jason Spencer committee assignments. April 10, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190410211210/http://www.house.ga.gov/representatives/en-US/member.aspx?Member=789&Session=25. live.
  8. Web site: Sunday, February 19, 2012 – 11:00pm Bill Would Legalize Living On Boats. Georgia Public Broadcasting.. February 20, 2012. August 24, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180824035949/http://www.gpb.org/news/2012/02/20/bill-would-legalize-living-on-boats. live.
  9. Web site: Flagpole, May 22, 2013. By Blake Aued. Georgia Lawmakers Give Homebrewers a Break. Are Brewpubs Next?. August 24, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180824034457/https://flagpole.com/news/news-features/2013/05/22/georgia-lawmakers-give-homebrewers-a-break-are-brewpubs-next. live.
  10. Web site: How a Georgia case, law paved way for USA Gymnastics doctor's downfall . Elassar . Alaa . The Atlanta Journal-Constitution . January 26, 2018 . August 24, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180824070011/https://politics.myajc.com/news/state--regional-govt--politics/how-georgia-case-law-paved-way-for-usa-gymnastics-doctor-downfall/e0Cddwf56ivelwcQiKp13O/ . live .
  11. Web site: Voice of Gratitude Award. August 24, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180824101829/https://www.reneeunterman.org/sen-renee-unterman-receives-voice-of-gratitude-award/. live.
  12. Web site: Lobbyist for Archdiocese tries to gut childhood sexual abuse bill. Tagami. Ty. March 9, 2018. Atlanta Journal-Constitution. 28 November 2019. August 24, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180824065849/https://www.myajc.com/news/lobbyist-for-archdiocese-tries-gut-childhood-sexual-abuse-bill/pbrZHTwju551cvK9JLCA9J/. live.
  13. Web site: Georgia lawmakers don't give sex abuse survivors more time to sue. Tagami. Ty. March 30, 2018. August 24, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180824065908/https://politics.myajc.com/news/state--regional-education/georgia-lawmakers-refuse-give-sex-abuse-survivors-more-time-sue/uYY0nLkvxifERZDXNHCEmM/. live.
  14. Web site: WTOC Investigates: Failure to pass Hidden Predator Act of 2018. Friday, March 30th 2018. August 24, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180824101734/http://www.wtoc.com/story/37849590/wtoc-investigates-failure-to-pass-hidden-predator-act-of-2018. live.
  15. Web site: Boy Scouts lobby in states to stem the flow of child abuse lawsuits. Washington Post. May 9, 2018. October 1, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20181001104013/https://www.washingtonpost.com/powerpost/boy-scouts-lobby-in-states-to-stem-the-flow-of-child-abuse-lawsuits/2018/05/08/0eee0a44-47d8-11e8-827e-190efaf1f1ee_story.html. live.
  16. Web site: HB 1 signed into law. The Brunswick News. Mar 9, 2017.. August 24, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180824101747/https://thebrunswicknews.com/news/local_news/hb-signed-into-law/article_b66cb9a8-66df-5c1c-aa7e-0e12d6e72896.html. live.
  17. Web site: Spaceport Camden. August 24, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180824070027/https://spaceportcamden.us/. live.
  18. Greg Bluestein, My AJC: "State lawmaker picks a fight over Medicaid 'experiment' ", Atlanta Journal-Constitution (May 28, 2015).
  19. Web site: The Georgia Healthcare Freedom Act. HB 707/943. . Georgia State University Law Review . 31 . 1 . Fall 2014 . August 24, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180824101712/https://readingroom.law.gsu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?referer=&httpsredir=1&article=2771&context=gsulr . live .
  20. Andy Miller, "Legislator: Waiver plan still requires legislative OK", Georgia Health News (May 27, 2015).
  21. Web site: UGA forced to shutter health insurance navigator program.. AJC. Anderson. Virginia. September 7, 2014. August 24, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180824065930/https://www.myajc.com/news/uga-forced-shutter-health-insurance-navigator-program/aFCwkgv1M1efYcERUeR87K/. live.
  22. Misty Williams, Medicaid expansion: House panel votes to shift power to Legislature, Atlanta Journal-Constitution (February 19, 2014).
  23. https://www.ajc.com/news/opinion/the-record/SZ8aTdZMMRM8czB4PXbwOI/ On the Record
  24. News: UPDATED: Anti-Obamacare Legislation Killed. Lawmaker Blasts Fellow Republicans.. The Brookhaven Post Brookhaven GA News. 2018-08-23. en-US. August 24, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180824035723/https://brookhavenpost.co/2014/03/18/anti-obamacare-legislation-killed-lawmaker-blasts-fellow-republicans/. live.
  25. News: Georgia lawmaker withdraws bill to restrict burqas. CNN. November 17, 2016. July 24, 2018. July 25, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180725003105/https://edition.cnn.com/2016/11/17/us/burqa-ban-bill-georgia-trnd/. live.
  26. Web site: State v. Miller . August 23, 2018 . August 24, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180824034158/https://law.justia.com/cases/georgia/supreme-court/1990/s90a1172-1.html . live .
  27. Web site: Aaron. Gould Sheinin. Bill would place restrictions on Muslim burqas, veils in Georgia. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. November 16, 2016. July 23, 2018. July 24, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180724032248/https://politics.myajc.com/news/state--regional-govt--politics/bill-would-place-restrictions-muslim-burqas-veils-georgia/d7qIzl8LwoAAVPGOdDr2sK/. live.
  28. Web site: Lindsey. Bever. After outcry, Georgia lawmaker abandons bill that would have banned Muslims from wearing veils. The Washington Post. November 18, 2016. July 23, 2018. July 25, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180725033245/https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/acts-of-faith/wp/2016/11/18/after-outcry-georgia-lawmaker-abandons-bill-that-would-have-banned-muslims-from-wearing-veils/. live.
  29. Web site: After Muslim backlash, Georgia lawmaker drops change to no-mask law. CBS News. November 18, 2016. July 23, 2018. July 24, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180724032143/https://www.cbsnews.com/news/muslim-backlash-georgia-lawmaker-change-no-mask-law/. live.
  30. Web site: Edward Ahmed. Mitchell. Text: CAIR Georgia's Letter To Rep. Jason Spencer After Anti-Muslim Remarks. cairgeorgia.com. January 5, 2017. July 23, 2018. July 24, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180724032235/https://www.cairgeorgia.com/press-releases/414-text-cair-georgia-s-letter-to-rep-jason-spencer-after-anti-muslim-remarks.html. live.
  31. Web site: Letter Dec 30, 2016 written by Rep. Jason Spencer to constituent re CAIR/HAMAS. Letter HouseBill3 CAIR Dec302016 redacted.pdf. Google Docs. 2018-08-23. November 6, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211106043604/https://accounts.google.com/_/bscframe. live.
  32. News: US group CAIR named terrorist organization by United Arab Emirates. Chiaramonte. Perry. 2014-11-17. Fox News. 2018-08-23. en-US. August 23, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180823121358/http://www.foxnews.com/us/2014/11/17/us-group-cair-added-to-terror-list-by-united-arab-emirates.html. live.
  33. News: Foreign Terrorist Organizations. U.S. Department of State. 2018-08-23. en-US. June 30, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200630045511/https://2009-2017.state.gov/j/ct/rls/other/des/123085.htm. live.
  34. Web site: UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, Plaintiff-Appellee v. HOLY LAND FOUNDATION FOR RELIEF AND DEVELOPMENT, ET AL, Defendants NORTH AMERICAN ISLAMIC TRUST, Movant-Appellant No. 09-10875 Decided: October 20, 2010. August 24, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180824002857/https://caselaw.findlaw.com/us-5th-circuit/1541982.html. live.
  35. Web site: Dispelling Rumors About CAIR – CAIR. https://web.archive.org/web/20130309033356/http://www.cair.com/about-us/dispelling-rumors-about-cair.html. dead. 2013-03-09. cair.com.
  36. Web site: Robin. Eberhardt. Ga. lawmaker: Dem criticizing Confederate monuments could 'go missing'. The Hill. August 30, 2017. July 23, 2018. July 24, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180724032142/http://thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box/348505-georgia-state-lawmaker-warns-dem-criticizing-confederate-monuments-she-could. live.
  37. Web site: Emily. Shugerman. Republican politician warns black woman she may 'go missing' for talking about Confederate statues. The Independent. August 30, 2017. July 23, 2018. July 24, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180724053735/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/republican-black-woman-georgia-threat-confederate-statues-monuments-jason-spencer-ladawn-jones-a7920751.html. live.
  38. Web site: About LaDawn Jones. August 24, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180824034314/https://www.ladawnjones.com/about-1. live.
  39. Web site: Sanders' Ga. Supporters Undeterred, Despite Big Loss. WABE; NPR, MARTHA DALTON • MAR 1, 2016. March 2, 2016. August 24, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180824034536/https://www.wabe.org/sanders-ga-supporters-undeterred-despite-big-loss/. live.
  40. Web site: Gordon. Jackson. Spencer loses primary election after four terms. The Brunswick News. May 24, 2018. July 23, 2018. July 24, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180724032204/https://thebrunswicknews.com/news/local_news/spencer-loses-primary-election-after-four-terms/article_1420fdb3-c353-53cb-8f8c-9d4eff04a8dd.html. live.
  41. News: State rep. refutes characterization of political career. The Brunswick News. 2018-08-23. en. August 24, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180824034210/https://thebrunswicknews.com/news/local_news/state-rep-refutes-characterization-of-political-career/article_ec95b40e-9fb8-5d39-b7de-d6cc86c46016.html. live.
  42. Web site: Listen to the Scott Ryfun Episode – Scott Ryfun 5-30-18 Hour 3 on iHeartRadio iHeartRadio. Full interview with Rep. Jason Spencer regarding election loss. May 30, 2018.. iHeartRadio. en. 2018-08-23. August 24, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180824034112/https://www.iheart.com/podcast/898-Scott-Ryfun-28518803/episode/scott-ryfun-5-30-18-hour-3-29391574/. live.
  43. News: Torpy at Large: If lobbyists win, Hidden Predator Act will stay hidden. myajc. 2018-08-23. en. August 24, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180824002255/https://www.myajc.com/news/local/torpy-large-lobbyists-win-hidden-predator-act-will-stay-hidden/PVTaji5trmsMkj2zA1S8rM/. live.
  44. Web site: Greg. Bluestein. Ga. lawmaker urged to resign after using racial slurs, dropping pants in TV show. The Independent. July 22, 2018. July 22, 2018. July 23, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180723062428/https://politics.myajc.com/blog/politics/georgia-lawmaker-uses-racial-slurs-drops-pants-humiliating-segment/vNIDCsPu8FgZx7uzmRkrQN/. live.
  45. News: CNN . July 25, 2018 . Georgia lawmaker who came under fire after yelling 'n-word' on 'Who Is America?' says he'll quit . Lisa Respers France . March 13, 2020 . October 22, 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20191022174123/https://www.cnn.com/2018/07/25/entertainment/jason-spencer-who-is-america-resigns/index.html . live .
  46. Web site: Ga. lawmaker who used racial slurs in TV show resigns. July 25, 2018. July 25, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180725054106/https://www.ajc.com/news/state--regional-govt--politics/breaking-lawmaker-who-used-racial-slurs-show-resigns/PZeFXPfA9xo98b62amubzN/. live.
  47. Web site: Georgia lawmaker who came under fire after yelling 'n-word' on 'Who Is America?' says he'll quit. Lisa Respers. France. CNN. July 25, 2018. July 25, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180725075743/https://edition.cnn.com/2018/07/25/entertainment/jason-spencer-who-is-america-resigns/index.html. live.

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Jason Spencer".

Except where otherwise indicated, Everything.Explained.Today is © Copyright 2009-2024, A B Cryer, All Rights Reserved. Cookie policy.