Collins allowed to vote on speaker

ATLANTA - State Rep. Doug Collins of Gainesville, on active duty in Iraq, was allowed to vote by proxy Monday when the state House Republican Caucus met to select the House speaker for the next two years.

Current rules require state lawmakers to vote in person for the speaker's job. Rep. Mark Hamilton of Forsyth County acted as Collins' proxy.

Collins was deployed to Iraq several months ago as a member of the Air Force Reserves.

At first it appeared he would not be able to vote by proxy because rules require "in person" voting. However, the Republican leadership was under pressure from other House members to allow a proxy vote.

On Thursday, House Speaker Glenn Richardson issued a memo asking that Collins be allowed to cast a proxy vote.

Richardson was re-elected Monday at that caucus, turning back a challenge from state Rep. David Ralston. (See separate story.)