Education
Democrats know that the key to expanding opportunity is to provide
every child with an excellent education. We want to meet our responsibilities
to Georgia's children by ensuring that our schools have the resources
they need to help our kids meet high standards. I believe that a
strong education system is fundamental to Georgia's success. Georgia
has one of the highest high school dropout rates in the country.
I believe Georgia must have a public K-12 educational system that
is one of the best in this country, and it must be focused on the
success of every child. If allowed to serve you, I will support
legislation that will:
- Restore severe cuts made to education over the past four
years
- Provide an educational system that is accountable and results
oriented, and fully fund all standard base initiatives.
- While we demand more of our students, teachers, and schools,
we must make sure that they have the resources they need to
succeed (i.e. classroom resources, better pay, updated equipment)
- Hold this state accountable to its promise of smaller class
sizes
- Ensure safer Public schools
- Encourage greater investment in charter, magnet, and technical
schools thereby giving our children an opportunity to compete
in a global economy.
- Encourage greater participation form parents, local businesses
and neighborhoods
Healthcare
In the wealthiest, most powerful nation on earth, no one should
have to choose between taking their child to a doctor or paying
the rent. We have too many people in our nation, state, and communities
without adequate health insurance. In Georgia, we have 1.5 million
people without health insurance, and 300,000 of the 1.5 million
are children. Also, today many of our elderly are still having a
hard time getting prescription drug benefits. The law that was passed
by congress is flawed and complicated. We can do better, and we
need leaders focused on making affordable healthcare a priority.
We can leave decisions about healthcare to patients and doctors,
keeping the government and insurance companies out. If allowed to
serve you, I will support legislation that will:
- Promote preventive medicine and healthy life styles
- Provide universal access to healthcare for all Georgia's
children
- Provide prescription drugs at lower prices for Georgians,
especially our elderly.
- Encourage greater participation from the non-profit and faith-based
community to assist in the healthcare needs of Georgians through
education and outreach.
Economic
Development
I am committed to economic development in Georgia and District 122.
In Georgia, we have a high unemployment rate. Recent announcements
of the closing of local plants and continued budget deficits in
the city of Augusta could spell disaster for our community. As a
state it is imperative that we improve our economic development
efforts. It's time to get Georgia moving again!
Our state needs a bold strategy to recruit new businesses, ensure
success for our existing employers, and help new local small business
get off the ground. If allowed to serve you in the legislature,
my efforts will be focused on improving our state's competitiveness
by supporting legislation that will:
- Improve education so we can have workers with the skills
needed for the jobs of today and tomorrow
- Increase the minimum wage in this state
- Allow health care purchasing pools for small businesses to
lower heath insurance costs
- Promote recruitment of companies from the Life Sciences Industry
to Georgia and District 122
- Promote economic growth and quality commercial development
in District 122 in blighted and underutilized areas
- Improve relationships between local institutions of higher
learning, the private business community, and government officials
to promote the creation of small business
- Provide tax incentives to prospective companies only if research
and development is performed in the state.
Better Representation
Our communities are our foundation. We must work together in order
to create a better Georgia and a Better District 122. I am committed
to working with the local elected officials, citizens, and business
community by:
- Working to facilitate community participation in the decision
making process through regular scheduled district town hall
meetings to get input on legislative ideas
- Working to communicate with constituents on a regular basis,
through a community website and e-newsletter.
- Create a leadership program to train and encourage our youth
to get involved in the political process.
Ensuring Public
Safety
Public safety is a primary concern of the citizens of the 122nd
District. I will propose legislation that protects Georgians from
Domestic Violence and improve Child Protection laws. We must keep
families, women, and especially children safer in the days ahead.
Defending Your Right to Vote
Voting rights are under attack in Georgia. We need a State Representative
who will fight to protect your most basic right as a Georgian and
an American citizen - your right to vote. Our right to vote is the
cornerstone of American democracy. Every Georgian has the constitutionally
guaranteed right to vote. No one should be able to take that away.
But too often that's exactly what is happening: those who have the
right to vote are being turned away or threatened at the polls.
That's just not right, which is why I stand firmly against the recent
misguided voter identification legislation that disenfranchises
over 200,000 Georgian voters by insisting on restrictive rules at
the polls.
I also fully endorse the renewal of the Federal Voting Rights
Act, which I believe is critical to Georgia's democratic process.
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