GEORGIA-2014- SEE NOTE PLEASE
AN UNBIASED, NON PARTISAN LISTING APPEARS AT FAMILY SECURITY MATTERS: http://www.familysecuritymatters.org/publications/detail/georgia-2014-candidates-for-congress-where-they-stand
This is my list which includes the ratings of incumbents and candidates with their rating by the ARAB AMERICAN INSTITUTE (AAI)….which indicates their votes on the Arab/Israel issues. Please note the majority of the Republicans have a very strong pro-Israel position.
Filing Deadline (Major Parties): March 7, 2014 Filing is complete
State Primary: May 20, 2014
To see the actual voting records of all incumbents on other issues such as Foreign Policy, Second Amendment Issues, Homeland Security, and other issues as well as their rankings by special interest groups please use the links followed by two stars (**).
Senator Johnny Isakson (R) Next Election in 2016.
Senator Saxby Chambliss (R ) is retiring in 2014
Vying for his seat:
Phil Gingrey M.D. (R) –Challenger Currently serves as U.S.Congressman District 11 http://gingrey.house.gov/
http://www.ontheissues.org/GA/Phil_Gingrey.htm **
Rated -5 by AAI, indicating a anti-Arab anti-Palestine voting record. (May 2012)
HOT BUTTON ISSUES
HEALTHCARE
President Obama’s takeover of America’s health care system has been a disaster from day one. Hard-working men and women here in the state of Georgia have seen their existing plans canceled and face premium rates increases as high as 198 percent. As a doctor and as an individual who has taken the Hippocratic oath, this is unacceptable. It is time for Republicans in Washington to stop talking about how they want to repeal and defund Obamacare, and stand up and lead the fight to do it. I intend to do just that.
IMMIGRATION
Illegal immigration is threatening the very fabric of our nation. Liberal politicians on both sides of the aisle fail to grasp just how prevalent this problem is and its ultimate cost to our society. We must start by securing our borders and denying anyone who comes to our country illegally amnesty. I also believe we must insist that immigrants learn to speak English so we can continue to work together using our English language.
ENERGY
Achieving energy independence is paramount to restoring economic prosperity and ensuring national security. We must remove the regulatory handcuffs on energy producers, allow states more control of their resources, and fast-track drilling permits. An “all-of-the-above” energy approach to developing traditional and emerging energy sources will help create jobs and lower prices at the pump. Unlike Obama, who favors taxpayer-funded disasters like Solyndra to privately-funded projects like the Keystone XL Pipeline, I don’t believe the government should pick winners and losers.
Paul Broun M.D. (R) –Challenger
http://www.ontheissues.org/GA/Paul_Broun.htm **
Rated -2 by AAI, indicating a anti-Arab anti-Palestine voting record. (May 2012)
HOT BUTTON ISSUES
HEALTHCARE
Dr. Broun voted against the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) and for repeal.
|
Dr. Broun’s Patient OPTION Act Endorsed by FreedomWorks FreedomWorks calls it ‘best conservative healthcare reform package yet released’ Washington, Feb 27 | U.S. Congressman Paul Broun, M.D. (GA-10) today released the following statement announcing FreedomWorks’ endorsement of his solution to repeal and replace Obamacare, H.R. 2900, the Patient OPTION Act. “Before Obamacare was ever passed into law, I introduced the Patient OPTION Act to address many of the fundamental failures of our healthcare financing system,” said Dr. Paul Broun. “In just 77 pages, my Patient OPTION Act puts forward simple, common-sense solutions that would make health insurance cheaper for everyone, provide access to quality care, and save Medicare from going broke. The Patient OPTION Act would allow you to keep your doctor, your insurance, your choice. I urge my colleagues to bring this bill to the House floor for a vote so we can take one step closer towards repealing Obamacare and putting in place free-market, patient-centered care.” ENERGY Broun Applauds Movement of Keystone Pipeline Bill Broun, original cosponsor of Keystone legislation, says Committee passage is big step forward Washington, Apr 18, 2013 U.S. Congressman Paul Broun, M.D. (GA-10), an original cosponsor of H.R. 3, the Northern Route Approval Act, today released the following statement after the House Energy and Commerce Committee voted to advance the legislation. Broun said, “As an original cosponsor of this bill, I am encouraged by the big step forward that the Energy and Commerce Committee made today after they voted to give H.R. 3 the green light. This legislation would allow us to immediately start building the much-needed and long-awaited Keystone Pipeline – creating thousands of new jobs and moving our country closer to energy independence. “I urge our leadership to bring H.R. 3 to the House floor for a vote as soon as possible, so that we can get construction underway and put Americans back to work.” Congressman Broun was one of the original cosponsors to H.R. 3, which was introduced by Rep. Lee Terry (R-NE) on March 15, 2013. |
Art Gardner (R) Challenger http://www.gardnersenate.com/
HOT BUTTON ISSUES
IMMIGRATION
As with much of our legal system, we must focus on enforcing our current laws before creating new ones. This means securing our borders first, and then transitioning illegal immigrants into becoming taxpayers, not just benefit recipients. Only those illegal immigrants who serve 5 years in the American military and receive an honorable discharge should be eligible to become citizens.
HEALTHCARE
Obamacare was a dreadful attempt at improving health care in America, and it was forced upon Americans by a straight party-line vote (not through bi-partisanship!) and the President lied to Americans about its impact. As many have found out, it has raised costs and eliminated choice. I support efforts to overturn Obamacare and work together to find a better, bi-partisan health care solution.
Jack Kingston (R ) Challenger Currently serves as U.S. Congressman District 1
http://www.jackkingston.org/conservative-values-ad/
http://www.ontheissues.org/ga/jack_kingston.htm **
Rated -2 by AAI, indicating an anti-Arab anti-Palestine voting record. (May 2012)
HOT BUTTON ISSUES
HEALTHCARE
In speaking about Obamacare before it was signed into law, Nancy Pelosi famously said “we have to pass the bill so that you can find out what’s in it.”
Four years later, we’re finding out just what is in Obamacare: higher costs, less choices, and more bureaucrats between a patient and her doctor.
I have fought to repeal this misguided law and replace it with reforms that reduce cost and increase access to care without expanding the size of government.
– See more at: http://www.jackkingston.org/obamacare/#sthash.4R3dokoL.dpuf
NATIONAL SECURITY AND VETERANS
As long as our friends and neighbors are in harm’s way and especially in the light of the recent terrorist attack in Boston, defense and national security must remain a top priority. This means taking care of our troops in the battlefield and at home and making sure they are equipped well enough to never meet a fair fight.
As a member of the Defense Appropriations Committee which allocates military spending, I have fought to ensure that our troops never meet a fair fight. We need to ensure that those who serve this country have the strongest tanks, most powerful missiles, fastest airplanes, and best training so they come home safe.
Once our troops are home, we must ensure they can successfully transition to civilian life. That is why I was a leading supporter of the Post-9/11 GI Bill which strengthened the program that provides education assistance for our troops and their families. I have also worked to provide the Department of Veterans Affairs the resources it needs to clear it backlog and to hold it accountable for the unacceptable delay in providing our veterans timely assistance.
– See more at: http://www.jackkingston.org/national-security/#sthash.hF71BNYW.dpuf
ENERGY
Strong support for Keystone XL Pipeline without limiting regulatory amendments
Derrick Grayson (R) –Challengerhttp://www.grayson2014.com/
Karen Handel (R) – Challengerhttp://www.karenhandel.com/principles?splash=1
David Perdue (R) Challenger https://perduesenate.com/
Gerald Beckum (D) –Challenger https://www.facebook.com/pages/Gerald-Beckum-for-Senate/426714144118332
Mario Driver (D) – Challenger http://mariodriver.org/
Steen Miles (D) Challenger http://www.steenmilesussenate.com/
Michelle Nunn (D) Challenger- Daughter of former U.S. Senator Sam Nunn (D)
Todd Robinson (D) Challenger- http://www.todd4ussenate.org/
Randy Asman (R) No campaign website
U.S. CONGRESS
District 1
Jack Kingston (R) Incumbent Is a Candidate for US Senate in 2014.
Vying for this seat:
Darwin Carter (R ) Challenger
Buddy Carter (R ) Challenger
http://www.buddycarterforcongress.com/
Bob Johnson M.D (R) –Challenger
http://www.bobjohnsonforcongress.com/home/
HOT BUTTON ISSUES
HEALTHCARE
America does not need health care reform. We have the best hospitals, doctors and nurses in the world! We need health care financing reform. As a physician who has practiced medicine around the world and in every conceivable setting in the US, I can tell you that ObamaCare is a horribly destructive law that not only drives up the cost of health care, but almost ensures that about 5-7% of Americans will never be able to afford health care. Those folks are the hard working Americans who make a bit too much to get on Medicaid, but not enough to pay for the enormous premiums required under ObamaCare.
We need to free up the medical marketplace for innovation and competition. These are the forces that dropped the price of cell phones from $800 in 1993 to $200 for the very best phones available in 2013. These same conditions work in every other enterprise in America and they will work in health care as well and without the heavy handed interference of a remote and out of touch Federal bureaucracy.
Other important steps include: 1) meaningful tort reform. The GAO has estimated that defensive medicine costs taxpayers between 50-80 billion dollars each year; 2) allowing physicians and other health care providers to deduct the expense of providing free care to financially struggling patients on their Federal income tax, just like any other charitable donation; 3) allowing health care consumers to buy insurance products that meet their needs, not products that are a one-size-fits-all government mandated product. Would anyone buy shoes that were designed by government bureaucrats?
IMMIGRATION
The immigration bill currently being considered in the U.S. Senate is not a conservative solution to the problem of millions of undocumented, illegal immigrants living in America and the hundreds crossing our borders illegally every day. A true conservative solution must put securing our borders first, stopping the flow of incoming illegal immigration and then only after the borders are secured should Congress consider what to do with those illegal immigrants here already. The people of Georgia’s First Congressional District and I do not trust the politicians currently in office to fix this problem. Unfortunately these politicians continue to make things worse. I urge our elected officials to follow the conservative course and support conservative immigration reform such as the amendment being offered by Senator Ted Cruz that will allow states to require identification proving American citizenship before allowing people to register to vote. Like Senator Cruz, I support protecting our borders and protecting our Constitutional rights.
Georgia’s First District is an agriculturally rich district, and we recognize that agricultural workers are not the problem A Federal Government that cannot execute its primary responsibility- securing the borders and controlling immigration- is the problem. We need and welcome agricultural workers. But the Federal government has never developed an adequate mechanism for guest workers to be registered. They should NOT have a path to citizenship, but rather temporary visas to work in our country. The current bill is a wrongheaded echo of a similar bill from the 80′s, wherein a onetime offer of amnesty was supposed to fix this problem forever. But here we are, back in the same old rut.
As an international consultant who trained federal agents from Texas and California on emergency response, I learned about the other threat created by open borders — Islamic terrorism. America’s unsecured borders allow Islamic terrorists unfettered access into our nation. Our current open border policy, made possible by Washington politicians, is not only an economic and social problem, it is also a security threat. The so called immigration reform bill being debated in Congress today only gives greater incentives for illegal border crossings without addressing the real problem first: unsecured borders.
Jeff Chapman (R) Challengerhttp://www.chapmanforcongress.com/
HOT BUTTON ISSUE
HEALTHCARE
Giving Americans access to affordable, quality health care plans starts with repealing Obamacare. That’s a must. But, as a conservative, I don’t just want to go back to a pre-Obamacare health insurance system. I believe we owe it to the American people to put real solutions on the table.
Before Obamacare, insurance companies had too much power over your health care. Now, under Obamacare, government has control over your health care.
Here’s a novel idea: how about we put consumers in charge of their health care? Instead of a top-down system largely run by politicians, bureaucrats and big insurance companies, how about a bottom-up system in which people buy the types of plans best suited for themselves and their families?
True health care reform starts with the premise that consumers should be in control over their health care decision-making instead of third parties (big government and big companies). Any health care legislation I advocate or vote upon must start with this premise.
As a member of Congress, I will work toward conservative solutions that yield positive results by getting government and insurance companies out of the way and putting consumers in charge.
- Repeal Obamacare: Health care reform starts with repealing Obamacare. It’s that simple. Obamacare puts government politicians and bureaucrats in charge of our health care, interfering with personal decision-making and the patient-doctor relationship (not to mention killing jobs and adding tremendously to our national debt). Obamacare must be repealed.
John McCallum (R) Challenger http://johnmccallum.us/
HOT BUTTON ISSUES
HEALTHCARE
Obamacare is the latest in a series of empty promises that the federal government has made but simply cannot afford. Despite the President’s assurances, more people have lost their insurance than have signed up for coverage under the new law, and it is estimated that 20 million will remain uninsured ten years from now. Only in Washington can a program that costs twice as much as projected but covers only half as many people as promised be considered a “success.”
While working for Speaker Gingrich, John served on the research team that helped defeat Hillarycare in 1993, and he is committed to defeating Obamacare in 2015. It must be repealed and replaced with commonsense, market-based solutions that empower patients and providers, not government bureaucrats.
ECONOMY AND DEBT
Every child born in America today will inherit $1.5 million in national debt before they are placed in their mother’s arms for the very first time. The United States owes over $17 trillion in accumulated debt, in addition to over $86 trillion in unfunded entitlement liabilities. It is immoral and irresponsible to place this burden on the shoulders of our children and grandchildren.
During the Contract with America, John served as a budget, banking, and tax advisor to the Speaker of the House, and was part of the team that helped balance the federal budget through common sense tax, spending, and entitlement reforms. If elected, John will champion similar reforms, including a balanced budget amendment, and a fair or flat tax.
Earl Martin M.D.(R) – Challenger–
http://drmartinforcongress.com/
Amy Tavio (D) Challenger
Brian Reese (D) – Challenger
http://brianreese4congress.com/
Mark Smith (D) Challenger
http://www.marcforcongress.com/
He is running for Congress because he has served his Hometown as an educator. He taught in an alternative school for designated felons, not only to High School students but Middle School students as well.
He is running for Congress because he has served his Hometown as a Law Enforcement officer. He has served as a Housing Enforcement officer. He is also presently a School Resource officer serving at a K-8 school and an Elementary School.
He is running for Congress because he has served his country in the United States Navy and the United Naval Reserves at home and close to home.
District 2
Sanford Bishop (D) Incumbent
http://www.ontheissues.org/GA/Sanford_Bishop.htm **
Rated 0 by AAI, indicating a mixed Arab/Palestine voting record. (May 2012)
Rep. Sanford Bishop was one of 19 Democrats who voted for the Keystone XL Pipeline with the Holt Amendment that would require that all oil transported by the pipeline be used within the United States.
Voted for the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) and against repeal and defund.
Vivian Childs (R) Challenger
http://www.vivianchildsforcongress.com/
Greg Duke (R) Challenger
https://fundly.com/greg-duke-for-congress
District 3
Lynn Westmoreland (R ) Incumbent
http://www.lynnwestmoreland.org/
http://westmoreland.house.gov/
http://www.ontheissues.org/GA/Lynn_Westmoreland.htm **
Rated -7 by AAI, indicating a anti-Arab anti-Palestine voting record. (May 2012)
HOT BUTTON ISSUES
IMMIGRATION
A study by the Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR) in 2008 found illegal immigrants were costing the state of Georgia an estimated $1.6 billion dollars per year – a number which most likely increased to about $2.4 billion for 2010 based on population increases. Education costs alone for these individuals are approximately $1.3 billion and health care and medical emergency costs have reached over $275 million. At a time when our states and our federal government are struggling to make ends meet, we simply cannot afford the additional costs illegal immigrants place on our system.
Therefore, on the illegal front, it is extremely important that we put measures in place now to prevent more illegal aliens from entering our borders. Our nation must remain secure in order to prevent threats of terrorist violence, importation of drugs, and the wasting of your tax dollars on those who refuse to abide by our laws. That means increasing the number of Customs and Border Protection officers and border security personnel. Equipment and assets must be enhanced and border surveillance technology updated. In addition, we must enact legislation like E-Verify that requires business owners to also comply with our immigration laws. If we can create an atmosphere that does not allow illegal immigrants to thrive while breaking our laws, they will be less likely to try and come here.
ENERGY
We also need to look at new ways to secure traditional forms of energy from our allies rather than relying so heavily on unstable and unfriendly countries in the Middle East. TransCanada estimates the Keystone Pipline would have brought 700,000 barrels of oil each day from Canada, our largest trading partner in the world. Plus, according to the U.S. State Department, construction of the pipeline would have created 5,000 to 6,000 jobs. Unfortunately, President Obama blocked the project. Now Canada is in discussions with China to sell the oil to them. Blocking projects like this is not the way to bring down rising energy prices.
This all-of-the-above approach must also include non-traditional forms of energy as well. I am a big proponent of increasing our production of nuclear energy. It is a clean, emission-free source of energy. A nuclear reactor has not been built in this country in 30 years, however nuclear energy still makes up about 20 percent of our energy consumption. This will not be the case for long though. This year, it was announced the United States would build its first nuclear reactor in more than 30 years in our home state of Georgia at Plant Vogtle. Georgia is honored to be the home of the first nuclear reactor built in the United States in more than 30 years with the construction of Plant Voghtle. We look forward to leading the way to more nuclear energy plants like this one in the future.
HEALTHCARE
In 2010, I joined a majority of Americans in strongly opposing the passage of H.R. 3200, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, commonly referred to as ObamaCare. This trillion dollar government takeover of 1/6 of our economy, our health care system, was a dramatic overreach of congressional authority that created more unfunded mandates and bureaucratic red tape than any single piece of legislation I have seen in my lifetime. It has been vehemently opposed by the American people since it was first proposed by President Obama and congressional Democrats in 2009 and it sparked the Tea Party revolution that saw Democrats suffer huge losses across the country on Election Night 2010.
During the 112th Congress, I have worked tirelessly to repeal this harmful law and replace it with real health care reforms that will lower health care costs, while maintaining scientific innovation and without putting government bureaucrats between patients and their doctors.
DEFENSE AND NATIONAL SECURITY
I am a strong supporter of the PATRIOT ACT and feel that we must do everything we can to intercept terrorist communications to the United States from overseas. I opposed President Obama when he decided to transfer Khalid Sheik Mohammed and the other 9/11 terrorists from Guantanamo to the US for trial in civilian court, and feel that enemy combatants should be tried in a military tribunal which is better suited to ensure a just trial.
I also understand the importance of maintaining a well-trained and well-supplied military. The brave men and women of our armed forces put their lives on the line each day to protect our freedom. I am honored to represent a portion of Fort Benning. The work done there is vital to our national defense, and with discussion of cuts to military spending and with the possibility of another round of Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) I will fight to make sure that Fort Benning is protected.
Chip Flanegan (R) – Challenger
HOT BUTTON ISSUE
HEALTHCARE
Defund, Repeal, & Replace Government-run Health Care
Defund, repeal and replace the recently passed government-run health care with a system that actually makes health care and insurance more affordable by enabling a competitive, open, and transparent free-market health care and health insurance system that isn’t restricted by state boundaries.
District 4
Hank Johnson (D) Incumbent
http://www.hankforcongress.com/
http://www.ontheissues.org/GA/Hank_Johnson.htm **
No AAI rating
HOT BUTTON ISSUES
HEALTHCARE
- As Southeast Regional Whip, helped lead passage of President Obama’s historic health care reform legislation.
- As Chairman of the Competition Policy Subcommittee, coauthoried provisions of the health care reform legislation in the House of Representatives that removed the insurance industry’s immunity to anti-trust regulation.
- Aggressively defended Georgia’s critical PeachCare children’s healthcare program.
ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENT
- America should invest heavily in becoming the world’s leading producer of clean, efficient, renewable energy.
- Coal is not a clean solution to our energy crisis. Biofuels, especially corn ethanol, divert precious agricultural produce away from food production, causing the price of staples like rice, corn, and soy to skyrocket. Natural gas could be an acceptable bridge to an era in which clean renewables like solar, wind, and hydro are dominant. This must be the ultimate goal.
- The EPA needs additional resources and a Congressional mandate to aggressively defend the environment, which is a public good, and it should engage in regulation of carbon dioxide emissions.
- Congress should aggressively tighten efficiency standards, especially fuel standards for automobiles, and implement legislation to dramatically cut pollution.
- Never compromise my commitment to the defense of non-renewable resources, healthy ecosystems, wildlife, clean air and water, and pristine national parks.
- Make energy independence a central cause of my service.
- Demand stringent environmental regulation of industry by the EPA, no matter who is the president.
- Continue to introduce legislation that aims to reduce our overall negative environmental impact, in broad strokes and bit by bit.
NATIONAL SECURITY AND FOREIGN POLICY
- From my post on the Armed Services Committee, work toward our self-extrication from the senseless war in Iraq.
- Support continued investment in the world’s finest military to address the challenges of upcoming decades.
- Push for the closure of our detainment facility at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.
- Vote for committing the United States to the global fight against famine and disease.
Thomas Brown (D ) Challenger
http://tombrownforcongress.com/
District 5
John Lewis (D ) Incumbent
http://www.ontheissues.org/ga/john_lewis.htm **
http://www.johnlewisforcongress.com/
Rated +2 by AAI, indicating pro-Arab pro-Palestine voting record. (May 2012)
NO CHALLENGERS
District 6
Tom Price (R ) Incumbent
http://www.ontheissues.org/GA/Tom_Price.htm **
Rated -4 by AAI, indicating an anti-Arab anti-Palestine voting record. (May 2012)
HOT BUTTON ISSUES
HEALTHCARE
Price Health Care Bill Saves $2.34 Trillion
Independent Estimate of Patient-Centered Health Care Reform Shows Lower Costs for American People
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Tom Price, M.D. (GA-06) announced today that an independent review of H.R. 2300, the Empowering Patients First Act, estimates the legislation would save $2.34 trillion while reducing health care premium increases. The estimate was produced by former Congressional Budget Office Director Douglas Holtz-Eakin.
“The status quo in America’s health care system is unacceptable. Today, because of Obamacare, it is only getting worse,” said Congressman Price. “The American people are looking for positive solutions to the challenges in our health care system, and they do not want to put Washington in charge of their personal health care decisions. This analysis confirms that the Empowering Patients First Act would have a tremendously positive impact on our nation’s health care system. It is a testament to the reform proposal’s validity and seriousness, and it confirms that patient-centered solutions can yield savings, reduce costs, and increase access.”
“Under Obamacare, the American people are losing the health care coverage they have while experiencing higher premiums and less access to physicians and hospitals. This is occurring because the president’s health care law violates every principle of health care we hold dear: affordability, accessibility, choices, innovation, quality and responsiveness. The impetus for an alternative approach to health care reform is obvious, and we ought to be pursuing solutions that empower patients, families and their physicians, not Washington.”
ENERGY
President’s Continued Delay on Keystone XL Pipeline Decision is Unacceptable
Washington, D.C.– House Republican Policy Committee Chairman Tom Price, M.D. (R-GA) issued the following statement as the American people await President Obama’s decision on the Keystone XL pipeline. In accordance with legislation signed by the president at the end of last year, he is required to make a decision within 60 days to approve the pipeline or explain why the project is not in the nation’s interest.
“Thanks to the efforts of a bipartisan majority in Congress, President Obama must finally make a decision regarding the long-delayed Keystone XL pipeline,” said Chairman Price. “The Obama Administration last year politically said they would delay a decision until after the presidential election. This is entirely unacceptable and provided yet another example of this White House putting politics ahead of responsible policy. This project has bipartisan support in Congress and is a wonderful opportunity to create jobs and improve energy security here at home. President Obama must not delay this decision any further. We call on him to do what is best for our economy and energy security and approve the construction of the Keystone XL pipeline.”
– See more at: http://tomprice.house.gov/press-release/president%E2%80%99s-continued-delay-keystone-xl-pipeline-decision-unacceptable#sthash.QjsrJFBt.dpuf
Bob Montigel (D) Challenger
http://www.montigelforcongress.com/
District 7
Rob Woodall (R) Incumbent
http://www.ontheissues.org/GA/Rob_Woodall.htm **
Rated -3 by AAI, indicating a anti-Arab anti-Palestine voting record. (May 2012)
HOT BUTTON ISSUES
HEALTHCARE
Health care is one of the most important issues facing American families and our nation’s federal budget. Whether you are concerned about control over your health care choices, maintaining the primacy of the doctor-patient relationship, Medicare Part D benefit changes, reimbursement payments for physicians, federal requirements for Medicaid and ERISA-controlled plans, TRICARE benefits for veterans, or pharmaceutical development regulations—to name only a few important areas—the interference of the federal government in the health care sector has grown to a destructive level and continues to spiral out-of-control.
Our first order of business as a Republican-led House of Representatives was to repeal President Barack Obama’s Affordable Care Act. We must replace it with targeted health care reforms that will produce real cost savings for American families without masking the true cost of reform to the federal government. Clearly, more federal control of health care is not the answer.
ENERGY
The fact is the United States is one of the most blessed countries in the world when it comes to its abundant natural resources. We are the Saudi Arabia of coal. In fact, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, the United States has 267 billion tons of economically recoverable coal—currently the most reported in any country. To give some perspective: 267 billion tons of coal is the rough equivalent to 550 million barrels of oil. Saudi Arabia reserves are currently running at approximately 260 billion barrels of oil.
Despite containing record amounts of natural gas—both onshore and offshore—of any developed nation, the United States continues to import 60 percent of its oil from the Middle East. With myriad untapped resources here at home, it is absolutely unnecessary to maintain such strong dependence on other countries. In order to reflect the energy wealth and stability that our land currently holds, we must develop our national energy portfolio.
“WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Rob Woodall (R-GA) issued the following statement on the President’s failure to approve the Keystone XL Pipeline Project:
“Today, the President rejected an opportunity to create close to 118,000 jobs. He rejected an opportunity to take a giant step toward North American energy independence. Republicans have passed bill after bill to achieve energy independence and create American jobs, but so far, Senate Democrats have refused to act and this President has done nothing to help. With this truly ‘shovel-ready’ project sitting on his desk—a project that will bring jobs and energy security to this nation—the President squashes it, claiming that three years has not been enough time for him to decide. Instead of working with one of our closest and most trusted allies, Canada, President Obama has again chosen to put politics above the national interest. The millions of American citizens he has hurt with this decision will make a decision of their own next November. The President has clearly forgotten whom he serves as he does the bidding of radical environmental lobbyists rather than serving Americans seeking jobs and lower energy costs.
IMMIGRATION
We are a nation of immigrants, and we should all be proud of that. Immigration created this country and has been a key to our nation’s strength. I am a strong supporter of legal immigration and will continue to be. But in addition to being a nation of immigrants, we are a nation of laws. Illegal immigration has no place in our great land. Candidly, many Americans have been complicit in tolerating and even encouraging illegal immigration. The employers who employ them, the customers who purchase their services, the politicians who extend to them benefits, the judges who declare their children to be citizens, and the American presidents who have refused to enforce the laws of this land are all contributors to the problem. This must stop, and the laws are already on the books to stop it. Congress has provided the money to stop it. America simply needs a President who will use that money to enforce those laws.
Thomas Wight (D ) Challenger
District 8
Austin Scott (R ) Incumbent
http://www.ontheissues.org/GA/Austin_Scott.htm **
http://austinscott.house.gov/#dialog
Rated -3 by AAI, indicating a anti-Arab anti-Palestine voting record. (May 2012)
HOT BUTTON ISSUES
FOREIGN POLICY
ISRAEL-As your Representative of Congress, a top priority of mine will always be ensuring the safety and security of our great nation. Central to this belief is the recognition that the national security of the United States is directly tied to the strength and security of the State of Israel.
My commitment to the security of Israel has been unwavering. In recent months, we have witnessed a succession of mass protests and turmoil in many Middle East nations. This regional upheaval clearly underscores the importance of Israel as the preeminent, stable democracy in the Middle East and America’s strongest democratic ally in the region.
Therefore, I believe that ensuring Israel’s continued qualitative military edge in the region and completing the U.S.-Israel 10-year Memorandum of Understanding for military assistance remains a key American national security priority. Israel currently faces threats from escalating instability in Egypt, Hezbollah rockets in Lebanon, Hamas terrorists in Gaza and the existential danger posed by Iran’s nuclear program. U.S. security assistance to Israel, including supporting Israel’s acquisition of the Iron Dome rocket defense system, has never been more important for our own national security interests.
UNITED NATIONS
The United States currently provides more funding to the UN than any other country. Corruption runs rampant in the organization and many countries fail to pay their dues. I believe that cooperation with other nations to promote peace and democracy remains important. However, I strongly believe that we should act in our own best interest and not be subject to foreign authority, especially one with as many problems as the UN. While we should strive for bilateral agreements, we should always do what is best for our country first. The United States needs to retain military dominance in order to defend freedom and liberty on our soil and around the world.
The UN continually fails to confront terrorism as well as true enemies to democracy and world stability. As your Representative, I pledge to support the United States’ prestige on the global scale and will do my best to not allow other countries to undermine us.
HEALTHCARE
A majority of Georgians opposed a government takeover of our health care system and the billions in new spending and taxes required to pay for it. Despite overwhelming opposition to the entire process, President Obama and the Democrats in the last Congress ignored the will of the people and pushed through a bill giving the government control of one-sixth of our economy. I was disappointed that the Supreme Court could not, in the Court’s opinion, find just cause to overturn the law.
This new law forces job-killing mandates on our state, gives bureaucrats in Washington control of health care decisions, undermines pro-life protections in place for 30 years, and creates a new entitlement program that threatens Medicare funding.
Our health care system needs to be improved, but this is not the solution. The American people deserve common sense, market-based reforms that lower costs, increase access to more affordable care, and give citizens more control over their health care decisions. I co-sponsored and voted for H.R. 2 to repeal the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. I have also voted for a number of other bills that help bring true reform to our broken healthcare system.
ENERGY
It is crucial that we reduce our dependence on foreign oil. Our national security and economy both depend on a new national energy policy that does not include sending billions of dollars a year to foreign countries. We must develop an energy supply that is reliable, protected, and affordable.
To achieve this we must explore all of our options. There is not a single solution to our nation’s energy requirements. That is why I believe in an energy policy that includes increased domestic oil exploration, increased refining capacity within the United States and increased production of domestic oil, natural gas and clean coal. We must also free private industry to research and develop promising new energy resources and technologies.
Supports Keystone XL Pipeline without any limiting amendments.
NO CHALLENGERS
District 9
Doug Collins (R ) Incumbent
http://www.ontheissues.org/GA/Doug_Collins.htm **
https://dougcollins.house.gov/#dialog
No rating by AAI
HOT BUTTON ISSUES
ENERGY
We must stop depending on foreign dictators for our energy resources. To do so, America needs an all-encompassing energy policy that will drive down costs and increase competition. Because of this I strongly support domestic drilling, which will expand our own energy production and reduce out of control gas prices.
Rep. Collins signed Letter from the U.S.House of Representatives to Pres. Obama
Dear Mr. President,
We are writing to request that you end your opposition to the Keystone XL pipeline by allowing its long-delayed approval process to be finalized.
When you intervened in January of last year to stop the nearly completed approval process, you emphasized the potential negative environmental impact of the pipeline’s proposed route in Nebraska. These concerns have now been addressed. Nebraska Governor Dave Heineman once opposed the pipeline’s route on environmental grounds. However, on January 22, 2013, Gov. Heineman sent you a letter officially informing you of his approval of the new proposed pipeline route.
If approved, the positive impact on our economy would be felt almost immediately. Keystone XL would create an estimated 20,000 new jobs directly, and 200,000 indirectly. Keystone XL would also advance our national security, by providing secure access to petroleum from Canada.
HEALTHCARE
Our country was built on the foundation of a free-market economic structure, but President Obama’s health care legislation is killing the ability for us to continue that deep history. Until we can bolster enough votes to repeal Obamacare in its entirety, the House of Representatives must do what it can to defund smaller portions of this destructive bill.
Our health care system needs major reform, not more government control. We must move toward a more patient-based system, focused around consumer choice and free market competition.
IMMIGRATION
We have one of the most generous legal immigration systems in the world. As we address the problem of illegal immigration, we must enforce the laws already in place. We must make border security our first priority, and we must not reward those who break the laws Georgians sent me to Congress to uphold.
During the 113th Congress, this legislative priority will be front and center the House Judiciary Committee of which I serve. I look forward to developing smart policy that makes sense for our nation.
Bernie Fontaine (R) Challenger
Retired Brigadier General
http://www.fontaine4congress.com/
David Vogel (D) Challenger
Biography: I was raised in Grapes of Wrath country – the part of California that was settled in the 1930’s by immigrants from Arkansas, Texas, and Oklahoma. They came west after losing their farms to the banks during the Dust Bowl. My mother migrated from Minnesota at the same time. She quit school and got married when she was 15. It was the start of the Great Depression, but she believed in education and struggled to see her children through college. Then, at age 76, she took the G.E.D. and started college, herself, finally receiving a master’s degree at 88. And by the way, she published an authorized biography of Buck Owens at 92.
Thanks to the support of my parents, I received a Ph.D. in Biophysics from the U. of Iowa in 1971. I started out on what might have been a career in basic medical research, but during a fellowship at Johns Hopkins Medical School, I developed an interest in what is wrong with math education in the United States. It only took two more years in college to get the certificate I needed to teach in public schools.
15 years of public school teaching taught me two things. First, I did know something about teaching math and science. And second, a public school teacher is not in a position to influence public school teaching. So, I took a job at a small private college where I was to start a brand new program for educating science teachers. Unfortunately, the college went bankrupt two years later.
District 10
Rep. Paul Broun M.D. (R) Is running for U.S. Senate in 2014
Vying for his seat:
Mike Collins (R ) Challenger
HOT BUTTON ISSUES
FOREIGN POLICY AND DEFENSE
Israel
Israel is our nation’s strongest ally in the Middle East. Not only are they are a strong partner in innovation and military strength, but we also share the threat of a nuclear-armed Iran. We must remain committed to Israel and their right to defend themselves, not merely in rhetoric, but committed in purpose and action. I will work to strengthen the ties between our nation and Israel.
National Defense
The world has become a dangerous place, and we must maintain a strong national defense. I will follow the leadership philosophy of Ronald Reagan on national defense. Our Military must have the resources it needs to maintain a strong and prepared stance. I will also follow my father’s leadership style when he was in Congress; that the Military will once again have what they need to defend us.
Gary Gerrard (R) – Challenger
http://www.gerrardforcongress.com/
Jody Hice (R) – Challenger
http://jodyhiceforcongress.com/issues
HOT BUTTON ISSUES
HEALTHCARE
President Obama is on record as advocating a universal, single-payer, socialized medicine system. But as a shrewd politician, he knew that could not pass, so he and the Democrats in Congress contrived to pass a measure that puts us on the road to their ultimate goal of a socialist America. Obamacare is not about reforming healthcare or insurance coverage. It’s about government intruding into and controlling more and more of our lives. My friends, we are losing our liberty in what should be one of the most private areas of life. We need to repeal Obamacare.
IMMIGRATION
President Obama and the Democrats on Capitol Hill are getting ready to propose immigration reform, but they really intend to grant amnesty to millions of illegal aliens. I’m absolutely opposed to amnesty. Of course, I know that my stand will bring charges of racism or being anti-Hispanic, but that’s nonsense as my wife is of Hispanic heritage. In fact, her great, great, great grandfather was the first president of Argentina. Today, we have an estimated 12 to 20 million illegal aliens living in the United States.
They have violated our borders. Violated our laws. Their presence drives up the cost of the education, health care, police and judicial services, and social services. It’s an enormous burden on the American taxpayer. We must not reward illegal behavior with amnesty. Given that Barack Obama is president and the Democrats have so large majorities in the House and the Senate and some Republicans were also on the wrong side of this issue. The battle will be difficult. But I want to go to Washington as your representative and fight for the future of our nation.
Brian Slowinski (R) Tea Party Activist Challenger
HOT BUTTON ISSUES
Restore a Moral Compass to Washington D.C.
•Pass a Balanced Budget Amendment
•Repeal and/or Defund Obamacare on the Federal Level and Nullify Obamacare on the State Level
•Reduce the Size, Scope and Spending of our Federal Government, Stop the Deficit Spending
•Always Defending Life and the Second Amendment
•Leading the Fight for the Bill of Rights and the United States Constitution which limits the Federal Government
•Securing Our Nations Borders and encourage Ellis Island Legal Immigration
•Supports Energy Independence, Eliminating Foreign Dependency on Energy, and Develop Domestic Resources
•Supports Defending Property Rights and Preserving Economic Liberty
•Protecting Traditional Marriage
•Cut and Reduce Congress, Federal Administrative Agencies and their Regulations
•Supports Peace thru Strength with a Military ‘Second to None’
•Stop the Entitlement Mentality, teach self-sufficiency
•Stop Unfair Trade Agreements, let American Businesses compete fairly on the world stage
•Stop Manipulating the U.S. Dollar and Audit the FED
•Send Home the “Washington Mentality” Big Government Incumbents
S.Mitchell Swan (R) Challenger
HOT BUTTON ISSUES
ENERGY
Two words: Keystone Pipeline.
Two more words: EPA Overreach
Our land is rich in resources. And our people have the ingenuity to harvest these resources and burn them with ever-efficient technology–including coal.
The success of natural gas fracking in the Marcellus of Pennsylvania is an excellent example of what happens when American capability meets free enterprise. Those businesspeople and engineers have extracted, literally, tons of energy while maintaining good stewardship of the land—all without an EPA babysitter haranguing them with crippling regulations.
It’s more than a little bit disingenuous for our “leaders” to herald the increases in domestic oil production—increases that are entirely due to private industries working on private land—while still enforcing onerous regulations and prohibitions on public lands.
IMMIGRATION
Amnesty would be a disaster for our nation. It is maddening that Republican “leadership” is even considering it.
Our “leaders” have been talking about illegal immigration for over 20 years, and this is their only idea?
At the same time, farmers and cattlemen tell me they want to hire legal workers. Studies show that “self-deportation” doesn’t work. And we don’t have the resources to enact mass deportation.
I’m suggesting a new idea. You can read about it in the STAR Plan.
Bill 1 of my STAR Plan would result in
1) $12 billion for federal enforcement and border security and
2) Nearly $1.2 billion for the state of Georgia alone — all financed by the immigrants themselves,
3) Illegal immigrants fund their own American dream—10 million people of Christian, western heritage who are willing to work hard and persevere as Americans.
HEALTHCARE
Obamacare
Repeal and replace.
Repeal and replace.
Repeal and replace.
This is the top order of business on swearing-in day. Replacement legislation will either be signed or the veto on it will be over-ridden. We have to believe this and we have to fight for it.
And then our battle has just begun. There are even greater calamities directly ahead of us.
Ken Dious (D ) Challenger http://www.diousforcongress.com/
HOT BUTTON ISSUES
HEALTHCARE
Affordable Healthcare Act
To defray rising healthcare costs as our population ages, the United States needs a National Healthcare Plan. I believe every American should have access to affordable and quality healthcare. At some point in time, this country will have to adopt a national healthcare plan that covers all uninsured Americans. If this is not done, we will continue to see an astronomical rise in healthcare costs that this country can ill afford.
IMMIGRATION
I support the current immigration bill. There is no way we can deport 10-12 million undocumented people living in this country when many of them are hard contributing workers. However, I do believe that undocumented citizens should be given the opportunity to pay taxes and become citizens to even the playing field with their fellow Georgians.
District 11
Rep.Phil Gingrey, M.D. (R) Is running for Senate
Vying for his seat:
Bob Barr (R) – Challengerhttp://barrcongress.com
HOT BUTTON ISSUES
HEALTHCARE
I support the goal of Georgians for Healthcare Freedom in proposing a resolution to the state Constitution so as to provide for the protection of the citizens of Georgia from overreach of the federal government beyond the bounds of the enumerated powers granted by the United States Constitution; to provide that no regulation shall compel any person or health care provider to participate in any healthcare system and to authorize persons and employers to pay directly for healthcare services without penalties or fines.
ObamaCare is a direct threat to families, small business job creators, and all hard working taxpayers. As your Member of Congress, I will support this effort to allow the people of Georgia to decide – this is too important, the stakes too high, and the people have the right to determine their liberty.
IMMIGRATION
Legal immigration has provided our nation since its inception with talent and diversity, and has strengthened America’s commitment to freedom and free enterprise. Bob Barr is proud to support and welcome responsible legal immigrants to the United States. However, Bob also supports the rule of law; and we have an absolute responsibility as a sovereign country to take those steps necessary to ensure immigration occurs lawfully – that is, persons seeking to enter our country must do so only at lawful ports of entry, and subject themselves to procedures to ensure they do not have a criminal record or other national security impairment, and that they not have a communicable disease.
Thus, the first priority in any consideration of immigration policy is to secure the border. This is a matter of national security, and is a responsibility of the federal government under our Constitution – power rooted, for example in Article I, Section 8 and Article 4, Sections 3 and 4. Pursuant to such authority, we have laws on the books that set forth the procedures whereby immigrants may become citizens; this is the “pathway to citizenship,” and Bob sees no reason to establish another, alternative “pathway” for persons who have entered or remain in this country unlawfully, regardless of how long they have been in that status.
ENERGY
In Congress I will work to:
- Remove bureaucratic and legal obstacles to responsible oil and natural gas development in the United States and offshore;
- End the ban on oil shale development in the American West, where we have three times the amount of oil as Saudi Arabia;
- Change federal law in order to allow drilling for oil and natural gas in the Alaskan National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR);
- Give coastal states federal royalty revenue sharing to give these states an incentive to allow offshore development of energy sources;
- Reduce frivolous lawsuits by environmental groups that hold up energy production, by enacting loser-pays laws in such cases;
- Streamline regulatory protocols and implement a favorable tax structure for building a new generation of safe nuclear reactors;
- Significantly scale back and streamline the EPA, which has developed into a job-killing regulatory monster of higher energy prices.
FOREIGN POLICY
IRAN-Supporting regime change in Iran is in the national security interest of the United States. The current leadership in Iran poses one of the greatest threats to peace in the world today. The United States must actively oppose the development of military nuclear capability by Iran; even as we support development of a truly democratically elected government in Iran.
I support a multi-pronged effort regarding Iran. Therefore, in Congress, I will support these efforts:
- Degrade the ability of Iran to operate in the world financial markets, through my work on the House Financial Services Committee;
- Draw on my prior service in the Central Intelligence Agency to provide the necessary authority and funding to allow our intelligence agencies to gather information, utilizing both human and technical assets;
- Support diplomatic efforts to both establish lines of communications and help foster a more stable environment for pro-democracy opposition forces in Iran; and,
- Make certain our armed forces are funded adequately, so they have the necessary tools and resources to accomplish any mission assigned to them.
ISRAEL–I am committed to Israel’s defense as a sovereign, independent, Jewish state. Israel has earned the trust and respect of the people of Georgia and the United States, and as your Member of Congress I will again support the special relationship between the U.S. and Israel, and will seek to ensure its strength and foster its growth.
Such support is both morally justified and in the interests of the United States. Israel’s strength is a force for stability in the Middle East, and serves as a base for the deployment of U.S. forces for the protection of America’s military and economic interests; it also enhances the collection of intelligence for the protection of the U.S. from terrorist attacks.
The United States could not ask for a better friend and ally than we have in Israel. I am proud to stand with the people of Israel and support the sovereign state of Israel.A long line of U.S. Presidents have supported legislation to locate the Embassy of the United States of America in Jerusalem. I was honored to be an original co-sponsor of H.R.1595, the “Jerusalem Embassy Relocation Implementation Act of 1995,” when I served previously in the Congress, and when elected again, I will continue to support such legislation.
Allen Levene (R) Challenger
http://allanleveneforcongress.com/
Ed Lindsay (R ) Challenger
https://twitter.com/EdLindsey14
Barry Loudermilk (R ) Challenger
http://www.barryloudermilk.com/
http://loudermilkforcongress.com/issues/
Larry Mrozinski (R ) Challenger
HOT BUTTON ISSUES
ENERGY
Promote Energy Independence
We must stop the mind-numbing executive orders that push every Americans energy bill ever higher. Congress must have the backbone to lift the Executive order that forbids off-shore oil drilling in the North East Atlantic. We know the problem and the problem is Leadership. We can respect the environment that we inherited and continue to pursue sound energy independence if we want it. There is no need to continue to be beholden to foreign dictators and countries that hate us, when we clearly have American resources ready to be unleashed. We must invest in new, modern refineries that are both efficient and capable of meeting America’s potential.
HEALTHCARE
Defund, Repeal, Replace ObamaCare
The monstrosity that is ObamaCare continues to be like an onion, the more layers we peel away, the more our eyes burn. The overreach by President Obama and Speaker Pelosi when they forced through ObamaCare in 2010 was unbelievable and unprecedented. The very people that stated we must pass the Affordable Care Act so we know what’s in it are the same Representatives who tell the American people we are stuck with it. The federal government has no business running its own healthcare enterprise. We need to get back to a healthcare system that focuses on free markets, real choices and above all, superior care. Ours was the best healthcare system in the world until ObamaCare started to see implementation. Our young people are in peril with this plan financially, and over the course of their lifetime, it is only likely to get worse. As hundreds of thousands of hard working Americans begin to lose their health coverage, we must look to defund, repeal and replace ObamaCare at every turn possible. As your congressman, I am committed to that.
IMMIGRATION
Secure Our Borders and Reform Immigration Process
If we do not gain control of our borders and drastically improve our physical security, then the rest of immigration reform is meaningless. I support completing the wall on the southern border, the same wall that was started by a previous Congress, but never completed as mandated by law. The immigration and visa process is also in dire need of reform, I want to see that fixed immediately. Too many people come here for purely legitimate reasons via the visa process, but then they stay longer than initially permitted until they are lost in the process and cannot be found. I am not opposed to welcoming new people to our wonderful country, but the system needs to be transparent, legitimate and effective. Right now, it is none of those things.
Tricia Pridemore (R) Challenger
http://pridemoreforcongress.com/
HOT BUTTON ISSUES
HEALTHCARE
REPEAL AND REPLACE OBAMACARE Tricia knows that ObamaCare is a job-killer. As a member of Congress, she will fight to replace and repeal ObamaCare with free-market reforms focused on empowering patients and doctors to make their own decisions. ObamaCare increases taxes on families and businesses by more than $500 billion and forces the United States to take on trillions more in debt. Instead of protecting the vital patient /physician relationship, ObamaCare injects federal bureaucrats into the process. ObamaCare cannot stand and we need members of Congress who are up for the fight. Tricia will fight not only to repeal ObamaCare, but will work to replace it with patient-centered reforms that provide access to high-quality, affordable health care costs for all Americans. – See more at: http://pridemoreforcongress.com/issues#sthash.ecH9ZbyJ.dpuf
ENERGY
Our country is sitting on the world’s largest fossil-fuel reserves. In Congress, Tricia will work for policies that encourage our energy producers to make America independent from hostile countries. This includes opening federal lands and the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) for safe development. The oil and gas reserves in the Gulf of Mexico, the Arctic Ocean, and federal public lands in the West and Alaska are a vast untapped source of economic growth. More exploration and production will substantially decrease our reliance on foreign oil, reduce gas prices, and create high-paying jobs that cannot be sent overseas. Tricia also supports the proven alternative energy source of nuclear power, which is clean, efficient, and dependable.
– See more at: http://pridemoreforcongress.com/issues#sthash.ecH9ZbyJ.dpuf
District 12
John Barrow (D ) Incumbent
http://www.barrowforcongress.com/
http://www.ontheissues.org/GA/John_Barrow.htm **
Rated -2 by AAI, indicating a anti-Arab anti-Palestine voting record. (May 2012)
HOT BUTTON ISSUES
HEALTHCARE
Barrow Cosponsors the “Keep Your Health Plan Act”
Nov 12, 2013
WASHINGTON – U.S. Congressman John Barrow (GA-12) cosponsored a bill that will be voted on in the House of Representatives this week, the “Keep Your Health Plan Act,” introduced by Republican Congressman Fred Upton (MI-6), Chairman of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce (E&C). Congressman Barrow is also a member of the E&C Committee.
Citing Website Problems, Barrow Calls for Delay of the Individual Mandate
Oct 23, 2013
WASHINGTON – U.S. Congressman John Barrow (GA-12) today called for a delay of the requirement for individuals to purchase health coverage as required by the Affordable Care Act. Since the enrollment website was launched on October 1, 2013, users have faced numerous technical difficulties. Earlier this year, the Administration provided a one year delay of the employer mandate in the law. Congressman Barrow called for the same delay for individuals in his floor speech.
Op-Ed: Repeal employer mandate for good
Jul 22, 2013
Travel around the country, and you’ll hear the same thing I hear from folks all over the 12th District of Georgia: We want employers to hire more workers and grow their businesses, but they face an uncertain future because of regulations coming down from Washington. One of the biggest barriers keeping businesses, large and small, from creating the jobs we need is the employer mandate in “Obamacare.”
Barrow: Delay of Mandates Should Be Step Toward Repeal
Jul 18, 2013
WASHINGTON – U.S. Congressman John Barrow (GA-12) today supported an effort to delay, for one year, the employer and individual mandates in the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Congressman Barrow has been a leader of efforts to repeal both provisions within the law, most recently as the lead co-sponsor of bipartisan legislation with Reps. Charles Boustany (R-La.) and Pat Tiberi (R-Ohio) to fully repeal the employer mandate.
ENERGY
More on Energy
Barrow Legislation Expedites Keystone XL Pipeline
May 22, 2013
WASHINGTON – U.S. Congressman John Barrow (GA-12) spoke on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives in support of H.R. 3, the Northern Route Approval Act, bipartisan legislation he co-sponsored with Congressman Lee Terry (R-Neb.) to expedite approval of the Keystone XL Pipeline. The legislation passed in the House by a vote of 241-175.
Rep. Barrow was one of 19 Democrats to vote for the Keystone XL Pipeline and the Holt Amendment that would require that all oil transported by the pipeline be used within the United States.
Rick W. Allen (R) – Challenger
Delvis Dutton (R) Challenger
John Stone (R) Challenger
http://www.johnstoneforcongress.com/
HOT BUTTON ISSUES
HEALTHCARE
Obamacare has been a disaster for the American People. Yet John Barrow has continued to stand with Nancy Pelosi and Barack Obama by voting against its repeal 27 times. Obamacare cannot be repaired; it must be repealed and stopped entirely. Employees and employers across our district are already seeing skyrocketing premium notices due to this horrible law. Employers nationwide are being forced to slash employee and retiree health benefits. I will introduce an alternative TRUE CONSERVATIVE health care reform bill when I am elected.
IMMIGRATION
The United States must secure our borders. This is necessary to protect national security as well as jobs for Americans. We need to secure our workplace to end the jobs-magnet for illegal immigration. We need the states to certify that this has been done, NOT the federal government which has a decades-long track record of unreliability on this issue.
When those two goals are certified and met by the states, THEN we can deal with those already here illegally. That solution should not involve the straw-man argument that those opposed to amnesty intend to immediately round-up and deport 11 million people, but it also cannot include amnesty that makes a mockery of our Rule of Law. We must begin a vigorous enforcement of existing law; with common-sense approaches we can turn around the nightmare of illegal immigration.
JOBS, ENERGY AND REGULATIONS
The best thing the federal government can do to stimulate the economy is get out of the way of the private sector. American exceptionalism is being smothered by an avalanche of red-tape and regulations. I will fight to remove burdensome restrictions on businesses to allow the private sector to flourish and create jobs.
In our district, I will fight for infrastructure improvements that fall within the scope of constitutional federal powers. I will revive the I-14 and I-81 Interstate projects that would create vital transportation routes for commerce and national defense. I will fight the Obama administrations ridiculous opposition to new nuclear reactors that threatens the energy independence of our district and nation. I will protect our military bases and work to secure new missions for our bases that are critical to national defense.
Diane Vann (R) Challenger
Eugene Yu (R) Challenger
HOT BUTTON ISSUES
HEALTHCARE
It is now clear to anyone not wearing partisan blinders that Obamacare is a train wreck. In the months leading up to its implementation, the effects were felt as people lost insurance coverage they liked. Employees were cut from full time to part time to avoid Obamacare penalties. Spouses were forced into separate plans, and insurance rates have skyrocketed for those lucky enough to keep their plans.
Now that the exchanges are open, further problems have been revealed. Rates for insurance are far higher than in years past, in some instances up to 400% more than last year. The websites themselves, which the Obama administration had 3 ½ years to perfect, are a disaster. The entire episode has been a debacle.
Obamacare is a symptom of Washington’s broken politics. It was passed without input from Republicans, and by abusing the rules of Congress. The American people have made it clear they don’t like this legislation. We must repeal Obamacare, and replace it with common sense health care reforms that get government out of the relationship between a doctor and a patient.
DEFENDING OUR CONSTITUTION
We are so fortunate in this country to have had brave, intelligent, and forward thinking leaders during our revolution and fight for independence. Our founding fathers left us a constitutional republic, and we have become the greatest nation in the world because of it.
However, today our Constitution is under attack. President Obama and his allies use any tragedy to attack our 2nd Amendment Right to keep and bear arms. They are trying to define journalism in an effort to roll back the 1st Amendment. The President also claims extra Constitutional powers to apply certain aspects of laws while ignoring others. He has made recess appointments when Congress wasn’t in recess. And he has allowed the NSA to spy on Americans, trampling our 4th Amendment rights while collecting data on our cell phone and email usage. These attacks must be resisted. It’s time to return to our founder’s original intent.
We must all work together and repel these efforts by the left to attack the Bill of Rights. The 1st Amendment protects citizen journalists on the internet as surely as it does a reporter for the New York Times. Our 2nd Amendment right to bear arms is our greatest protection against government tyranny, and is therefore a perpetual target of the leftists and their big government allies. And while our security apparatus must be kept strong to protect us against terrorists, the current NSA program clearly goes too far and violates the rights of American citizens.
District 13
David Scott (D) Incumbent
http://www.davidscottforcongress.com/
http://www.ontheissues.org/GA/David_Scott.htm **
Rated -1 by AAI, indicating a mixed Arab/Palestine voting record. (May 2012)
Supports Affordable Care Act (Obamacare)
Opposed KeystoneXL Pipeline without limiting environmental amendments.
Michael Owens (D) –Challenger
http://www.owensforcongress.com/michael_s_plan_for_progress
http://www.owensforcongress.com/
District 14
Tom Graves (R ) Incumbent
http://www.ontheissues.org/GA/Tom_Graves.htm **
Rated -1 by AAI, indicating a mixed Arab/Palestine voting record. (May 2012)
HOT BUTTON ISSUES
ENERGY
Rep. Graves Votes To Bypass Obama, Build Keystone Pipeline
Washington, May 22, 2013 –
Today,U.S. Rep. Tom Graves (R-GA-14) voted for, and the House passed, the Northern Route Approval Act (H.R. 3), which would bypass President Obama’s 1,700 day delay of the Keystone XL pipeline by removing the need for the Presidential Permit. The legislation also limits the judicial review process, satisfies all National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) requirements, and streamlines the review and approval for all other necessary federal permits.
“This commonsense legislation allows the American people to bypass the Obama Administration’s politics and finally build the Keystone pipeline,” said Rep. Graves. “I’m proud to support this bill because it would create thousands of good paying jobs, provide access to affordable energy and move North America toward energy independence. In this sluggish economy and with jobs still hard to come by, building the pipeline shouldn’t be a matter of debate.”
HEALTHCARE
Rep. Tom Graves leading the GOP charge against Obamacare
In many ways, the tough spot that Washington finds itself in this weekend is because of Rep. Tom Graves (R-Ga.). It was Graves who came up with a plan to defund the new health-care law, known as Obamacare, as part of a short-term spending bill. The idea quickly drew the support of dozens of colleagues, forcing House leaders to adopt the plan as part of a bill that passed the House, but was rejected by the Senate on Friday.
The 43-year-old lawmaker epitomizes the modern-day House Republican in style and substance. On the strength of a very conservative voting record in the Georgia legislature and an up-from-the-bootstraps life story (he grew up “in a single-wide trailer on a tar and gravel road,” according to his official biography), he won his congressional seat in a special election in July 2010. That got him to Washington just a few months before the tea party wave swept over the country, giving Republicans control of the House.
Ken Herron (R ) Challenger
http://www.herronforcongress.com/
HOT BUTTON ISSUES
FOREIGN AID
We send billions of dollars to nations all over the world and get nothing in return. In fact many of the nations who take our foreign aid are enemies of our country and oppose us on many things that we try to do. In many cases the money is stolen by the politicians in the country and never accomplish the things we intend for it to accomplish. As far as possible we should stop sending money as aid and begin to ship products that are needed in those countries. These would be products that are made in America or food that is grown in America and would create jobs in our country. If the country grows or manufactures products that are used in America, we could purchase their products to get dollars into their economy.
IMMIGRATION
Stop Illegal Immigration
The solution to the Illegal Immigrant problem starts with securing the southern border. We have military bases in many foreign countries that can be closed. We should bring back a significant force and place them at the border to stop the illegal crossing. This will not significantly increase the cost of our military because these are soldiers that are already being paid. We need to stop subversives from entering our country in addition to those illegally crossing the border to seek work.
Once we have stopped the illegal crossing, there are many illegals that are not working and can be sent home. Others need to be issued work permits and allowed to stay on a temporary permit basis. All of them should have a registration so that we know their current address. None of them should be given a new path to citizenship. The anchor baby practice should be stopped. To be born a citizen of the United States a baby must be born to citizens of the USA.
We cannot be a heartless nation in handling this problem. Many illegal young people were brought into the country as children and their entire life has been in our country. Provisions must be made to handle these cases on an individual basis and give them temporary permits to complete their education and apply for citizenship on an orderly basis.
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