Democratic Party of Georgia

Help Move Georgia Forward

DPG Chair DuBose Porter’s Statement on GOP Debate in California

Release:  Thursday, September 17, 2015                                                                                        

 

DPG Chair DuBose Porter’s Statement on GOP Debate in California

 

 

Atlanta, GA – Democratic Party of Georgia Chair DuBose Porter released the following statement on last night’s Republican presidential debate.

 

“Republicans have held two debates—four if you count the C-list—and Georgians are still waiting to hear what exactly the GOP will do to strengthen and grow the middle class.

 

“I’ve been in politics for a while now, and I’ve heard a lot of crazy things come from the Republican Party. But what has the GOP come to when they have three hours to lay out a substantive vision for our country and instead choose to attack women, brag about who could most quickly send our kids to war, take away healthcare and villainize the Hispanic community?

 

“Next year, voters will have a clear choice for their Commander-in-Chief. And I am confident that Georgia will embrace our Democratic nominee—someone who fights for workers, fights to lift Georgians out of poverty and into the middle class, fights for pay equity, and fights to level the playing field.”

 

 

###

DPG Chair Statement on GOP Debate

 

Release:  Thursday, August 6, 2015                                                                                                

 

DPG Chair Statement on GOP Debate

 

Atlanta, GA – Democratic Party of Georgia Chair DuBose Porter issued the following statement in response to tonight’s GOP debate in Ohio.

 

“It’s astonishing that seventeen candidates on two separate stages speaking for three hours can still result in the same failed ideas we’ve heard from the GOP for decades. If any one of these folks were elected president, our economy and middle class would suffer—and possibly crumble—under top-down economics, voucher-style benefit programs, an unregulated financial system, and a health care system where you can be penalized or go bankrupt just because you got sick.

 

“No matter who emerges from the Democratic primary, our Party will build on the successes of the Obama administration and continue to grow the middle class and fight for those aspiring to join it.”

 

###

Georgia Democrats Celebrate 50 Years of Medicare

Release:  Thursday, July 30, 2015  

                                                                           

Democratic Party of Georgia Celebrates 50 Years of Medicare 

 

Atlanta, GA – Today, Democratic Party of Georgia Chair DuBose Porter issued the following statement on the 50th anniversary of Medicare.

 

“Fifty years ago today, President Lyndon Johnson signed Medicare into law, giving peace of mind to millions of retired Americans. As a result, people could finally enjoy their golden years without fear of losing their savings and pensions because of medical costs.

 

“If Republican leaders had their way, Medicare as we know it would be obliterated. A safe and secure retirement would be a distant memory. Every year—like clockwork—Republicans push to turn Medicare in to a voucher program, placing insurance companies on the honor system and leaving seniors with nothing more than a coupon.

 

“And here in Georgia, Nathan Deal and his party’s leaders refuse federal funds—our own tax dollars—to expand Medicaid and give hundreds of thousands of Georgians access to the preventative services and health care they deserve. Republicans are turning a blind eye to our struggling rural hospitals. The solution of Medicaid expansion is right there for the taking, but rural health systems remain in critical condition because of political games.

 

“As a community, we have a moral obligation to protect those who are most vulnerable and fulfill a promise made to American workers who contributed to our nation’s economy for decades. Medicare has been a success for 50 years and we must do everything possible to preserve and protect this essential safety net.”

 

 

###

 

 

 

Background

 

DNC – Checking in with GOP 2016ers on the 50th Anniversary to Medicare and Medicaid

 

For the past 50 years, Medicare and Medicaid have lifted countless Americans out of poverty and given millions of seniors and families the peace of mind that comes with affordable health coverage. The Affordable Care Act built on this legacy by strengthening the Medicare trust fund, keeping it solvent until 2030.

If we want Medicare and Medicaid to be around for another 50 years, we need to protect these programs from GOP presidential candidates who want to destroy them. Here’s where they stand:

  • Jeb Bush said he wanted to “phase out” the Medicare program.
  • Chris Christie supported the Ryan Budget which would turn Medicare into a voucher system, a move that would have cost seniors an average of $6,000 in extra out-of-pocket costs every year.
  • Marco Rubio endorsed a voucher system, called for raising the retirement age, and said that earned benefit programs that provide Americans with financial security have “weakened us as a people.”
  • Ted Cruz supports the Ryan plan that would turn Medicare into a voucher system.
  • Scott Walker refused to expand Medicaid, a decision that could cost his state $400 million and result in84,700 fewer Wisconsinites being covered.
  • Rand Paul proposed raising the retirement age for Medicare coverage and means-testing the program.
  • Rick Perry said that the Ryan plan for Medicare was “a good idea.”

 

DPG Statement on Marriage Equality

Release:  Friday, June 26, 2015                                                                                     

 

Democratic Party of Georgia Statement on Marriage Equality

 

 

Atlanta, GA – Democratic Party of Georgia Chair DuBose Porter issued the following statement today on the Supreme Court’s decision that effectively struck down Georgia’s ban on marriage equality.

 

“Today is a huge victory not only for advocates of marriage equality, but advocates of basic civil rights. This decision is the culmination of decades’ worth of battles fought to ensure that all families and the love they share are protected and treated equally under the law.

 

“While we have plenty of reason to celebrate, we still have work to do in Georgia. Until we have employment non-discrimination legislation on the books, LGBT workers can be fired just for being who they are. Our cities and counties have led the way on this issue, but the state remains on the wrong side of history. Love should never be a fireable offense, and I encourage state leaders to work together to forge a more equal and just Georgia.”

 

###

DPG Statement on Affordable Care Act Decision

Release:  Thursday, June 25, 2015                                                                                      

 

Democratic Party of Georgia Statement on Affordable Care Act Decision

 

 

Atlanta, GA – DPG Chair DuBose Porter issued the following statement today on the Supreme Court’s decision to uphold health care subsidies as constitutional.

 

“Today brought a great victory for President Obama and his administration. But it also brought a greater victory for Americans insured under the ACA. The reason why millions of families now have health insurance is because of the subsidies that have finally made access to health care affordable.

 

“Yet, to this day, Nathan Deal continues to play politics with the issue, denying health care to hundreds of thousands of Georgians who fall through the coverage gap. The same governor who says that we can’t afford to expand Medicaid turns a blind eye to a $74 million tax bill owed by a company he sold—a transaction that pockets Deal $10,000 a month.

 

“People are sick and can’t get the health care they need, our rural hospitals are closing and other hospitals are hemorrhaging, and the fault of this lies at the feet of Nathan Deal.”

 

###

About Jeb’s announcement…

Jeb Bush just announced the official launch of his bid for the White House. Today, Democratic Party of Georgia Chair DuBose Porter issued the following statement outlining exactly why Jeb is wrong for Georgia.

 

“With the Obama Administration, we’ve made great strides as a nation. And we’ve come too far to undo that progress by even considering sending another Bush to the White House. Jeb Bush has a lengthy record of looking out for himself while leaving everyday Americans behind in the dust.

 

“To this day, Jeb Bush endorses policies that slash funding for early childhood education, temporary assistance for those in need, and Social Security and Medicaid.  To make matters worse, Jeb opposes policies that lift families up by raising the minimum wage, making college more affordable, and expanding access to quality affordable health care.

 

“Whoever emerges as our presidential nominee, Democrats are determined to build on the gains we’ve made and promote policies that grow our middle class.”

 

 

Also today, DNC Chair Rep. Debbie Wasserman-Schultz issued the following statement:

 

“Jeb Bush’s announcement later today that he’ll seek the Republican 2016 nomination is good news if you happen to be Jeb Bush or someone like him. Throughout his career, Jeb Bush has consistently put what is best for himself and those at the top above the priorities of working Americans.

 

“As governor of Florida, Jeb Bush slashed taxes by billions, largely benefitting the wealthy and corporations. Since leaving public office more than eight years ago, Bush has leveraged his family name to reap profits for himself, immersing himself in problematic corporate business deals and cashing in on Wall Street while Americans were hit by the financial crisis.

 

“We already know what to expect from a Bush Presidency, because we’ve seen it before. Jeb Bush supported his brother’s disastrous economic and foreign policies that made us weaker at home and abroad. He supported his brother’s plan to privatize Social Security and endorsed a budget that would end Medicare as we know it.

 

“But what makes the specter of a Jeb Bush presidency even more unpalatable is his belief in his own superiority and infallibility – in my 22 years in elected office I have never worked with someone who is as inflexible, uncompromising, and willing to do whatever it takes to get their way as Jeb Bush. These are not the qualities Americans need in their president if we are going to work together to get things done.

 

“On issue after issue, Jeb Bush’s indifference toward the concerns of the middle class, women, students, immigrants, seniors and the LGBT community shows he is as out of step with the American people as every other candidate in the Republican field.”

 

###

 

 

ICYMI

 

Seven Things You Need to Know About Jeb Bush

  1. As governor of Florida, Bush enacted a tax policy that gave massive breaks to the wealthyand corporations over middle class Floridians.
  2. Bush spent recent years cashing in on Wall Street and creating multi-million dollar funds in offshore tax havensas Americans were hit by the financial crisis.
  3. Bush fully supported his brother’s plan to privatize Social Securityand endorses a budget that would end Medicare as we know it.
  4. Bush wants to end the president’s executive action that keeps families together, and when asked about how to tackle undocumented immigrants, he simply said, “start deporting people.”
  1. Bush opposes a woman’s right to choose and cut funding for women’s health clinics, including Planned Parenthood.
  1. Jeb Bush believesthere is no constitutional right to same-sex marriage and said that “homosexuality is wrong” and compared LGBT Americans to drug dealers, bank robbers, pedophiles, and drunk drivers.
  2. Also, he’s an author.

 

 

Jeb Bush Once Cut Funding to His Campaign Launch Site

TIME // ZEKE MILLER

Jeb Bush is expected to trumpet his conservative credentials as the former governor of Florida Monday when he announces his presidential bid. But one casualty of his cost-conscious ways was the very school he selected to use as his announcement site.

 

A 2002 state constitutional amendment to limit class sizes in K-12 education, which Bush opposed, created a budget shortfall. The governor, who opposed new tax hikes, begrudgingly turned to colleges to fill the gap. Bush proposed cutting $111 million from the budgets of universities and community colleges, of which $10.3 million would have affected Miami Dade College, where Bush will launch his presidential bid.

 

College President Eduardo Padron emailed Bush when his budget was proposed, saying he was “disturbed and disappointed” by the proposed cuts. “We all understand the need for reductions in times of fiscal crisis; what’s beyond logical comprehension, however, are the huge inequities that are inherent in this budget proposal,” he wrote, arguing the college was bearing a disproportionate burden of cuts. “Our students are among the most needy in the state and cannot continue to bear the burden of the costs of education.”

 

Bush replied that he was working on a solution. “I know you are upset,” he said by email. “We are doing our best under difficult circumstances and will work with the legislature to identify ways that we can improve the situation.”

 

Bush ultimately signed a budget that cut $11 million from community colleges’ budgets, forcing them to turn away about 35,000 students looking to enroll, including 9,500 would-be Miami Dade College students.

 

By 2004, Bush was able to fully fund community colleges, earning plaudits from state educators.

 

 

Meet Jeb Bush

MeetJeb

 

DPG Chair Endorses Taylor Bennett for House District 80

Release:  Monday, June 15, 2015                                                                                         

 

Democratic Party of Georgia Chair Endorses Taylor Bennett for House District 80

 

 

Atlanta, GA – Today, Democratic Party of Georgia Chairman DuBose Porter released the following endorsement of Taylor Bennett in the special election for House District 80.

 

“As a small business owner, Taylor understands the importance of locally owned companies in a community, and the gravity of the roles those businesses play in the lives of that community’s families. He understands that for families to succeed, they first need opportunity and access to the resources that inevitably lead to success.”

 

“Middle class families in House District 80 need someone on their side—and that’s who they’ll get in Taylor Bennett. Taylor is a leader who will make the case for his constituents, and serve as an advocate for Georgia’s families under the Gold Dome—which is why I wholeheartedly endorse Taylor Bennett to be our next representative for HD 80.”

 

 

###

 

 

BACKGROUND

 

TaylorBennett.org – Taylor Bennett came to Georgia from St. Louis, Missouri to attend Georgia Institute of Technology and to play quarterback for the Yellow Jackets. He graduated from Georgia Tech in 2008 with a degree in International Affairs.

Following his graduation, Taylor attended Louisiana Tech University to pursue an MBA and complete his NCAA eligibility. After putting his master studies on hold to pursue a professional football career that took him from the EFL in Stockholm, Sweden to the NFL’s Detroit Lions, he completed his law degree at Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School. Taylor currently practices law, representing a diverse group of clients and focusing predominantly on labor and employment issues.

Taylor is running for State Representative because House District 80 deserves a strong voice at the Georgia Capitol that speaks for the citizens and not the politicians. A small business owner, he believes in a Georgia that is worker-friendly as well as business-friendly. Taylor will be a principled, accessible and hard-working representative under the Gold Dome.

Georgia Democrats Adopt Delegate Selection Plan for 2016 National Convention

Release:  Monday, June 1, 2015                                                                                           

 

Georgia Democrats Adopt Delegate Selection Plan for 2016 National Convention

 

 

Atlanta, GA – This past Thursday, the Executive Committee of the Democratic Party of Georgia adopted a delegate selection plan for the 2016 Democratic National Convention. The plan specifies policies and procedures for electing Georgia’s 120 delegates and alternates, who will attend the 2016 convention in Philadelphia.

 

The DNC has until September 15 to notify the DPG of any changes, but the general components of the plan are as follows:

 

Georgia is allocated 120 delegates, eight of whom will be alternates. 64 district level delegates will be elected within the delegates’ congressional district on April 16, 2016. There are no district level alternates. Thirteen Party Leaders and Elected Officials (or PLEOs) will be elected by the 64 district level delegates on May 14, 2016 at a central location in the state. On June 11, 2016, 21 at-large delegates and eight alternates will be elected by a quorum of the State Committee of the Democratic Party of Georgia. While these dates are set in the plan, until Georgia’s Secretary of State announces the date of the 2016 presidential primary, the dates are subject to change.

 

TYPE Delegates Alternates Date of Election
District Level 64 0 4-16-2016
Unpledged 14 0 N/A
PLEOs 13 0 5-14-2016
At-large / Alternates 21 8 6-11-2016
TOTAL 112 8  

 

 

The Affirmative Action Committee of the DPG will continue to implement a robust effort to ensure that all communities are represented in the Georgia delegation. It is the intent of the Democratic Party of Georgia to send a delegation to Philadelphia that reflects the diversity of our party and our state.

 

While the DPG’s delegate selection plan is under DNC review, the plan will remain online to ensure access and transparency throughout the process. Interested parties may view the plan at georgiademocrat.org/dnc2016.

 

“I could not be more proud of our Executive Committee and Affirmative Action Committee for all the work they have put in to this plan,” said Democratic Party of Georgia Chair DuBose Porter in a statement. “There is no doubt that Georgia is in play, and we will elect a Democratic president.”

 

###

Excerpts from Chairman Porter’s Press Call re: GOP Presidential Contenders

Today—as Georgia Republicans gather in Athens for their state convention—Democratic Party of Georgia Chair DuBose Porter held a press call to highlight the out-of-touch and extreme views held by visiting GOP presidential contenders. Here are a few excerpts of Chairman Porter’s remarks:

 

“This weekend, Georgia Republicans are holding their state convention in Athens. While their usual suspects—like Nathan Deal, Johnny Isakson, and David Perdue—will be on hand to share their out-of-touch vision for our state with the party faithful, the GA GOP has outsourced some primetime speaking spots to a few of their presidential hopefuls.”

 

“To anyone who’s paying attention, these introductions aren’t necessary. It’s like the clown car just rolled in to town. We know enough about these three men to know that Georgians cannot afford what they are offering.”

 

 

On Chris Christie

 

“While I’m sure he claimed to be a problem-solver who ‘gets things done,’ let me fill you in on a few missing pieces of his resume. Christie’s administration has driven New Jersey’s economy into the ditch by giving massive tax breaks to corporations and those at the top, while their middle class families have been left behind. Georgia’s own middle class has suffered long enough under Nathan Deal. The last thing hard-working Georgians need is the Christie model brought to the national level—skyrocketing taxes for seniors, lagging job growth, and rising unemployment.”

 

“And Georgia has had enough of Republican leadership mired in scandal. There are too many unanswered questions about Christie’s involvement in Bridgegate. If he can’t be trusted in his own home state, why on earth would we send Chris Christie to the White House?”

 

On Marco Rubio

 

“Rubio would like for everyone to view his candidacy as a fresh style of leadership, but in fact, he’s nothing more than a follower who would rather pander to the GOP base than do what’s right by Georgians.”

 

“A prime example of this kind of pandering happened just a few months ago, when Rubio joined Georgia Senators Johnny Isakson and David Perdue in undermining President Obama’s foreign policy by signing on to Tom Cotton’s reckless—and embarrassing—letter to Iranian leaders.”

 

“Georgia—and the rest of the nation—has too much at stake to elect a man who said the Paycheck Fairness Act was a ‘waste of time,’ said that Social Security and Medicare has ‘weakened us as a people,’ fought to block access to affordable health care, and has consistently dismissed the evident and imminent threat posed by manmade climate change.”

 

On Ted Cruz

 

“God help us all if this is the kind of leadership Georgia Republicans want to bring to the White House. Ted Cruz is a living, breathing embodiment of everything that is wrong with the GOP.”

 

“In 2013, Ted Cruz led efforts to shut down the federal government for 16 days. His recklessness cost our nation’s economy $24 billion.”

 

“Here at home, with Georgians already under hardship because of Nathan Deal’s failed economic policies, Ted Cruz’s cheap stunt cost our state $324 million.”

 

“Just look at his record in the Senate. Cruz has called for a flat tax that would benefit a few folks at the top, but place a huge burden on working Georgians who are already fighting to cover life’s most basic needs. Cruz wants to abolish the Department of Education and voted against efforts to help Americans refinance student loans at a lower rate. He’s referred to Social Security as a Ponzi scheme and even suggested that it’s cheaper to provide emergency care than expand Medicaid.”

 

“Ted’s ideology is out of the mainstream, and his policies pose a serious threat to Georgia’s middle class and those looking to work their way in to it.”

 

Summary

 

“Looking at this roster the Georgia GOP has brought in, it illustrates how out-of-touch their party has become. This isn’t the kind of leadership America needs, and it’s certainly not the kind of leadership Georgia needs. Folks here in Georgia and the rest of the county deserve leaders that will solve problems and maintain the public’s trust. But what the GOP is offering this weekend is a record of abuse of power, political opportunism, partisan stunts, and tone-deaf rhetoric that does nothing to solve the very real problems we face. In fact, the GOP IS the problem.”

 

“Georgians are paying attention to what is said and done during this GOP race to bottom primary. And by the time we reach next November’s election, our choice will be crystal clear. We can erase the progress of the last six years by adopting the failed policies of the Republican Party, or we can elect a Democrat and continue to move our country forward and strengthen our middle class.”

Why on Earth Are Republicans Proud of Climate Science Denial?

This Earth Day, two things are clear—manmade climate change is very real, and the GOP presidential hopefuls are in denial about it.

 

Here’s where the 2016ers stand on climate change science:

 

 

DPG Chairman DuBose Porter issued the following statement –

 

“Earth Day is an opportunity for us to look around and appreciate the natural beauty we’ve been blessed with. This day should remind us to do everything possible to protect our state’s precious natural resources.

 

“Unfortunately, climate change really does present an imminent threat to our planet. Yet, most Republicans would rather bury their heads in the sand than acknowledge facts. Ninety-seven percent of climate scientists agree that warming trends are likely manmade—these are the experts on the subject. But Republicans would rather maintain denial on the matter that, in my opinion, is only motivated by political expediency.

 

“President Obama said it best—‘We only get one planet.’ Well, we only get one Georgia. We can choose to protect our marshlands in the south, the mountains in the north, and the rivers and streams that join them throughout our state. We can also seek new ways to develop sustainable energy. Or we can continue with the GOP plan to poison and pollute our precious land and people without any regulation just for short-term profit’s sake.

 

“For Earth’s sake, let’s choose the path that protects the land we’ve been entrusted with.”

 

Johnny Isakson and David Perdue Playing Politics with National Security

Release:  Wednesday, March 11, 2015       

 

Johnny Isakson and David Perdue Playing Politics with National Security

 

 

Atlanta, GA – On Monday, Senators Johnny Isakson and David Perdue signed a letter to Iranian leaders, seeking to undermine President Obama’s foreign policy. US Secretary of State John Kerry has called the letter irresponsible, saying “This letter ignores more than two centuries of precedent in the conduct of American foreign policy.” The Republican stunt has also been called an “unprecedented breach in protocol” that “goes well beyond those limits and could very easily be seen as unconstitutional.”

 

Editorial boards across the nation have denounced the move by Republicans, and one of the letter’s signers, Senator John McCain of Arizona, is already backtracking, saying “Maybe that wasn’t the best way to do that…”

 

“This was a reckless move by both senators that could undermine years of negotiations with the Iranians,” said Democratic Party of Georgia Chair DuBose Porter in a statement. “It’s a pattern with Republicans, to undermine this administration at any cost. The letter is out of bounds, and basically nothing more than a cheap stunt that borders on treason. Johnny Isakson and David Perdue should join the growing number of Republicans that are distancing themselves from the extreme Ted Cruz fringe of their party and retract their support of this letter immediately.”

 

 

###

 

 

 

BACKGROUND

The Hill, 3-11-15 – McCain: GOP letter to Iran not ‘most effective’ response

Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), one of the signers of the controversial letter to Iran’s leadership, admitted Tuesday night that the letter might not have been the way to express frustration that President Obama isn’t working with Congress on nuclear negotiations with Tehran.

…“Maybe that wasn’t the best way to do that, but I think the Iranians should know that the Congress of the United States has to play a role in whether an agreement of this magnitude.”

 

Lawfare, 3-9-15 – The Error in the Senators’ Letter to the Leaders of Iran

The letter states that “the Senate must ratify [a treaty] by a two-thirds vote.”  But as the Senate’s own web page makes clear: “The Senate does not ratify treaties. Instead, the Senate takes up a resolution of ratification, by which the Senate formally gives its advice and consent, empowering the president to proceed with ratification”

 

Huffington Post, 3-11-15 – John Kerry Hammers GOP Senators’ ‘Irresponsible’ Letter To Iran

“My reaction to the letter was utter disbelief,” Kerry said when asked about it by Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.).

“You write to the leaders in the middle of a negotiation — particularly the leaders that they have criticized other people for even engaging with or writing to — to write then and suggest they were going to give a constitutional lesson, which by the way was absolutely incorrect, is quite stunning,” he went on.

 

Vox, 3-11-15 – The uproar over Sen. Tom Cotton’s letter to Iran, explained

This is an unprecedented breach in protocol — and maybe even the law. Constitutional law sets sharp, and important, limits on Congress’s involvement in foreign policy; unlike with legislation, the law defines the president as the “sole organ” in making foreign policy. Cotton’s letter, by interfering with Obama’s foreign policy, goes well beyond those limits and could very easily be seen as unconstitutional (much like Republicans’ recent invitation to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to speak to Congress against Obama’s Iran talks).

 

DNC, 3-11-15 – GOP’s Reckless Iran Letter Doesn’t Go Unnoticed

DPG Chair Issues Statement on Passage of SB 129

Release:  Thursday, March 5, 2015                                                                                     

 

Democratic Party of Georgia Chair Issues Statement on Passage of SB 129

 

 

Dublin, GA – Today, Democratic Party of Georgia Chair DuBose Porter issued the following statement in response to the passage of SB 129—a license to discriminate against certain Georgians disguised as religious liberty legislation.

 

“Today’s actions by Senate Republicans are truly disappointing. We are living in the year 2015 and so much progress has been made across the nation, yet a few politicians in Georgia want to turn back the clock on civil rights in the name of religious freedom. Religious beliefs and equal rights for all Georgians can exist in symmetry without government intrusion. This bill is unnecessary and I urge members of the State House to reject such a dangerous piece of legislation that will set Georgia back for decades.”

 

###

DPG Chair Issues Statement on SB 129

Release:  Friday, February 20, 2015          

                                                                                     

Democratic Party of Georgia Chair Issues Statement on SB 129

 

 

Atlanta, GA – Today, Democratic Party of Georgia Chair DuBose Porter issued the following statement in response to the Senate Judiciary Committee tabling SB 129, one of two alleged religious freedom bills.

 

“The Constitution—a 200 year old document that has withstood the test of time—is clear and provides the strongest protections guaranteeing all Americans religious freedom.

 

“It’s interesting that all these ‘strict constructionists’ and ‘small government’ Republicans love to create unfounded controversy to put more legislation on the books. These legislators have 40 days where they can come together and do things that have a positive impact on the lives of Georgians. And most folks I talk to are more concerned with different moral tenets that are shared by the major religions—being good stewards of the planet, feeding the hungry, and providing health care for the sick.

 

“Hopefully, this move by the Senate Judiciary Committee is the death knell for legislation that is essentially a license to discriminate. Georgia Democrats are fine by adhering to the Great Commandment—love thy neighbor.”

 

###

DPG Chair Issues Statement on President Obama’s State of the Union Address

Release:  Tuesday, January 20, 2015                     

 

Democratic Party of Georgia Chair Issues Statement on President Obama’s State of the Union Address

  

Dublin, GA – Today, Democratic Party of Georgia Chair DuBose Porter issued the following statement regarding President Obama’s State of the Union Address.

 

“Tonight’s address served as an excellent reminder as to why President Obama was twice chosen by the American people to lead this great country. From day one, his administration has put forth policies that grow the middle class, shrink deficits, fight poverty, and expand opportunity for all Americans. And in his own words, ‘the verdict is clear.’ These policies have worked.

 

“The GOP has been rooting for President Obama’s failure ever since he took office. And Republicans have been dead-wrong about this administration from the get go. We were told that if President Obama were reelected, unemployment would skyrocket. Yet, the national unemployment rate is at its lowest in six years. We were told the economy would worsen, yet 2014 was the best year for job growth since 1999 and the country has added 11.2 million jobs over the last 58 straight months. We were told we would see gas priced at $6.60 per gallon, yet the average price today is $2.14.

 

“While Gov. Nathan Deal’s proposed budget robs 11,500 Georgia school workers of much needed health insurance, President Obama has expanded access to health care to millions of Americans and has now called for an extension of sick leave and family leave for families, reducing the hardship that can be caused by a sick child or a newborn.

 

“For our state’s sake, I pray that Nathan Deal and Georgia’s Republican leaders were listening to America’s President. Georgia Democrats support the President’s accomplishments and agenda. Middle class economics work, expanding opportunity works, and we are all better off when everyone has a fair shot.”

 

###

DPG Chair Issues Statement Commemorating Martin Luther King Jr. Day

Democratic Party of Georgia Chair Issues Statement Commemorating Martin Luther King Jr. Day

 

 

Atlanta, GA – Today, Democratic Party of Georgia Chair DuBose Porter issued the following statement in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

 

“Today, we celebrate a legacy that shaped a more fair and just country. Dr. King fought not only for the equality and dignity of humanity, but also against poverty and economic inequality. This is a fight that continues for too many families right here in Georgia, the cradle of the civil rights movement.

 

“Dr. King believed in the rights of workers, the ‘right of every employable citizen to a decent job,’ and an equal standard of living. Days before his death, Dr. King told a rally of AFSCME workers ‘Now our struggle is for genuine equality, which means economic equality.’ He believed that class divisions were just as lethal to society as racial divisions.

 

“Whether we march, visit the Center for Civil and Human Rights, or quietly reflect at home, let’s use this day to reawaken that spirit within us that will settle for nothing less than a country which protects and upholds the civil rights of all its citizens, removes barriers from the ballot box, builds an economy that leaves no man, woman, or child behind, and believes that peace is always the answer.”

 

 

###

Release: DPG Chair Releases Statement on Anniversary of Shelby v. Holder Decision

Release:  Wednesday, June 25, 2014                                                                                               

 

Democratic Party of Georgia Chair Releases Statement on Anniversary of Shelby v. Holder Decision

 

 

Atlanta, GA – Democratic Party of Georgia Chair DuBose Porter released the following statement in recognition of the one year anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Shelby v. Holder. The decision struck down a central portion of the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

 

“Discrimination at the ballot box is very real and Congress must act immediately to fully restore the Voting Rights Act.

 

“By design, Election Day is a chance to be reminded that all men and women are created equal—it does not matter if you are rich or poor, black or white or brown, gay or straight, Ivy League-educated or an eighth grade dropout.

 

“The face of our state is rapidly changing and Republicans can see the writing on the wall. That’s why the GOP has sought to disenfranchise the elderly and people of color any given opportunity. And as they begin to lose more and more elections, they will continue to change the rules of the game.

 

“Voting is the building block of representative government—which has made America great for generations. And the concerted efforts by Republicans over the last several years to restrict access to the ballot is targeted at likely Democratic voters—seniors, those in rural areas, and people of color. And regardless of what Nathan Deal or Republican officials say, Georgia has a long history of disenfranchising these specific voting blocs.

 

“A vote for Democrats is a vote for better schools. A vote for Democrats is a vote for clean air and water. A vote for Democrats is a vote for expanded access to quality health care for all. These are the issues that Democrats stand for, voters know this, and the Republican Party cannot stand it. The best way for them to censor Democratic values is to prevent those who uphold those values from voting in the first place.

 

“The Democratic Party of Georgia will continue to work with our leaders and elected officials at the state and national level to enhance the franchise for access to the polls.”

 

###

 

Release: DPG Chair Responds to News of Multi-Million Dollar Settlements in Ethics Lawsuits Involving Nathan Deal

Release:  Friday, June 13, 2014      

 

Democratic Party of Georgia Chair Responds to News of Multi-Million Dollar Settlements in Ethics Lawsuits Involving Nathan Deal

 

 

Atlanta, GA – Democratic Party of Georgia Chair DuBose Porter released the following statement in response to news that the State of Georgia will settle the two remaining civil lawsuits against its ethics commission. In May, the state agreed to pay former ethics commission head Stacey Kalberman $1.3 million. Reports say the second and third settlements will total $1.8 million—moving the final amount to more than $3 million. All three lawsuits are related to an investigation into Gov. Nathan Deal’s 2010 campaign.

 

“What I really have to say is not fit for print. It must be nice to not have to pay for your own ethics violations—but after decades of living off of taxpayer money, why wouldn’t Nathan Deal expect us to pay for this too?

 

“It’s reprehensible that hospitals are closing, students are being cheated out of the education they deserve, our state agencies have been stripped of funding to the point that we can’t protect children in danger, yet our governor can find enough money in our state budget to sweep his election-year headaches under the rug.

 

“Apparently an aversion to embarrassing ethics trials and a win-at-all-costs mindset are enough to burden taxpayers with the consequences of Nathan Deal’s own unethical behavior. But avoiding accountability as a campaign strategy is just flat out wrong. Voters won’t—and should not—forget this.”

 

 

 

###

 

BACKGROUND

 

AJC 6/13/14 – State settles all remaining ethics commission cases

DPG 5/28/14 – Deal Finally Admits His Office Advised Ethics Commission on Replacing the Executive Director

WABE 5/22/14 – Campaign 2014: A Conversation with Republican Governor Nathan Deal

DPG via WSB – Nathan Deal Suggests New Restrictions for Good Government Whistleblowers

 

 

Georgia Democratic Leaders Mark 60th Anniversary of Brown v. Board of Education Decision

Release:  Saturday, May 7, 2014     

                                                                                     

Georgia Democratic Leaders Celebrate 60th Anniversary of Brown v. Board of Education Decision

 

Atlanta, GA – Today, leaders of the Democratic Party of Georgia released the following statements in honor of the 60th anniversary of the Brown v. Board of Education Supreme Court decision, which prohibited racial segregation in our nation’s schools.

 

“Today, we are reminded that America is a nation discontent with the notion of oppression,” said Chairman DuBose Porter. “Often, the journey to equality is excruciatingly slow and seemingly unending. And our work in the fight for equality and tolerance is certainly unfinished. But this decision—which abandoned hatred and discrimination in favor of justice—demonstrates our nation’s desire to become a more perfect union.”

 

“It has been 60 years since the Brown v. Board of Education decision. The decisions pave the way for voting rights, and through the courage of many, a generation of children became the leaders of our pursuit of justice,” said Democratic House Minority Leader Stacey Abrams. “Though we are far from a full integrated educational system, this anniversary remains a lodestar for those committed to advocate for and fight against prejudice and injustice wherever we find it.”

 

Senate Minority Leader Steve Henson marked the anniversary with a call to action, adding “On this historic date, we are reminded that it is required of us to ensure that every American should have a chance for a quality education. We must not allow inequality to creep into our public system or to let any child be left behind.”

###