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Release: Georgia Federal Health Care Exchange Enrollment Surge Among Highest in Nation

 

Georgia Federal Health Care Exchange Enrollment Surge Among Highest in Nation

Chairman DuBose Porter says report is reality check that highlights urgent need for affordable health care in Georgia

 

Atlanta, GA – On the heels of a new report showing that Georgia had one the largest enrollment surges during the final weeks of open enrollment in the nation, Democratic Party of Georgia Chair DuBose Porter released the following statement in response.

 

“How much more evidence does Nathan Deal and the Georgia Republican Party need for them to admit there is an urgent need to expand access to affordable health care in our state,” said Chairman Porter. “This is a reality check—wake up. More than 316,000 Georgians have enrolled in the federal exchange, 177,000 at the very end.”

 

“Imagine how many Georgians could have peace of mind, imagine how many lives could be saved, imagine the financial security given to hospitals—especially rural hospitals—if our governor would buck up and expand Medicaid. Instead, Republicans in the state legislature enabled him to cower behind the political cover of his party. It’s gutless and it’s heartless.”

 

Georgia is one of 24 states that have refused to expand Medicaid. Days ago, Nathan Deal signed into law HB 990, legislation that removed the power to expand Medicaid from the governor’s office and placed it in the hands of the state legislature.

 

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BACKGROUND

 

HHS Enrollment Report

HHS 5/1/2014 – Enrollment in the Health Insurance Marketplace totals over 8 million people

HHS 5/1/2014 – Georgia Specific Data

AJC 5/2/2014 – Ga. sign-up surge among tops in U.S.

 

Release: DPG Chair Calls on GA GOP to Table Extreme Health Care Legislation

Republican Lawmakers Should Stop Playing Primary Games with Georgians’ Access to Health Insurance

Democratic Party of Georgia Chairman Porter asks Georgia GOP to act in best interests of Georgians by tabling HB 707 and HB 990

 

Atlanta, GA – This session, Georgia Republican legislators have introduced multiple pieces of legislation to block the implementation of health care reform. Two bills designed to drastically reduce consumers’ ability to learn about and access health care coverage through the exchange. Both HB 707 and HB 990 have already passed the House and now they await a vote in the Senate.

 

If HB 707 were to pass the Senate this week, it would prohibit any state agency from using resources or spending funds to advocate for the expansion of Medicaid, prohibit insurance navigators—like the UGA Health Navigator Program—from directing consumers to the federal exchange, and the bill would prohibit the Commissioner of Insurance from investigating or enforcing any violations of the ACA—including discrimination by insurance companies based on pre-existing conditions.

 

“This seems pretty simple to me—Georgia Republicans would rather watch uninsured Georgians get sicker and sicker than to admit there are popular provisions of the Affordable Care Act that are already saving lives,” said Democratic Party of Georgia Chair and former State House Speaker Pro Tem DuBose Porter. “HB 707 says it’s okay to charge women higher premiums than men. HB 707 codifies what Republican Ralph Hudgens has said—that having breast cancer, asthma, or diabetes is ‘your fault.’ HB 707 says that it’s okay for insurance companies to spend whatever amount of your premium dollars they want on bureaucracy and bonuses.”

 

Republican state lawmakers have enabled Gov. Nathan Deal’s desire to shirk responsibility by introducing HB 990. Currently, Gov. Deal has the ability to broaden access to health care for over 600,000 Georgians and throw a critical lifeline to struggling rural hospitals with one pen stroke by expanding Medicaid. Yet, with HB 990—crafted and strengthened by the governor’s own staff—Georgia Republicans have instead thrown an Election Year lifeline to Deal by removing his authority to expand Medicaid and giving it to the state legislature.

 

“There is no accountability with this governor,” said Chairman Porter. “Sure, solving Georgia’s health care problems isn’t easy—but if Nathan Deal doesn’t want the responsibility of governing, he should stick to the salvage business.”

 

Georgia Democrats have repeatedly called for Gov. Deal and the Georgia Republican Party to work with Democratic lawmakers to expand access to affordable health care and fix our state’s broken system. Instead, Republicans have introduced these dangerous pieces of legislation, said that rural hospitals “need to close” and even compared hospitals to crack addicts.

 

“If Nathan Deal and his Party want to act in the best interest of Georgians, they would table both of these bills,” concluded Chairman Porter. “Rural Georgians shouldn’t be forced to drive an extra thirty miles in their hour of need just because Nathan Deal let their hospital go belly up. These nightmare scenarios are happening right now and Georgia Republicans seem just fine with it as long as their chest-beating ekes out a few extra votes in their primary.”

 

 

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Release: Senator Jason Carter Qualifies to run for Governor of Georgia

Chairman Porter “proud to have Jason Carter on the ballot”

 Release:  Wednesday, March 5, 2014    

Atlanta, GA – Today, Senator Jason Carter qualified to run for Governor of Georgia. Democratic Party of Georgia Chair DuBose Porter released the following statement.

“Senator Jason Carter has pushed education to the forefront of this year’s debate and will be a true champion for working families,” said Chairman DuBose Porter. “Georgia Democrats are proud to have Jason Carter on the ballot for Governor.”

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Nathan Deal’s Georgia: Where “Swing and a Miss” Becomes the Status Quo

Release:  Thursday, February 13, 2014     

 

Nathan Deal’s Georgia:  Where “Swing and a Miss” Becomes the Status Quo 

Chairman Porter asks “What has Nathan Deal been doing for the last three years?”

 

Atlanta, GA – Today, Democratic Party of Georgia Chair DuBose Porter expressed concerns that under the leadership of Gov. Nathan Deal, Georgia has set its bar of expectations too low.

 

“What has our state come to when we’re thankful when the governor actually did his job,” asked Chairman Porter. “When you have a leader who gets it right the first time, your state doesn’t end up in the bottom percentile of every ranking that matters.”

 

Chairman Porter also questioned why Governor Nathan Deal failed to use an emergency weather alert system during last month’s severe winter storm that was approved for use in 2012.

 

“What has Nathan Deal been doing for the last three years—because it sure hasn’t been governing,” said Chairman Porter. “This technology was given the green light two years ago, yet reports say the system hasn’t even been configured or tested. Imagine how many families could have avoided being stranded on the roads if we had a governor capable enough to use the scientific advances the 21st century has afforded us.”

 

Similar to an Amber Alert, the emergency weather alert system sends push notifications to cellphones using GPS technology. The system was successfully used in the Northeast during 2012’s Hurricane Sandy and last year in Colorado to send flood warnings.

 

“Deal’s handling of last month’s winter storm was a national disgrace and every day brings another reason why,” continued Chairman Porter. “Georgia needs a governor who realizes that emergency management is about action, not press conferences or photo ops. We need a decisive leader who can tackle the real problems we face, not a politician who pretends to be a leader on TV.”

 

The Chairman concluded by pointing to the running theme of Nathan Deal’s term as governor—bad judgment, followed by apologies, followed by being dragged kicking and screaming to do what was right all along.

 

“Deal got it wrong on HOPE, state employee benefits, funding for education, support for rural hospitals—the list goes on,” said the Chairman. “When the failures of his policies are pointed out, he does a flip-flop and pretends the right call was his idea the whole time.”

 

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Background

 

AJC 2/9/2014:  Snowjam? There’s an App for that

Georgia received federal approval to use the technology, which resembles the “Amber alert” system for missing children, in 2012. It puts a big, type message on the phone’s home screen, accompanied by a distinctive sound and a vibration. The alert goes to cell phones within a given geographic area automatically, without the users having signed up for the service.

 

GPB 1/31/2014:  State Leaders Demand Better Emergency Planning, But At What Price Tag?

 

WABE 2/3/2014:  Senate Democrats Call for More ‘Independent’ Storm Response Task Force

 

AJC 1/31/2014:  Democratic poll: 63% of metro Atlanta voters say Nathan Deal flunked his own ice storm test

73 percent of voters in the snow-affected areas of metro Atlanta rated the performance of Deal, the state Department of Transportation and the Georgia Emergency Management Agency as fair or poor. Statewide, 63 percent disapproved.

 

AJC 1/30/2014:  Governor’s staff began raising questions about storm Monday

 

GA Health News 1/27/2014:  State moves swiftly to adjust employee plan

 

GBPI November 2013:  Cutting Class to Make Ends Meet

 

GBPI September 2013:  The Schoolhouse Squeeze

 

AJC 6/8/13:  Amid budget cuts, teachers struggle with larger classes

 

Athens Banner-Herald 10/27/13:  About half students who lost HOPE grants did not return to school

Georgia Democrats Announce New DNC Members

Columbus – The Democratic Party of Georgia held elections for five positions on the Democratic National Committee in Columbus. These elections include an additional position granted to Georgia due to increased population based upon the results of the 2010 census.

New members include former candidate for Governor, former Democratic State House leader and state representative DuBose Porter, and experienced campaign strategist and activist Wendy Davis, who served as Campaign Manager for David Poythress’ governor bid in 2010.

Georgia DNC member Liz Johnson will conclude her service in September of 2012.

Returning members to the DNC include former AFL-CIO President Richard Ray, former DPG Chairman David Worley, and savvy political activist Sally Rosser.

These five members to the DNC will begin their four year terms immediately following the Democratic Convention in Charlotte. They will join the four DNC delegates that were not up for election in Columbus: Chairman Mike Berlon, First Vice Chair Nikema Williams, Sen. Lester Jackson and Dan Halpern.

 

 

Chairman Mike Berlon

 

 

 

 

First Vice Chair Nikema Williams

 

 

 

 

David Worley

 

 

 

 

Liz Johnson (term expires September, 2012)

 

 

 

 

Dan Halpern

 

 

 

 

Sally Rosser

 

 

 

 

Richard Ray

 

 

 

 

Sen. Lester Jackson

 

 

 

 

DuBose Porter (takes office Sept. 2012)

 

 

 

 

Wendy Davis (takes office September 2012)

 

 

 


Georgia Democrats Reflect on the Legacy of Senator Robert Brown

Georgia –   Georgia Democrats are remembering the strong leadership of former Senate Democratic Leader Robert Brown, who passed away at his Macon home.

A graduate from Mercer University, Brown began his political career on the local school board. His political skill was solidified in a close victory for his State Senate seat in 1991. “He was one of the brightest people I’ve ever worked with,” said former House Democratic Leader DuBose Porter. “One of the most loyal political friends you could ever have, a true believer.”

Senator Brown served as one of Governor Zell Miller’s floor leaders while working on a variety of issues for his constituents. His legislative accomplishments included the expansion of Macon’s Tubman Museum and saving the famed Douglass Theatre from demolition. He protected Peachcare for Georgia’s children, and recently fought against changes to the HOPE scholarship that he believed made the program unfair to middle-class students.

“Senator Brown held his caucus together during some legendary political battles,” said Democratic Party of Georgia Chairman Mike Berlon. “He was a valiant fighter for education and opportunity for everyone.”

Senator Brown was also known for his fire-and-brimstone speeches, often spicing up a sedate Senate with his quick wit and intellect. “Whether you agreed with Robert Brown or not, you respected him,” said Berlon. “Many of his political opponents made the mistake of underestimating him. They rarely made that same mistake twice.”

Behind the scenes, Brown had friends on both sides of the political aisle. He was a bright and loyal leader who offered a smile and handshake to even his biggest rivals.

“He will be missed,” concluded Porter. “Georgia lost a good man.”

Democrats open new Georgia headquarters with Debbie Wasserman Schultz

(Article found at the Washington Examiner.)

Democrats aren’t conceding any region of the country in their quest to re-elect President Barack Obama in 2012, the party’s chairwoman told Georgia Democrats on Wednesday at the opening of their new state party headquarters.

Democratic National Committee Debbie Wasserman Schultz said that includes Georgia, a state Obama lost three years ago by five percentage points.

“We are planting a flag in the South,” Schultz told a crowd of about 300. “We need to make sure we explain to voters that 2012 is personal.”

Schultz’s visit comes as Obama makes a three-day swing through the South touting his jobs plan, which failed to pass the Senate last week. Schultz, a Florida congresswoman, said there is a growing groundswell of Democratic momentum in the state and region, bolstered by the area’s changing demographics.

“We’re just building off the momentum we started in 2008,” she said, noting that the Obama campaign pulled out of Georgia several weeks before the general election. “It just became clear that it would be political malpractice to assume that the South is assumed to just be red.”

Schultz highlighted the growth of the country’s Latino population, in Georgia in particular, and said those voters could be key to an Obama victory.

“We are going to continue to quietly organize, slowly but surely,” she said. “I know the perception is that Georgia is a red state, but we’re slowly turning it purple around the edges.”

State Rep. Pedro Marin, a Georgia Democrat who was the first Latino elected to the state legislature, said he has heard frustration from Latinos about what they perceive to be a hostile attitude from Republicans. Marin said about 100,000 Latinos are registered Georgia voters, but another 100,000 are unregistered. The goal is to get them signed up and at the polls in November, and to convince them that Obama is still their best choice, Marin said.

“The resentment of Latinos is strong in Georgia,” he said, citing the state’s immigration law passed earlier this year by the Legislature. “It’s a big goal, but we have some groups out here doing voter registration. It’s working.”

Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed, who also spoke at the opening, said he was encouraged by the packed building and cheering crowd, and urged them to rest up over the holidays ahead of a busy 2012 election season.

“We have a new energy, we have a new sense of purpose and a sense of mission,” Reed said. “This is exactly the kind of energy we’re going to need to re-elect Barack Obama.”

Reed added that the choice for voters is becoming clearer as the Republican presidential field continues to campaign and debate.

“They’ve been comparing [Obama] to the Almighty since the day he got in office,” Reed said. “Last night … you saw their alternative.”