Democratic Party of Georgia

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DPG Statement on Otha Thornton, Democratic State School Superintendent Candidate

DPG Statement on Otha Thornton, Democratic State School Superintendent Candidate

In response to Otha Thornton winning the Democratic race for State School Superintendent, Democratic Party of Georgia Chair DuBose Porter issues the following statement:

“Otha Thornton will be a great State School Superintendent. Otha’s long history serving his country within education and his service overseas will bring a broad perspective of success to our state’s public-school system when he wins in November.”

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Georgia Democrats Release TV Ad ‘Dreams’

GEORGIA – Today the Democratic Party of Georgia releases its first television ad of the general election cycle, an inspirational spot highlighting the big dreams and bold vision of Democratic gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams.

In Abrams’ own words, “Dreams” is the story of how she was raised, with parents who encouraged her to ‘dream big’ despite childhood challenges that included a struggle for quality public education and often going without health insurance.

Abrams also details many of her goals for Georgia: creating thousands of jobs, expanding Medicaid, and keeping rural hospitals open.

Georgians trust Stacey Abrams because she is the only candidate who has experienced their struggles and understands the challenges they face. Abrams has a bipartisan record and a bold vision for tackling these issues head-on and building a Georgia where people can succeed, not just survive.

While the GOP candidate is running a negative campaign against his Democratic opponent, candidates like Stacey Abrams, Sarah Riggs Amico, and Democrats across the state, are running for Georgia, so that every Georgia family has the freedom and opportunity to thrive.

This ad campaign will begin airing Thursday, July 26 in the Atlanta market, and soon to follow in Savannah, Macon and Augusta.

The ad can be found on YouTube here.

AD TRANSCRIPT:

ABRAMS:

Growing up, my parents encouraged us to dream big.

But we went without health insurance…struggled to get a good public education…and faced debt despite my parents working full time jobs.

My story’s not unique.

I’m running for Governor because I know we can celebrate the progress we’ve made and go so much further.

Create thousands of new jobs.

Expand Medicaid.

Keep hospital doors open.

As Governor, I’ll fight for every family to have the freedom and opportunity to thrive.

That’s not dreaming… that’s for real.

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DPG Statement on Carolyn Bourdeaux, U.S. Congressional Candidate

GEORGIA — In response to Carolyn Bourdeaux winning the Democratic race for U.S. Congress in Georgia’s District 7, Democratic Party of Georgia Chair DuBose Porter issues the following statement:

“We want to congratulate Carolyn Bourdeaux on her successful campaign and express our thanks to David Kim for his hard work in District 7,” said Democratic Party of Georgia Chair DuBose Porter. “We’re confident that with Carolyn’s extensive expertise in public policy, she’ll do a fantastic job for Georgia after her November victory.”

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Statement on 28th Anniversary of Americans with Disabilities Act

Statement on 28th Anniversary of Americans with Disabilities Act

By: Vinny Olsziewski,
Chair, Democratic Party of Georgia Disability Caucus

Thursday, July 26, marks the 28th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act.  This landmark bipartisan legislation prohibits discrimination based on disability.   Since its passage, America have taken great strides forward, but there is still a long way to go towards equality.

Housing, transportation, and other public facilities have become much more accessible.  People with disabilities are more prevalent in the workforce and more openly accepted in society.

We see more positive portrayals in popular culture. Toy manufacturers are producing dolls that portray disabilities.  Clothing lines for people with disabilities are appearing.  Even Hollywood is creating characters with disabilities that go beyond stereotypes, with many of these roles being filled by people with disabilities.

Unfortunately, the politicians in Washington seem to be backtracking. We face a President who openly mocked a disabled reporter and never apologized.  His Secretary of Labor supports a sub-minimum wage for people with disabilities, his Education Secretary has led the attack on Special Education, and his Justice Department is asking the Supreme Court to throw out the ACA’s protections for pre-existing conditions.  We need to continue pushing back on these mean-spirited attacks.

Things are no better at the other end of Pennsylvania Avenue.  This past spring the House passed H.R. 620, the so-called “ADA Education and Reform Act”, which added additional barriers for people trying to hold businesses accountable to accessibility requirements.  The proposed Fiscal Year 2019 Federal Budget shows us Congress’ backwards priorities. As predicted, the 2017 tax scam gave us an enormous increase in the budget deficit.  Also, as predicted, GOP leadership in Congress is now trying to reduce that deficit by cutting Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security, and SSDI. They are callously trying to pay for their giveaways to the wealthiest among us by pick-pocketing the most vulnerable among us.

However, outside of Washington there are glimmers of hope.  The Disability Community, which is the largest minority voting block in the country, is mobilizing.   We were leaders in the 2017 fights to protect Medicaid and the ACA, and we are gearing up for more battles in Congress this fall. More candidates with disabilities are running than ever before.  The Disability Community is ready to flex its political might, and those in its way had better watch out.  To quote Disability Rights activist Joe Dart, “Vote like your life depends on it because it just might.”  That advice is being taken to heart.

Disability Rights have traditionally been a bipartisan issue.  The ADA was signed into law by President George H.W. Bush.  It’s two biggest proponents in Congress were former Senators Tom Harkin (D-IA) and Bob Dole (R-KS).  We need to get back to those days.  Let’s hope that the next anniversary allows us to look back on a year we, as Americans, can be proud of.

Happy Anniversary, ADA!

Freedom Day

On day 10 of the DNC’s “Our Values, Our Voice, Our Vote” Black History Month series, House Minority Leader Stacey Abrams shares a powerful personal story on why she votes every Election Day – and why everyone should.

 

FREEDOM DAY

On January 23, 2014, an image of my father appeared on the front page of the Hattiesburg American, a local paper in Mississippi. The solemn picture shows an older African-American man recreating the city’s 1964 Freedom Day, when he was a 14-year-old civil rights activist demanding voting rights for all. He joined with hundreds of others across the beleaguered city.  He was a child, unable to use the very powers he sought for others, who nevertheless risked his own liberty to demand justice.

There will be elections all across the country this November, and like my father 50 years ago, we will be called to participate and vote; in the process, we will be standing for those who will remain voiceless if we do not. Our response to that call will be our legacy half a century from now. Did we balk at the difficult beginnings of a transformed health system that will give millions the ability to live better without fear of economic ruin?  Have we ignored the attempts to cut the fabric of our social safety net, distracted by stereotypes and rigid ideology? Did our votes go uncounted because we refused to secure the unnecessary – but required – identification?

The power of the vote is more than a right or an obligation. It is a powerful tool. In the proper hands, our votes alter the nature of our communities and our nation, much as my father’s protest helped change Mississippi.

I live in Georgia now, a frontline for civil rights and the right to vote. Each Election Day is a call from my father’s 14-year old self across the lines of race and class and geography that might separate us. It is his call that I urge each of us to honor in 2014.

Let’s call Election Day by its rightful name beginning this year – for if we are willing to act, every Election Day has the chance to be our very own Freedom Day.

 

Stacey Abrams is the Georgia House Minority Leader and represents the 89th district, which includes the city of Atlanta.

 

Release: DPG Chairman Responds to News of Federal Subpoenas of State Ethics Commission Employees

Democratic Party of Georgia Chairman DuBose Porter Responds to News of Federal Subpoenas of State Ethics Commission Employees

 

Atlanta, GA –  Tonight, news broke that at least five high-ranking employees of  Georgia’s state ethics commission, including commission head Holly LaBerge, have received federal grand jury subpoenas for documents related to the alleged disappearance of evidence with regard to Governor Nathan Deal’s campaign finances.

Democratic Party of Georgia Chairman DuBose Porter released the following statement:

“The same behavior that forced Nathan Deal to resign from Congress has now shown up in the way he conducts his administration as Governor,“  said Democratic Party Chair DuBose Porter. “The issue of federal subpoenas is troubling. Every Georgian should pay close attention so that history does not repeat itself in the ethics commission.”

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BACKGROUND:

 

New York Times 5/29/10:  Ethics Report Faults Ex-Congressman

Nathan Deal, a former Republican congressman who is running for Georgia governor, resigned from the House last week in a move that seemed certain to end an ethics investigation that could have proved politically embarrassing.

But on Monday, the Office of Congressional Ethics released its report anyway, concluding that Mr. Deal appeared to have improperly used his office to pressure Georgia officials to continue a vehicle inspection program that generated hundreds of thousands of dollars a year for his family’s auto salvage business.

Washington Post 4/1/2010:  Resignation ends ethics probe of ex-Rep. Nathan Deal

Georgia Republican Rep. Nathan Deal might have had that solution in mind when he resigned March 21, just minutes before the ethics committee faced a deadline to act in his case. Fortunately for the citizens of his state, and unfortunately for Mr. Deal, a new ethics watchdog, the Office of Congressional Ethics (OCE), did not drop the matter. The office, an independent panel created by a 2007 ethics and lobbying reform law, conducts investigations and makes recommendations for further action to the House Ethics Committee. Five days after Mr. Deal’s resignation, the OCE voted to release the review it had sent in January to the ethics panel, finding “substantial reason to believe” that Mr. Deal, who is running for governor of Georgia, might have violated ethics rules.

 

AJC 12/11/13:  FBI subpoenas current and former state ethics officials

At least five current and former state ethics officials have been subpoenaed by a federal grand jury, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution has learned.

Commission attorney Elisabeth Murray-Obertein told the AJC on Wednesday that she and executive secretary Holly LaBerge were served in the commission office. John Hair, a former ethics IT staffer, also said Wednesday he received a subpoena.

 

AP 12/11/13:  Subpoenas related to Ga. gov’s ethics complaints

Two employees of the state ethics commission have received federal grand jury subpoenas seeking documents regarding ethics complaints involving Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal, according to two people with knowledge of the case.

The commission’s executive secretary, Holly LaBerge, received a subpoena Wednesday, a person with direct knowledge of the case told The Associated Press. The AP obtained a copy of the federal grand jury subpoena for staff attorney Elisabeth Murray-Obertein from a person familiar with the case. The two individuals spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the case publicly.

Release: Poll shows Carter path to victory

Polling data shows Jason Carter path to victory.

Nathan Deal vulnerable, scores high negatives in job performance.

 

Atlanta, Georgia –  A poll commissioned by the Democratic Party of Georgia and the Democratic Governors Association shows a clear path to victory for Democratic candidate for Governor Jason Carter.

 

Polling shows that Georgia voters overwhelmingly prefer a new governor:  49% surveyed want someone new, while only 36% would prefer to re-elect Nathan Deal.

 

In addition to weak approval ratings for Deal, Georgia voters also gave the governor poor job performance marks:

 

54% of Georgia voters have a negative view of Deal’s handling of jobs and the economy.

Only 31% believe the Deal has done enough to help the middle class.

52% have a negative view of Deal’s performance on education.

 

“This poll just validates what we’ve known,” said Democratic Party of Georgia Chair DuBose Porter.  “Nathan Deal and his administration are bad for the economy, bad for education and job training, bad for working families, and downright bad for Georgia.”

 

After pollsters read a positive message about each candidate, Sen. Carter held a lead of 45 percent to Nathan Deal’s 40.

 

“Georgia voters are ready for a new direction,” said Porter. “And they’ll find that direction in Jason Carter.”

GA Dems Say Elected Officials Must be Held Accountable

Time for leaders in Washington to win back trust

 

Georgia Democrats expressed relief today with the halting of the federal government shutdown, but expressed displeasure in the accountability of Congress to conduct the people’s business.

 

“While the short-term deal reached Wednesday will delay permanent harm to the economy, the GOP obstructionists who engaged in brinksmanship with the lives of millions of Americans must be held to a higher standard by their constituents.  We are elected to do the business of government, and if we fail to do our jobs, legislators must be held to account,” said Rep. Stacey Abrams, leader of the Georgia House Minority Caucus.

President Barack Obama signed a measure into law reopening the federal government and averting a potential default. The White House budget office has instructed federal workers to return to work Thursday morning. The measure restores funding for the government through Jan. 15 and extends the nation’s borrowing authority through Feb. 7.

Senate Democratic Leader Steve Henson concurred with Abrams and said it’s time to lift the cloud of uncertainty.

“It’s time for leaders in Washington to win back the trust of Americans lost during the debt and spending crisis,” Henson said. “The current legislation will permit the Treasury to borrow normally through Feb. 7, or perhaps a month longer, and fund the government through Jan. 15, but the cloud of financial uncertainty must be lifted.’

Georgia relies on the federal government for nearly a third of its state’s revenue. The full impact of the federal shutdown was only weeks away in Georgia and would have impacted thousands of Georgia families. Georgia’s balanced state budget relies upon $11 billion in federal funding.

“It’s time to take the threat of default off the table. It’s time to restore some sanity to government. Democrats stand ready to do our part and hold elected official accountable,” said DuBose Porter, chairman of the Democratic Party of Georgia.

Georgia Democrats are unified to ensure that the state budget reflect the priorities of Georgians, including education, health care and an unemployment safety net for those who lose their jobs during an economic downturn.

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