Democratic Party of Georgia

Help Move Georgia Forward

Democratic Party Chairman Statement on the State of the Union Address

Democratic Party of Georgia Chairman Mike Berlon issues the following statement regarding tonight’s State of the Union Address:

“Tonight, President Obama showed the clear path that he intends to follow to address the significant problems facing America. It also showed that he is not afraid to tackle issues that for too long have been considered politically impractical or impossible.

“Improving healthcare, eliminating tax loopholes, election reform, focusing on pre-school education, developing an energy security policy, reducing the deficit, common sense tax reform and a comprehensive plan for immigration reform are all a path to recapturing the American dream.

“The President’s tough line on debt and taxes, proposals for improving the economic situation of the middle class, increase to the minimum wage, plans to assure equal pay for women for equal work, support for equal rights for all, approach to climate change, support of our military and unwavering commitment to end the excessive and unnecessary gun violence in this country show that he is ready to make the hard and necessary decisions to move this country forward.

“The President made it clear that for far too long, Congress’ inability to compromise has prevented measures that would make life better for all Americans. Now, he has taken this fight directly to the American people and made the case for significant changes in his second term. Simply put, the message was clear: It is time to put partisan politics aside and work for the many and not the few. “

DPG Chairman Mike Berlon Statement on Senator Saxby Chambliss

Democratic Party of Georgia Chairman Mike Berlon releases the following statement regarding Senator Saxby Chambliss’ decision to decline a run for re-election in 2014:

“Today’s announcement by Senator Chambliss that he has decided to retire presents a great opportunity for Georgia Democrats to reclaim one of our US Senate seats.  This development gives us the time we need to field an exceptional candidate for the race.

 “We began our candidate recruitment process on this race several months ago. We have consulted with the national party and are continuing to vet potential candidates, both within the DPG and the DNC. This process is important and we are not interested in rushing it. We are interested in getting it right.

 “It is clear that the politics and demographics within Georgia are changing. In November, President Obama received more than 45.5% of the statewide vote with little national help. With the significant changes that are taking place, we believe that we could win this seat even if it were against an incumbent.  With this being an open seat, our odds have improved significantly. This is especially true because it appears that there may be a significantly divided primary on the republican side.

“There is no question that Georgia is on the way to turning blue.  This is the first step in reclaiming the House and Senate on a national level across the south.

 “We’re looking forward to next year.”

Democratic Party of Georgia Statement on the Passing of Jesse Hill, Jr.

Georgia – Democratic Party of Georgia Chairman Mike Berlon releases the following statement on the passing of Jesse Hill, Jr.

“Jesse Hill Jr. was a great man of business, politics, civil rights, and more. His life demonstrates a treasured skill in navigating some of Atlanta’s rockiest moments with wisdom and dignity.

“Jesse was instrumental in the development of MARTA, the desegregation of the University System of Georgia, and the success of the Atlanta Chamber of Commerce. His nearly two-decade career as the CEO of the Atlanta Life Insurance Company is a testament to his business savvy.

“Just this year, the Democratic Party of Georgia was pleased to watch Congressman John Lewis present a Lifetime Achievement Award to Mr. Hill at our latest Jefferson-Jackson Dinner. It was a moving experience for everyone.

“We offer our condolences to his family and friends. We know that his good works will live forever within the proud history of Atlanta.”

Georgia Democrats Respond to Attorney General Olens and Question Governor Deal’s Conduct

Georgia – Georgia Democrats have sent a ten-page document to elected Board of Education members throughout the state in response to the recent opinion by Attorney General Sam Olens regarding the use of public displays of support against the Charter School Amendment.  Last week, in what appeared to be an effort to influence the debate over the issue, Attorney General Olens told elected Board of Education members throughout the state that they did not have the “legal authority to expend funds or other resources to advocate or oppose the ratification of a constitutional amendment by the voters.”

Despite this ruling, the Democratic Party of Georgia found several instances of Governor Deal violating that same order, as he advocated for the Charter School Amendment on his own government website. In another instance, Deal promoted the T-SPLOST amendment that failed earlier this year. In a letter to the attorney general, Chairman Berlon asked that Olens’ look into possible ethical violations of this rule by Governor Nathan Deal.

According to DPG Chairman Mike Berlon, “The rules should be applied equally to everyone.  If the attorney general believes that public funds can’t be used to advocate for political issues, it’s not fair or reasonable to silence one’s position while the Governor advocates his own.  Let’s hope that the rules and the sanctions are the same for everyone.”

The ten-page document may be found here.

Romney & Ryan: Reverse Recovery for the American People

Georgia – Republican candidate Mitt Romney’s choice of Paul Ryan as his running mate illustrates the profound and stark differences between the presidential nominees in the upcoming November election.

“The Ryan choice highlights future attacks on seniors, students, the middle class and veterans. Romney and Ryan have both advocated the privatization of Social Security,” said DPG Chairman Mike Berlon. “They are also fanatical about changing Medicare to a voucher-style program, with the value of each voucher decreasing over time. This would leave a bigger and bigger gap for our seniors to pay out of their own pocket.”

Privatizing Social Security and changing Medicare to a voucher system are positions that the Democratic Party strongly opposes. “Protecting our seniors is a priority, not a mere option – which is what Ryan and Romney’s plans suggest,” said Berlon.

Another stark difference between the presidential candidates is tax policy, where Ryan’s 2010 budget plan raised taxes on the middle class while cutting taxes for the wealthy. Tax deductions like the mortgage interest deduction and health premiums are cut or eliminated under the Ryan plan.

Under Romney’s plan, more than a million middle class Georgia families would face a tax increase. The average tax increase for families with children would be $2,000. Yet while the middle class pays more, the richest Americans would get another $250,000 tax break each.

“Democrats don’t believe that millionaires should get additional tax breaks while middle class taxes go up,” said Berlon. “Why are we asking teachers and factory workers to pay more in taxes? They’re the ones that have been hurt the most by the Bush recession, especially here in Georgia.”

Other critical differences include:

  • Ryan’s budget would slash income security programs for the poor by 16%.
  • Transportation would be cut by 25%.
  • Investment in education, training and other social services would be cut by 33%.
  • Substantially cut Pell grants that would affect more than 250,000 students.

Ryan’s tax plan is similar to Mitt Romney’s in that middle-class families could pay thousands of dollars more a year in taxes to fund tax cuts for millionaires, all while losing the security of Medicare and Social Security. In addition, funding for students through Pell grants would be cut dramatically.  “At a time when education is so critical to our national fabric, why would we cut funding for education for those who need it most?” questioned Berlon.

“We need sensible solutions,” concluded Berlon. “Democrats know that Ryan and Romney’s plan would reverse America’s recovery. We can’t balance the federal budget on the backs of our middle-class. Romney’s choice here shows how out of touch he is with real working families. ”

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 Applaud Health Care Ruling

Reform represents “great day for all Americans”

Georgia – The Democratic Party of Georgia applauds today’s landmark ruling that upholds President Obama’s Affordable Care Act.

The Affordable Care Act, or Obamacare, prevents insurance companies from denying coverage to children and adults based on pre-existing conditions and from dropping health coverage when a person gets sick. It also eliminates annual caps on health coverage for devastating illnesses and allows young adults to stay on their parents’ insurance until the age of 26.

The opinion, written by Chief Justice John Roberts- appointed by President George W. Bush- upholds every significant portion of the law.

“This is a great day for all Americans,” said Georgia Democratic Chairman Mike Berlon. “The Supreme Court rejected partisan politics and put the welfare of the people first. This decision will allow all Americans to be secure in the knowledge that if they get sick, they will have high quality and affordable health care to help them get well. It also means that children and adults will no longer be denied health care due to pre-existing conditions and young adults will be coved under their parents’ health insurance up to age 26.”

Nearly 30 states, including Georgia, sued the federal government over this legislation. With the Supreme Court deciding in the Obama administration’s favor, it signifies a strong rebuke to Governor Nathan Deal’s persistent attempts to undermine health care reform.

“More than 2 million Georgians will now have access to health insurance and preventative care. We have struggled with these issues for decades and the Supreme Court got it absolutely right,” said Berlon.

The Political Silly Season Begins

The summer months are called the “silly season” in politics. Since many campaigns haven’t yet started in earnest, political pundits are forced to report on sensational stories that wouldn’t ordinarily make the newspaper at all.

Our Republican friends are taking the “silly season” to the next level this year. The attacks against our Party have been vicious and unfounded. Why?

Because they know that Georgia Democrats are undergoing a transformation. We are resurging in areas that they never anticipated, and frankly, they’re worried.

For the first time in recent memory, GOP strongholds like Snellville and Morrow both have Democratic mayors.

Savannah has a Democratic super-majority on their council. In Columbia County- a county that voted 77% for Nathan Deal in 2010- our challenger came within 1% of becoming the first Democrat elected to County Commission.

In rural Georgia, all of Ben Hill County’s constitutional offices are incumbent and qualified in the Democratic Primary. The chair of the county is an incumbent Democrat, as are the two commissioners up for elections this cycle and each of them qualified for election. In Brantley County, the tiny town of Nahunta elected five Democrats, a recent record.

On a national scale, President Obama has visited Georgia multiple times this year, including a future visit on June 26. His campaign organization, Obama for America, is opening a new headquarters in Atlanta this Saturday.

Meanwhile, we have registered a record number of voters throughout the state to increase our Democratic performance in November.

Don’t believe the “sky is falling” rhetoric regarding our party. We are rebuilding and becoming stronger, and we’ve taken the fight to Georgia Republicans in a way that they never expected. They are intimidated, not only due to our recent growth, but also due to major problems among their own. For example:

– Republican State Senator Don Balfour, the powerful chairman of the Senate Rules Committee, is under investigation for filing inaccurate mileage reimbursements that may result in criminal charges.

– Republican Senate Majority Leader Chip Rogers is under fire for his previous career as a sports handicapper. He promoted gambling via advertising financed by an offshore casino.

– Republican Speaker of the House David Ralston, the beneficiary of a $20,000+ lobbyist paid trip to Europe, is fighting tooth-and-nail against a $100 lobbyist cap, calling it a “liberal” plot to divide Republicans.

– Just today, Republican Senator Tommie Williams resigned as the powerful Senate Pro-Tem, an unexpected move that caught many in the Georgia Republican Party by surprise.

– And despite having a Governor, Lt. Governor, and a majority in the State House & Senate, the Republicans are having fundraising difficulties and are dipping into leftover funds from the last Governor’s election in order to pay the bills.

The “silly season” will continue, and eventually the pundits will focus on what is truly important in Georgia – Democratic initiatives to save the HOPE Scholarship, bring careers to South Georgia, and protect the reproductive rights of women and the voting rights of minorities.

Until then, remember that you have the power to help bring our state to a Democratic victory in November. Click here to join our email list to stay informed about the Democratic Party of Georgia, click here to follow us on Twitter and Facebook, and if you feel inclined to contribute to our voter registration efforts, click here to make a donation.

We are strong. Don’t let the naysayers sway you into believing what isn’t true.

We are building to a successful future. We’d like your help.

Won’t you come along?

Mike Berlon, Chairman
Democratic Party of Georgia

Georgia Democrats’ on Marriage Equality

Georgia–   Mike Berlon, Chairman of the Democratic Party of Georgia, issues the following statement regarding President Barack Obama’s view that couples who are in loving, committed relationships should be allowed to marry.

“Marriage equality is an important human rights issue. Love is not partisan. Everyone should have the opportunity to engage in a relationship that works for him or her regardless of sexual orientation.“It’s no secret that the President has gone through some serious soul-searching on this. I am sure he has received input from many sources who deserve this support, including people in long-term relationships who have never had the security or certainty that comes with knowing the person you love will be protected if something happens to them.  I am also sure that he has heard from many of our brave young men and women who serve in our armed forces, and for whom he fought so hard to end Don’t Ask Don’t Tell, as well as others from around the country.

“For many people, this is a difficult issue and opinions are strong on both sides.

“As an individual who has a family member that is in such a relationship, I’ve seen first-hand the obstacles and hurdles that have to be endured just to make the relationship work. It makes me very proud to see that the President recognizes the roadblocks to these relationships and is willing to advocate for equal rights for everyone. It’s courageous and it’s right.

“The Democratic Party of Georgia strongly stands with the LGBT community, the President and his administration, and with all Georgians who believe that we should treat others the way we’d want to be treated. That is not a democratic principle. It’s about human dignity.

“It’s simply wrong to prevent couples who are in loving, committed relationships, from marrying.”

Why we are Democrats

Full text below:

A letter printed in Sunday’s Statesboro Herald (“My thumbnail history of the American left from 1919-2012”) stated a number of inaccuracies about the Democratic Party- a party that I have been elected to represent as Chairman in the great state of Georgia.

I would like to give another viewpoint of the “History of the American left”, one that is grounded in reality and based in fact and logic, not wild exaggerations or unnecessary hyperbole. Our accomplishments do not need embellishment, as they stand tall on their own.

The Democratic Party is one of the oldest political parties in the world. We stand for the values of justice, fairness and equality. We are for honest leadership and open government.

We believe that innovative leadership creates jobs and that investments in education pay off. We believe in an economy that works for everyone.

We value responsibility and smart, practical policies that benefit all–not just the most fortunate folks. We know that when we promote opportunities for all people, it lifts everyone to the top.

The “History of the American left” is incomplete unless it mentions our biggest accomplishments- Social Security and Medicare for our elderly and infirm, an end to child labor that was persistent in the early 1900’s, and winning the fight so that women and minorities can cast their vote as easily as men do.

When African-Americans were prevented from voting, a Democratic President signed the Civil Rights Act.

When a crazed dictator took over Europe, a Democratic President stopped him. When a crazed terrorist brought down the Twin Towers, a Democratic President brought him to justice.

Even now, we are the foot soldiers defending against the GOP war on women.

We created the 40-hour workweek so that parents could spend time with their kids, a mandatory minimum wage so that workers could be paid a fair wage for a decent day’s work, and a guaranteed student loan program so that students could go to college.

The GI Bill? We did that. First man on the moon? We did that too. The HOPE scholarship? That’s us.

In just the past four years, we’ve prevented insurance companies from denying your claim due to a pre-existing condition. We have placed two female justices on the Supreme Court, eliminated “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell” in the military, and withdrawn over 100,000 troops from Iraq.

The author’s history lesson in Sunday’s Statesboro Herald was a work of fiction, crafted by fear and  woefully distant from the facts.

Any true history of the Democratic Party must include the valiant fight for justice and equality that we have worked so hard towards- and still strive for- every single day.

Georgia Democrats Announce Additional Speaker, Rev. Dr. Joseph Lowery

Georgia – The Democratic Party of Georgia has added the Rev. Dr. Joseph Lowery as a speaker to their annual Jefferson-Jackson Dinner with keynote speaker Governor Bill Richardson.

“We’re very happy that Dr. Lowery will join Governor Richardson,” said DPG Chairman Mike Berlon. “This is traditionally our largest and most prestigious event and this year’s schedule of speakers will be the best one we’ve ever had.”

The 2012 Jefferson-Jackson Dinner is scheduled on Saturday, April 28th at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta. It has become a ‘who’s who’ of Georgia Democratic politics with previous attendees representing the highest pillars of federal and state leadership.

Tickets are $200 per person and may be purchased here.

Chairman Mike Berlon: Republicans compare women to ‘caterpillars’

Georgia – Democratic Party of Georgia Chair Mike Berlon released the following statement in response to today’s remarks by RNC Chair Reince Priebus:

“The Republican Party is showing little regard for women’s issues. Just today, RNC Chair Reince Priebus said, ‘if the Democrats said we had a war on caterpillars, and every mainstream media outlet talked about the fact that Republicans have a war on caterpillars, then we’d have problems with caterpillars,’

“In Georgia, a Republican Representative compared women giving birth to his experiences in delivering cows and pigs, and Democratic State Senators were compelled to walk out of the Senate in protest of these damaging policies to women’s health.

“Republicans have been fighting tirelessly to implement policies that are antiquated on women’s health.  Their leading candidate, Mitt Romney, supports the Blunt-Rubio amendment that would give any employer the ability to deny their employees coverage for health care services like contraception based on the employer’s own beliefs.

“Women are aware of these attempts to undermine their health care, and Republicans don’t like the attention. Instead of having a serious debate on these issues, they mock them by comparing women to barnyard animals or insects.

“Chairman Priebus may try and borrow the Romney campaign’s Etch A Sketch to erase the past few months of GOP attacks on women, but women have a clear message for Republicans: they will remember in November.”

 

Georgia Democrats Succeed at Social Media

Since January 1, 2012, the Democratic Party of Georgia has placed significant emphasis on expanding its non-traditional media.  Based on this plan, implemented by Communications Director Eric Gray, the party has reached a number of milestones in the first quarter of 2012.

  • In the past seven weeks alone, the DPG Twitter account has grown more than 50%, making Georgia Democrats first in the nation among Democratic State Parties.
  • In the past seven weeks, the DPG Facebook page has grown almost 17%, the sixth highest rate of growth among all Democratic state parties. Georgia Democrats are now tenth in the nation in “likes” and are doubling the national growth rate of about 7.50%.

 

“Social media and the ability to communicate swiftly and effectively is a key component to our democratic resurgence in Georgia. Being the most-followed state Democratic Party in the nation on Twitter is a tremendous benchmark,” said Chairman of the Democratic Party of Georgia Mike Berlon. “Thanks to the dedication and hard work from Eric Gray and all our staff.”

These new media successes are one key part of a broader strategy to re-engage Democratic voters throughout the state. “Whether it is on the internet through Twitter and Facebook, or through opening new brick-and-mortar headquarters like we did last weekend in Savannah, our goal is to reach all of Georgia,” said Berlon.“That’s the way that we’ll win in November and beyond.”

 

New DPG Savannah Office Promises ‘Future Political Success’

Savannah – Saturday’s grand opening of the Democratic Party of Georgia office in Savannah promises to bring future political success to southern and eastern Georgia. Lawmakers including Congressman James Clyburn (D-SC), Mayor Edna Jackson, Councilman John Hall, State Senator Lester Jackson and State Representatives Bob Bryant, Craig Gordon,  Mickey Stephens and Al Williams will be on hand to celebrate the exciting event.

“Opening a Savannah office is part of our 5% strategy,” said Mike Berlon, DPG Chairman. “We believe that we can raise Democratic turnout this election cycle and win many of the races in November. Having a headquarters in this part of the state allows us to strengthen our grassroots network close to home.”

Savannah residents will staff the office, located at 406 East Bay Street, after undergoing intensive training with the DPG. Georgia Democrats’ ultimate goal will be to provide a hub to organize, canvass and register new voters in Chatham County and beyond.

“When this state turns blue, we will point to Saturday as one of the main reasons,” said Berlon. “We’re happy that Congressman James Clyburn is making the trip to Savannah to congratulate us.”

All ages are welcome to the grand opening of Savannah’s Democratic Party of Georgia office at 406 East Bay Street on Saturday from 2 pm to 3:30 pm

Mike Berlon in the AJC: “Georgia deserves better”

Below is Democratic Party of Georgia Chairman Mike Berlon’s Op-Ed in the Atlanta Journal Constitution printed January 29, 2012.

Georgia faces significant challenges, but not one is more important than our job crisis.

We’ve lost more than 300,000 jobs, third-highest in the nation, since the beginning of the Great Recession. Georgia has one of the highest rates of bankruptcy filings and foreclosures. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Georgia has the third-highest poverty rate and, every single month for more than four years, Georgia’s unemployment rate has exceeded the national average.

When people worry about their jobs, they have to worry about their homes, their children’s education — everyone’s future is impacted by the lack of available jobs in our state.

Our leaders believe the solution is to cut corporate taxes and give additional tax credits to big Wall Street businesses, yet Georgia already has one of the lowest corporate tax rates in the country. While other states are adding jobs and growing their economies, businesses avoid us and turn to our neighbors like Tennessee and Florida.

Georgia deserves better.

The real solution to the state’s job crisis is not lowering an already scant tax rate. Let’s instead concentrate on things that create a pro-business environment. We need better transportation options to move our goods from manufacture to market, and a better-educated workforce to attract more companies.

We need to convince business leaders that if they open a new plant in our state, their kids, and their workers’ kids, will attend a good school and achieve the American dream.

Instead of laying off our teachers, let’s respect them. They deserve better pay; our students deserve better outcomes. Instead of unacceptably low graduation rates, we should challenge our students with better schools and teachers who are valued, not discouraged.

Instead of combining colleges to save money, we should invigorate them to attract the best and brightest from other states, while keeping our own best students close to home. Instead of misguided HOT lanes on I-85 that restrict an entire lane of highway from commuters, we should explore better mass transportation so that moving around the city is trouble-free, not troublesome. Bold leadership created Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport, now the busiest airport in the nation.

Our state can do big things. We’ve done them before. However, we need strong leadership that attacks our problems head-on, not stumbles with tired policies that don’t work. Our HOPE scholarship and pre-K program were once a model for all states to follow.

Last year, both of these programs were cut to provide tax incentives to companies that still aren’t hiring in Georgia.

It’s been a lost decade for the average Georgia resident. It’s time to find a real solution to these problems. There is a difference between being outstanding and standing out.

Let’s pay our teachers, renew our schools, respect our students and fix our roads. Let’s put Georgia back to work. Let’s make the real choices that will make us outstanding again.

 

Chairman Mike Berlon on Hearing to Address President Obama’s Inclusion on the Georgia Presidential Primary Ballot

Georgia –Democratic Party of Georgia Chairman Mike Berlon releases the following statement on tomorrow’s administrative hearing to address President Obama’s inclusion on the Georgia Presidential primary ballot:

“Several lawsuits were recently filed against President Obama questioning whether he is an American citizen in an attempt to remove him from the Georgia primary ballot.  Despite the fact that these issues have been thoroughly litigated, a hearing has been scheduled in these cases for Thursday, January 26, 2012.  The Democratic Party of Georgia is not a party to any of these lawsuits.

“This afternoon we received a letter from counsel for the President directed to the Georgia Secretary of State asking him to intervene in these lawsuits and bring them to a halt, because it is well established that there is no issue here – a fact validated time and again by courts in this country.

“In the letter, counsel also indicated that they had no interest in continuing to appear or participate further in the litigation and have suspended their involvement.

“We respect the President’s position and urge the Secretary of State to bring this matter to a conclusion.  We also believe that each political party has the absolute legal right to determine who should appear on their primary and general election ballots according to their own rules without interference from outside parties.

“In light of these developments the Democratic Party of Georgia has no plans to continue to be involved in these baseless cases.  Furthermore the Democratic Party of Georgia will cooperate with the President and his campaign in any way requested to make sure that his name appears on the primary and general election ballots for 2012.”

Democratic Party of Georgia Chairman Mike Berlon on the President’s State of the Union Address

Democratic Party of Georgia Chairman Mike Berlon releases the following statement on last night’s State of the Union Address:

“President Obama’s State of the Union address reminded us of why the American people chose him as our leader. His blueprint for a job-creating economy that is built to last – one built on American manufacturing, American energy, skills for American workers, and a renewal of American values- is one that Georgia can fully support.

“This is a make-or-break moment for the middle class and those trying to reach it. We must build a nation where everyone gets a fair shot, everyone does their fair share, and everyone plays by the same rules.

“The issue is fairness and the President articulated this theme clearly.

“When the average middle-class Georgian pays a higher tax rate than someone making $50 million a year, the rules are out-of-balance.  We fully support the President’s plan, and I felt he gave an inspirational and substantive State of the Union address.”

Democratic Party of Georgia’s Statement on Release of Mitt Romney’s Tax Returns

Georgia – Today, after years of resistance, Mitt Romney has released limited information about his finances.  In response, Democratic Party of Georgia Chair Mike Berlon released the following statement:

“Mitt Romney has spent years refusing to release his tax returns – and though he finally agreed to do so today, he offered just one full year of returns.   During the vetting process to become John McCain’s running mate, Romney released 23 years of tax returns. Why doesn’t Mitt Romney believe that Americans should see the full picture?

“This decision flies in the face of precedent set by previous presidential candidates – Romney’s father released 12 years of returns, President George W. Bush released returns back to 1991, and President Obama released eight years of tax returns during the 2008 campaign.

“Today, Romney failed to release sufficient information for the American people to be able to evaluate his investments, see exactly how he acquired his mass fortune during his time as a corporate raider for Bain Capital, and determine whether he has any financial conflicts that could cloud his judgment.  For instance, he closed a Swiss investment account only because an advisor was worried it might cause political problems should it stay open.  And Romney has made a fortune using offshore investments, from Swiss bank accounts to investments in the Caymans to Bermuda to Luxembourg to Ireland – all famous tax havens that cost American taxpayers about $100 billion a year in lost revenue.  But today’s returns don’t show how much in U.S. taxes Romney is avoiding by keeping his money in these foreign accounts – what else is he hiding from voters?

“Clearly, Romney doesn’t want us to know what releasing multiple full years of tax returns would reveal: he doesn’t believe we all have a responsibility to do our fair share, and he wants to continue to exploit the loopholes, special deductions and other gimmicks that he and other extraordinarily wealthy Americans use to pay a lower tax rate than working and middle-class families.

“With these priorities, it’s no surprise that Romney’s tax plan would cut his own 2013 taxes by nearly half.  That’s where Romney stands – and that’s exactly why he still refused to fully come clean with the American people today.”