I'll Work to Heal Our Economy

Seven years of Bush economics proves that using tax policy to concentrate wealth among the ultra rich does not result in broad-based prosperity.  It has succeeded in creating one of the most unbalanced economies in our nation's history.  Today, the average American family is earning one-thousand dollars per year less than seven years ago, while CEO's earn four-hundred times the average worker, and corporate profits have set all-time records.   Bush's corporate-controlled presidency has created a crisis that today is threatening the very bedrock of the American dream; a broad and dynamic middle class.  As your Senator, I will work to restore overtime compensation for every worker who labors beyond forty hours per week.  I'll work to keep American jobs in the US, by insisting that free trade be accompanied by fair trade. I'll work for tax reform that strengthens small businesses, and restores the natural equilibrium that should exist between those who own the means of production and Americans who work for those companies.  And while we heal our economy, I will work to extend unemployment benefits and other safety net provisions to families and individuals caught in the transition.      

I'll Work For You

Ever wonder why Washington appears paralyzed? … Unable to reform health care, secure our borders, make tax policy simple, or break our dependence on foreign oil ? As a veteran investigative reporter, I've uncovered the reason… Most Washington politicians no longer work for you.

The Center for Responsive Politics ( www.opensecrets.org ) shows us that most politicians now spend the majority of their time doing the legislative bidding of Giant multi-national corporations. These corporate “bosses” establish political action committees or “pac's” to fund the campaigns of their “bought” politicians. “Bought” politicians, like Saxby Chambliss , have made an art of telling us what we want to hear in order to get elected, and then working full time on tax breaks and special legislation that benefit their largest contributors.

As your Senator I will: TAKE NO MONEY FROM SPECIAL INTEREST PAC'S.

I'll Work for Your Health Care

Our health care system is in crisis. Forty-five million Americans are uninsured, and more than half of them work for employers who don't or can't afford to provide health benefits. It is time we address this public epidemic and create a system that delivers a baseline of care for every Georgian and every American. We must also create a real prescription drug plan that it understandable, affordable, and allows us to use the buying power of 40-million retirees to drive down costs.

We are already paying billions of dollars for universal health care; it happens every time an uninsured citizen makes a panicked visit to the emergency room. We can slash those costs by creating a system that's focused on preventative care.

I'll work to secure our Borders and hold Illegal employers accountable

There's no excuse, six years after 9/11, that our borders and ports are porous and susceptible to terrorist infiltration. The reason is simple: Multi-national corporations that are not concerned about America's sovereignty or security, demand their “bought” politicians to protect the flow of cheap and exploited illegal labor.

As your Senator, I will:

Immediately secure our ports and borders

Insist that Washington use existing technology to demand that employers require a valid and verifiable social security number from potential new employees prior to their hiring

Hold illegal employers financially accountable for violating the above rule, and hold them criminally accountable for continued violations.

Force the Federal Government to deport illegals who commit serious crimes

Return equilibrium to our system of labor supply and demand, so the wages of hard working Americans can start rising for the first time since 2000.

I'll Work to Reform Our Tax System

I'll be frugal and respectful of YOUR money

Washington has been corrupted and co-opted by special interests. Politicians use the IRS to create subsidies and tax breaks for the corporate insiders who pay for their campaigns. Let's face it, Congress views Americans as three distinct groups; corporations powerful enough to write their own tax code, individuals who own stock and are forced to hire an expert to navigate the tax code, and those who don't own stock and are held over a barrel. Everyone but the mega-rich and connected lose. As your Senator, I will:

Work to replace the IRS with a system that is trustworthy, simple and fair.

Stop the Congressional “shell game” of providing mega tax breaks for large contributors

Create tax relief for the middle class, working poor and small businesses

Continue my “reporter's” mission to expose those who steal and waste your money.

I'll work to restore education as an American priority

Public education is a cornerstone of American success and must be improved if we are to maintain our lead in a global economy. First, we must accept the fact that education is a life-long pursuit, and we must help our citizens by providing low interest loans and grants to achieve their dreams. Washington must also begin working with states to create a 21st century push toward innovation and the sciences, much like President Kennedy and Congress created to put an American in space and on the moon. This can not be achieved through unfunded mandates, such as "No child left behind."

I'll Work to Break Our Dependence on Oil

Our addiction to foreign oil presents an ongoing and unacceptable threat to our national security.  We must stop paying lip service to developing alternative sources of energy and actually implement a plan.  I personally support Dr. Sam Shelton of Georgia Tech and his plan to convert one of Georgia's most abundant resources, pine trees, to ethanol.  According to Dr. Shelton, "There's enough Southern pine pulpwood in Georgia to replace about 20 percent of Georgia's gasoline.  Ethanol from our Southern pine pulpwood can have a very high economic development impact on the state by reinvigorating the pulpwood industry."

I'll Work for Fair Trade

When done right, trade can help everyone, when done wrong trade hurts our American workers. As your Senator, I will make sure that free trade only happens when it's fair trade. We must have environmental and labor standards in our trade agreements to ensure we are not hurting American workers.

I'll Work to Protect Our Environment

I'll work to protect our children's home.

Washington has ignored the moral responsibility to protect our children's home, the earth, far too long. Stated simply, I want our kids to be able to drink water from Georgia's rivers and streams, as well as catch and eat fish from those same rivers and streams. I also want our children to be able to safely grow crops everywhere in Georgia , whether it's on vast acres of farmland or in our backyards. This means putting a stop to legislation aimed at weakening the Clean Air and Clean Water Acts. It also means making a real commitment to finding alternative forms of energy. I support efforts to use Georgia's abundant supply of pine, and convert that pulpwood to ethanol. Georgia Tech's Dr. Sam Shelton estimates we can replace about 20 percent of our future gasoline use with ethanol produced right here in Georgia . This conversion not only protects our environment, but energizes rural economies throughout the state.