Stacey Abrams in 2018 GA Governor's race
On Government Reform:
Deliberate interference & disenfranchisement in `18 election
Q: Stacey Abrams acknowledged that Republican Brian Kemp will be the next governor of Georgia:[VIDEO CLIP] ABRAMS: This is not a speech of concession, because concession means to acknowledge an action is right, true, or proper.[END VIDEO]
Q: Abrams
is now planning to launch a federal lawsuit against the state for what she called gross mismanagement of the election. Leader Abrams joins us. You said that "Democracy failed in Georgia," referring to, as you called it, incompetence and mismanagement.
But do you think that there was deliberate interference in the election?
ABRAMS: Yes. And I believe it began eight years ago with the systematic disenfranchisement of more than a million voters. It continued with the underfunding and disinvestment in
polling places, in training, and in the management of the county delivery of services. And I think it had its pinnacle in this race. There has been a dramatic discrepancy in the way absentee ballots are both allocated & counted across the 159 counties.
Source: CNN interviews for 2018 Georgia Governor race
Nov 18, 2018
On Government Reform:
Disenfranchisement was death by 1,000 cuts
Q: When Brian Kemp was secretary of state, he did oversee a process in which 1.5 million voters were removed from the voting rolls. But isn't that just people being removed from the rolls because of inactivity?STACY ABRAMS: Maintaining clean voter
rolls is absolutely appropriate, but the vigor with which he did so--a perfect example is the 92-year-old civil rights activist who's lived in the West End of Atlanta for more than 40 years, has voted in every single election since 1968, and was removed
from the polls. She went to vote, and had to take more than 2 hours to get a provisional ballot. This is someone who has never failed to vote. The problem we have is that it's death by 1,000 cuts. It's not sufficient to simply purge voters from the
rolls for inactivity. He removed voters who were eligible. And the larger issue is this. Trust in our democracy relies on believing that there are good actors who are making this happen. And he was a horrible actor who benefited from his perfidy.
Source: CNN interviews for 2018 Georgia Governor race
Nov 18, 2018
On Health Care:
Medicaid expansion for reduced cost & preexisting conditions
Q: President Obama hit the trail for your campaign in Georgia this week. He recently made headlines after calling Medicare-for-All a "good new idea." You have not expressed support for Medicare-for-All. Do you think President Obama is wrong? ABRAMS:
I don't think that he's wrong. I think that, as a national conversation, there certainly should be an ongoing review of what Medicare-for-All can do. But a single state cannot make that change.
Georgia does not have the financial capacity to provide that type of coverage. That is a federal conversation. In Georgia, we have to do the fundamentals, including the expansion of Medicaid. That's how we provide access to health care.
That's how we reduce costs. That's how we protect preexisting conditions. My focus is on how I can serve Georgia, and that means a focus on Medicaid expansion.
Source: CNN interviews for 2018 Georgia Governor race
Nov 4, 2018
On Health Care:
Paying for uncompensated care brings money back
Q: You want to expand Medicaid, under Obamacare. You say that would cost nearly $300 million-how will that get paid?ABRAMS: Georgia spends about $1.75 billion per year on uncompensated care. That's health care costs. By expanding Medicaid, we can
join states like Kentucky that cut that number in half. That's savings that will go directly into providing access. My plan is to put money back into the pockets of hardworking Georgians. And all of the plans I have proposed, which are detailed,
specific, and have pay-fors, all of those programs can be done under our current budget in the state of Georgia. What's more important is that the economic benefit to our state is dramatic, thousands of more jobs, thousands of good-paying jobs, access
to health care coverage, and improvement for our state overall.
Q: So, you're telling Georgia families that none of them are going to have to pay higher taxes with you as governor?
ABRAMS: I do not intend to raise taxes. That is not the necessity.
Source: CNN interviews for 2018 Georgia Governor race
Nov 4, 2018
On Environment:
Hurricane recovery is a 10-month process, not 10 days
Q: What about the impact of Hurricane Michael, particularly on southwest Georgia?ABRAMS: I've gone through a hurricane. It's a devastating process. And it takes months for recovery to happen.
Q: What's your message to residents of the area? You
could be elected governor in a couple weeks.
ABRAMS: Number one, I've been through this myself. I understand that it's not just the physical plant that's a problem. It's making sure that people have access to the resources they need. And often when
the cameras turn off and when people go home and stop volunteering, that's when the real trouble starts. I will leverage the responsibility of the governor, the ability to connect with state and local officials and federal officials to make certain
that resources don't just end when the memory of the storm passes for the average person. And I think that's what you need. Someone who's thinking about this not as a three-day or three-week return but really as a 10-month, 12-month recovery period.
Source: Meet the Press interviews for 2018 Georgia Governor race
Oct 14, 2018
On Government Reform:
Sued in 2016 to stop "exact match" on voter registration
Q: Let me ask you about an issue that's been front and center for your campaign over the last week to 10 days. And that is this issue of rejected voter registration forms due to this issue of exact match. If it isn't an exact match, then suddenly the
registration gets thrown out. 70% of these registrations belong to African American voters. Do you believe this is an intentional decision by your opponent and the office that he runs?STACEY ABRAMS: Absolutely. I was part of a coalition that sued
him in 2016 to force him to stop using this process. And a federal judge agreed with us, said that he had unlawfully canceled more than 33,000 registrations. And they forced him to restore those registrations. In response, the Republicans passed a law
in the 2017 legislative session to allow him to do it again. And so the challenge is twofold. One is that we know this is a flawed system that has a disproportionate effect on people of color. But it also has the ability to erode trust in our system.
Source: Meet the Press interviews for 2018 Georgia Governor race
Oct 14, 2018
On Abortion:
Expand reproductive freedom to under-served areas
She will support reproductive freedom and access to treatment for women, regardless of ability to pay. Also, across our state, more than half of our counties lack access to OB/GYNs or pediatricians.
Stacey will leverage state and federal programs to incentivize more doctors and medical personnel to locate in under-served areas, and she will work with practitioners to reduce our maternal and infant mortality rates and increase access to care.
Source: 2018 Georgia Gubernatorial website StaceyAbrams.com
Sep 1, 2017
On Budget & Economy:
Invest in community businesses
Small businesses employ more Georgians, and they can be started anywhere. As Governor, she will direct more economic development dollars to hometown businesses.
Funds will be targeted to reach low-income communities and rural counties, and we will help Georgia businesses expand by offering access to capital.
Source: 2018 Georgia Gubernatorial website StaceyAbrams.com
Sep 1, 2017
On Civil Rights:
No discrimination, including against LGBTQ
We must demand that our workplaces never discriminate based on a person's race, gender, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, pregnancy, disability, or immigration status. A proud LGBTQ* ally,
Stacey co-sponsored civil rights legislation in Georgia, fought against "religious freedom" legislation, and co-signed bills to prohibit employer termination of LGBTQ* Georgians based on their status.
Source: 2018 Georgia Gubernatorial website StaceyAbrams.com
Sep 1, 2017
On Education:
No money for school vouchers
Public education is the beating heart of our state and a fundamental obligation. As Minority Leader, Stacey advocated for fully-funded quality public education, demanded comprehensive support for struggling schools
and opposed attempts to privatize our public schools. Georgia leaders cannot stand up for public education and simultaneously vote for private vouchers; diversion of funds to private schools undermines our government's responsibility.
Source: 2018 Georgia Gubernatorial website StaceyAbrams.com
Sep 1, 2017
On Education:
Must offer many paths for higher education
As Minority Leader, Stacey Abrams negotiated the inclusion of a 1% low interest loan program for higher education and remedial classes for technical college students, and she fought for a need-based aid program in the state.
As Governor, she will push for free access to technical college, debt-free four-year college, and need-based aid as a priority in Georgia. Under her leadership, Georgia will expand access to apprenticeships and invest in adult literacy options.
Source: 2018 Georgia Gubernatorial website StaceyAbrams.com
Sep 1, 2017
On Families & Children:
Learning begins at birth
We must start our commitment to education with high-quality, affordable childcare. We offer tax credits and subsidies to working parents to take care of our youngest citizens.
Quality early care has been tied to school readiness, graduation rates, reading proficiency, and college-going rates. I'm committed to expanding access to pre-k to three year-olds.
Source: 2018 Georgia Gubernatorial website StaceyAbrams.com
Sep 1, 2017
On Families & Children:
We must help our most vulnerable citizens
As a state, we must deliver critical services to those who have physical, intellectual, and developmental disabilities as well as mental illness. As Minority Leader, Stacey has co-sponsored legislation to support
our most vulnerable residents, from kinship care legislation to expanding legal protections for seniors. As Governor, Stacey will continue to advocate for policies and funds to serve these communities.
Source: 2018 Georgia Gubernatorial website StaceyAbrams.com
Sep 1, 2017
On Jobs:
For living wage and right to form unions
As Governor, Stacey will promote policies to ensure pay equity and expand paid sick leave. Georgia should require a living wage in every county. Furthermore, the right to form a union and collectively bargain for
fair wages and employment conditions is fundamental to workplace fairness. As Minority Leader, Stacey never wavered in her opposition to legislation that would erode the rights of workers to bargain for fair pay and safe workplace conditions.
Source: 2018 Georgia Gubernatorial website StaceyAbrams.com
Sep 1, 2017
On Civil Rights:
No discrimination, including against LGBTQ
We must demand that our workplaces never discriminate based on a person's race, gender, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, pregnancy, disability, or immigration status. A proud LGBTQ* ally, Stacey co-sponsored civil rights legislation in
Georgia, fought against "religious freedom" legislation, and co-signed bills to prohibit employer termination of LGBTQ* Georgians based on their status.
Source: 2018 Georgia Governor website StaceyAbrams.com
Aug 17, 2017
On Corporations:
Invest in community businesses
Small businesses employ more Georgians, and they can be started anywhere. As Governor, she will direct more economic development dollars to hometown businesses.
Funds will be targeted to reach low-income communities and rural counties, and we will help Georgia businesses expand by offering access to capital.
Source: 2018 Georgia Governor website StaceyAbrams.com
Aug 17, 2017
On Crime:
Justice should not be determined by your paycheck
Stacey will focus on reforming bail policies, decriminalizing traffic offenses, increasing training that recognizes implicit bias, and stopping the shameful practices of private probation companies. We must expand reforms to support community policing.
However, reform efforts must also recognize that disparities in school funding, health care access, and job opportunities are inextricably related to over-incarceration and prolonged probation sentences.
Source: 2018 Georgia Governor website StaceyAbrams.com
Aug 17, 2017
On Education:
Must offer many paths for higher education
As Minority Leader, Stacey Abrams negotiated the inclusion of a 1% low interest loan program for higher education and remedial classes for technical college students, and she fought for a need-based aid program in the state.
As Governor, she will push for free access to technical college, debt-free four-year college, and need-based aid as a priority in Georgia. Under her leadership, Georgia will expand access to apprenticeships and invest in adult literacy options.
Source: 2018 Georgia Governor website StaceyAbrams.com
Aug 17, 2017
On Energy & Oil:
Clean energy key to jobs & innovation
With the right policies, Georgia can lead the Southeast in advanced energy jobs. As Governor, Stacey will work with public and private partners to create new jobs in infrastructure, clean energy, biotech and agritech,
as well as expand broadband to connect our communities to the Internet. We can train our students in growing fields like energy engineering, sustainability science and build an energy innovation ecosystem across the state.
Source: 2018 Georgia Governor website StaceyAbrams.com
Aug 17, 2017
On Environment:
Stay on top of environmental waste & clean-up
Stacey has worked to protect our natural resources and communities from hazardous waste that often has gone unchecked.
She supported greater oversight of petroleum pipelines, sponsored legislation to ensure funds for hazardous waste clean-up actually went to that purpose, and to require landfills to alert the public in the event of a leak.
Source: 2018 Georgia Governor website StaceyAbrams.com
Aug 17, 2017
On Families & Children:
Learning begins at birth
We must start our commitment to education with high-quality, affordable childcare. We offer tax credits and subsidies to working parents to take care of our youngest citizens.
Quality early care has been tied to school readiness, graduation rates, reading proficiency, and college-going rates. I'm committed to expanding access to pre-k to three year-olds.
Source: 2018 Georgia Governor website StaceyAbrams.com
Aug 17, 2017
On Government Reform:
Protect voter's rights against voter suppression tactics
As Minority Leader, Stacey fought back voter suppression tactics and introduced legislation to expand access to the ballot. Through the New Georgia Project, Stacey registered more than 200,000 people of color, forced the restoration of
33,000 illegally canceled voter applications, and defeated attempts to intimidate voters. As Governor, she will oppose policies that seek to undermine the rights of Georgians.
Source: 2018 Georgia Governor website StaceyAbrams.com
Aug 17, 2017
On Government Reform:
Founded voter registration project
Dedicated to civic engagement, she founded the
New Georgia Project, which registered more than 200,000 voters of color between 2014 and 2016.
Source: 2018 Georgia Governor website StaceyAbrams.com
Aug 17, 2017
On Health Care:
Expand Medicaid; explore universal coverage
Stacey worked to sign Georgians up for the Affordable Care Act and she has fought for Medicaid expansion. As governor,
Stacey will work to expand Medicaid and provide coverage for 500,000 Georgians, create 56,000 jobs, stabilize our rural counties and explore pathways to universal coverage in our state.
Source: 2018 Georgia Governor website StaceyAbrams.com
Aug 17, 2017
On Jobs:
For living wage and right to form unions
As Governor, Stacey will promote policies to ensure pay equity and expand paid sick leave. Georgia should require a living wage in every county. Furthermore, the right to form a union and collectively bargain for
fair wages and employment conditions is fundamental to workplace fairness. As Minority Leader, Stacey never wavered in her opposition to legislation that would erode the rights of workers to bargain for fair pay and safe workplace conditions.
Source: 2018 Georgia Governor website StaceyAbrams.com
Aug 17, 2017
On Social Security:
We must help our most vulnerable citizens
As a state, we must deliver critical services to those who have physical, intellectual, and developmental disabilities as well as mental illness. As Minority Leader, Stacey has co-sponsored legislation to support
our most vulnerable residents, from kinship care legislation to expanding legal protections for seniors. As Governor, Stacey will continue to advocate for policies and funds to serve these communities.
Source: 2018 Georgia Governor website StaceyAbrams.com
Aug 17, 2017
On Welfare & Poverty:
Help working poor get a leg up
Stacey would tackle poverty among working families by establishing a state Earned Income Tax Credit, bridging transition from welfare to work without immediately eliminating benefits, and expanding access to childcare tax credits and subsidies.
She will also continue fighting to protect workers from misclassification as independent contractors and abusive on-call scheduling, providing families with predictable workweeks and predictable paychecks.
Source: 2018 Georgia Governor website StaceyAbrams.com
Aug 17, 2017
On Civil Rights:
Reflect on terrible Confederacy in museums, not monuments
Rep. Abrams on Twitter: "The removal of the bas relief [sculptures] of Confederates from Stone Mountain has been a constant debate since the state bought the property in 1958. Paid for by founders of the 2nd KKK, the monument had no purpose other than
celebration of racism, terror & division when carved in 1915. We must never celebrate those who defended slavery and tried to destroy the Union. Confederate monuments belong in museums where we can study and reflect on that terrible history,
not in places of honor across our state. The managers of Stone Mountain have taken steps to educate with a powerful audio tour to return the listener to the horrors of slavery. But the visible image of Stone Mountain's edifice remains a blight
on our state and should be removed. State leg led by the Georgia Legislative Black Caucus have pushed for action for decades. I supported action then & I renew calls now."
Source: WABE on Twitter post for 2018 Georgia gubernatorial race
Aug 16, 2017
On Education:
Help students from early learning thru post-secondary school
Democrats understand that a good education is the greatest predictor of economic success and a key to breaking the cycles of poverty. Successful students are developed through parental responsibility and strong schools.
We are dedicated to ensuring the next generation has access to a first-rate education and the tools to drive our economy forward.As House Minority Leader,
I promote legislation that helps students from the earliest days of learning through the post-secondary academics.
We protect the rights of parents to help their children learn, support educators committed to holistic student achievement, and we demand well-equipped and safe schools where children have not only the freedom but the capacity to grow.
Source: 2018 Georgia governor campaign website StaceyAbrams.com
May 2, 2017
On Tax Reform:
Ask everyone to do their fair share
Families deserve a government committed to creating vibrant economy, promoting rural recovery and helping small businesses thrive. Democrats understand that citizens expect more of their government than simply taxes and regulation. We want government
that works for and with the people. We expect a government that asks everyone to do his or her fair share and to play by the rules. We demand a government that understands its business--to spend our tax dollars wisely.I support legislation that
promotes shared responsibility: legislation that fixes government so it works for everyone, promotes democracy and civil engagement, and protects taxpayer's investments. We must reject attempts to limit success to the privileged few and to restrict
personal liberty.
This balance--fostering a broad range of opportunity while fighting government infringement on our freedoms--this balance is the objective of the Georgia House Democratic Caucus.
Source: 2018 Georgia governor campaign website StaceyAbrams.com
May 2, 2017
On Technology:
We must invest in public infrastructure
Throughout our history, Democrats have believed in equality of economic opportunity. Our state and our economy are strongest when government is a partner in growth, by providing the infrastructure and the framework to guarantee that everyone has a
shot at success. To achieve this, we must invest in public infrastructure, pay workers a livable wage, spur job growth with smart policies and demand fair tax policies.
Source: 2018 Georgia governor campaign website StaceyAbrams.com
May 2, 2017
On Government Reform:
Head of a voter registration group; focus on minorities
Republican Brian Kemp, who as secretary of state is Georgia's top elections official, and Democrat Stacey Abrams, the House minority leader and head of a voter registration group, have long sparred over election policy.Kemp advocated for stricter
voter ID laws to prevent what he called the threat of illegal voters casting ballots and Abrams contending those new rules could disenfranchise minorities, the disabled and the elderly.
But they clashed the sharpest during the 2014 after Abrams new
voter registration group, the New Georgia Project, announced ambitious goals to register 800,000 minority voters within a decade. The group said it submitted 86,000 voter registration forms during the 2014 cycle, but Kemp's office argued that tens of
thousands of applications had not been properly submitted. The voter group supported a coalition that sued Kemp's office again in 2016 over the cancellation of nearly 35,000 registration applications from 2013 to 2016 due to mismatched information.
Source: Atlanta Journal-Constitution on 2018 Georgia governor race
Apr 11, 2017
On Crime:
Voted YES on criminalizing "up-skirting"
HB 9: Commonly known as "up skirting," legislation criminalizes knowingly using any device or apparatus to observe, photograph, videotape, film, or record underneath such person's clothing for the purpose of
viewing intimate body parts or undergarments without the person's consent. Also unlawful to disseminate any such image or recording. MY VOTE: YES
Source: 2018 Georgia governor campaign website StaceyAbrams.com
Mar 30, 2017
On Crime:
Voted NO on 10-year minimum for assaulting a cop
HB 258: Amends the Code regarding the aggravated assault of a peace officer by increasing the minimum sentence to ten years of imprisonment. If the aggravated assault of a peace officer involves the discharge of a firearm, none of the mandatory minimum
sentence can be probated, stayed, suspended, deferred or withheld. MY VOTE: NO. I disagree with the increase of mandatory minimums and the lack of discretion available to judges to fully determine if extenuating circumstances are present.
Source: 2018 Georgia governor campaign website StaceyAbrams.com
Mar 30, 2017
On Drugs:
Expand list of conditions for medical marijuana
HB 65: Expands the list of conditions for which a patient may register with the Low THC Oil Patient Registry. HB 65 expands the list to include
Tourette's syndrome, autism, intractable pain, post-traumatic stress disorder, Alzheimer's disease, human immunodeficiency virus, and acquired immune deficiency syndrome. MY VOTE: YES
Source: 2018 Georgia governor campaign website StaceyAbrams.com
Mar 30, 2017
On Drugs:
Add fentanyl to list of criminalized opioids
HB 213: Updates the Georgia Code to include the drug fentanyl alongside morphine, opium, and heroin. Individuals convicted of felony drug trafficking of
fentanyl would be subjected to the same punishments as trafficking those other drugs. MY VOTE: YES
Source: 2018 Georgia governor campaign website StaceyAbrams.com
Mar 30, 2017
On Education:
Chief Turnaround Officers for low-performing schools
HB 338: Allows the State School Board to hire and direct a Chief Turnaround Office responsible for intervention in low-performing schools. The CTO would be responsible for conducting assessments of targeted schools, hiring turnaround coaches, and
recommending potential actions for restructuring low-performing schools. Bill also creates an educational turnaround advisory committee comprised of educators, administrators, school board members and parents. MY VOTE: YES. HB 338 is an important
bill that creates a path for empirical evidence of the needed supports for chronically low-performing schools. Specifically, the bill will require the collection of necessary evidence to diagnose the causes of struggling schools--like determining
whether students have proper nutrition, hearing tests, and eyeglasses--needs that must be addressed before any state intervention takes place. Moreover, the Chief Turnaround Officer must now hold extensive credentialing in the field of public education.
Source: 2018 Georgia governor campaign website StaceyAbrams.com
Mar 30, 2017
On Education:
Voted NO on $42M more tax credits for private schools
HB 217: Increases the total amount of tax credits available for public funding of private school education via student scholarship organizations from $58 million in 2017 to $100 million per year beginning in 2022.MY VOTE: NO. I do not support the
public funding of private education, as (1) public schools are available to all children; (2) private schools are permitted to discriminate in their choice of students; & (3) our persistent underfunding of education argues against any diversion of funds.
Source: 2018 Georgia governor campaign website StaceyAbrams.com
Mar 30, 2017
On Government Reform:
Exact-match process violates Voting Rights Act
HB 268: Seeks to void a recent federal court settlement requiring the Secretary of State to refine its voter registration process to exclude the "exact matching" process that led to the unlawful cancellation more than 30,000 voter registration
applications since 2013. The bill would also require non-partisan voter information groups and Election Protection groups providing to move their tables or booths beyond the 150 foot barrier and at least 25 feet away from voters standing in
line--depending upon the length and location of lines of voters throughout the course of Election Day. MY VOTE: NO. HB 268 would negatively impact reforms recently agreed to by the Secretary of State in the federal settlement of the "exact match"
federal voting rights lawsuit and would likely lead to further expensive and time-consuming litigation. Furthermore, it likely violates the First Amendment, Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 and the National Voter Registration Act.
Source: 2018 Georgia governor campaign website StaceyAbrams.com
Mar 30, 2017
On Government Reform:
Stop redistricting voters of color to dilute their votes
HB 515: This bill amends the boundaries of multiple House legislative districts. Of most concern, the new map packs African-American voters from Republican HD 40 into heavily Democratic HD 53.
In HD 111, the revised maps continue a process initiated in 2015 to dilute black votes by shifting voters into adjacent districts and by adding white voters to the district in 2017.
MY VOTE: NO. Voters of color are facing increased inconvenience by repeated shifts in their districts, in order to accommodate diminished GOP voting strength.
With each redrawing of the lines, voters of color are shifted to new legislators and divided from neighbors.
Source: 2018 Georgia governor campaign website StaceyAbrams.com
Mar 30, 2017
On Gun Control:
Gun-carry license doesn't apply to "campus carry"
HB 280: Current version of "campus carry." HB 280 would allow for any weapons carry license holder to concealed carry a firearm on public university campuses. Athletic areas, student housing,
and fraternity and sorority houses are not covered under the proposed exception. Carrying is also prohibited on up to three on-campus pre-school spaces. MY VOTE: NO
Source: 2018 Georgia governor campaign website StaceyAbrams.com
Mar 30, 2017
On Homeland Security:
Give military base residents tuition & teaching certificates
- HB 222: Allows a member of the Georgia National Guard or a member of a reserve component of the armed forces of the United States located in Georgia to be classified as a legal resident under eligibility requirements for HOPE scholarships and
grants. MY VOTE: YES
- HB 224: Amends the 'Quality Basic Education Act' to allow military students the ability to attend any school within their school system beginning in the 2017-2018 school year, where space is available.
This legislation defines a "military student" as any student whose parent is a military service member who lives on or off a military base. MY VOTE: YES
- HB 245: Requires the Georgia Professional Standards
Commission to implement a process allowing military spouses to qualify for temporary teaching certificates, teaching certificates by endorsement, or expedited teaching certificates when moving to Georgia. MY VOTE: YES
Source: 2018 Georgia governor campaign website StaceyAbrams.com
Mar 30, 2017
On Immigration:
Colleges need not act as immigration enforcement officers
HB 37: Would prohibit any private postsecondary institution eligible for tuition equalization grants from implementing a sanctuary policy. Sanctuary policies restrict employees' cooperation with federal and state officials or law enforcement officers
reporting immigration status information. Any private postsecondary institution that refuses to cooperate may lose state funding or state-administered federal funding, which includes scholarship funds received by students of the institution.
MY VOTE: NO. Institutions of higher learning should not be compelled to act as immigration enforcement officers for any branch of government. More concerning, if the institution violates the policy, all students would be punished.
For example, if a school violates the policy, any HOPE Grant recipient could lose his or her funding, regardless of immigration status.
Source: 2018 Georgia governor campaign website StaceyAbrams.com
Mar 30, 2017
On Tax Reform:
Keep graduated income tax instead of 5.4% flat tax
HB 329: Would eliminate Georgia's graduated income tax structure and replace it with a 5.4 percent flat tax, regardless of income. Also proposes a modest Earned Income Tax Credit for working families, equal to 10 percent of the federal tax credit.
MY VOTE: NO. While this plan will close important loopholes that penalize low-income married couples, in its current form, the legislation increases taxes on single low-income taxpayers.
Source: 2018 Georgia governor campaign website StaceyAbrams.com
Mar 30, 2017
On Technology:
Creates commission on Transit Governance and Funding
HB 160: Creates the Georgia Commission on Transit Governance and Funding. The purpose of this commission will be to study and assess needs for, potential methods of funding of, and means of providing a system
of mass transportation and mass transportation facilities for any one or more metropolitan areas of the state, while including consideration of federal programs. MY VOTE: YES
Source: 2018 Georgia governor campaign website StaceyAbrams.com
Mar 30, 2017
On Gun Control:
State should enact reasonable restrictions on guns
[After series of shootings in July 2016] "Georgia must have a thoughtful conversation about the national epidemic of gun violence and racially discriminatory policing," said Abrams. Georgians "face the failure of our state to implement reasonable
restrictions to keep guns out of the wrong hands." The House Democratic Caucus, she said, will explore a package of proposals that will include gun restrictions and wider access to mental health care via expansion of Medicaid.
Source: Macon Telegraph on 2018 Georgia Gubernatorial race
Jul 18, 2016
Page last updated: Jan 06, 2019