Teresa Tomlinson in 2020 GA Senate race

On Abortion: A woman is the sole fiduciary of her body and any pregnancy

• I believe that women's reproductive rights are basic human rights.
• I believe that bodily autonomy is an essential component of the freedom and equality guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution.
• I believe that politicians should stay out of the private and highly individualized medical considerations of a woman's reproductive health.
• I reject the notion that a pregnancy creates an independent "person" under the law. Indeed, a woman is the sole fiduciary of her body and any pregnancy she carries.
• I support the fundamental right to abortion enshrined by Roe v. Wade and will only vote for the confirmation of federal judges who commit to adhere to the bedrock judicial principle of stare decisis.
• I support the repeal of policies, including the Hyde Amendment, which prohibit abortion coverage for women who get their reproductive care through government-administered healthcare programs.

On Budget & Economy: Invest in infrastructure for rural farmers

Support initiatives that strengthen rural communities to ensure Georgia's hardworking farmers have access to transportation, processing facilities, rural broadband expansion, health care services and related infrastructure needed to be successful and maintain a desirable quality of life.

On Civil Rights: Expand Voting Rights Act; end voter suppression

• I support legislation to correct the damage caused to the Voting Rights Act by the Shelby County v Holder case, and expand the protections of the Voting Rights Act to all 50 states.
• I support Congressional efforts to ensure our elections are free from interference by foreign governments or their agents.
• I support efforts to ensure the integrity of the voting process and improve our election security, including hand-marked paper ballots as the superior alternative for every election.
• I support efforts to end voter suppression and gerrymandering tactics that dilute the basic democratic concept of "one person, one vote," and which disproportionately affect minorities and other vulnerable communities.
• I support efforts to expand the right to vote to as many eligible people as possible by providing for automatic voter registration and same day registration.
• I support efforts to make voting easier for early voting and Saturday voting efforts.

On Crime: End abuse of cash bail bonds & for-profit prisons

As the next United States Senator from Georgia, I will:
• Support an end to the abuse of cash bail bonds across America. No one should serve a long jail sentence for nonviolent, minor offenses simply because they are unable to pay bail. The criminalization of poverty is unacceptable.
• Support legislation that brings about an end to for-profit prisons.
• Support abolishment of the federal death penalty.

On Crime: Fund reentry programs and restore voting rights to ex-felons

As US Senator, I will:
• Support increased federal funding for the successful reentry of those who have served their time and repaid their debt to society so as to reduce recidivism, enhance community and human assets and reduce the direct and indirect cost of broadscale imprisonment. |
• Support full reinstatement of the right to vote to every prior felon who has repaid their debt to society.
• Support reform of mandatory minimum sentences for nonviolent offenses.

On Drugs: Remove marijuana from Controlled Substance Act schedule

• I support removing marijuana from the Controlled Substance Act schedule, so it can be regulated, and taxed appropriately.
• I support regulating marijuana under the appropriate federal agency which can work with states to provide market and interstate commerce continuity, thereby preventing black markets, criminal law disparities, and other market anomalies or unintended effects.
• I support amending the IRS tax code and banking regulations to fully accommodate this new industry.
• I believe the federal government must address the decades of racial disparity and harsh criminal sentences for minor marijuana offenses through expungement and commutation programs.
• I believe the federal government should ensure the participation of minority participants in any legalized marijuana market and help facilitate sources of start-up capital and other funding needed to make this participation a reality.

On Drugs: End sentencing disparities between crack and powder cocaine

As the next United States Senator from Georgia, I will:
• Support an end to sentencing disparities between crack and powder cocaine and other drug charge disparities with a racial bias impact.
• Support reform of mandatory minimum sentences for nonviolent offenses, so that judges and prosecutors can use discretion in sentencing decisions, particularly for first-time offenders.

On Energy & Oil: Clean economy will create jobs, lower energy costs

• I support a new, clean economy for our state and our nation because it will create millions of jobs as we: 1) construct a new power grid; 2) manufacture turbines and solar energy equipment; 3) expand rail lines and energy efficient transportation infrastructure; and 4) develop programs for replacing lead pipes and weatherizing homes, among other opportunities. A new, clean economy will also lower energy costs for all Americans.
• I support the Climate Action Now Act, which seeks to compel the current administration to rejoin the Paris Climate Agreement.
• I support extending federal Investment Tax Credit for Georgia solar power deployment.
• I support extending the federal sales tax credit for electric vehicles and reinstating a Georgia sales tax credit for alternative fueled vehicles to improve our air quality.

On Foreign Policy: My support for Israel is unshakable

My support for Israel is unshakable in the following respects:
• Israel's right to exist.
• A sustainable two-state solution.
• Funding aid in support of Israel's security.
• Continued strategic partnerships between Israel and the United States.
• The special relationship between the US and Israel must be supported and strengthened.
• I am committed to substantial US security assistance to Israel, currently set in the amount of $3.3 billion per year.
• I will support continued funding levels for missile and rocket defense programs, including the Iron Dome and David's Sling.
• The BDS movement is counter-productive to the Mid-East peace process, and does not facilitate a two-state solution, accordingly, I oppose the BDS movement.

On Foreign Policy: Restore and support our traditional alliances

On Free Trade: Reject policies that put our farmers at disadvantage

On Gun Control: Universal background checks; assault weapon ban

As the next United States Senator from Georgia, I will:
• Establish universal background checks requiring purchasers to pass a background check before acquiring a firearm from any seller.
• Permanently ban the sale or transfer of assault weapons and large-capacity ammunition magazines.
• Block suspected terrorists who are on federal "no fly" lists from purchasing guns. Known terrorists have no right to access such weapons. Impose federal restrictions on gun ownership by individuals who suffer from serious mental health conditions and who pose a threat to themselves or others.
• The Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) and other law enforcement agencies should be allowed to collect and organize searchable data regarding guns sales, offenders and other such information.
• Provide funding for the study of gun violence as a public safety issue and provide funding for evidence-based gun violence intervention programs.

On Health Care: Lower Medicare eligibility to 55, offer public option

As the next United States Senator from Georgia:
• I will lead the effort to achieve universal healthcare coverage.
• I will move to protect and strengthen the Affordable Care Act (ACA)
• I will work to encourage all states to expand Medicaid coverage for those earning up to 138% of the poverty level.
• I will work to lower the Medicare eligibility age to 55 and offer a public option for people to buy-in to Medicare insurance coverage through the ACA healthcare exchanges.

On Immigration: End family separation & citizenship for DREAMers

• I will work to immediately end any policy that separates families or places refugees/migrants in cage-filled detention centers.
• I believe DREAMers should be made citizens without delay.
• I believe there should be a path to citizenship for those people who work hard, pay taxes, and want a better life.
• I believe we need to invest resources in effective, secure, smart borders, not a costly, ineffective and symbolic "wall."
• I believe we need to invest in a speedy and just asylum review process, and in a humane family placement program for refugees.
• I believe in the revamping of our visa process and in finding a fair and just way to resolve those who have overstayed their visas.

On Jobs: Support right to organize & protect benefits

On Jobs: Raise minimum wage to $15 with cost of living adjustments

On War & Peace: Congress should vote on war actions, including Afghanistan

As the next United States Senator from Georgia, I will:
• Fulfill the intent of the Constitution by advocating for Congress to vote on the merits of all war actions, including the continuing war in Afghanistan.
• Adequately resource the DVA to correct administrative inefficiencies and ineffectiveness, hire more doctors and mental health professionals.
• Reject efforts to privatize the VA; never support efforts that incentivize a profit motive over the health & well-being of our veterans.

On War & Peace: Sanctions against Iran, but diplomacy as well

• I support sanctions to address Iran's illicit behavior, including its support for terrorism, human rights abuses, and the Assad regime in Syria.
• I support efforts to prevent the flow of arms and funding to terrorist groups, including Hamas and Hezbollah.
• The U.S. should pursue continued diplomatic engagement with our allies to address Iran's nuclear and regional aggression programs in order to avoid a destabilizing and costly war with Iran.

On Civil Rights: Add sexual orientation & gender identity to Civil Rights Act

On Health Care: Concerned about closure of rural hospitals

On Education: Led the fight to save women's college from shutting down