David Perdue in State of Georgia Archives
On Abortion:
Human life begins at conception
Question topic: Human life begins at conception and deserves legal protection at every stage until natural death.Perdue: Strongly Agree
Question topic: Briefly describe your spiritual beliefs and values.
Perdue: Based on my faith,
I have deeply held personal convictions that I share with a majority of Georgians. These principles shape my belief in the limited and clearly defined role of government. Additionally, there are certain issues on which I will not waver.
I believe that we should promote a culture that values life and protects the innocent, especially the unborn. I also believe that we must protect traditional marriage, keeping it between one man and one woman.
Source: Faith2Action iVoterGuide on 2014 Georgia Senate race
Sep 30, 2014
On Abortion:
Backed ban on most abortions after six weeks
Q: Keep legal or ban?Perdue: Ban. "Will continue fighting to protect the unborn." Backed ban on most abortions after six weeks that the courts overturned. Co-sponsored bill to end any federal funding of Planned Parenthood.
Ossoff: Legal. "I will only vote to confirm federal judges who pledge to uphold Roe v. Wade." Will defend Planned Parenthood's "essential preventative and reproductive Health Care services."
Source: CampusElect on 2020 Georgia Senate race
Nov 3, 2020
On Budget & Economy:
Free enterprise is the key to national prosperity
Question topic: Free enterprise and the right to private property turn mankind's natural self interest into the fairest and most productive economic system there is, and are the key to national prosperity.
Perdue: Strongly Agree
Question topic: Briefly list political or legislative issues of most concern to you.
Perdue: Reforming our broken tax code & reducing our regulatory burdens:
We need to get our economy back on track and the only way to do it is less government regulations (repeal Dodd-Frank, stop Carbon tax, repeal ObamaCare) and lower taxes
Source: Faith2Action iVoterGuide on 2014 Georgia Senate race
Sep 30, 2014
On Budget & Economy:
Endorsed by Georgia Chamber of Commerce
Chamber of Commerce endorsement: "The Georgia Chamber endorses Sen. Perdue because he truly knows and cares about
Georgia small businesses, our large employers, family farmers, foresters and manufacturers," Chamber President/CEO Chris Clark said.
Source: Albany Herald on 2020 Georgia Senate endorsements
Oct 24, 2020
On Budget & Economy:
Supported Opportunity Zones to incentivize investment
David knows that when economic opportunity is elusive to underserved communities, hope evaporates for them. Opportunity Zones incentivize investment in communities that are thirsting for economic mobility. David was an important voice in
passing the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, which created Opportunity Zones, and we're seeing them make a clear impact across South Carolina and Georgia with thousands of individuals gaining access to new paths out of poverty.
Source: August Chronicle on 2020 Georgia Senate race
Oct 23, 2020
On Budget & Economy:
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau a "rogue agency"
Q: Tighten or loosen regulation of banks and credit card companies?Perdue: Loosen. Supports "rollback of federal banking regulations." Calls Consumer Financial Protection Bureau "rogue agency."
Ossoff: Tighten. Seeks more regulation of the banking system, reinstating Glass-Steagall Act.
Source: CampusElect on 2020 Georgia Senate race
Nov 3, 2020
On Budget & Economy:
For Paycheck Protection Program, pro-market solutions
COVID-19 has been an unprecedented crisis, and we took unprecedented steps to protect our most vulnerable. We shut our entire economy down, and it took a tremendous toll on our employment numbers. One of the great things about the CARES Act was that
it established the Paycheck Protection Program, which put out millions of loans targeted to small businesses. It's been a lifeline. With pro-market solutions that engage people to get back to work, we can safely get our economy going again.
Source: AARP Voter Guide on 2020 Georgia Senate race
Oct 8, 2020
On Civil Rights:
Uphold Georgia's constitutional ban on same-sex marriage
As for supporting or opposing the right of same-sex Georgians to marry, Perdue said Georgians have already passed a constitutional amendment banning that action."As a senator, I've got to uphold that, so I support that, whatever the law of the land is
in Georgia," he said. "As a U.S. senator, I'm not going to get involved in state decisions like this. It's a constitutional amendment. If that changes, then I will support that with the population.
Source: Marietta Daily Journal on 2014 Georgia Senate race
Feb 16, 2014
On Civil Rights:
AdWatch: Perdue's company sued for gender pay discrimination
Emily's List will launch a $1 million ad campaign targeting David Perdue, focusing on a discrimination lawsuit filed by women at a company he ran. The ad, entitled "Letter," details the lawsuit's charges: that Dollar General, the company where Perdue
served as a CEO for four years, paid women less than men for similar positions.Perdue served as CEO of Dollar General from 2003 to 2007. In 2007, more than 2,000 female store managers filed a lawsuit against Dollar General, claiming the company
consistently paid male managers more than female ones. Dollar General ultimately paid millions to settle the case in 2011, after Perdue had left the company.
"David Perdue owes the people an explanation for why he's killed and outsourced jobs and why
his company was at the center of a pay discrimination suit--and most importantly, whether he still believes that women and men should not be paid the same amount for the same job," said the president of Emily's List.
Source: DailyKos.com on 2014 Georgia Senate race
Aug 22, 2014
On Civil Rights:
Government shouldn't redefine marriage
Question topic: Marriage is a union of one man and one woman. No government has the authority to alter this definition.
Perdue: Strongly Agree
Source: Faith2Action iVoterGuide on 2014 Georgia Senate race
Sep 30, 2014
On Civil Rights:
OpEd: avoids voter suppression questions
Perdue appeared to dodge a college student's inquiry by ripping the cellphone out of his hand. The senator was at Georgia Tech to campaign for gubernatorial candidate Brian Kemp when he was approached by a member of the school's Young Democratic
Socialists of America and asked about tens of thousands of voter registrations that Kemp, as the secretary of state, is refusing to process. "How can you endorse a candidate..." he says, before Perdue takes the phone from his hand ending his question.
Source: ABC News on 2020 Georgia Senate race
Oct 15, 2018
On Civil Rights:
Supreme Court overstepped in legalizing same-sex marriage
Q: Support gay marriage and other LGBTQ rights issues?Perdue: No. Sees marriage as "between one man and one woman." In legalizing same-sex marriage, the
Supreme Court "overstepped" its role.
Ossoff: Yes. Supports LGBTQ Rights, and Equality Act against discrimination for gender or orientation.
Source: CampusElect on 2020 Georgia Senate race
Nov 3, 2020
On Corporations:
Only about 10 Senators have any real business experience
Perdue has stressed his leadership at well-known corporations, including Sara Lee, Reebok and Dollar General. "There are only about 10 people in the Senate who have any real business experience," Perdue said during a recent campaign swing.PolitiFact
[questioned whether] with 100 members in the Senate, could only one in 10 senators have a background in business? In the 113th Congress, 27 senators identified "business" as their occupation. But some senators list more than one occupation, and senators
may not have been practicing their listed profession immediately before they entered Congress.
As for Perdue, he is using a number that campaign researchers gleaned by going through the biographies of all 100 senators, said Perdue's spokesman,
[counting] senators who worked in the corporate world or had responsibility for a company's profit and loss margins. "Some of the members' primary occupations are debatable, which is why we use the language 'about 10.' " We rate his statement Mostly True
Source: PolitiFact AdWatch on 2014 Georgia Senate debate
Aug 4, 2014
On Corporations:
End tax breaks & deals that outsource our jobs
Merkley is going up with a new ad focusing on his efforts to prevent companies from outsourcing jobs. Merkley speaks directly to the camera, describing his father working at a mill when he was growing up:
"As men and women clock in across the state, thousands of hands are building a stronger Oregon. But there are still special interests that want to give tax breaks to corporations that ship our jobs overseas," Merkley says.
"So I wrote a bill to make China play fair on trade, and I fought to end deals that outsource our jobs," he said.
The ad begins running in the Eugene market on Tuesday. The buy is "substantial," according to the campaign, which declined to further characterize the amount of money behind the ad.
Source: PolitiFact AdWatch on 2014 Georgia Senate debate
Aug 4, 2014
On Crime:
Supported First Step Act with restrictions
Senator Perdue secured the following improvements to the First Step Act: - Removes the ability of judges to unilaterally make offenders with serious criminal records eligible for reduced sentences
- Ensures serious violent offenders cannot take advantage of time credits toward pre-release custody
Source: 2020 Georgia Senate campaign website peters.senate.gov
Dec 10, 2018
On Crime:
Supports expanding rights of crime victims
Perdue has been honored by Marsy's Law For Georgia for his support for expanding constitutional rights for victims of violent crimes. "After going through the trauma of a violent crime, victims and their families deserve to know if the accused attacker
has been released," said Senator Perdue. "Marsy's Law for Georgia is doing great work to raise awareness and ensure both victims and their families have a voice in our criminal justice system."
Source: Metro Atlanta CEO on 2020 Georgia Senate race
May 31, 2019
On Crime:
Opposed Sentencing Reform Act as too lenient
A bipartisan group of senators, led by Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), unveiled improvements to the Sentencing Reform and Corrections Act, S. 2123. The measure is designed to reform federal sentencing policies, bring substantive
rehabilitative programming to federal prisons, address the growing costs of incarceration, and enhance public safety by focusing on reducing prisoners' risk of recidivism. [Perdue] called the Act a "criminal leniency bill."
"The bill's definition of what constitutes a 'serious violent felony' creates a loophole that would allow these serious felons to slip through the system," said
Perdue. "As currently written, this bill would put thousands of dangerous felons back on the streets early, potentially endangering our families and communities, and therefore I still cannot support it."
Source: GeorgiaPol.com OpEd on 2020 Georgia Senate race
May 2, 2016
On Crime:
Need police reform, but vast majority of cops are honorable
Q: Restrict police use of force and increase public oversight?Perdue: Mixed. "Do we need police reform? Absolutely. But the vast majority of police officers protect us honorably."
Ossoff: Yes. "We urgently need a New Civil Rights Act to establish national standards for use [of] force by American police!"
Source: CampusElect on 2020 Georgia Senate race
Nov 3, 2020
On Drugs:
Receptive to medical marijuana, but leave it to states
The Washington Post reported that the Obama administration Friday gave the banking industry approval to do business with legal marijuana sellers. Perdue was asked what he thought about this."I'm not a doctor, but the only use of marijuana that
I would support today would be the medical use of it," he said. "The two doctors in this race have both said that that would be acceptable to them. I've talked to other physicians that think it's a valuable tool to use. I'm basing this on medical
thought that that is a tool to use against some treatments for cancer and so forth, and if that can be used medicinally, I would be OK with that."
Loosening restrictions on the use of medical marijuana in Georgia is a decision for the state
Legislature, he said. "But as a senator, I'm telling you that I'm going to support the law of the land in the state of Georgia, that's first of all, second of all, that the medicinal use of it is something that I would be receptive to," he said.
Source: Marietta Daily Journal on 2014 Georgia Senate race
Feb 16, 2014
On Drugs:
Supports medical marijuana, not recreational use
Q: Marijuana--Decriminalize or legalize?Perdue: Medical yes. Supports access to medical marijuana.
As of 2014, opposed recreational.
Ossoff: Yes. "It's past time to legalize, regulate and tax cannabis."
Source: CampusElect on 2020 Georgia Senate race
Nov 3, 2020
On Education:
Helped secure permanent funding for HBCUs
David also worked across the aisle to secure permanent funding for historically Black colleges and universities. These institutions are vital to the success of so many black Americans, and David has shown himself to be a great champion for them.
David told me about his experience working side-by-side with Democratic congressman David Scott to get funding for HBCU agriculture scholarships in the 2018 Farm Bill.
Source: August Chronicle on 2020 Georgia Senate race
Oct 23, 2020
On Education:
Supports school choice including private schools
Q: Public funding for private or for-profit schools?Perdue: Yes. Supports "school choice," including charter and private schools.
Ossoff: No position found. Focuses on increasing teacher pay and strengthening public schools.
Source: CampusElect on 2020 Georgia Senate race
Nov 3, 2020
On Education:
Free tuition is what Soviets, Nazis, Cubans, Venezuelans did
Q: Support free or subsidized tuition for lower-income individuals?Perdue: No. Promises of free tuition are what "the Soviets did in Russia, the Germans did in '33," and what the Cubans and Venezuelans did.
Ossoff: Yes. Supports debt forgiveness and making public college, state school, or trade school education "debt-free."
Source: CampusElect on 2020 Georgia Senate race
Nov 3, 2020
On Energy & Oil:
No subsidies for wind and solar
Question topic: Governments should pay to develop wind and solar energy solutions when these are not economically feasible.
Perdue: Strongly Disagree
Source: Faith2Action iVoterGuide on 2014 Georgia Senate race
Sep 30, 2014
On Energy & Oil:
Support withdrawal from Paris Agreement
Q: Your opinion on climate change?Perdue: "The scientific community is not in total agreement" about human cause. Supports Trump withdrawal from Paris Agreement. Opposed Obama's Clean Power Plan and limits on offshore drilling.
Supports biomass investment.
Ossoff: "Climate change is a major threat to our prosperity and our security," part of "a broader environmental and ecological crisis." Will "deliver massive federal investment in clean energy, grid infrastructure, R&D."
Source: CampusElect on 2020 Georgia Senate race
Nov 3, 2020
On Environment:
Roll back stifling Obama-era regulations
Q: Tighten or loosen environmental regulations?Perdue: Mostly loosen. Roll back "stifling Obama-era regulations." Against reducing waste and emissions. Reduce plastic waste in oceans.
Ossoff: Tighten. Will work to reverse Trump "rollbacks of clean air, clean water, and fuel economy standards."
Source: CampusElect on 2020 Georgia Senate race
Nov 3, 2020
On Foreign Policy:
US should provide aid to encourage development
On foreign aid: "As we work to combat a myriad of threats around the world, we must continue America's role as a global humanitarian leader," said
Perdue. "After years of failed policies and weak leadership abroad, there is still much work to do to reengage with the rest of the world and encourage development. A great place to start is with improving the effectiveness of foreign assistance."
Source: U.S. Global Leadership Coalition on 2020 Georgia Senate race
Aug 25, 2017
On Foreign Policy:
Defends Trump on Putin; must engage with Russia
On Russia policy: "I think President Trump has done a great job in going over and meeting with Putin," said Perdue, one of the president's biggest
boosters. "What he says coming out of that [the press conference], I think, is minor news relative to the bigger picture, and that is we are re-engaging with someone in the world that can be very dangerous and we have to engage with them."
Source: RollCall.com on 2020 Georgia Senate race
Jul 18, 2018
On Foreign Policy:
National debt impacts our foreign policy
America's foreign policy has depended on three precepts: development, diplomacy and defense. The debt jeopardize our ability to fund them. I've traveled around the world to meet with our troops, foreign leaders and diplomats, so I've seen the impact the
debt is having on America's ability to lead globally. When Defense Secretary James Mattis said, "if you don't fund the State Department fully, then I need to buy more ammunition," he summed up how the debt is impacting our entire foreign policy.
Source: OpEd in USA Today for 2020 Georgia Senate race
Oct 5, 2017
On Foreign Policy:
Voted against blocking arm sales to Saudi Arabia
Q: Support blocking arms sales to Saudi Arabia?Perdue: No. Voted in U.S. Senate against resolution blocking Saudi arms sales.
Ossoff: Yes. Reject "regime that executes political dissidents, executes people for their sexuality" and brutally murders journalists.
Source: CampusElect on 2020 Georgia Senate race
Nov 3, 2020
On Free Trade:
My company exported American-made products into Asia
[Rep. Phil Gingrey asked Perdue]: "Most recently you and your cousin create an import-export business called Perdue Partners, which just happened to be created after your cousin--the former governor--appointed you to the Georgia Ports Authority.
That sounds like a conflict of interest to me."Perdue's response: "I'm insulted personally about Perdue Partners. I'm one of three partners there. We export American-made products into Asia. I know full well the difficulties of dealing with
this federal government. And that's why I want to go to Washington and try to bring some common sense and create a level playing field so we can get our manufacturers to competing again around the world."
In response to the now-familiar attack on Perdue by Rep. Jack Kingston for being on a board of a company that took stimulus money, Perdue pulled out a new jab: Kingston requested stimulus money for Georgia after voting against the stimulus law.
Source: Atlanta Journal-Constitution on 2014 Georgia Senate race
May 17, 2014
On Free Trade:
Supports USMCA trade agreement to replace NAFTA
The USMCA is a new trade pact among the US, Mexico and Canada, intended as a stronger and modernized replacement for the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA).Sen. David Perdue (R-GA): "President Trump is keeping his promise
to achieve better trade deals for America. Our economy has changed significantly since NAFTA was signed 24 years ago. It is encouraging that the Trump Administration succeeded in bringing both Mexico and Canada to the negotiating table."
Source: White House press release in 2020 Georgia Senate race
Oct 2, 2018
On Free Trade:
Reluctantly came to support Trump steel, aluminum tariffs
Some of his only public criticism of the president revolved around the issue of tariffs. Perdue was reluctant to support
Trump's proposed tariffs on steel and aluminum but eventually came to do so.
Source: Fox News on 2020 Georgia Senate race
Nov 3, 2020
On Free Trade:
Aggressively imported cheap Chinese products as CEO
In the pivotal Senate race between Perdue and challenger Jon Ossoff, the candidates have traded accusations around financial connections to China. But previously unreported business disclosures show that Perdue, during a touchstone period of
his business career, expanded aggressively into China to import cheap products into the United States. Perdue served as the chief executive of Dollar General from 2003 through 2007.
Source: The Intercept on 2020 Georgia Senate race
Oct 27, 2020
On Government Reform:
Absolute power corrupts; support check and balance system
Question topic: What in the nature of mankind caused America's Founders to carefully define, separate, and limit powers within the Constitution?
Perdue: The Founders saw firsthand that danger of entrusting too much authority in any one individual.
They recognized that absolute power corrupts.
Therefore, they drafted a Constitution that delineated specific duties and powers between the three branches of government so that there was a check and balance system preventing one person or branch from amassing absolute power.
Source: Faith2Action iVoterGuide on 2014 Georgia Senate race
Sep 30, 2014
On Government Reform:
Photo ID for voting
Question topic: People should be able to vote without photo identification.
Perdue: Strongly Disagree
Source: Faith2Action iVoterGuide on 2014 Georgia Senate race
Sep 30, 2014
On Government Reform:
Republican Secretary of State should resign over election
Joint Statement From Senators Perdue & Loeffler: "The management of Georgia elections has become an embarrassment. Georgians are outraged, and rightly so. Every legal vote cast should be counted. Any illegal vote must not. The mismanagement and lack of
transparency from the Secretary of State is unacceptable. Honest elections are paramount to the foundation of our democracy. The Secretary of State has failed to deliver honest and transparent elections. He has failed the people of Georgia, and he
should step down immediately."The Republican Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger responded: "Senators Loeffler and Perdue called for my resignation. That is not going to happen. From an election administration perspective, the election was a
resounding success. Almost 5 million Georgians cast a vote in this election--that is a record turnout. The process of reporting results followed the law. Where there have been allegations of illegal voting, my office has dispatched investigators."
Source: 2020 Georgia Senate campaign website PerdueSenate.com
Nov 9, 2020
On Government Reform:
Strong advocate for Congressional term limits
Frustrated with what he saw as a growing national security crisis and a massive national debt crisis,
Perdue ran for Senate in 2014 as his first public office. A strong advocate for term limits, this will be Perdue's first and only reelection campaign.
Source: Fox News on 2020 Georgia Senate race
Nov 3, 2020
On Government Reform:
Idea of voter suppression is a lie out of the pit of hell
Q: Strict ID and other rules to combat possible fraud, even if limiting access?Perdue: No position found. On chaotic GA primary, "more than 150 counties didn't have any problem. In a few we did. This idea of voter suppression is a lie
right out of the pit of hell."
Ossoff: No. Criticizes "major purges" of voter rolls and "mass disenfranchisement." Need a new Voting Rights Act.
Source: CampusElect on 2020 Georgia Senate race
Nov 3, 2020
On Government Reform:
OpEd: Refusal to debate seemed lordly and dismissive
When the curtain went up on Democrat Jon Ossoff, he was standing alone onstage. Sen. David Perdue "declined to participate in this debate and so is represented by an empty podium," said moderator Russ Spencer after introducing the candidates.
Perdue refused to give voters the benefit of his presence. He couldn't even be bothered to turn up and bob and weave and dodge tough questions. His absence seemed lordly and dismissive, which is precisely what Ossoff accused Perdue of being.
Source: Washington Post OpEd on 2020 Georgia Senate debate
Dec 6, 2020
On Gun Control:
Opposes more gun restrictions
Question topic: More restrictive gun control laws are needed now to protect public safety.
Perdue: Strongly Disagree
Source: Faith2Action iVoterGuide on 2014 Georgia Senate race
Sep 30, 2014
On Gun Control:
Ample guns laws on the books; supports background checks
Q: Your opinion on gun control?Perdue: "We have ample gun laws on the books;" should enforce them. Supports some more stringent background checks.
Ossoff: Supports universal background checks, red-flag laws, closing gun-show loophole, as well as a ban on assault weapons.
Source: CampusElect on 2020 Georgia Senate race
Nov 3, 2020
On Health Care:
Responsible thing to do: fix ObamaCare; don't repeal it
A spokesman for Perdue's campaign said that there was no conflict in Perdue's previous support for the idea of a federal health care law and his current opposition to ObamaCare. "David supports the full repeal of ObamaCare," the spokesman said. "However,
he along with many other Republicans recognize that there are issues that must be addressed at the federal level. For example, Georgia Congressman Dr. Tom Price has a great patient-centered alternative to replace ObamaCare."Rep. Jack Kingston drew
criticism from conservatives after he said Republicans should improve, rather than repeal, the Affordable Care Act: "A lot of conservatives say, 'Nah, let's just step back and let this thing fall to pieces on its own.' But I don't think that's always the
responsible thing to do," Kingston said. "I think we need to be looking for things that improve health care overall for all of us. And if there is something in ObamaCare, we need to know about it." Kingston later said his comments had been misinterpreted
Source: Huffington Post on 2014 Georgia Senate race
Mar 10, 2014
On Health Care:
Repeal ObamaCare; it's not a government responsibility
Question topic: It is the government's responsibility to be sure everyone has health care and a livable income.Perdue: Strongly Disagree
Question topic: The Affordable Care Act (ObamaCare) should be repealed by Congress.
Perdue: Strongly Agree
Source: Faith2Action iVoterGuide on 2014 Georgia Senate race
Sep 30, 2014
On Health Care:
Repeal fining poor because they can't afford ObamaCare
Q: Support Affordable Care Act (ACA), also known as ObamaCare?Perdue: No. Voted to repeal ACA. "The poorest among us will continue to be fined because they can't afford ObamaCare."
Ossoff: Yes. Will "work to improve [ACA], not repeal it, so we can make affordable insurance and quality care available to all Americans."
Source: CampusElect on 2020 Georgia Senate race
Nov 3, 2020
On Health Care:
COVID: We've done everything we could
Q: Your opinion on COVID response?Perdue: Trump and Pence are "taking the coronavirus very seriously." "We've done everything we could." Trump "has taken unprecedented action to protect the American people; now we're working to safely reopen
[and] help small businesses continue to weather this crisis."
Ossoff: "Tens of millions are losing jobs, essential workers are underpaid, under-protected and underinsured [while] help for ordinary people and smaller firms has been meager and slow."
Source: CampusElect on 2020 Georgia Senate race
Nov 3, 2020
On Health Care:
Market based solutions, crack down on fraud in Medicare
We need lower prescription drug costs, and increased access to health care through market-based solutions that increase competition--not government controls that have never really worked.
I believe that increasing transparency and cracking down on fraud in Medicare would improve the program's long-term viability. We need to guarantee coverage for preexisting conditions and protect seniors from surprise medical bills.
Source: AARP Voter Guide on 2020 Georgia Senate race
Oct 8, 2020
On Health Care:
Incentivize drug manufacturers to lower prices
The cost of prescription drugs is one of the biggest drivers of healthcare costs in America. I've put forward plans that would incentivize drug manufacturers to offer their products at a lower cost and address inefficiencies in the drug market
supply chain. I've also fought for legislation that would require pharmacists to disclose fees and price concessions they use for Medicare Part D. All Americans, and especially our seniors, deserve transparency at the pharmacy counter.
Source: AARP Voter Guide on 2020 Georgia Senate race
Oct 8, 2020
On Health Care:
Invest in equipping vulnerable populations
Seniors are particularly vulnerable to COVID-19 and we need to take special measures to ensure their safety. The CARES Act made sure that PPE shortages for long-term care facilities were addressed and passed billions of dollars in funding for
our providers to care for our seniors who'd become infected. We expanded telehealth and home health flexibilities. It's vital that we make sure we continue our investment in equipping vulnerable populations not just now but for future crises as well.
Source: AARP Voter Guide on 2020 Georgia Senate race
Oct 8, 2020
On Homeland Security:
Maintain a superior nuclear arsenal
Question topic: The United States must maintain a nuclear arsenal that is safe, reliable, modern and numerically superior to those of potential adversaries.
Perdue: Strongly Agree
Source: Faith2Action iVoterGuide on 2014 Georgia Senate race
Sep 30, 2014
On Homeland Security:
US must address global security crisis with strong defense
Perdue said America is facing a "global security crisis" in which allies distrust the U.S. and enemies do not fear it. A nuclear deal with Iran will leave that nation with a "breakout time down to zero" in 10-15 years for obtaining a nuclear
weapon. "To address this global security crisis and create a new beginning, we must have a consistent and strong foreign policy," he said. "However, to have a strong foreign policy we must have a strong defense."
Source: Albany Herald on 2020 Georgia Senate race
Apr 27, 2015
On Immigration:
Protect the borders; prevent illegal entry
Question topic: Government should enforce laws designed to protect the border and to prevent illegal entry of persons into the country.
Perdue: Strongly Agree
Source: Faith2Action iVoterGuide on 2014 Georgia Senate race
Sep 30, 2014
On Immigration:
Citizenship for DACA tied to cutting immigration
Q: Your opinion on immigration?Perdue: Supports Trump proposal for DACA path to citizenship tied to cutbacks in legal Immigration and funding for wall. DACA brings "chain migration." Supported limiting visas to "create a merit-based
immigration system."
Ossoff: "DREAMers are Americans," "here to stay." Supports "path to legal status for undocumented immigrants." "Strong border security doesn't require" sacrificing "our moral principles."
Source: CampusElect on 2020 Georgia Senate race
Nov 3, 2020
On Jobs:
Oppose increase in the federal minimum wage
At an hour-long Senate debate, Nunn said about David Perdue, "He would be the only senator who would have built his career around outsourcing jobs," Nunn said.Perdue has said his experience with outsourcing wasn't about moving job overseas but
obtaining products and services for companies.
At one point, Nunn asked whether Perdue supports an increase in the federal minimum wage and Perdue responded that he did not. "As I have said, if you increase the minimum wage, you will kill jobs
in this country," Perdue said. "This president wants bigger government, higher taxes, more regulation. This is the plan my opponent supports."
Immigration and agriculture were also hot topics for the crowd.
Perdue said he wanted to make it easier for farmers to obtain work visas and accused Nunn of not listing agriculture as a top priority in a campaign memo--something she dismissed as untrue.
Source: 2014 Georgia Senate debate coverage by NBC-11-Alive
Oct 7, 2014
On Jobs:
2005: I spent my career outsourcing; 2014: I'm proud of that
The GOP nominee is facing heat over revelations that he said he had "spent most of my career" focused on outsourcing, and didn't help himself by responding that he was "proud" of that record. [Democratic PACs are planning] millions of dollars in ads
hitting Perdue for the outsourcing comments.The controversy stems from a 2005 legal deposition about Pillowtex, a North Carolina textile company, where he was CEO in 2003. "Yeah, I spent most of my career doing that," the he said when asked to
describe his "experience with outsourcing." Perdue discussed his goal at Pillowtex of moving production overseas to try to save the company.
His initial response [in 2014] to the revelations didn't help put out the fire. "Defend it?
I'm proud of it," he said when asked about his "career outsourcing."
"This is a part of American business. Outsourcing is the procurement of products and services to help your business run. People do that all day," he continued.
Source: The Hill PacWatch on 2014 Georgia Senate debate
Oct 9, 2014
On Jobs:
Co-sponsored National Right-to-Work Act
Q: Support "right to work" laws, banning unions from mandating dues for workers they represent?
Perdue: Yes. Co-sponsored National Right-to-Work Act.
Ossoff: No position found. Has been endorsed by United Auto Workers.
Source: CampusElect on 2020 Georgia Senate race
Nov 3, 2020
On Jobs:
Raising minimum wage kills jobs
Q: Raise federal hourly minimum wage above current $7.25?Perdue: No recent position. In 2014 said if "increase the minimum wage, you will kill jobs."
Ossoff: Yes. "Fight to make sure the minimum wage is a livable wage."
Source: CampusElect on 2020 Georgia Senate race
Nov 3, 2020
On Principles & Values:
Judeo-Christian values established our government framework
Question topic: Efforts to bring Islamic law (shariah) to America do not pose a threat to our country and its Constitution.Perdue: Strongly Disagree
Question topic: Judeo-Christian values established a framework of morality which permitted
our system of limited government.
Perdue: Strongly Agree.
Question topic: Briefly describe your spiritual beliefs and values.
Perdue: Based on my faith, I have deeply held personal convictions that I share with a majority of Georgians.
These principles shape my belief in the limited and clearly defined role of government. Additionally, there are certain issues on which I will not waver. I believe that we should promote a culture that values life and protects the innocent,
especially the unborn. I also believe that we must protect traditional marriage, keeping it between one man and one woman.
Source: Faith2Action iVoterGuide on 2014 Georgia Senate race
Sep 30, 2014
On Principles & Values:
CEO of Dollar General & Reebok; cousin of Gov. Sonny Perdue
Perdue, the former CEO of Dollar General and Reebok and cousin of former GOP Gov. Sonny Perdue, is positioning himself as a relatively non-ideological outsider. He has been critical of Senator
Ted Cruz's recent efforts to use the debt ceiling as a bargaining chip, for example, which he warns could frighten investors. While strongly opposed to the Dodd-Frank Wall Street reform law, he's said that
he favors working with Democrats to amend it instead of the usual repeal calls. "I don't believe I have to give up my conservative ideals to offer up a compromise position in order to get progress," he told
MSNBC. "I'd rather take an 85% solution on the economic issues then sit here and get 0%."The former governor is now backing his cousin's campaign.
Source: MSNBC on 2014 Georgia Republican primary Senate race
Mar 26, 2014
On Principles & Values:
Change diapers & politicians frequently: not a D.C. insider
The battle to be the Republican candidate in the race to replace retiring Sen. Saxby Chambliss features David Perdue, Georgia Ports Authority board member, and the former CEO of Dollar General, and U.S. Rep. Jack Kingston, [At the debate, Kingston] was
unapologetic in presenting himself as an experienced Washington insider, despite strong attacks from Perdue who argued only an outsider can reign in the federal debt. "I am not going to apologize for being a long time soldier in this fight,"
Kingston said, noting his strong ratings from the National Right to Life campaign and National Rifle Association. He also said that he is the best candidate to broaden the appeal of the party given his success in a more Democratic leaning district and
willingness to engage liberal media. "The reality is MSNBC is where you have to go sometimes," he argued.Perdue argued that "politicians are like diapers" and need to be changed frequently. "We look like Democrat lite," he complained.
Source: The Hill e-zine on 2014 Georgia Senate debate
Apr 19, 2014
On Principles & Values:
COVID: Stock trades came under investigation
Perdue was one of a number of lawmakers whose stock trades came under fire early in the coronavirus pandemic. Records show that following a Jan. 24 Senate briefing on the threat of coronavirus, Perdue purchased somewhere between $63,000 and $245,000
worth of stock in Pfizer, a company now working to develop a coronavirus vaccine. He made a number of purchases of stock in DuPont de Nemours, a chemical company that supplies personal protective equipment.
One purchase on the same day as the members-only briefing was for $65,000.
Perdue said he was not involved in the trade. "I have had an outside professional that manages my personal finances and I'm not involved in the day-to-day," he said in a statement.
Source: Fox News on 2020 Georgia Senate race
Nov 3, 2020
On Principles & Values:
Mocked Kamala Harris's first name at Trump rally
Perdue took the opportunity to mock Sen. Kamala Harris's name. "The most insidious thing that Chuck Schumer and Joe Biden are trying to perpetrate, and Bernie, and Elizabeth, and KAH-mah-la, or Kah-MAH-la, or KAH-mah-la or Kamala-mala-mala, I don't
know, whatever," he said. It's a move that framed Harris as someone who's different. "Senator Perdue simply mispronounced Senator Harris' name, and he didn't mean anything by it," said Perdue's campaign communications director, John Burke, in a tweet.
Source: Vox.com on 2020 Georgia Senate race
Oct 18, 2020
On Principles & Values:
Strong supporter of judges in the mold of Antonin Scalia
There is no greater supporter of Trump's transformation of the nation's judiciary than Perdue. He fought to confirm Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court and will ensure that all future judicial nominees will also protect and defend the Constitution.
Perdue has worked tirelessly to confirm judges in the mold of Antonin Scalia - conservatives who understand that their modest, but critical, role under the Constitution is to protect the American people from government overreach and mob rule.
Source: Gwinnett Daily Post on 2020 Georgia Senate race
Nov 2, 2020
On Social Security:
Reduce $86T retirement deal for federal employees
Q: How would you protect Social Security for today's seniors and strengthen it for future generations?
A: We have a debt that's larger than our economy. It's the No. 1 threat to our national security. That's bad enough, $17 trillion.
But we have another $86 to $100 trillion dollars coming at us in future federal unfunded liabilities related to Social Security, Medicare and pension and benefits for federal employees. Perdue's solution is honoring obligations to anyone already
receiving Social Security benefits, but changing the benefits for anyone coming into the workforce: "Their deal is going to have to be different". Perdue would make the same changes to Medicare.
Source: AARP Voter Guide on 2014 Georgia Senate race
Aug 31, 2014
On Social Security:
Return to sensible budgeting to stabilize Social Security
Once we're through the COVID-19 crisis, we are going to have to work hard to save Social Security. We must end constant stopgap legislation we use to fund our government and return to sensible budgeting every year.
Once we do that, I'm confident we can continue to fulfill our promises to provide Social Security to our seniors.
Source: AARP Voter Guide on 2020 Georgia Senate race
Oct 8, 2020
On Tax Reform:
Cut spending AND increase revenue
In a conversation with the Macon Telegraph's editorial board, the multi-millionaire businessman did not offer the categorical refusal to raise taxes that is now customary among Republican candidates. "Is it better to try to get out of the ditch by
curbing the growth of spending or increasing revenue?" an editorial board member asked."Both," Perdue replied emphatically.
"And that's a euphemism for some kind of tax increase?" the interviewer noted.
Perdue laughed and explained, "Well here's
the reality: If you go into a business--I was never able to turn around a company just by cutting spending. You had to figure out a way to get revenue growing. There are five people in the US Senate who understand what I just said. You know revenue is
not something they think about."
Perdue's spokesman claimed Perdue was only broadly talking about growing the economy. "David was stating a simple economic principle: If the economy is growing and more people were working, it generates more revenue."
Source: ThinkProgress.org e-zine on 2014 Georgia Senate race
May 14, 2014
On Tax Reform:
Trump tax cuts having a positive impact across the country
Q: Support administration's $1.9 trillion (2017) tax cuts?Perdue: Yes. "The tax cuts passed by the
U.S. Senate are already having a positive impact across the country."
Ossoff: No. "We borrow trillions to cut taxes for the wealthy & powerful."
Source: CampusElect on 2020 Georgia Senate race
Nov 3, 2020
On War & Peace:
North Korean sanctions prove diplomacy succeeds
He was hopeful about global cooperation in addressing the North Korean threat. "If you look at what China and Russia didn't do on the U.N. sanctions, they didn't veto it. That's a huge step." He said that he "knows for a fact" that North Korean
sanctions were a topic discussed when Chinese president Xi Jingping came to the U.S. and when Secretary of State Rex Tillerson went to Moscow. "We needed them to abstain, and that's exactly what they did. And now we have those sanctions," Perdue said.
Source: Georgia Public Broadcasting on 2020 Georgia Senate race
Aug 25, 2017
On War & Peace:
Opposed requiring Congressional approval of attack on Iran
Q: Oppose military attacks on Iran without congressional approval?Perdue: No. Opposed bill to require approval.
Supported 2020 attack; "justice has been served."
Ossoff: No position found, although opposed Trump withdrawal from Iran nuclear treaty.
Source: CampusElect on 2020 Georgia Senate race
Nov 3, 2020
Page last updated: Feb 18, 2023