Ed Tarver in State of Georgia Archives
On Health Care:
I embrace the framework of the Affordable Care Act
Q: How would you promote healthcare coverage that is adequate, affordable and accessible for all?
A: I embrace the framework and structure of the Affordable Care Act and support a Medicaid-like alternative for qualified Americans without healthcare.
Source: AFA iVoterGuide on 2019-20 Georgia 2-year Senate
Nov 3, 2020
On Abortion:
Government should not legislate women's health decisions
Q: Under what circumstances should abortion be allowed?A: The government should not legislate women's health decisions or dictate what is best for a woman's own body.
Abortion is a medical option in cases when the fetus is no longer viable and in cases of extreme genetic dysmorphism. Additionally, abortion should be an option for women in cases of rape and/or incest.
Source: AFA iVoterGuide on 2019-20 Georgia 2-year Senate
Nov 3, 2020
On Budget & Economy:
End fraud, waste, and abuse in all departments of government
Q: What government spending would you reduce in order to balance the budget?A: As a U.S. Senator, I will work to end fraud, waste, and abuse in all departments of government and within government programs by
- implementing internal controls and
collecting debts owed to the government;
- ending mass incarceration through the use of technology-based alternatives for non-violent offenders; and
- ending tax breaks and subsidies for big oil, gas, and coal companies.
Source: AFA iVoterGuide on 2019-20 Georgia 2-year Senate
Nov 3, 2020
On Civil Rights:
Racism is a threat to domestic security
Q: Is racism a threat to domestic security in the US? A: Racism is a threat to domestic security. Systemic racism contributes to social and economic disparities in the administration of justice and liberty, government & national security
that can lead to spontaneous & organized protests, other acts of civil disobedience and challenges to the legitimacy of public authority. In some instances, peaceful protestors, exercising their constitutional rights, have also been harmed or killed.
Source: AFA iVoterGuide on 2019-20 Georgia 2-year Senate
Nov 3, 2020
On Crime:
Tough on violent drug dealers and fraudsters
Mr. Tarver was the right federal prosecutor at the right time for Southeast Georgia. He was tough on crime, especially violent drug dealing, and he worked well with local and state authorities in bringing gun-toting criminals to justice.
Mr. Tarver also took a hard line against fraudsters, from those who took food out of the mouths of poor children by illegally converting food vouchers for cash to more sophisticated white-collar crooks who bilked the nation's health-care system.
Source: Savannah Morning News on 2019-20 Georgia 2-year Senate race
Mar 13, 2017
On Drugs:
Against long prison terms for nonviolent, addicted prisoners
President Obama appointed Ed as the United States Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. While Ed aggressively prosecuted drug dealers, sex traffickers, and those who committed fraud on Georgia's taxpayers, he also worked with the community to
identify solutions to long term incarceration for non-violent and drug addicted prisoners. Taxpayers cannot afford the cost of continuing to be the nation that imprisons more people than any other country in the world.
Source: 2019-20 Georgia 2-year Senate website TarverForSenate.com
Feb 20, 2020
On Drugs:
Allow onsite testing for drug-free workplace program
SB96: A BILL relating to drug-free workplace programs, to provide for onsite testing & oral testing. Summary by eDrugTest.com: Georgia has a voluntary drug testing law. For companies that wish to qualify for a 7.5% discount on their
workers' compensation premiums they must comply with this law.
Legislative outcome:Passed House 160-2-18, Vote #429 on Apr/20/07; passed Senate 56-0-0, Vote #175 on Mar/27/07; Sen. Ed Tarver voted YES; Signed by Gov. Perdue on May/24/07
Source: Asbestos.com on Georgia legislative voting records: SB182
Apr 30, 2007
On Education:
College debt forgiveness for income under $100,000
Q: Under what circumstances should taxpayers help pay off existing student loans?A:
Student loan debt should be forgiven for individuals with household incomes of $100,000 or less who have earned an undergraduate degree from an accredited two- or four-year for-profit or public college or university, including those in default.
Source: AFA iVoterGuide on 2019-20 Georgia 2-year Senate
Nov 3, 2020
On Families & Children:
Criminalize sex offenders photographing minors
Summary by Georgia State University Law Review: SB1 would make it illegal for persons required to register as sex offenders under Georgia law to record images of minors. Senator Eric Johnson stated, "whether it's just dirty thoughts, or
whether it could build up to some sort of obsession that could lead to a kidnapping or a rape or something else..." Rep. Stacey Abrams moved to incorporate "for indecent purposes." Rep. Abrams was concerned that the Senate version was overly broad.
For example, a professional photographer, who was required to register as a sexual offender, would have to obtain the consent of every minor's parent in order to lawfully take a picture of a high school sports team, thereby potentially
targeting protected speech.Legislative outcome:Passed House 131-22-27; Vote #1075 on Apr/04/08; passed Senate 41-8-7; Vote #961 on Apr/04/08; Sen. Ed Tarver voted YES; Signed by Governor Sonny Perdue on May/13/08
Source: GSU Law Review on Georgia legislative voting records: LD415
May 13, 2008
On Gun Control:
Ban assault weapons & high velocity ammo
Q: What restrictions on gun ownership are needed to protect public safety?A: I support the following restrictions on gun ownership:
- Prohibit the use of high capacity magazines and clips
- Ban military-style assault weapons,
machine guns, and machine pistols
- Restrict the use of high velocity armour piercing ammunition
- Adoption of red flag laws
- Uniform federal background checks
Source: AFA iVoterGuide on 2019-20 Georgia 2-year Senate
Nov 3, 2020
On Health Care:
Oppose tax breaks for high deductible insurance
SB383: A BILL to provide for the Commissioner of Insurance to adopt policies to promote, approve, and encourage health savings account eligible high deductible plans in Georgia; to provide for exemptions from certain unfair trade practices for certain
wellness and health promotion programs, condition or disease management programs, health risk appraisal programs, and similar provisions in such plans.Summary by the CBPP:Georgia created new tax breaks for high-deductible health plans.
Almost 1.7 million Georgians--20%t of all residents under age 65--are uninsured. Almost 2/3 of them have incomes below 200% of the poverty line. Georgia's plan does not attempt to help these low-income individuals obtain insurance. Instead the plan's
main target is uninsured people with incomes over $50,000.
Legislative outcome:Passed Senate 36-12-8, Vote #623 on Feb/26/08; Sen. Ed Tarver voted NO; Passed House 148-2-30, Vote #1070 on Apr/04/08; Signed by Gov. Perdue, May/7/08.
Source: CBPP on Georgia legislative voting records: SB383
Feb 26, 2008
On Immigration:
Immigrants seek the opportunities of the American Dream
Q: Who should be allowed to immigrate to the U.S. and under what circumstances?A: People who seek the promises and opportunities of the American Dream, who enter the
United States legally or pursuant to special conditions, and who do not pose a national security or public safety risk should be allowed to immigrate.
Source: AFA iVoterGuide on 2019-20 Georgia 2-year Senate
Nov 3, 2020
On Principles & Values:
In the Army, it was about serving "one nation"
Tarver kicked off his Senate bid with an online video that emphasized his military service as an Army captain and featured photos of the candidate with Obama, who chose Tarver to become southern Georgia's first African-American U.S. attorney.
He pledged to work toward bipartisan solutions to improve access to health care and battle climate change. "In the Army, we were never asked if we were conservatives or liberals," Tarver said in a news release. "It was about serving one nation."
Source: Times Free Press on 2019-20 Georgia 2-year Senate race
Feb 20, 2020
On Principles & Values:
Government and religion should not be intertwined
Q: What does "separation of church and state" mean to you?A: "Separation of church and state" is the principle that government and religion, including churches and religious organizations, should not be intertwined. Government is prohibited from
interfering with an individual's right to practice religion. Churches and religions are precluded, by law, from endorsing candidates for political office and engaging in political campaign activity under the guise of a religious event or service.
Source: AFA iVoterGuide on 2019-20 Georgia 2-year Senate
Nov 3, 2020
On War & Peace:
Coordinate with allies to dismantle extremist networks
Q: What should the United States do to help eradicate the threat of radical Islamic terrorism?A: The United States should aggressively work to eliminate terrorist cells and apprehend supporters of terrorism in the
U.S., coordinate with allies to dismantle extremist networks worldwide, and use available technology to identify, track, and eliminate funding and resources to terrorist organizations.
Source: AFA iVoterGuide on 2019-20 Georgia 2-year Senate
Nov 3, 2020
Page last updated: Feb 18, 2023