State of Georgia Archives: on Families & Children
Alan Keyes:
We have suffered because of our abandonment of His name
We have suffered in this country, in the failing schools, in the broken marriages, in the rising tide of crime and violence; we have suffered, since they withdrew our right to reverence God, all the consequences that must follow from our abandonment of
His name. We know that the Founders put this right first for a reason: because it is, above all, the foundation from which comes our ability to stand for and understand and defend all the other rights we claim.
Source: Rally in Blairsville, Georgia
Oct 21, 2003
Brian Kemp:
Religious freedom: allow withholding contraceptive coverage
Contraception: Allow employers to withhold contraceptive coverage from employees if disagree with it morally?Abrams: No specific stand, but opposes Judge Kavanaugh
for potentially jeopardizing "access to birth control."
Kemp: Yes. As governor, will sign a "religious freedom" bill that would allow withholding of contraceptive coverage.
Source: 2018 CampusElect.org Issue Guide on Georgia Governor race
Nov 1, 2018
Ed Tarver:
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
Hunter Hill:
Let each adoption agency decide on allowing same-sex parents
Sen. William Ligon (R-Brunswick) amended state Rep. Bert Reeves' adoption bill. Reeves' bill, which sought to modernize Georgia's adoption code by making it more efficient, sailed out of the House by unanimous vote. But when it landed in the Senate
Judiciary Committee, Ligon tacked on a controversial amendment that would allow mission-based adoption agencies not to have to place children with same-sex parents. After that, the bill predictably never made it out of General Assembly.
Hill, who serves on the Senate Judiciary Committee and voted for Ligon's amendment, defended his vote, saying, "There are some adoption agencies that choose to place children with homosexual families. Ligon's amendment would have supported that agency
to uphold their mission. There are also some agencies that wish to place children in Christian homes, Jewish homes, Muslim homes, where religion is important to those families. And that amendment would have protected those adoption agencies as well."
Source: Marietta Daily Journal on 2018 Georgia gubernatorial race
Apr 28, 2017
Jared Polis:
Strengthen our state's foster care and adoption systems
To continue Georgia's protection and celebration of life at all stages, I believe it is vitally important that we continue our work together to strengthen our state's foster care and adoption systems.
My budget proposal will include nearly $28 million to allocate a 10% provider rate increase for all foster parents, relative caregivers, child caring institutions, and child placing agencies.
Source: 2022 State of the State Address to the Georgia legislature
Jan 13, 2022
Karen Handel:
Gay relationships are not what God intended
During her 2010 run for governor, Handel said that "as a Christian, marriage is between a man and a woman.
I do not think that gay relationships are--they are not what God intended" and that she also opposed adoption by gay parents.
Source: DailyKos on 2017 Georgia 6th House special election
Apr 19, 2017
Nathan Deal:
19% pay raise for Family and Children Services
Selfless public service and dedication are not confined to any one agency of state government. They are replete in our state workforce, including the Division of Family and Children Services (DFACS). My budget proposal includes, on average, a
19 percent pay raise for DFCS caseworkers so that we can both ensure a competitive salary for those who fill these vital roles and so that we can recruit and retain the best possible candidates to look after the safety of our youngest and most
vulnerable citizens.That same desire to attract and retain quality public servants extends throughout the state workforce, which is why I recommended and this legislative body approved a 3 percent allocation for a merit,
recruitment and retention pay increase for state employees last year. My FY2018 budget proposal also accentuates this positive with another increase of a 2 percent allocation.
Source: 2017 State of the State address to Georgia Legislature
Jan 11, 2017
Renee Unterman:
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. Unterman voted YES; Signed by Governor Sonny Perdue on May/13/08
Source: GSU Law Review on Georgia legislative voting records: LD415
May 13, 2008
Roy Barnes:
More restrictions on teenage driving
Forty years ago, when we had all of those dirt roads in the Atlanta region, it made sense to give a teenager the keys to the family car the day he turned 16 years old. Today, with traffic that often allows no margin for error, it is a recipe for tragedy.
I think the time has come to take some common sense steps to protect our teens. We need to limit the number of teenage passengers a young driver can carry. We need to impose stricter curfews. And we need to ensure that our young people have the
experience they need before getting behind the wheel of a car without an adult to help them. I agree that any teenager should have 40 hours of supervised driving before they can get a license and why I think that teens driving in metro-Atlanta
should be 17 before they can drive alone in these heavily congested areas.
The only excuse I've heard to any of these teen driving proposals is that it may cause some inconvenience. I ask you to consider them carefully because they save lives.
Source: 2001 State of the State Address to Georgia Assembly
Jan 8, 2001
Sonny Perdue:
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; Signed by Governor Sonny Perdue on May/13/08
Source: GSU Law Review on Georgia legislative voting records: LD415
May 13, 2008
Stacey Abrams:
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
Stacey Abrams:
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
Stacey Abrams:
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
Stacey Abrams:
Sometimes sex offenders get parental consent
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; Rep. Stacey Abrams voted NO; passed Senate 41-8-7; Vote #961 on Apr/04/08; Signed by Governor Sonny Perdue on May/13/08
Source: GSU Law Review on Georgia legislative voting records: LD415
May 13, 2008
Vernon Jones:
Voted YES on criminalizing "up-skirting"
Legislative Summary: 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. Legislative Outcome:Passed House 156-1-23 on Feb/17/17; State Rep. Vernon Jones voted YES
Source: Speaker Stacey Abrams website on Georgia voting record HB 9
Feb 17, 2017
Vernon Jones:
1998: outlaw selling music with explicit lyrics to minors
In 1998, he filed a bill that would outlaw selling music with explicit lyrics to minors. During the debate on the House floor,
Jones was blocked from playing some songs. Instead, Jones read choice lyrics out loud, self-editing wherever necessary. The bill did not pass.
Source: Atlanta Journal-Constitution on 2022 Georgia Governor race
Aug 23, 2020
Stacey Abrams:
Supports Plan B and emergency contraceptives
[GOP Gov. Brian] Kemp has touted signing the "toughest abortion ban in the nation," Georgia's "heartbeat bill" (HB 481) in 2019. The new law went into effect this year and essentially prohibits abortions once a fetal heart beat is detected, which
proponents argue is typically about six weeks of pregnancy. The new law has exceptions for rape and incest if a police report is filed.Kemp has vowed to continue to fight for life, while Abrams said she would repeal Georgia's abortion law, if
elected. Abrams argues that women should have the freedom to make their own medical decisions and that forcing women to carry a pregnancy places women at risk of poverty and maternal mortality, especially as
Georgia is in the top five states with the highest maternal deaths. Abrams plans to increase availability of Plan B and emergency contraceptives, if elected.
Source: The Hill on 2022 Georgia Gubernatorial race
Oct 8, 2022
Page last updated: Feb 18, 2023