Karen Handel in GA Congressional representatives, past and present
On Abortion:
I cut ties with Planned Parenthood because I was ordered to
One of the rawest and most emotionally-charged moments of the debate came when the two candidates butted heads on health care. Ossoff said Handel "sees fit to impose her own view on Georgians' health care decisions," and cited her short yet high-profile
tenure as vice president of public policy at the Susan G. Komen Foundation. Handel resigned from the charity in 2012 and later wrote a book called "Planned Bullyhood" about the group's decision to reverse course on its decision to cut ties with
Planned Parenthood because of abortion."She imposed her own views and cut off funding for breast cancer screenings at Planned Parenthood," Ossoff said.
"I have been working on women's health issues for nearly my entire life," Handel responded. "I
will not be lectured by you or anyone else." She said that she was just one of many employees at Komen and that she carried out the decision to cut ties with Planned Parenthood after being instructed to do so by the Komen board.
Source: Atlanta Journal-Constitution on 2017 Georgia House debate
Jun 6, 2017
On Immigration:
Ok with 6-country immigration ban, but no religious test
Handel aligned herself with the president when asked about the biggest items on his agenda, but she also indicated she wasn't afraid of disagreeing with him. She backed the Trump's proposal to temporarily block visitors from six primarily
Muslim Middle East nations while homeland security officials revamp their vetting process for foreign visitors, but she said she would not support any sort of "religious litmus test."
Source: Atlanta Journal-Constitution on 2017 Georgia House debate
Jun 6, 2017
On Technology:
Best for government to get out of the way on infrastructure
The first local issues emerged more than 30 minutes into the debate, when the candidates were asked about transportation.
Ossoff said he would be willing to work with Trump to trigger a national renewal of infrastructure. Handel said the federal government worked best on such issues when it gets out of the way.
Source: Atlanta Journal-Constitution on 2017 Georgia House debate
Jun 6, 2017
On Families & Children:
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
On Principles & Values:
2010: Resigned as Secretary of State to run for Governor
Handel is a former Georgia secretary of state and chair of the Fulton County Commission who has unsuccessfully run for governor and Senate. But in recent years, Handel is probably best known for her time at Susan G. Komen for the Cure, which ended after
her effort to get the organization to cut off funding for Planned Parenthood.She's a longtime Georgia politician. She ran for Fulton County Board of Commissioners and lost in 2002, then won a special election in 2003. Next, she became Georgia
secretary of state in 2007, before resigning to run for governor in 2010, losing a Republican primary run-off despite Sarah Palin and Mitt Romney endorsements. She ran for Senate in 2014 and came in third in that primary. One of Handel's Republican
opponents in the 6th District special election used this record against her: "Over the last 15 years, Karen Handel has run six times for five different offices. She didn't even finish the jobs we did give her, always running for the next office."
Source: DailyKos on 2017 Georgia 6th House special election
Apr 19, 2017
On Abortion:
Chaired Commission with abortion grants, but opposed them
In 2012, Handel resigned from a leadership role with the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Foundation after it reversed its decision to cut ties with the abortion rights group Planned Parenthood. Handel timeline:Nov. 2003: Handel elected to chairwoman of
the Fulton County Commission.Nov. 2006: Handel elected Georgia secretary of state--despite a rival's claim that, because the Fulton County Commission approved grants to Planned Parenthood, she supports abortion.March 2009: Handel declares her
candidacy for governor. Opponents and Georgia Right to Life criticize her as soft on abortion. Handel blogs that she opposes Planned Parenthood.April 2011: Handel named vice president for public policy for Susan G. Komen for the Cure.Feb. 2012:
Handel resigns from Komen after it reverses a decision to stop providing grants to Planned Parenthood.Sept. 11, 2012: Publishes "Planned Bullyhood," a book that largely concerns her tenure at Susan G. Komen for the Cure.
Source: Atlanta Journal-Constitution on 2017 Georgia 6th House race
Apr 18, 2017
On Budget & Economy:
Cut spending and reduce regulations
Karen Handel promised to cut spending, repeal Obamacare and reduce regulations when she announced her candidacy in the 6th Congressional
District special election. "I have a record of standing up and fighting the status quo to get things done," Handel said, "and I will take that fight to Washington."
Source: Atlanta Journal-Constitution on 2017 Georgia 6th House race
Apr 18, 2017
Page last updated: Aug 14, 2018