An Objective Critique of Who We Choose To
Run Our Government.
Georgia’s US Senate Race: 12 people – One Seat –You decide
One of the two Georgia seats in the United States Senate is open this year, and is hotly contested.
Why? Because the winner of this contest has one of the highest seats in government with the power to make national laws that affect your life every day. The following are a few of the Republican and Democratic candidates.
Evaluate these individuals on their experience and priorities.
|
DENISE MAJETTE
|
Party:
Democrat Previous Occupation: Attorney, Judge, Small business
owner.
Current Occupation: 1st term US House of
Representatives.
Prev. Political Exp.: DeKalb Co. Judge, 1993-2002.
Congressional Committees:Budget, Education and Workforce, Small Business |
What does she stand for?
Denise states her priorities are quality public education, affordable health care, and economic development.She wishes to greatly increase funding for medical research, education, and the environment while decreasing funding on agriculture. She wants to give extra funding to states with higher numbers of immigrants for medical and social services.Denise as voted for improving quality and training for teachers. She has voted against a bill creating health plans small companies would use to group together to buy insurance for their employees, and she voted against a bill to limit awards that plaintiffs and their attorneys could be given in medical malpractice cases. Based on her votes, she is endorsed by the American Public Health Association, and the National Education Association. |
JOHNNY
ISAKSON
 |
Party: Republican
Previous Occupation: Real Estate Executive
Current Occupation: 3rd term US House of Representatives
Prev. Political Exp.: GA House, 1977-90; GA Senate, 1993-96 Congressional committees: Education & Workforce, Transportation &
Infrastructure
Caucuses: Congressional Immigration Reform Caucus |
What does he stand
for?
Johnny states his priorities are bringing new jobs to Georgia, cutting taxes and reducing regulations, bringing transportation funds to Georgia, local flexibility in education policy, and affordable health
care. Johnny has consistently voted limiting awards that plaintiffs and attorneys could be given in medical malpractice cases. He votes for improving quality and training for teaches and for prayer in schools. Based on his votes, he is endorsed by the Small Business Survival Committee and Americans for Better Immigration (for reduced immigration). |
MAC
COLLINS
 |
Party: Republican
Previous Occupation: Trucking Company Owner
Current Occupation: 6th term US House of RepresentativesPrev. Political Exp.: Butts Co. Commissioner, 1977-80; GA Senate, 1989-92
Congressional committees: Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, Ways and Means |
What does he stand for?
Mac states his priorities to be balanced budget and balance trade. He wishes to decrease earned income tax credit, capital gains taxes and charitable deductions, and increase medical expense deductions. Mac has consistently voted to limit the awards that plaintiffs and their attorneys could be given in medical malpractice cases. He voted against a bill to increase the number of temporary visas granted to highly skilled workers. He votes to improve the quality and training for teachers, and for prayer in schools. He voted to give physicians in private practice a temporary exemption from antitrust laws to bargain collectively with health insurers. |
GOVIND PATEL
 |
Party: Democrat
Current Occupation: Hotelier, President, Real Estate Investment company
|
| What does he stand for?
Govind hopes to work for better immigration policies and to reduce unemployment. He also hopes to help protect small businesses from crime. He wishes to encourage Indian American political participation through his campaign.
|
JIM FINKELSTEIN
|
Party: Democrat
Current Occupation: Attorney
Democrat
Current Occupation: Attorney
|
| What does he stand for?
Jim states his priorities include: medical malpractice costs, ending incentives to outsource labor costs, and a fair tax system. Specifically, on health care, Finkelstein hopes to create catastrophic insurance and a health care credit card that he believes will encourage people to seek preventive medical treatment before an emergency. On education, Finkelstein hopes to involve high school and college students to tutor younger children in schools and hopes to invest more in the arts, music, theater, and physical education.
|
This is probably less information than you will need to make an informed decision about any of the candidates, but I hope it has made you think a little more about who could represent you in the US Senate for the next 6 years.
For the three candidates who are currently in public office, you can find out more about their voting record at
www.vote-smart.org.
For the other Senatorial candidates, check out some of their websites.
Remember – Georgia Primary Elections are July 20th and General Elections are November 2nd.
Go to www.sos.state.ga.us or to YourVoteMatters.org to download a voter registration form (deadlines are June 20th and October 4th).
|
| Candidates
Leigh Baier, Democrat
Age: 62
Occupation: Business Owner, Attorney
Website: http://baiersenate.com/
Michael ‘Mac’ Collins, Republican
Age: 59
Occupation: Businessman
Website: www.collinsforsenate.org
Denise L. Majette, Democrat
Age: 49
Occupation: US. Congresswoman
Website: www.denisemajetteforsenate.org
Johnny Isakson, Republican
Age: 59
Occupation: United States Congressman
Website: www.isakson.net
Govind Patel, Democrat
Age: 58
Occupation: Businessman, Commercial Realtor
Herman Cain, Republican
Age: 58
Occupation: Business
Website: www.cainforussenate.org
James ’Jim’ N. Finkelstein, Democrat
Age: 52
Occupation: Attorney
Website: www.finkelstein4senate.org
Mary Hodges Squires, Democrat
Age: 46
Occupation: Paralegal
Website: www.marysquires.us
W. Cliff Oxford, Democrat
Age: 41
Occupation: Entrepreneur
Jim Boyd, Democrat
Age: 69
Occupation: Businessman
Website: www.jimboyd.com
Ray Beckworth, Independent
Sid Cottingham, Democrat
Age: 55
Occupation: Attorney
|
|
