TSA allowed illegal aliens on airliners without valid IDs

In July, Breitbart issued an exclusive report that alleged that the Transportation Security Administration was allowing illegal immigrants to travel on airline flights without proper identification. According to the story, Border Patrol officers claimed to have witnessed TSA agents permitting illegal aliens to board domestic airline flights with only a Notice to Appear, a federal citation for illegally crossing the border. To determine whether these allegations were true, Examiner contacted the National Border Patrol Council, a union for Border Patrol officers, and the TSA.

For those unfamiliar with a Notice to Appear, also called Form I-862, Nolo.com explains that it is a charging document that signals the initiation of removal proceedings and means that the recipient must appear in immigration court. The document lists the recipient’s name, aliases, address, alien registration number and date of birth, but does not include a photograph and is easy to duplicate. A sample Form I-862 is available on the Justice Department’s website.

In response to a query from Examiner, the TSA Media Team issued a statement via email which declared, “A Notice to Appear, issued by the Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR), is not an acceptable form of ID at the TSA checkpoint.”

The TSA went on to explain that “for Mexican nationals without a passport who are returning to Mexico” an alternate procedure exists. The Mexican national can apply for a Certificate of Presumptive Nationality of Mexico (CPNM), which is issued by the Mexican government. The CPNM includes a photograph of the traveler and the TSA’s Identity Verification Call Center (IVCC) authenticates the certificate before the traveler is allowed through the TSA checkpoint.

The CPNM must be provided by the Mexican government in PDF form 24 hours prior to the flight and the passenger must undergo enhanced screening. The travel must be completed on the same day and Mexico must be the final destination. According to TSA, about 1,900 CPNMs are issued annually.

The same IVCC can also verify the identities of U.S. citizens who have lost or forgotten their identification. The TSA website lists other acceptable forms of identification.

Shawn Moran, media contact for the National Border Patrol Council, stands by the original allegations made by Hector Garza, a spokesman for Local 2455. Moran told Examiner that Border Patrol officers observed TSA agents allowing illegal aliens to board flights in Laredo, Tex. with only a Notice to Appear as identification. When asked if these were international flights that would return the aliens to their countries of origin, Moran answered, “These were solely domestic flights.”

Moran was unaware of the CPNM procedure that was touted by the TSA. He noted, “At the time our agents observed this, there was no procedure. There may be now.”

A crucial distinction is that the CPNM procedure, according to the TSA, is for foreign nationals “returning to their own country.” The claim made by the Border Patrol officers is that foreign nationals were flying, not only without a CPNM, but on domestic flights traveling to points within the United States. If true, this would not be permissible under the TSA policy.

Moran claims that the “TSA flat out lied when the story broke” about the policy of allowing aliens to fly with a Notice to Appear. “They have since changed the policy,” he says.

When asked if there is evidence to the claim beyond the testimony of TSA officers, Moran answers, “I’m sure there is, but it would all reside with TSA. They wouldn’t have gone out of their way to clarify this if it wasn’t happening.”

The smoking gun in the allegations is a letter from the TSA to Rep. Kenny Marchant (R-Tex.). The letter, first reported by the Gateway Pundit and dated August 7, 2014, explicitly says that passengers with only a Form I-862 can fly under certain conditions, such as with confirmation “that the I-862 was issued to an individual with the name provided”:

“If a passenger can only present a Form I-862, TSA will attempt to establish the passenger’s identity through DHS partner Components, such as U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) or U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). If other DHS Components are able to provide corroborating information (such as that the I-862 was issued to an individual with the name provided) to permit TSA to verify an individual’s identity when taken together with all other information available, the passenger is permitted into the screening checkpoint to undergo screening.”

The full letter can be viewed on the website of the Federation for American Immigration Reform.

When Examiner asked the TSA about the letter to Marchant, a spokesman replied, “The letter is very clear regarding the other verification methods used. The letter speaks for itself.”

After receiving the TSA letter, Rep. Marchant introduced the VALID (Verified and Legitimate ID) Act on Sept. 10. The bill would “prohibit the TSA from accepting Notice to Appear Forms as valid personal identification for clearing airport security,” according to Marchant.

It appears that the TSA was allowing illegal aliens to board domestic airliners with only a Notice to Appear at one time. The TSA has apparently now changed that policy and requires further documentation from the alien’s home country. If Rep. Marchant’s bill becomes law, this change would be made permanent.

Read the full story on Aviation Examiner

TSA Pre-check eases burden on frequent fliers

 

Just in time for the holiday travel season, the Transportation Security Administration has rolled out new security measures that are less intrusive and faster for travelers. The program is called “Pre-check” and I had the chance to try it first hand on an airline trip from Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport (airport details on GlobalAir.com). The program expanded to several new airports on Dec. 16.

To participate in the Pre-check program, travelers must be U.S. citizens and members of frequent flyer programs who meet certain TSA criteria, the Pre-check application program, or the Trusted Traveler program. Members of the U.S. military also qualify for Pre-check. U.S. citizens who do not fall into one of these categories can apply for Pre-check status on the TSA website. If you are a member of a frequent flyer program, you may already be approved for Pre-check.

Pre-check is not available at all airports. A list of approved airports and airlines is also available on the TSA website. The list includes hours of operation for Pre-check lanes, but times are subject to change.

Once approved, taking part in the Pre-check is easy. Boarding passes will be printed with the “TSA Pre✓™ ” logo. When the traveler goes to the TSA security checkpoint, a TSA officer will direct them to the Pre-check lane if your trip is eligible. This lane will allow travelers to go through security screening without removing their shoes, belts or lightweight jackets, which greatly speeds the process of clearing security. Laptops and 3-1-1 compliant liquids may be kept in their bags and children under 12 can accompany their adult travel companions.

On my trip, I arrived at the checkpoint after a brief wait and was referred to the Pre-check line by the TSA officer who pre-screened my boarding pass and identification. I carried my roller bag to the Pre-check line which was shorter and moved quicker than the traditional screening lines.

At the head of the line, another TSA officer verified the Pre-check logo on my boarding pass and crosschecked it with my ID again. As we moved toward the checkpoint, TSA officers reminded us that we did not have to remove our shoes, belts or lightweight jackets. On this cold day in Atlanta, most travelers had heavy overcoats that did have to go through the x-ray machines with our bags, however. They did not offer reminders that laptops or 3-1-1 bags did not have to be removed.

My travel documents were examined a third time as I approached the screening area. The screening process was also made quicker by the fact that the Pre-check travelers were screened by a traditional metal detector rather than one of the controversial body scanners. A scanner was present at the checkpoint so presumably it could be used if conditions warranted. Travelers who set off the metal detector were still singled out for a pat-down by TSA officers, but this seemed to happen infrequently.

The TSA Pre-check program is definitely something that the TSA got right. The agency has taken much criticism in recent years for excesses such as pat-downs of children and the elderly who posed no threat. Many videos of TSA pat-downs went viral and outraged the public. The Pre-check program is an attempt to restore sanity and convenience to the traveling public.

Although TSA Pre-check is not available on a national basis, it does hold promise. For frequent flyers, the program should take some of the stress and frustration out of going to the airport. For less frequent travelers, relief will hopefully come soon.

 

Originally published on Aviation Examiner

TSA says no knives on airliners after all

The Transportation Security Administration announced on Wednesday that it was reversing its previous decision to allow small knives and other previously prohibited items to be carried on airline flights. In March, the TSA had announced that it would allow airline passengers to carry small folding knives with blades less than 2.36 inches long and less than half an inch wide in carryon baggage. Sporting equipment such as golf clubs, hockey and lacrosse sticks and miniature baseball bats would also have been allowed.

The items have been prohibited from carryon baggage since the September 11 attacks. The TSA focus on knives and small, sharp objects led some to joke that the agency’s acronym stood for “taking scissors away.”

The proposed changes were part of move by the TSA to transition toward risk-based security initiatives which recognize that the majority of airline passengers do not pose a risk, even if they carry a knife or hockey stick. Risk-based security focuses on determining which passengers pose a greater risk through behavior analysis, interviewing, and screening out low-risk passengers through additional information provided voluntarily through programs like Pre-check and Clear.

Even though risk-based screening has a proven history in Israel, the technique has sparked criticism in the United States. According to a USA Today report, a Homeland Security inspector general cited problems with assessing the effectiveness of risk-based screening and the lack of a comprehensive training program. Critics have also alleged that the system amounts to racial profiling.

The proposed changes to the prohibited items list drew opposition from a wide range of groups. 133 members of Congress, primarily Democrats, wrote to TSA administrator John Pistole to oppose the change. Flight attendants, air marshals, and other law enforcement officials also opposed the new rule.

Airline travelers can find a comprehensive list of acceptable items for both carryon and checked baggage on the TSA website. As a general rule, knives and other items that are considered weapons are permitted only in checked baggage. Chemicals and flammable items may not be permitted at all. When in doubt, travelers should also contact their airline.

See the 10 dumbest things people try to get through airport security.

Originally published on Examiner:

http://www.examiner.com/article/tsa-decides-not-to-allow-knives-on-airliners

Elections 2012: Georgia T-SPLOST referendum

On July 31, Georgia voters will go to the polls to decide on T-SPLOST, a transportation special purpose local option sales tax. The election will decide whether voters will approve a one cent sales tax to fund statewide transportation projects. Although Election Day is July 31, early voting has already started.

Details about T-SPLOST can be found on the Investing in Tomorrow’s Transportation Today (IT3) page of the Georgia Department of Transportation website. The T-SPLOST referendum was authorized by the Transportation Investment Act of 2010. The Statewide Strategic Transportation Plan (SSTP) was approved by Gov. Sonny Perdue and the State Transportation Board in 2010.

According to the SSTP, Georgia is currently below average on state transportation funding. This threatens Georgia’s ability to receive federal matching funds. The planners predict that Atlanta’s congestion costs will double over the next 20 years and that the number of workers available within 45 minutes of metro Atlanta will actually shrink by a third due to increased congestion. Congestion in Georgia’s medium-sized cities is forecast to rise to level comparable with Atlanta and Charlotte.

The solution, according to the plan, is three-pronged. First, the plan calls for $15 billion in improvements to Georgia’s freight transportation system including new bypasses, rail capability, and relieving bottlenecks and gaps.

Second, the Atlanta area would receive $29-36 billion, including $8-11 billion from tolls or user fees, for a variety of work. There would be more “managed” (toll) lanes on major routes. The plan would focus on these and other “dual-purpose investments” that can be used by private vehicles as well as mass transit. Atlanta would also have funding for rail transit. The initial plan would maintain the current system and expand short-haul rail lines that connect to the core system. Later, long-haul rail to the suburbs and other cities would be considered.

Finally, new capacity and safety needs for the remainder of the state are estimated at $14 billion over the next 20 years. Much of the spending outside Atlanta involves managing traffic patterns and coordinating transportation growth with developing areas.

Total cost for the program is estimated at $65 billion over the next 20-30 years. The SSTP estimates that the plan will generate 425,000 new jobs and $480 billion in economic benefit for the state. The expansion and upgrade of Georgia’s transportation system is intended to make Georgia more attractive to new business and make its existing businesses more competitive.

T-SPLOST supporters may have an uphill battle. Tax increases are often unpopular and the current economic and political climate is unlikely to help matters. The Georgia Tea Party Patriots is hosting an online petition against the measure, calling it “the largest single tax increase in Georgia history.” The group charges that T-SPLOST funds will be used to bail out MARTA, which is in financial trouble. The GTPP also says that the T-SPLOST will tax food and medicine and points out that the tax is likely to be renewed in 10 years to cover maintenance for the new projects. The group is also concerned about “regional appointed quasi-governments” that are not elected and therefore unaccountable to taxpayers.

Many Georgia businesses favor the T-SPLOST. In an AJC blog, Sadie Fields, former chairwoman of the Christian Coalition of Georgia, alleges that many employees of Atlanta-area businesses feel that their employers are pressuring them to vote for the measure. A rebuttal by John Brock, CEO of Coca-Cola Enterprises, points out that Atlanta traffic is limiting growth and that T-SPLOST is needed to turn things around.

The Georgia Public Policy Foundation issued a report on the vote that lists several pros and cons. Among the reasons to vote for the bill is the fact that Georgia is 49^th in transportation funding and there are improvements that are genuinely needed. In regions where the tax is rejected, local governments will be responsible for an increased percentage of the cost of maintaining local roads. This may lead to higher local taxes. The next chance to vote on transportation improvements will be in 2014.

On the con side, the GPPF notes that a sales tax is not linked to transportation usage. A one cent increase in the gas tax might be better suited to transportation. Much of the money is slated to be spent in Atlanta and too much of Atlanta’s money will be spent on rail transit. Only three percent of commuters use MARTA, but public and rail transit gets almost half of Atlanta’s funds. Finally, the foundation notes that spending is political rather than based on need and there is no long term plan.

The GPPF recommends that voters examine the list of proposed projects for their region when deciding how to vote on the issue. T-SPLOST.com lists the projects by region. The website is a pro-T-SPLOST site paid for Yancey Brothers, a Caterpillar heavy equipment dealer.

The AJC Political Insider blog reports that the T-SPLOST is indeed in trouble. The column quotes a Rosetta Stone poll that shows public opinion is against the new tax by a margin of 37-48 percent. Support is strongest in the Democratic strongholds of DeKalb and Fulton counties where the measure is supported 49-32 percent. Democrats favor the plan 57-24 percent while Republicans oppose it 19-68 percent. The Political Insider also reported that Senate Majority Leader Chip Rogers is likely to oppose the plan.

In an election year that is centered around the struggle against government spending and higher taxes, it is ironic that Georgia’s Republicans find themselves advancing a huge tax and spend bill. It is even more ironic that Georgia’s Democrats are the biggest supporters of a measure advanced by Gov. Deal. The down side for Gov. Deal is that Georgia has far fewer Democrats than it did just a few years ago.

Read this article on Examiner.com:

http://www.examiner.com/article/two-sides-to-t-splost

Candidate profile: Karen Handel for governor

Karen Handel is a native of Washington, DC and grew up in Maryland. According to her website, she left home at 17 due to a “deteriorating family situation.” She was able to finish high school and began taking college courses at night while working for Hallmark Cards.

She worked as Deputy Chief of Staff to Vice President Dan Quayle’s wife, Marilyn, during the first Bush Administration. While working for Mrs. Quayle, she was involved in the breast cancer awareness campaign that ultimately became the Susan G. Komen “Race for the Cure.” Later, she held executive positions at Ciba Vision and KPMG, an international accounting firm. She also led the Greater Fulton County Chamber of Commerce during a period when an employee had recently embezzled all but $10 from the organization. Handel led the group through troubled times and back to solvency.

In 2002, she returned to politics as Chief of Staff for Governor Sonny Perdue. In 2003, she was asked to run as a Republican in a special election for Chairman of the Fulton County Board of Commissioners. She won handily, even though Atlanta is heavily Democratic, after campaigning on property tax and ethics reform. She inherited a $100 million deficit, but was able to balance the budget without raising taxes thanks to sharp spending cuts. She also passed one of the strongest ethics laws in Georgia. Her ethics reforms eventually led to dismissal of Fulton County Sheriff Jackie Barrett on corruption charges.

In 2006, Handel was elected Secretary of State. Her duties in that office included overseeing elections and professional licensing boards. She also formed an office to combat election and consumer fraud. Handel also launched a Transparency in Government initiative which shows state spending data on the Secretary of State website, along with Handel’s political and financial disclosures.

As Secretary of State, Handel was at the center of Georgia’s voter ID controversy. In 2005, Georgia passed a law requiring voters to show photo identification at their polling place. The law was challenged as unconstitutional, but was ultimately upheld. The Supreme Court upheld a similar Indiana law.

In 2009, Handel also made news when her biographical entry on Wikipedia was altered to claim that she did not have a high school diploma, but had received a GED. She actually does have a high school diploma. One of her supporters, Erick Erickson, blogger on peachpundit.com, claimed that the alteration was traced to a state computer in a building where John Oxendine’s staffers have offices. Erickson also says that the same computer was used to make positive changes to Oxendine’s Wikipedia entry. The Oxendine campaign denies any role in the affair.

Handel made a controversial stand at the Republican debate in April 2010. At the end of the debate, she stated that she would not appear with fellow candidate Ray McBerry again. Her statement included an indirect reference to accusations that McBerry had an inappropriate relationship with female student (http://www.examiner.com/examiner/x-34858-Carroll-County-Elections-2010-Examiner~y2010m6d8-Candidate-Profile-Ray-McBerry-for-Governor). She was the only candidate to take such a stand.

An astute reader pointed out that I had missed something about Karen Handel when I first posted this profile. There have been claims that Handel was a dues-paying member of the Log Cabin Republicans from 2002 through 2004. This was presumably to become more friendly to gay voters in the Atlanta area. Handel denies the claim, but politifact.com rates it as being probably true (http://www.politifact.com/georgia/statements/2010/jun/16/karen-handel/did-handel-ever-joing-log-cabin-republicans/).


Handel resigned her position as Secretary of State in January 2010 in order to campaign for governor.

Here are her positions on some important issues:

Jobs: Handel believes that Georgia’s location, work force, and low taxes are the keys to creating jobs. She also believes that Georgia’s infrastructure and educational system are limiting factors due to population growth.

Education: Handel wants to coordinate programs with teachers, parents and community leaders to cut the drop-out rate. She wants to expand the number of charter schools and make sure that children graduate with the knowledge and skills to succeed in college or in the workplace.

Transportation: Handel favors a comprehensive, rather than regional, approach to transportation funding.

Health: Handel favors health technology and market solutions that will cut costs while preserving quality. She opposes single-payer health systems.

Life: Handel believes in the sanctity of life. She opposes embryonic stem cell research and abortion. She is the only major Republican candidate not receive an endorsement from Georgia Right to Life because she supports an exception that would allow abortion in cases of rape, incest, or when the mother’s life is threatened.

Marriage: Handel believes that marriage is between a man and a woman only.

Gun Rights: Handel is a supporter of individual second amendment rights. She opposes further bans on “assault weapons” and supports the right of law-abiding citizens to carry a concealed weapon.

Taxes: Handel believes that high tax rates, whether on citizens or businesses, inhibit job creation and economic growth. She would like to review Georgia’s entire tax code and enact comprehensive reform (to include income, property, business and corporate taxes). Handel is a supporter of the Fair Tax.

Immigration: Handel believes that we should welcome legal immigrants. She believes that it is the federal government’s job to protect the borders, but that due to federal inaction the states must “fill the void.” As Secretary of State, she enacted a program to verify immigration status of applicants for professional licenses.

If she is elected, Karen Handel would be Georgia’s first female governor.

Sources:
www.karenhandel.com
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_Handel
http://www.reformelections.org/feature.asp?menuid={6DF33DE1-9946-4D3F-B57E-01FB1FB59FBD}
http://www.peachpundit.com/2010/04/21/georgia-voter-id-law-upheld-again/
http://www.lifenews.com/state5154.html
http://blogs.ajc.com/political-insider-jim-galloway/2009/07/03/karen-handel-yes-i-have-a-high-school-diploma/
http://blogs.ajc.com/political-insider-jim-galloway/2010/05/01/karen-handel-no-more-appearances-with-ray-mcberry/
http://blogs.ajc.com/political-insider-jim-galloway/2010/05/04/karen-handel-gets-a-ray-mcberry-less-debate/?cxntfid=blogs_political_insider_jim_galloway


Photo credit:
Simon Howden
http://www.freedigitalphotos.net/images/view_photog.php?photogid=404

Is there an alternative to oil?

In the wake of BP’s disastrous oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, many politicians and environmentalists are renewing calls for alternate energy and electric cars to relieve the United States from our dependence on foreign oil. Energy independence would have many advantages, from decreasing pollution to depriving terrorist-supporting Arab states of revenue. Even without environmental considerations, the high price of gasoline, especially for summer road trips, gives many car owners the urge for a cheaper alternative, but is a short-term transition to other sources of energy realistic?

The journey away from oil began in earnest a few years ago with the introduction of the Toyota Prius, the first popular hybrid auto. The Prius combines a gasoline-powered engine and two electric motors. The gasoline engine powers the car for highway driving and the electric motors. The car often runs on battery power with the gasoline engine switched off.

Another popular alternative auto is the Smart Car. This two-seater is a product of Daimler and is known for its fuel economy. The tiny car is unique on American streets. Its small size and distinctive round shape make it stand out. One red Smart Car seen around my home town of Villa Rica, Georgia has a vanity license plate that reads “TMATER.” The Smart Car is powered by a traditional gasoline engine.

There are problems with these new cars. One problem is that although they do offer high gas mileage, fuel economy is only marginally better than traditional compact cars. The Prius advertises a fuel economy of 51 mpg in the city and 48 on the highway (http://bit.ly/9Luzbf ). The Smart Car reports 33 mpg in the city and 40 mpg on the highway (http://bit.ly/c0FRsJ ). In contrast, a new traditional compact car such as the Ford Fiesta measures in 29 mpg in the city and 40 on the highway (http://bit.ly/bY0kNs ).

For this marginally better fuel economy, the car buyer must pay a premium. MSRP for the Prius is between $21,000 and $28,000 (http://bit.ly/cOs1Qn ). The Ford Fiesta, a car of equivalent size to the Prius, has an MSRP of $13,000 to $17,000 (http://bit.ly/cjOnQI ), almost $10,000 less. The Smart Car has approximately the same price as the Fiesta (http://bit.ly/ctZ3YR ), but at half the size. It would take years or thousands of miles to pay for the increased cost of the car in fuel savings. Of course, if gas prices increase sharply, the math would shift in favor of the Prius and Smart Car.

These new cars are also clearly not designed with large families in mind. The Prius and the Smart Car are practical for commuters, but not people who travel with children and the assorted paraphernalia necessary for a family trip. There are a variety of hybrid SUVs on the market, but again there is a tradeoff. A premium in price is added to an already expensive vehicle in exchange for modest increases in fuel economy.

The prospect of completely electric cars would face the same problems as well as additional ones. When Chevrolet’s corporate officers came to congress for a bailout, they touted the upcoming release of the Chevy Volt, a totally electric car. One obvious problem with the Volt is that its battery power will only take you 40 miles (http://bit.ly/bPC2l2 ). If you need to go further, a gasoline engine takes over.

For many commuters, such as those driving to Atlanta from outlying suburbs, forty miles is close to a one-way commute. To take full advantage of the Volt, they would have to charge the car at night at home before driving to work. Once at the office, they would have to find an outlet to plug in the car to let it charge for the trip home.

Additionally, people without a garage may have trouble finding a place to plug in their Volt. Although it is capable of charging from a common household 120-volt outlet, outside outlets are not common at many apartments. Even at a house without a garage, it might be difficult to find an outlet that won’t require the use of very long extension cord. The exact price of a Chevy Volt hasn’t been released, but Chevrolet has indicated that the car will cost over $30,000 (http://bit.ly/9AilVS ). This is even after tax credits are taken into account.

Another electric car with better performance is the Tesla Model S. Tesla Motors is partnering with Toyota to produce a high performance electric roadster. The Tesla is a two seat open top sports car that accelerates from 0-60 mph in less than 4 seconds (http://bit.ly/9AnZ2d ). Its estimated 245 mile range is six times that of the Volt. Nevertheless, after 245 miles, plan on a long lunch. It takes three and a half hours to recharge. This is much more inconvenient than pulling into a gas station for a quick fill-up. The Tesla’s price tag is also impressive at $100,000. For those on a budget, you can also lease a Tesla for just over $1,500 per month. (For more information, see www.teslamotors.com.)

The Volt and the Tesla share common disadvantages in price and range, but what makes them really impractical is their small size. Like the Prius and the Smart Car, the Volt and Tesla are meant for commuters. A successful family electric car will must have room for a family. To be widely accepted, electric vehicles will not only have to have the range to run errands around town, they will have to have the seating and cargo capacity of a minivan or an SUV.

Even if such an electric vehicle were available today, it would be years before we could transition completely away from gasoline powered cars. The Bureau of Transportation Statistics estimates that there are more than 135 million passenger autos in the US (http://bit.ly/9fL3uR ). Many, if not most, of the owners of these cars would not want to incur a mortgage-sized car payment for a new electric car. The market for used electric cars is thus far nonexistent.

Consumer demands aren’t the only limits for the growth of the electric car market. At this point, the electrical infrastructure of the US is not prepared to handle the power demands of a transition to electric cars. While electricity is cheaper than oil at this point, increased demand for electricity would drive up its price. This is especially true if congress passes a cap-and-trade energy tax since much of our current electricity is generated by coal, one of the cheapest sources of electricity.

New and alternative sources of electricity such as solar and ocean wave capture are expensive when compared to coal, natural gas, and nuclear generated electricity. The cost of wind energy has decreased in recent years, but these alternative sources of energy face the problem of intermittent wind and sunshine. To be practical, alternative energy sources would have to include a back-up storage system for when the wind is calm or clouds block the sun. At this point, massive batteries or some other technology that can back up large scale alternative energy sources have not been developed.

A final alternative to oil is to use ethanol in gasoline powered autos. There are several problems associated with ethanol use however. For example, when the government increased the mandated amount of ethanol production in 2007, it caused a worldwide spike in food prices the next year (http://n.pr/bbJPHL ). Even if the total US corn crop was used for ethanol production, it would only account for 12% of American gasoline requirements (http://bit.ly/9zhJIE ). Additionally, ethanol can damage engines.

Another newly cost-effective technology converts coal into gasoline. The Germans developed a process to transform coal into gasoline in response to fuel shortages in WWII. Since then, low oil prices have made the process too expensive to compete with oil-based gasoline until recently. Coal-based gasoline does not resolve concerns about pollution and carbon emissions. Similarly, as oil and gasoline prices rise, new advances in biofuels and biomass-based gasoline may become more practical.

Although there is already progress with new technology and even more advances are on the horizon, the United States, along with the rest of the world, remains firmly in the grasp of oil. For the foreseeable future, we will need oil rigs to provide the fuel for our national economy.

Sources:

http://www.toyota.com/compare/?modelCode=prius#h_overview
http://www.greencar.com/articles/smart-car-offers-drivers-new-high-mpg-option-top-crash-rating.php
http://www.ford.com/about-ford/news-announcements/press-releases/press-releases-detail/pr-allnew-ford-fiesta-delivers-40-mpg-32663
http://consumerguideauto.howstuffworks.com/2010-toyota-prius.htm
http://www.hybridsuv.com/
http://www.chevrolet.com/pages/open/default/future/volt.do?seo=goo_|_2009_Chevy_Awareness_|_IMG_Chevy_Volt_Phase_2_Branded_|_Chevy_Volt_|_chevy_volt
http://www.greencarreports.com/blog/1041733_update-low-thirties-2011-chevrolet-volt-price-is-after-tax-credit
http://www.bts.gov/publications/national_transportation_statistics/html/table_01_11.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Relative_cost_of_electricity_generated_by_different_sources
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electricity_generation
http://e360.yale.edu/content/feature.msp?id=2170
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=93293391
http://www.usatoday.com/tech/news/2006-07-10-ethanol-study_x.htm
http://environmental-engineering.suite101.com/article.cfm/coal_gasification
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biogasoline

Fort Myers, FL
June 19, 2010

Photo Credit:
In the wake of BP’s disastrous oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, many politicians and environmentalists are renewing calls for alternate energy and electric cars to relieve the United States from our dependence on foreign oil. Energy independence would have many advantages, from decreasing pollution to depriving terrorist-supporting Arab states of revenue. Even without environmental considerations, the high price of gasoline, especially for summer road trips, gives many car owners the urge for a cheaper alternative, but is a short-term transition to other sources of energy realistic?

The journey away from oil began in earnest a few years ago with the introduction of the Toyota Prius, the first popular hybrid auto. The Prius combines a gasoline-powered engine and two electric motors. The gasoline engine powers the car for highway driving and the electric motors. The car often runs on battery power with the gasoline engine switched off.

Another popular alternative auto is the Smart Car. This two-seater is a product of Daimler and is known for its fuel economy. The tiny car is unique on American streets. Its small size and distinctive round shape make it stand out. One red Smart Car seen around my home town of Villa Rica, Georgia has a vanity license plate that reads “TMATER.” The Smart Car is powered by a traditional gasoline engine.

There are problems with these new cars. One problem is that although they do offer high gas mileage, fuel economy is only marginally better than traditional compact cars. The Prius advertises a fuel economy of 51 mpg in the city and 48 on the highway (http://bit.ly/9Luzbf ). The Smart Car reports 33 mpg in the city and 40 mpg on the highway (http://bit.ly/c0FRsJ ). In contrast, a new traditional compact car such as the Ford Fiesta measures in 29 mpg in the city and 40 on the highway (http://bit.ly/bY0kNs ).

For this marginally better fuel economy, the car buyer must pay a premium. MSRP for the Prius is between $21,000 and $28,000 (http://bit.ly/cOs1Qn ). The Ford Fiesta, a car of equivalent size to the Prius, has an MSRP of $13,000 to $17,000 (http://bit.ly/cjOnQI ), almost $10,000 less. The Smart Car has approximately the same price as the Fiesta (http://bit.ly/ctZ3YR ), but at half the size. It would take years or thousands of miles to pay for the increased cost of the car in fuel savings. Of course, if gas prices increase sharply, the math would shift in favor of the Prius and Smart Car.

These new cars are also clearly not designed with large families in mind. The Prius and the Smart Car are practical for commuters, but not people who travel with children and the assorted paraphernalia necessary for a family trip. There are a variety of hybrid SUVs on the market, but again there is a tradeoff. A premium in price is added to an already expensive vehicle in exchange for modest increases in fuel economy.

The prospect of completely electric cars would face the same problems as well as additional ones. When Chevrolet’s corporate officers came to congress for a bailout, they touted the upcoming release of the Chevy Volt, a totally electric car. One obvious problem with the Volt is that its battery power will only take you 40 miles (http://bit.ly/bPC2l2 ). If you need to go further, a gasoline engine takes over.

For many commuters, such as those driving to Atlanta from outlying suburbs, forty miles is close to a one-way commute. To take full advantage of the Volt, they would have to charge the car at night at home before driving to work. Once at the office, they would have to find an outlet to plug in the car to let it charge for the trip home.

Additionally, people without a garage may have trouble finding a place to plug in their Volt. Although it is capable of charging from a common household 120-volt outlet, outside outlets are not common at many apartments. Even at a house without a garage, it might be difficult to find an outlet that won’t require the use of very long extension cord. The exact price of a Chevy Volt hasn’t been released, but Chevrolet has indicated that the car will cost over $30,000 (http://bit.ly/9AilVS ). This is even after tax credits are taken into account.

Another electric car with better performance is the Tesla Model S. Tesla Motors is partnering with Toyota to produce a high performance electric roadster. The Tesla is a two seat open top sports car that accelerates from 0-60 mph in less than 4 seconds (http://bit.ly/9AnZ2d ). Its estimated 245 mile range is six times that of the Volt. Nevertheless, after 245 miles, plan on a long lunch. It takes three and a half hours to recharge. This is much more inconvenient than pulling into a gas station for a quick fill-up. The Tesla’s price tag is also impressive at $100,000. For those on a budget, you can also lease a Tesla for just over $1,500 per month. (For more information, see www.teslamotors.com.)

The Volt and the Tesla share common disadvantages in price and range, but what makes them really impractical is their small size. Like the Prius and the Smart Car, the Volt and Tesla are meant for commuters. A successful family electric car will must have room for a family. To be widely accepted, electric vehicles will not only have to have the range to run errands around town, they will have to have the seating and cargo capacity of a minivan or an SUV.

Even if such an electric vehicle were available today, it would be years before we could transition completely away from gasoline powered cars. The Bureau of Transportation Statistics estimates that there are more than 135 million passenger autos in the US (http://bit.ly/9fL3uR ). Many, if not most, of the owners of these cars would not want to incur a mortgage-sized car payment for a new electric car. The market for used electric cars is thus far nonexistent.

Consumer demands aren’t the only limits for the growth of the electric car market. At this point, the electrical infrastructure of the US is not prepared to handle the power demands of a transition to electric cars. While electricity is cheaper than oil at this point, increased demand for electricity would drive up its price. This is especially true if congress passes a cap-and-trade energy tax since much of our current electricity is generated by coal, one of the cheapest sources of electricity.

New and alternative sources of electricity such as solar and ocean wave capture are expensive when compared to coal, natural gas, and nuclear generated electricity. The cost of wind energy has decreased in recent years, but these alternative sources of energy face the problem of intermittent wind and sunshine. To be practical, alternative energy sources would have to include a back-up storage system for when the wind is calm or clouds block the sun. At this point, massive batteries or some other technology that can back up large scale alternative energy sources have not been developed.

A final alternative to oil is to use ethanol in gasoline powered autos. There are several problems associated with ethanol use however. For example, when the government increased the mandated amount of ethanol production in 2007, it caused a worldwide spike in food prices the next year (http://n.pr/bbJPHL ). Even if the total US corn crop was used for ethanol production, it would only account for 12% of American gasoline requirements (http://bit.ly/9zhJIE ). Additionally, ethanol can damage engines.

Another newly cost-effective technology converts coal into gasoline. The Germans developed a process to transform coal into gasoline in response to fuel shortages in WWII. Since then, low oil prices have made the process too expensive to compete with oil-based gasoline until recently. Coal-based gasoline does not resolve concerns about pollution and carbon emissions. Similarly, as oil and gasoline prices rise, new advances in biofuels and biomass-based gasoline may become more practical.

Although there is already progress with new technology and even more advances are on the horizon, the United States, along with the rest of the world, remains firmly in the grasp of oil. For the foreseeable future, we will need oil rigs to provide the fuel for our national economy.

Sources:

http://www.toyota.com/compare/?modelCode=prius#h_overview
http://www.greencar.com/articles/smart-car-offers-drivers-new-high-mpg-option-top-crash-rating.php
http://www.ford.com/about-ford/news-announcements/press-releases/press-releases-detail/pr-allnew-ford-fiesta-delivers-40-mpg-32663
http://consumerguideauto.howstuffworks.com/2010-toyota-prius.htm
http://www.hybridsuv.com/
http://www.chevrolet.com/pages/open/default/future/volt.do?seo=goo_|_2009_Chevy_Awareness_|_IMG_Chevy_Volt_Phase_2_Branded_|_Chevy_Volt_|_chevy_volt
http://www.greencarreports.com/blog/1041733_update-low-thirties-2011-chevrolet-volt-price-is-after-tax-credit
http://www.bts.gov/publications/national_transportation_statistics/html/table_01_11.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Relative_cost_of_electricity_generated_by_different_sources
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electricity_generation
http://e360.yale.edu/content/feature.msp?id=2170
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=93293391
http://www.usatoday.com/tech/news/2006-07-10-ethanol-study_x.htm
http://environmental-engineering.suite101.com/article.cfm/coal_gasification
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biogasoline

Fort Myers, FL
June 19,

Photo Credit:
m_bartosch
http://www.freedigitalphotos.net/images/view_photog.php?photogid=681

Candidate profile: Otis Putnam for governor

Otis Putnam is a native of Brunswick and attended North Georgia College in Dahlonega. Putnam is a Walmart employee and has been with the company for thirteen years. He served in the Army National Guard as PFC. He is descendent of Israel Putnam, a general in the Continental Army during the American Revolution and a hero of the Battle of Bunker Hill.

Putnam is a political outsider who has never held elected office. In 2006, he did serve as the Second Vice Chair of the Glynn County Republican Party. He was inspired to enter the gubernatorial race through a combination of his Christian beliefs and his desire to help put Georgians back to work and revive the economy. He bills himself as the “regular guy” in the governor race.

Following are Mr. Putnam’s positions on a variety of issues facing Georgia:

Jobs: Putnam would like to remove the unnecessary obstacles and fees that block small businesses from creating jobs.

Taxes: Putnam opposes all increases in taxes and fees. He believes that government should live within its means. When revenue falls, spending should be cut. Putnam believes that revenue will increase as the economy recovers. He believes that essential state services should not be cut.

Education: Putnam would like to put prayer back in schools. He would like to simplify regulation and reduce standardized testing. He supports programs to attract and keep quality teachers.

Transportation: Putnam would like to root out corruption in the DOT and focus on long term planning. He would ensure that DOT projects are completed on time. He would reduce congestion in Atlanta by finding an alternate route for large trucks.

Health Care: Putnam supports tort reform as a method to reduce health care costs. He opposes the government takeover of health care. Putnam believes in free market reforms and preventive medicine.

Life: Putnam is Pro-Life.

Gun Rights: Putnam supports the right to keep and bear arms.

Sources:
http://otisputnamga.tripod.com/
http://israelputnam.com/
http://peachesinregalia.com/2010/04/08/otis-putnam-r-joins-gop-primary-race-for-governor/
http://savannahnow.com/news/2010-06-20/gop-hopefuls-fight-spotlight

Photo Credit: Otis Putnam

Candidate profile: DuBose Porter for governor

DuBose Porter is a native of Dublin, Georgia. He received an undergraduate degree in English from Davidson College in North Carolina. After graduation, Porter interned in Washington, DC for Senator Sam Nunn. This inspired him to get a law degree and enter public service. He earned a juris doctor degree from Cumberland Law School at Birmingham’s Samford University in 1979.

After earning his law degree, Porter practiced law in Dublin before purchasing and becoming editor of a newspaper, the Dublin Courier Herald in 1987. Since then, the Courier Herald’s publishing company, of which Porter is Chairman of the Board, has purchased nine other small town newspapers. Porter is business manager for the newspapers as well as serving on the board of the Bank of Dudley.

Porter’s political career began with a run for the Georgia House of Representatives in 1982 at the age of 28. Porter served as Floor Leader for Gov. Zell Miller from 1991-1992. He was elected Speaker Pro Tempore of the house in 2003 and leader of the House Democratic Caucus in 2005. He currently serves on the House Agriculture and Consumer Affairs, Appropriations, and Ethics Committees. In the past, he chaired both the Education and Higher Education committees. Presently, Porter is minority leader in the Georgia House of Representatives.

Following are Representative Porter’s positions on some important issues facing our state:

Education: Porter believes that a well-educated work force is vital for Georgia’s future economy. He supports using technology to facilitate teaching and giving more power to teachers. He would strengthen Georgia’s colleges and universities. Porter wants teachers and the state to work with parents. He opposes school vouchers.

Taxes: Porter believes that revenues can be increased without raising taxes. One method of doing so would be passage of the Point of Sales bill (HB 356) which would allow local governments to collect sales taxes themselves or contract out to private firms instead of relying on the Department of Revenue. Porter believes that this would increase efficiency and lower costs. Porter believes that his proposal would also allow the state to collect more money from tax cheats.

Transportation: Porter would like to use some sales tax revenues to leverage federal transportation money. Porter believes that a multi-nodal mass transit (high speed rail) system would be a solution to gridlock. He also wants to upgrade and repair Georgia’s roads.

Crime: Porter believes that education is an answer to the crime problem.

Life: Porter says that he is pro-life, but believes that abortion should be legal in cases of rape, incest, or when the life of the mother is at stake. He believes that the abortion issue should be decided by the courts.

Gun Rights: Porter is a gun owner and supporter of the second amendment. His publishing company also publishes hunting magazines.

DuBose Porter is also an Eagle Scout.

Sources:
http://www.porterforgeorgia.com/
http://www.votesmart.org/bio.php?can_id=7948
http://www.courier-herald.com/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DuBose_Porter
http://blogs.ajc.com/get-schooled-blog/2010/06/11/agreement-among-dems-for-governor-no-vouchers-concerns-over-over-reaching-charter-laws-and-under-reaching-tax-collections/?cxntfid=blogs_get_schooled_blog
http://www.georgiademocrat.org/node/1122
http://www.rockdalecitizen.com/newtonhome/headlines/86734157.html
http://porterforgeorgia.blogspot.com/2010/02/55-dubose-porter-transportation-will.html
http://www.peachpundit.com/2010/05/24/dubose-porter-slips-up-admits-to-being-pro-life/comment-page-1/
http://porterforgeorgia.uber.matchbin.net/printer_friendly/7882626
http://daltondailycitizen.com/local/x657337992/Profile-Dublin-gubernatorial-hopeful-Porter-running-a-grass-roots-campaign

Photo credit: Juan Gnecco
http://www.freedigitalphotos.net/images/view_photog.php?photogid=135

Candidate profile: Eric Johnson for governor

Eric Johnson is a native of Savannah. He attended college at Tulane University in New Orleans, majoring in architecture. Professionally, he was a managing partner for the architecture and engineering firm Hussey, Gay, Bell, and DeYoung in Savannah until 2004. He worked for North Point Realty, a Savannah developer, until his resignation from the senate in 2009. He then returned to HGBD where he is currently director of business development.

Johnson got his start in politics campaigning for Mack Mattingly and served as Senator Mattingly’s Regional Director from 1981 to 1983. From 1987 to 1989, Johnson served as the Chairman of Chatham County’s Republican Party. In 1992, he was elected to Georgia’s House of Representatives where he served one term. In 1994, he was elected to the Georgia state Senate. Johnson served in the senate until 2009 when he resigned to run for governor. During his time in the senate, he also chaired the state Ethics Commission.

During his time in the senate, Johnson served in several leadership positions. He became Minority Whip, the second-in-command of the minority party, in 1997. In 1999, he assumed the role of Minority Leader. When the Republicans took control of the senate, he became President Pro Tempore of the senate in 2003, a position he held until his resignation.

In 2010, when Johnson released his tax returns amid his campaign for governor (he and Roy Barnes are the only candidates to do so), it was revealed that he had failed to report more than $280,000 that his firm had earned from state contracts. Under Georgia law, he was required to report any business conducted with the state valued at more than $20,000 since he held more than 10% interest in his architecture firm at the time (http://savannahnow.com/news/2010-05-26/eric-johnson-ethics-fix).

In total, Johnson’s firm earned more than $850,000 from nine separate state contracts between 1999 and 2004. $578,953 of these revenues was reported on hi financial disclosures. One job, valued at just over $400,000 was underreported. Johnson’s disclosures show earnings of only $111,188. This was $289,375 short of the actual amount. The contract in question was for the renovation of a library at Dalton State College and was commissioned by the Georgia Financing and Investment Commission. Johnson calls the omission “inadvertent” (http://savannahnow.com/news/2010-05-26/eric-johnson-ethics-fix).




Here are Eric Johnson’s positions on some important issues of the campaign:

Taxes: Johnson would cut taxes for property owners, teachers, retirees, veterans, military personnel, farmers and small businesses. He would eliminate the sales tax on energy used in manufacturing, and favors a consumption tax such as the Fair Tax. He favors legislation to require a 2/3 majority to raise taxes and zero based budgeting. Johnson wants government to get back to the basics and privatize unnecessary services.

Jobs: Johnson favors a complete rewrite of all regulations for every state agency to eliminate needlessly burdensome and “silly” regulations. He opposes legislation like the Democratic “card check” bill that would make it easier to unionize. He would like to consolidate and streamline Georgia’s programs for business loans, grants, and tax credits to make them easier to get. He would also streamline professional licensing and expand Georgia’s Work Ready program with a Workbook internet site (modeled on Facebook) to match workers with jobs. Johnson also favors tax credits for job creation and promoting Georgia’s tourist industry. He also wants to allow a small percentage of the Employees Retirement System to be utilized for alternative investments to help provide capital to lure businesses to our state (Georgia is currently the only state to prohibit this).

Immigration: Johnson will require state agencies to enforce current Georgia law and verify citizenship status of applicants for state benefits. He would increase the per diem paid to counties to house illegal alien prisoners and require all law enforcement agencies to establish citizenship status of prisoners. He would collect citizenship data in schools, colleges, and emergency rooms, as well as holding employers responsible when they repeatedly hire illegal aliens.

Energy: Calling Georgia “the Saudi Arabia of pine trees,” Johnson supports research to use Georgia pines to replace coal in power plants and as a source of ethanol. He also supports expansion of the nuclear Plant Vogtle to help meet Georgia’s electricity needs in coming decades. He would like to open Georgia’s coastal waters to environmentally safe drilling and oil exploration.

Transportation: Johnson would like to make transportation a priority for funding from state bond revenues. He would like to build a western bypass around Atlanta (through LaGrange) to relieve congestion. He favors public-private partnerships to provide additional money for transportation. He also supports county or regional taxes that stay in that region for transportation projects. Johnson would like to expand Georgia’s rail network for freight. He supports tolls for out-of-state vehicles and tax credits for companies that encourage telecommuting.

Life: Johnson is endorsed by Georgia Right to Life.

Gun Rights: Johnson supports the second amendment.

Ethics: Johnson strongly supports transparency in government and says that there is no ethics bill to strong for him to sign. He has a record in the senate of supporting ethics reform legislation.

Property rights: Johnson helped amend Georgia’s constitution to uphold private property rights.

Marriage: Johnson helped amend Georgia’s constitution to define marriage as between a man and a woman.

Johnson was Georgia’s first Republican senate majority leader since Reconstruction.






Sources:
http://www.johnsonforgeorgians.com/
http://www.ballotpedia.info/wiki/index.php/Eric_Johnson,_Georgia_Senator
http://savannahnow.com/news/2010-05-26/eric-johnson-ethics-fix

photo credit: Eric Johnson

Candidate Profile: Carl Camon for Governor

Carl Camon was born in Nashville, Georgia and grew up in Ray City, Georgia. Ray City is located in south Georgia, just north of Moody Air Force Base, which in turn is located near Valdosta. Camon served over ten years in the US Air Force and Air Force Reserve. He received a “below the zone” promotion and attained the rank of Staff Sergeant (E-5). His service in the military convinced him of the need to maintain a strong national defense.

The military also helped Camon advance his education. He received Associate degrees from Georgia Military College and the Community College of the Air Force. He also earned Bachelor, Masters, and Specialist degrees in education from Valdosta State University. His concentrations were in Mental Retardation and Severe Disabilities.

His political career began in 1993 as a member of Ray City’s city council where he served two terms. Later, he became the first African-American mayor of Ray City, eventually serving five terms from 1996 through 1997 and 2000 through 2009. As Ray City mayor, he helped to start Georgia’s first municipal pre-k program. He also founded the Mayor’s Youth Leadership Institute and the Mayor and Council’s Education Initiative Scholarship. Camon worked to obtain grants to modernize Ray City’s fire and police departments, and declared war on drugs in his city. While mayor, he was listed as one of “40 under 40” Rising Stars in Georgia.

In 2002, he was appointed by Governor Roy Barnes to a four year term as chairman of the County and Municipal Probation Advisory Council. The role of the council is to provide orientation and standardization for probation officers, as well as private providers of probation services. Other civic roles for Camon include membership in the Budget and Executive Committees of the Georgia Municipal Association and chairman of the Environment and Natural Resources Policy Committee.

Camon has also served in a variety of teaching roles. His resume boasts fifteen years of experience in education in jobs as varied as Assistant Professor of Education, Pre-k Director, and high school teacher. He was listed in Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers four separate times and was awarded Teacher of the Month.

It was in his role as teacher that Camon received the only blemish on his record. While teaching at a school in Valdosta in 2007, Camon was accused by several students of making sexual remarks, staring at the breasts of female students, and looking up their skirts. The NY Times reports that Camon denied the allegations, saying that the girls were angry at him for calls to the parents about bad grades ( http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/19/us/19georgia.html ). The Times also reported that Camon had been accused of having an inappropriate relationship with a student on a previous occasion in which no probable cause had been found.

In the 2007 case, Camon was suspended for one week. Rather than accept the suspension, he resigned, saying that he refused to accept punishment for something that he did not do. His complete statement on the matter can be read here: https://docs.google.com/Doc?docid=0AfKEK8-LWmzhZGNmZDk0bTNfMjZjdjlwNnJkOQ&hl=en. After resigning, Camon was rehired by the same school system the following year, where he taught the same students in the same school. He maintains that he was falsely accused and unjustly suspended. He continued to teach in Valdosta until 2009 when he resigned to start a business, Teacher Advocacy and Protection (TAP) with his wife.

Here are Camon’s positions on some important issues:

Education: Camon believes that many of Georgia’s problems are linked to education, and commits to teach one class in each county during his term as governor. He also pledges $5,000 per year from his governor’s salary to scholarships for deserving high school students. Camon would like to return authority to teachers and increase their pay to the national average. He would also encourage teachers to retire after 25 years to reduce costs. Over time, he would phase out alternative schools and work to reduce the number of students who repeat grades. He is a strong supporter of pre-k, HOPE, and Quality Based Education.

Jobs: Camon would invest in the infrastructure of Georgia’s cities, which he believes would help to continue to develop economically. He would prioritize state spending and cut wasteful programs. He would offer incentives for the creation of small business and for hiring new employees. Camon would restructure Georgia’s welfare system to provide more job training. He would also expand opportunities for higher education to all citizens and encourage people to take personal finance training and counseling. He also believes that expansion of wind, solar and other green technologies will help Georgia. Mr. Camon would empower the Department of Commerce to market Georgia for tourism and industry.

Taxes: Camon would keep taxes low and believes that this will help to stimulate the economy.

Transportation: Mr. Camon would explore the possibility of building a high speed rail system to connect Georgia cities. He would also support regional mass transit systems. He would restore the Local Assistance Road Program (LARP) for cities and counties and increase regional representation in the Department of Transportation. He would work to increase the installation of electric power stations along interstate highways to facilitate the use of electric autos. Mr. Camon would support legislation to prohibit auto insurance companies from charging higher rates solely on the basis of poor credit scores. He would direct federal stimulus money to regions of greatest need. He would expand video surveillance of Georgia roads in an effort to ease congestion. He would also expand and secure Georgia’s ports.

Life: Camon’s website does not address life or abortion issues. In an email, he did state that he opposes abortion.

Gun Rights: Camon’s website does not address second amendment issues. In an email, he did state that he supports the second amendment.




Sources:
http://www.camonforgovernor.com/
http://www.13wmaz.com/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=80274&catid=175
http://www.cmpac.gaaoc.us/
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/19/us/19georgia.html
https://docs.google.com/Doc?docid=0AfKEK8-LWmzhZGNmZDk0bTNfMjRkc3p3N2ZkNA&hl=en
http://blogs.ajc.com/political-insider-jim-galloway/2010/03/18/responses-from-ray-mcberry-and-carl-camon/?cxntfid=blogs_political_insider_jim_galloway
http://www.mayorsyouthinstitute.com/
http://georgia.com/2010/03/12/election-series-interview-with-d-carl-camon/
http://peanutpolitics-keith.blogspot.com/2009/12/carl-camons-campaign-platform-for.html
http://www.thevoterguide.org/v/ajc10/race-detail.do?id=194890249&party=D

Candidate Profile: Thurbert Baker for Governor

Thurbert Baker was born in Rocky Mount, North Carolina. He received and undergraduate degree in political science from the University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill before coming to Georgia to attend law school at Emory University. After graduating from Emory, Baker worked as a lawyer in Atlanta on both civil and criminal cases at the state and federal level.

In 1988, Baker was elected to the Georgia House of Representatives. After Zell Miller was elected governor in 1990, he became Miller’s floor leader in the house. As floor leader, he was instrumental in passing much of the legislation of the Miller administration. He was known for his role in passing legislation that reduced death row appeals, reformed welfare, and curbed drunk driving. A major legislative accomplishment was Georgia’s “two strikes law.”

In 1997, Zell Miller appointed Baker to fill an unexpired term as Attorney General. Baker’s stated priorities included domestic violence, Medicaid fraud, and consumer fraud. He has been re-elected several times as Georgia’s Attorney General since 1997. Baker is Georgia’s first black Attorney General.

As Attorney General, Baker had Georgia join the historic lawsuit against the tobacco companies. He also began prosecution of fraudulent telemarketers operating in Georgia. He also proposed the denial of parole to certain classes of criminals, which at first was a controversial idea.

In recent months, Baker has been the subject of criticism, and an attempt at impeachment, for his refusal to file a legal challenge to President Obama’s federal health care reform law. Baker stated that he believed the lawsuit had little chance of success and would not be a wise use of the state’s meager resources [https://docs.google.com/fileview?id=0B_KEK8-LWmzhYTE2NjJiZDUtNmYxZi00YTk1LWIzYTktYzk4OTljOTIwMTRh&hl=en&pli=1 ]. Governor Sonny Perdue appointed a special attorney to handle the lawsuit. Both the lawsuit and the impeachment are still pending.

From his website, here are some of Baker’s positions on prominent issues:

Jobs: Baker would like to attract biotech companies to Georgia with a $175 million dollar investment in facilities, grants, and tax credits. Baker would also create scholarship and student loan forgiveness program to encourage more people to become nurses and help to relieve a looming shortage in Georgia. Baker also wants to create a $50 million deal closing fund to help attract new business to Georgia.

Taxes: Baker would allow new businesses to defer paying taxes for their first two years. After that time, back taxes must be paid.

Education: Other than the scholarship and loan forgiveness program for nurses, Baker’s website makes no mention of education.

Life: Baker’s website makes no mention of life issues or abortion.

Gun Rights: Baker’s website makes no mention of second amendment issues.

Sources:
www.thurbertbaker.com
http://www.answers.com/topic/thurbert-baker
http://blogs.ajc.com/political-insider-jim-galloway/2010/03/30/house-gop-lawmakers-file-bill-of-impeachment-against-thurbert-baker/
http://www.gpb.org/news/2010/03/25/perdue-to-sue-obama-administration
https://docs.google.com/fileview?id=0B_KEK8-LWmzhYTE2NjJiZDUtNmYxZi00YTk1LWIzYTktYzk4OTljOTIwMTRh&hl=en&pli=1

Candidate profile: John Oxendine for Governor

John Oxendine is from Tucker, Georgia and lived in DeKalb County while growing up. He is currently a resident of Gwinnett County and has lived there since college. He is a graduate of Mercer University, where he majored in Christianity, Greek, and political science. He also received a Juris Doctorate from Mercer’s law school. After college, he joined the family law practice in Gwinnett County.

His political career began as a student assistant to Governor George Busbee (Democrat, 1975-1983). He campaigned for Joe Frank Harris (Democrat, 1983-1991) and was appointed by Harris as chairman of the State Personnel Board. Since 1994, Oxendine has served as the state Insurance Commissioner. In his most recent re-election campaign, he carried 153 of Georgia’s 159 counties. Oxendine was the first Republican to control a state agency.

As Insurance Commissioner, Oxendine expanded office hours to be more responsive to citizens and consistently kept the Insurance Commission under budget. One of Oxendine’s first acts was to reform Georgia’s worker’s compensation insurance rules to reduce insurance costs for small businesses.

Oxendine made a national name for himself by becoming a leader in reining in HMOs. Georgia passed a prompt-pay law in 1994. The law required insurance companies to pay claims within 15 working days. Oxendine levied millions of dollars in fines against insurance companies who violated the law, more than any other Insurance Commissioner. He received the Nathan Davis Award for Outstanding Government Service from the American Medical Association in 2002.

In 2009, Oxendine faced claims that he accepted travel to the Oscars from a political contributor. Indianapolis Life Insurance claimed that Oxendine took a trip that was paid for by Dr. Jeffrey Gallups, who was involved in a case with Indianapolis. Oxendine claimed that he had reimbursed Gallups and that the insurer had been involved in wrongdoing. Others say that Oxendine had a personal interest in the case [http://www.allbusiness.com/government/elections-politics-campaigns-elections/13881535-1.html ].

Also in 2009, Oxendine was criticized by the Atlanta Journal for taking $120,000 in campaign contributions which were traced by to two insurance companies owned by the same man. Georgia law prohibits officials from taking money from companies they regulate. The money was given by ten separate political action committees. The AJC traced the PACs to two common addresses. Georgia law also prohibits individuals from donating more than $12,200 to a candidate in one election cycle. The use of multiple PACs to circumvent the limit is also prohibited. Oxendine stated that he and his campaign were unaware that the money came from an insurance company. According to Oxendine, the law specifies that the donors are punishable under law, but recipients are not at fault “as long as it appears to be an appropriate contribution on its face. All we can go by is what the giver tells us.” [http://www.ajc.com/services/content/metro/stories/2009/05/10/oxendine_campaign_funding_governor.html%3Fcxtype%3Drss&cxsvc%3D7&cxcat%3D13 ].

Finally, Oxendine’s son made news in January 2010 when he was involved in hunting accident. While bird hunting, Oxendine’s son fired a shotgun and some of the shot struck a man observing the hunt. The younger Oxendine did not have a hunting license, but the hunt was on a preserve where none was needed. Incidentally, the preserve belongs to Delos Yancey III, the same man who is accused of funneling the $120,000 in campaign contributions to Oxendine last year. The complete report on the incident can be found here: http://www1.romenews-tribune.com/Files/Documents/January2010/HuntinIncidentReport.pdf.

The centerpiece of Oxendine’s campaign is his twelve-point Contract with Georgia. The contract covers a range of reform issues and can be seen in its entirety here: http://www.johnoxendine.com/contract-with-ga.html.

Here is a summary of Mr. Oxendine’s stance on some representative issues:

Taxes: Oxendine supports the Fair Tax. He proposes scrapping the state tax code and replacing it with a modern tax code that does not include an income tax.

Life: Oxendine is endorsed by Georgia Right to Life. He supports a life amendment to Georgia constitution, as well as an Advanced Directive Law, the Georgia Abortion Complication Reporting Act, and a Human Cloning Ban. He would like to put Planned Parenthood and other abortion providers “out of business in Georgia.”

Gun Rights: Oxendine is a supporter of the second amendment and would like to expand the right to carry concealed weapons in Georgia. He is a member of the NRA, Georgia Carry, the Georgia Sports Shooting Association, and the Gun Owners of America.

Education: Oxendine would eliminate state level micromanagement of the educational system. He wants to return to local control and accountability. He also supports school vouchers.

Transportation: Oxendine plans to implement a comprehensive statewide transportation system.

John Oxendine is widely considered to be the Republican front-runner in the gubernatorial race.

Sources:
www.johnoxendine.com
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Oxendine
http://www.bizjournals.com/atlanta/stories/2002/05/27/daily12.html
www.donself.com/documents/prompt-pay.doc
http://www.ama-assn.org/ama/pub/about-ama/awards/nathan-davis-awards-outstanding-government-service/past-recipients-nathan-davis-awards.shtml
http://www.politicalscandalnews.com/article/Scandals%27%20domino%20effect%20shakes%20Ga.%20GOP%20leaders/?k=j83s12y12h94s27k02
http://www.allbusiness.com/government/elections-politics-campaigns-elections/13881535-1.html
http://www.ajc.com/news/georgia-politics-elections/oxendines-stepson-accidentally-shot-279433.html
http://www1.romenews-tribune.com/Files/Documents/January2010/HuntinIncidentReport.pdf

Candidate Profile: David Poythress for governor

David Poythress is a native of Macon. He attended school in Bibb County and later earned a college degree and US Air Force commission from Emory law school. After graduation, he volunteered for duty in Vietnam, where he served as defense counsel and Chief of Military Justice at Da Nang Airbase.

After four years of active duty, Poythress started a civilian law practice in Atlanta and held a variety of positions in the Georgia state government. The offices that he has held include Assistant Attorney General, Deputy State Revenue Commissioner, and Secretary of State. Elected in 1992 and 1994, he served as State Labor Commissioner. He resigned from that office in 1998 to mount an unsuccessful campaign for governor. Poythress’ private law practice dealt primarily with taxation and public finance.

After leaving active military service, Poythress continued to serve in the Air Force Reserve. He eventually attained the rank of Brigadier General. In 1999, Governor Roy Barnes named Poythress as Georgia’s Adjutant General, the officer in command of Georgia’s Army and Air National Guard. Barnes also promoted him to Major General. Governor Sonny Perdue renewed his appointment as Adjutant General and promoted him to Lieutenant General. He also served in Operation Desert Storm.

Here are Poythress’ positions on prominent issues:

Jobs: Poythress will not take a paycheck as governor until Georgia’s unemployment rate falls below 7%. He would also create tax incentives for high tech manufacturing, life sciences, alternative energy, and film production. He would immediately begin projects to enhance and upgrade Georgia’s infrastructure (roads, bridges, dams). Finally, Poythress would create tax credits for energy efficiency and water conservation.

Taxes: Poythress proposes tax credits to encourage water conservation and energy efficiency. He also would like to pass business tax incentives for high tech manufacturing, life sciences, alternative energy, and film production.

Education: Poythress opposes budget cuts for education. He also opposes school vouchers. He would like to recruit more teachers, especially in math and science, while preserving the current defined benefit pension plan for teachers. Poythress would like to preserve or expand popular programs, such as the HOPE scholarship and Pre-K classes. He would expand parent participation and institute a program to decrease the number of drop-outs. He would preserve the role of arts in education as well as health classes featuring nutrition and exercise. He would provide increased opportunities for vocational education and tutoring. He opposes No Child Left Behind.

Transportation: Poythress would encourage telecommuting and flex time for state workers to alleviate Atlanta traffic. He would expand Georgia’s ports, rail lines, and heavy truck routes. He would prioritize state transportation projections based on need, rather than politics. He would begin long term planning for a mass transit commuter system linking Atlanta with Georgia’s major cities as well as those of neighboring states. He would give citizens the option of passing a sales tax to fund transportation projects.

Gun Rights: Poythress’ website makes no mention of second amendment issues.

Life: Poythress’ website makes no mention of abortion or life issues. He is reportedly pro-choice. He does favor sex-education to reduce the number of abortions.

Sources:
http://www.poythressforgovernor.com/home
http://www.ghla.net/External/WCPages/WCNews/NewsArticleDisplay.aspx?ArticleID=12
http://www.ghla.net/External/WCPages/WCNews/NewsArticleDisplay.aspx?ArticleID=12

Candidate Profile: Roy Barnes for Governor

Roy Barnes is a Mableton native and a life-long resident of Cobb County, where his family owned and operated a general store. He is a graduate of the University of Georgia law school. He became the youngest member of the Georgia state senate at 26 years old when he was elected in 1974. He served eight terms in the senate, before leaving to run for governor in 1990. He was defeated by Zell Miller in the Democratic primary.

In 1992, he returned to politics when he was elected to the Georgia House of Representatives. He served there until 1998, when he ran again for governor. This time he was elected.

A major achievement of Barnes’ term as governor was the removal of the Confederate battle emblem from Georgia’s state flag. In 2001, the flag was changed to a field of blue with a large state seal in the center, above five flags representing Georgia’s history and the words “In God We Trust.” This was an unpopular move that many believe was instrumental in his re-election defeat. Nevertheless, the move earned him a Profile in Courage award from the John F. Kennedy Library in 2003.

Education reform was also a hallmark of Barnes' tenure as governor. His administration resulted in more centralized control of Georgia schools. He also ended tenure for new teachers and required students to pass a graduation test to advance to the next grade, effectively ending social promotion. His website also notes that he reduced classroom sizes and increased pay for teachers. Many of these reforms were also unpopular.

Additionally, Barnes passed tax cuts for family farms and homes. He also created a sales tax holiday for Georgia. Additionally, he passed patient’s rights and anti-predatory lending laws. While he was governor, Barnes was known as “King Roy.”

After losing his re-election bid in 2002, Barnes devoted six months to pro-bono legal work for the Atlanta Legal Aid Society. He also established a consumer rights website, before founding a new family law firm, Barnes Legal Group.

More recently, Barnes argued before the Georgia Supreme Court against Georgia’s voter ID law. The law, passed in 2005, required that Georgia voters show a photo ID to vote. Barnes claimed the law was unconstitutional because some voters did not have driver’s licenses and paying for an ID would cause a burden on the poor. The case was dismissed by Georgia’s Supreme Court since the only plaintiff in the case had a photo ID and therefore had no standing to sue. The United States Supreme Court upheld the law in 2008 (http://www.answers.com/topic/roy-barnes#Governor_of_Georgia ).

Also, Barnes was recently appointed co-chairman of a nonpartisan commission on No Child Left Behind. The commission, sponsored by the Aspen Institute, is designed to seek improvements in federal education policy.

Some of Gov. Barnes’ stances on key issues are noted below:

Jobs: Barnes would issue an executive order to retrofit state and public buildings for energy efficiency. He would also create incentives for medical research in Georgia. Barnes believes that agriculture remains an important part of Georgia’s future and wants to increase the number of finished agricultural products, as opposed to raw materials, that Georgia exports. He believes that Georgia’s agriculture could make the state a leader in green jobs and the production of biofuels.

Taxes: Barnes supports property tax relief.

Education: Barnes is critical of recent cuts in the education budget, cuts in teacher salaries, and teacher furloughs. He would focus on math, science, language and special education and work to reduce class size. Barnes would have two classroom teachers on his staff as governor to ensure that all policy discussions stay grounded in classroom reality. He would also convene teacher panels provide communications between teachers and policymakers. Barnes wants to minimize the number of class days devoted to standardized testing. Finally, he would like to integrate Georgia’s high schools and technical colleges to promote more vocational training.

Transportation: Barnes would like to implement an elevated light-rail system to move commuters from Atlanta to outlying suburbs, much farther than the existing MARTA system. He would also connect Georgia’s major cities with light-rail systems, while working to improve Georgia’s roads.

Life: Barnes’ website makes no mention of his position on life or abortion.

Gun Rights: Barnes’ website makes no mention of his position on second amendment rights.

Sources:
http://www.roy2010.com/
http://www.answers.com/topic/roy-barnes#Governor_of_Georgia
http://myconsumerrights.com

Candidate profile: Jeff Chapman for Governor

Jeff Chapman is a three-term state senator representing Georgia’s coastal third district. He is from Brunswick, where he started his career working in a paper mill. He later left the mill to start his own waste disposal business, which was purchased by Waste Management in the 1990s. After selling his business, he became a division president for Waste Management.

He began his career in public service on the Glynn County commission before being elected to the state senate. He also works with the Boy Scouts, the Exchange Club, and the Georgia Air National Guard. He was first elected to the senate in 2004.

Chapman is probably best known for his opposition to a Jekyll Island deal in which the Jekyll Island Authority (JIA) proposed to grant Atlanta development company Linger Longer be granted the right to build private condominiums on Jekyll Island, the right of first refusal for all Jekyll Island projects for 25 years, and millions of dollars in incentives. In his opposition to the deal, Chapman cited the lack of competitive bidding as disrespectful of the free enterprise system and an abuse of public trust [http://www.onlineathens.com/stories/120609/opi_532438790.shtml]. Shortly after Chapman wrote an editorial criticizing the deal, the Jekyll Island Authority canceled it.

Senator Chapman bills himself as a social and fiscal conservative. Here is a summary of his positions on some prominent issues:

Taxes: Chapman supports a federal Fair Tax and the transition to state sales tax in lieu of a state income tax. He also supports property tax relief.

Gun Rights: Chapman is rated A+ by the National Rifle Association. He supports the right to keep and bear arms for self-defense, sports, and hunting.

Jobs: Chapman supports pro-business policies that will help to attract more businesses to our state. He supports lower taxes and a pork-free government budget. He also believes that improving Georgia’s education system will help to attract businesses to Georgia.

Education: Chapman would improve Georgia schools by working to improve student discipline in the classroom. He also reports returning more local control to school systems. He would establish a “clearinghouse” for teaching methods that work, as well encouraging experienced teachers to mentor new ones. Finally, he would like to make school budgets more efficient to make the best use of taxpayer dollars.

Life: Chapman has a 100% Pro-Life voting record and is endorsed by Georgia Right to Life.

Property Rights: Chapman opposes the misuse of eminent domain to take property for private development. He would work to close a constitutional loophole that allows the General Assembly to define “public use.”

Transportation: Chapman would like to increase efficiency and accountability in state transportation planning. He would also keep the entire proceeds of Georgia’s gas tax in the transportation fund (currently 1% out of the 4% tax goes to the general fund). Chapman also points out that of the 18.4 cents per gallon that Georgia collects for the Federal Highway Trust Fund, only 90% returns to Georgia. He would work to keep Georgia’s entire contribution.

In summary, Jeff Chapman is an experienced politician who is grounded in real-world business. He has a history of standing up against the political interests, including those of his own party.

Sources:
http://jeffchapmanforgovernor.com
http://www.onlineathens.com/stories/120609/opi_532438790.shtml
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeff_Chapman_%28Georgia_politician%29
http://www.atlantaunfiltered.com/2009/12/08/jekyll-authority-backs-out-of-island-development-deal-with-linger-longer/
http://www.lifenews.com/state5154.html