Wednesday, June 22, 2011

House minority leader addresses local Democrats

By Michael W. Pannell

WARNER ROBINS -- Georgia House Minority Leader Stacey Abrams, D-Atlanta, told Houston County Democrats on Saturday the party can win majority status over Republicans in Georgia.

Speaking before a joint meeting of the Middle Georgia Democratic Women’s Club and the Houston County Democratic Committee, Abrams said the difference in Georgia between the Republican winner and Democratic loser in the latest gubernatorial and presidential elections was 250,000 votes.

She said it was a difference Democrats could turn around.

“It’s time we make it known that it’s safe to be a Democrat again,” Abrams said.

She outlined three focuses state and local party groups should maintain as Democrats rebuild.

First, Abrams said the party should focus on what it wants to do, and do it.

Second, she said Democrats must raise more funds. She said Republicans have money to win races, and Democrats were beginning “behind $0” due to party debt.

Third, Abrams said Georgia Democrats must focus on friends. She said the party is a diverse one made up of various views, but is basically “folks committed to doing good.”

While maintaining focus, Abrams said state Democrats must stress their position of working toward economic security for citizens, making available educational opportunities and promoting shared responsibility between individuals and government.

Abrams said government’s role isn’t to do for individuals, but it must “help individuals do.”

Abrams also addressed the issue of working as the minority party, saying Democrats must collaborate with Republicans when they can for the betterment of all Georgians, compete when they have to to get better legislation adopted, and hold government accountable by getting information to citizens.

While speaking with the group, Abrams discussed issues such as taxation, education and immigration.

Regarding taxation, she said Democrats would not do the majority Republicans’ job by coming up with a state spending plan in the face of a $1.5 million state deficit, a problem she said was created by Republicans.

As for education, Abrams said there were few true rags-to-riches stories that didn’t involve education, and it was the duty of government to make a good education, and an affordable one, available to citizens.

On immigration, Abrams said it was not true illegal immigrants do not pay for government services.

She said the state gains revenue from sales tax, property taxes and income taxes. She said illegal immigrants do pay sales tax and property taxes, even as renters.

Abrams is the first woman to lead either party in the General Assembly, as well as the first black person to lead the House of Representatives.

Read more: http://www.macon.com/2011/06/22/1603495/house-minority-leader-addresses.html#ixzz1SCQeYAlO