Handel for Governor E-Update

Congress Out of Control, Spending on Luxury Jets an Outrage

Is it just me or has Congress lost its collective mind? While the rest of the country is suffering through the worst economy in a generation, they are buying themselves a fleet of new luxury private jets to fly themselves around in.

And these are the guys who chastised auto industry executives for flying to Washington on private jets? I think today's article in the Wall Street Journal summed it up nicely:

WASHINGTON -- Congress plans to spend $550 million to buy eight jets, a substantial upgrade to the fleet used by federal officials at a time when lawmakers have criticized the use of corporate jets by companies receiving taxpayer funds.The purchases will help accommodate growing travel demand by congressional officials. The planes augment a fleet of about two dozen passenger jets maintained by the Air Force for lawmakers, administration officials and military chiefs to fly on government trips in the U.S. and abroad.The congressional shopping list goes beyond what the Air Force had initially requested as part of its annual appropriations. The Pentagon sought to buy one Gulfstream V and one business-class equivalent of a Boeing 737 to replace aging planes. The Defense Department also asked to buy two additional 737s that were being leased.- The Wall Street Journal, August 7th, 2009

Obama, Healthcare, and the Real Issue

In Georgia, 95% of our companies have fewer than 50 employees. If our federal government lays a new and crushing burden of taxes and regulations on these business owners, our state's - and the nation's - economy could be ruined for many years to come.

This week, I traveled to Dublin, Statesboro, Savannah, Springfield and Atlanta. The people I met are truly concerned about the direction our country is going in. And, yes, they are mad. They are mad that Washington politicians aren't listening to their concerns.

This is a national issue but a state issue as well. States like Georgia are going to be left footing huge parts of the bill for any changes in Medicaid and we will bear the brunt of the economic damage and job losses that would sweep our state if any of the current health care plans become the law of the land.

I will be blogging on this very important issue in the near future, so stay tuned!

Congress Should Pass the FairTax Now

If Congress and the Obama Administration were serious about creating jobs, stimulus and helping the economy they would pass the Fair Tax which would help GA businesses and families immediately.

Read about my position on the FairTax in the issues section of my website.

Effingham County is Handel Territory

Effingham County Commissioner Reggie Loper and his wife Sheryl hosted a meet and greet in Springfield this week. With over 40 people in attendance, and many community leaders there, I am really encouraged about our support in the county.

I told the crowd in Effingham County on Wednesday that we need to overhaul the whole tax code. The local paper picked up on that:

"We have to look at economic development incentives and investments as investments in our future, not as a cost on our bottom line," she said. Handel also called for an overhaul of the state's tax system. Three of Georgia's competitors for growth - Florida, Texas and Tennessee - have no state income tax."We're losing out on the tax side," she said. "We have an antiquated tax system in the state. We need to revamp it completely and comprehensively in partnership with the counties, the cities and the school boards."- Effingham Herald, August 6th, 2009

For the rest of the original article, please follow this link
Thanks for your support!
Karen C. Handel
---
Community News You Can Use
Follow us on Twitter: @gafrontpage
www.FayetteFrontPage.com
www.GeorgiaFrontPage.com
www.PoliticalPotluck.com
www.ArtsAcrossGeorgia.com
---