Oxendine to Perdue - No Teacher Pay-cuts‏

“I want the 2,000 Georgia teachers who hold certification from the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards to know that I am totally opposed to the proposed cuts from this Administration,” said John Oxendine, candidate for Governor. “I acknowledge and understand that in order to avoid raising taxes Georgia must address serious and substantial budget cuts, but teacher pay is off limits.”

Oxendine said he respects the work being done by Governor Perdue and like many Georgians he realizes there are no easy answers. “I do not wish to criticize the Governor and continue to offer my support in these trying times,” said Oxendine.

Oxendine said that while cuts are necessary, there are certain aspects of the budget, like teacher pay, that not only should be exempt from any cuts, but should receive annual cost of living increases.

“I call on Governor Perdue and the General Assembly to immediately reverse this policy and restore this vital funding to the very best of Georgia teachers,” said Oxendine. “The message this cut sends to those education students in our colleges and universities is demoralizing.”

Oxendine said that it is important that Georgians understand that in an Oxendine Administration there will be three areas off-limits from budget cuts: Teachers, Veterans and Law Enforcement/First responders. This last category includes the Georgia State Patrol and Georgia
National Guard.

“Georgia needs to reexamine our taxpayer funded financial commitment to social welfare programs in the budget and perhaps decide we can no longer sustain in these trying financial times,” said Oxendine.

John Oxendine

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Oxendine Says Legislature and Congress Have Priorities in Wrong Place

Insurance Commissioner John Oxendine today questioned whether government will continue to worsen the pain of the citizens of our nation as politicians fail to embrace the principles that would jump-start this economy such as significant tax cuts.

"All I see elected officials doing is more of the same. Inflicting more grief on our hard-working citizens," Oxendine said. "If they truly understood sound economic principles as did Ronald Reagan and even Democrat John Kennedy, they would stumble over each other to significantly cut taxes. That's how you turn around an economy."

Oxendine pointed to the $790 billion so-called stimulus plan in Congress, a pork-laden spending measure he said will add to our nation's debt and potentially spark inflation in the near future.

"We also don't need to indebt future generations to pay the price for our government's mistakes and its lack of discipline when it comes to taking a knife to spending," Oxendine said.

"This so-called stimulus package is an invitation to expand social spending in our state government, irresponsible temporary solutions to serious issues, and larger state budgets," he said. "Instead of the current "Porkulus Bill," I urge the President and Congress to take steps that support small businesses across America and Georgia. Allow for the tax deduction for a new small business startup cost to double, to $10,000 from its current $5,000. Many people being laid off will be starting small businesses and this action is real stimulus right now," said Oxendine.

Here in Georgia, Oxendine said he is concerned Georgia's 1.7 million homeowners, farmers, and small business owners will see a tax increase later this year. That amount could be even greater if Governor Perdue vetoes legislation passed dealing with property tax relief since the bill made sure homeowners did not have to cover a shortfall in state revenues for this year's budget. If the governor does veto the bill, homeowners would not only have higher property tax bills later this year, but could also receive an additional tax bill of $300 to cover a shortfall for their last year's property tax bills.

"The party of less taxes and less government should get this one basic concept," Oxendine said. "In this tough, tough economy, when layoffs are happening every day, you absolutely do not ask taxpayers to pony up more money to fund government. You cut spending, period. You only fund services that are required by the Constitution. And we all know we have many services that aren't what the founders of this nation or this state envisioned taxpayers to be paying for."

"It is unfair for state officials to posture themselves as being a friend to counties, cities, and school boards when they are passing along unfunded mandates from Washington and the state Capitol," Oxendine said. "Our county commissioners, mayors and city council members are good people who deserve a state government that is a partner not an obstacle to local control."

John Oxendine
Oxendine for Governor 2010

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Governor Huckabee Appeals to Georgia Volunteers in Video, Grassroots Phone Banking Begins

Fresh on the heels of victory in Iowa, Governor Mike Huckabee has filmed an informal video asking Georgia Republicans to support "leadership that will help the country go up and not down." Invoking Governor Sonny Perdue's long-shot win in 2002, Governor Huckabee said Americans are about to see the same outcome. He issued a plea for Georgians to get involved in the campaign: "I hope you'll join us in Georgia because February the 5th is coming up quickly. By the time we get there, we would like to secure the nomination. And with your help, that is exactly what we are going to do."

To answer Governor Huckabee's call for support, volunteers can sign up to join a statewide phone banking effort that is underway to contact every household likely to vote in the Republican Presidential Preference Primary.

Contact the appropriate Huckabee Congressional District Chair to receive call lists, scripts and instructions:

District 1: Pat Tippett, 912-367-0003, ptippett@aol.com; Kay Godwin, 912-449-0962 godwin8@bellsouth.net
District 2: Brad Hughes, 229-723-3448, brad@lwol.com
District 3: Shelby Barker, 678-371-5322, shelbybarker@gmail.com
District 4: Kelly Pharr, 404-376-4771, kpharr2002@yahoo.com
District 5: Jim Voyles, 404-851-9704, titus2mommy@yahoo.com
District 6: Martin Hawley, 404-771-9180, kuriakos@bellsouth.net
District 7: John McGee, 678-546-5110, johnmcgee@partprintsol.com
District 8: Steve Dillard, 478-745-4442, sdillard@jbpslaw.com;
District 9: Jane Teasley, 706-632-6219, ga9huckabee@gmail.com
District 11: Nancy Hollingshed, 770-445-7114, righty1127@aol.com
District 12: Susie Davis, 912-826-3888, bamasue@comcast.net
District 13: Bray Wayne, 770-942-4121, pastor@insidebbc.com

Watching the Governor's Race, Washington, Dino Rossi

Governor Sonny Perdue, Georgia, was the keynote speaker at a party hosted by the Washington Republican Party in October. The purpose of the party, titled "Run, Dino, Run" was to encourage Dino to enter the gubernatorial race. He did so shortly after that and out raised the Democratic incumbent Governor Christine Gregoire in November. The Republican Candidate is going to be watching this race closely. It'll be one for the books if he's successful.

Govs Races Kick It Up a Notch
Stateline.org - Washington,DC,USA
The big development in Washington state is that Republican Dino Rossi, after a long period of indecision, is now officially challenging Gov. ...

Crossroads await in '08 for county
The Columbian - Vancouver,WA,USA
It should mean good theater, good politics and good public policy debate while the state gears up for a Chris Gregoire-Dino Rossi rematch for the governor's ...

This is the way 2007 went around here
TheNewsTribune.com (subscription) - Tacoma,WA,USADino Rossi says he isn’ta candidate for governor even though he looks, sounds and acts like one. Pierce County insists the cross-base highway be included in ...