56. More DuBose Porter is a Christian.

Recently DuBose Porter raised a few eyebrows by accepting an invitation to speak at a Governor's candidate forum hosted by the Georgia Christian Alliance. Eyebrows were not raised because Democrats are not Christians, but because in the past Democrats have not reached out to organizations of faith, as they have been branded as Republican. DuBose felt he should go speak before this group to share his message. DuBose is strong in his Christian beliefs. He and his wife, Carol, were reared in the church and they have reared their children in the church. DuBose has served on the Administrative Board at First United Methodist Church and Carol has served as Bible School Director, is on the Worship Committee and teaches an adult Sunday School class. DuBose's faith has been a large part of his life. To accept an invitation to speak before this group was an opportunity to spread DuBose's message of educating instead of incarcerating; of managing Georgia's transportation and water based on the need instead of the wishes of campaign donors; and of keeping taxes low, while maximizing existing revenue sources, like DuBose's point of sales bill, that will enable Georgia to attract jobs and industry, instead of waving them away. (Read, the blog #55, below for a great example of waving industry and jobs away.)
Johnathan McGinty, who writes for Beyond the Trestle in Athens, sent in a request for an interview with DuBose about his going to speak to the Christian Alliance. The following questions and answers below are the results:

Q-and-A with Rep. DuBose Porter

Wed, 02/10/2010 - 09:15 | johnathan

Rep. DuBose Porter was the only Democrat to accept an invitation to participate in a forum hosted by the Georgia Christian Alliance. The conservative religious organization has a habit of supporting Republican candidates, but Porter - in a move I initially disagreed with - opted to share the stage with his opponents from the other side of aisle in, arguably, a rather hostile environment. Porter used the opportunity to defend his faith and his political beliefs, earning widespread praise from many conservatives there.

In a recent exchange with me, Porter elaborated on some of his thoughts regarding the role faith and politics play in the public sector ...

1. There aren't many Democrats who would venture over and address a gathering of individuals under the umbrella of an organization headed up by Sadie Fields. Politically, that's a tough road to hoe. What made you decide to address this group, and what were you hoping to accomplish?

The branding of Republicans with the Christian religion has cut off many Georgians from hearing the truth about what is going on in their government. Do you think they know the point of sale bill (HB 356), which I cosponsored last session (2009) would have found up to $1 billion in unreturned sales tax, was killed in committee by elected Republican leadership? Do you think they realize the largest property tax increase in Georgia history (HB 143) was passed by the elected Republicans in the 2009 session? Do you think they knew that for six years the Hawk System, another brain child of elected Republican leadership, took away representative government in Georgia? Do you think they knew that the speaker and his enforcers could go into any committee at any time and change the vote without having read one word of the bill?...

2. Speaking as a politically progressive Christian, I was impressed to see you open your comments with, quite frankly, some frustration. You said that you were tired of people not accepting that you could be both. I was hoping you could expand on that sentiment somewhat.

I feel because of some of the national branding by the Republican operatives, Democrats have been portrayed in the national media as Godless. Democrats are not Godless. I have yet to go to a Democratic meeting that has not opened with a prayer. It is time the Democrats enlarge their tent to welcome more people of faith, and I am ready to be the one to do it. My goal in speaking before the Christian Alliance was to open up a previously closed off, large group of the population of Georgia. Democrats have a strong faith too and I believe our message is often more closely aligned with the parables of Jesus. Quite frankly, I am a Democrat because I am a Christian.

3. Much of the discussion, it seems, always seems to trickle back to issues connected with social conservatism (i.e. abortion, gay rights, etc.). There are broader themes involved in Christianity, however, that aren't neatly limited to that realm. There's economic justice. There's civil rights. I remember reading that President Franklin D. Roosevelt liked to call the New Deal 'applied Christianity.' With that in mind, how does your faith guide you in areas like budgeting, education and all the other areas of policy?

I could not agree with you more. Take No. 7 in the Ten Commandments, "Thou shall not commit adultery." The Republicans are never seen in the streets getting people to the polls against adultery, yet adultery has probably done more to undermine family values (and political careers) than any of the Ten Commandments. I believe, many of the Republicans who would not think of campaigning on policies to stop adultery, are still Christians. Life is complicated. We as Democrats believe economic justice and civil rights will be helped by a strong education system and through job creation. Is this because we believe “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you”? I think so. Is that a religious influence? It probably is.

4. All of that said, given the existing political climate, it is difficult to escape those hot-button issues. What would you tell social conservatives who have concerns over your positions on those issues?

I think they need to look at what the Republicans gave them when they controlled all branches of government in Washington and Georgia at the same time for more than a year. A lot of what they go to the polls on cannot be legislated in Georgia. It is time for them to realize the difference between a state and a national issue and quit allowing our transportation, our water, and our educational systems to be run into the ground while we continue to have the highest percentage of our population in the correctional system in the entire United States. Should prisons be Georgia’s number one growth industry? It is time for Georgians to face reality and quit voting rich and living poor.

5. You closed your comments asking that if those in the crowd couldn't vote for you, you hoped they would pray for you. Speaking in a more theological sense, I suppose, how does the Christian community move past what is, in some ways, the same partisanship and distrust that plagues our political process?

Get more information. Become deeply informed on the issues. People must get more engaged in their government. Corruption is rampant and corruption often has the most money to publicize their side of the issue. With the internet it is often possible to find the primary source of information and make informed decisions for one’s self. Individuals have to start taking on an active role in understanding the real issues behind the rhetoric.

DuBose Porter
Faith, Family, and The Economy.
Put your voice back in your government.

55. DuBose Porter: Transportation will feed education.

Transportation, or rather lack of it, is one of the reasons Georgia's economy has been slower to recoverthan surrounding states. For two years we have not had a transportation plan while our major city sits in gridlock and LARP has been cut to rural areas. Georgia's inaction on a viable transportation plan, over the past decade or more, has cost us far too much already in jobs, money and economic growth. We cannot continue to let our lack of leadership on transportation cripple our state. If we do not improve our transportation system we will be cutting off our nose to spite our face in many other areas necessary for growth as well, including education. If a well educated public is the key to Georgia's future prosperity, and I know it is, we must improve our transportation system. That is why I am supporting the fourth penny that is generated from motor fuel tax to be designated for transportation. The following article is a must read for anyone who wants to understand the importance of transportation planning to Georgia's economy: (Please feel free to cut, paste and email it to your friends.)



We’re Waving Goodbye to the Future
from CapitolImpact, by Tom Crawford tcrawford@capitolimpact.net

When Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood stopped in Atlanta last September, he was asked about Georgia’s prospects for getting some of the $8 billion in federal stimulus funds being allocated for a network of high-speed passenger rail lines. Like other states in the region, Georgia wanted to be part of this important project and applied for $472 million that would pay for building the link between Atlanta and Macon. But LaHood’s response to reporters’ questions about the federal money was not very encouraging.“It’ll come to Atlanta if Georgia gets its act together,” LaHood said. “There has to be a commitment by state government that transit is important.” Unfortunately for Georgia, we are still looking for that commitment from the state’s leadership.
We paid the price last week when the announcement of the rail grants was finally made. Florida and North Carolina, which are serious about investing in passenger rail, will get nearly $1.8 billion combined. That money will be spent for infrastructure projects that employ thousands of people. Georgia will get the piddling amount of $750,000 to conduct yet another study of passenger rail. The only jobs created will be for whichever consultants do the study.
This is bad news for the state, but it shouldn’t be a surprise to anyone. For a project of this scope and importance, the federal money is only going to states that are serious about investing for future transportation needs. Georgia has been much less than serious about this issue. We already have $87 million in federal funds that have sat unused for the last 10 years because the state still has not agreed to provide $20 million in matching funds. That money would have paid for the first part of the Atlanta-Macon line, a commuter rail link from downtown Atlanta to Clayton County.
Here’s what our leadership thought was more important to the state’s future. Gov. Sonny Perdue proposed, and the Legislature approved, $19 million a few years ago to build a bunch of boat docks and a tourist center for the “Go Fish” initiative that was supposed to attract bass fishing tournaments to Georgia. In his budget for the upcoming fiscal year, Perdue proposed that the state spend $10 million on a College Football Hall of Fame that will relocate to Atlanta and $9.1 million on a horse park at the National Fairgrounds and Agricenter in Perry.
Passenger rail service? We can’t afford any of that. Commuter rail links to Macon and Athens remain just concepts in a bureaucrat’s report, as does a high-speed rail line from Atlanta to Chattanooga.
To sum it up: our neighboring states are making a major investment to become part of a transportation network that could reshape the future of this region. We’re building boat docks and horse parks. We can’t even agree on a sales tax to repave a few highways.
This is not a partisan issue—both parties have been asleep at the wheel. Democratic governors Roy Barnes and Zell Miller also passed up opportunities to get into the rail game. Sam Williams of the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce recalls how business leaders tried in vain to sell Miller’s transportation commissioner, the late Wayne Shackelford, on the value of upgrading rail service.
“We argued with Wayne Shackelford for years to try to get money for rail,” Williams said, but he wouldn’t budge. That indifference to any mode of transportation other than highways has also been a feature of the Republicans who have controlled state government in recent years. Former House Speaker Glenn Richardson was especially contemptuous of rail service, once dismissing it as “19th century technology for a 21st century problem.”
“We’re the caboose on this train,” Williams said. “If we’re cut out of this, if the rail line goes down the coast (and not through Atlanta), then shame on us.”
North Carolina and Florida are willing to make major investments that should result in benefits down the line for all of their citizens. They’re getting big money from the federal government to start putting people to work and make it a reality.
Georgia could have been part of that, too, but we have decided not to get on board. The train is leaving the station without us. We’re waving goodbye to the future.

_______________________________

"Those of you who have heard me campaigning around the state know I have been the biggest proponent of passenger rail, fourth penny dedication and for passing a statewide transportation plan, for many of the facts mentioned above. We can not continue to be left behind."- DuBose Porter

Follows is an article that just was published online in the Atlanta Business Chronicle:

Thursday, February 4, 2010
Democrats ante up transportation plan

Atlanta Business Chronicle - by Dave Williams Staff Writer
Democratic leaders in the General Assembly introduced legislation Thursday that would let Georgians vote on transportation funding this fall and possibly next year, earlier than a timetable proposed by Gov. Sonny Perdue.
Identical constitutional amendments submitted in the House and Senate call for a statewide referendum in November on whether Georgians should be allowed to vote by region on raising sales taxes to pay for needed highway and transit projects in their communities.
If the statewide referendum is approved, it would authorize groups of counties to develop regional plans to fund transportation improvements with a penny sales tax. One or more regional votes then would be held in 2011.
Metro Atlanta, with its traffic congestion, likely would be the first to organize a regional transportation sales tax to put before voters.
Perdue’s transportation funding plan, which the governor unveiled last month, wouldn’t come to a vote until 2012.
“We can’t wait,” said House Minority Leader DuBose Porter, D-Dublin, during a news conference held by legislative Democrats. “We have to do this now.”
Democrats repeatedly cited last week’s decision by the Obama administration to bypass Georgia for a significant piece of $8 billion in high-speed rail funding. Other Southeastern states, including Florida and North Carolina, were awarded hundreds of millions of dollars in federal funds, while Georgia received just $750,000 for three feasibility studies.
Federal officials, including Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood, have warned Georgia leaders to get moving on transportation funding or risk being put at the end of the line for federal assistance.
“We’re losing money and jobs to surrounding states,” said Sen. Tim Golden, D-Valdosta, chairman of the Senate Democratic Caucus. “We can’t stand idly by and watch Georgia lose its position as a Southern business leader.”
The Democrats’ proposal is similar to the regional approach to transportation funding lawmakers have taken during the last two years. However, both efforts failed on the final day of the last two legislative sessions.
The new constitutional amendment also would dedicate the fourth cent of the state’s 4-cent gasoline tax, which currently goes to the general fund, to transportation, a proposal Democrats have pushed unsuccessfully in past sessions.
That provision, too, would be subject to ratification in a statewide referendum.
As a constitutional amendment, the legislation would not require Perdue’s signature. However, it does need a two-thirds vote of the House and Senate to get through the General Assembly and on to the voters, a dubious proposition with Republicans holding solid majorities in both chambers.

Vote for Leadership for Georgia.
Vote for DuBose Porter Governor, 2010

54. DuBose Porter says: "Stop protecting the Cheaters."

DuBose Porter’s battles to stop corruption and give the people back their government are getting statewide coverage as he runs for Governor and changes are beginning to happen.
Just like DuBose’s six year battle to defeat the Hawk system (To read more on the Hawks scroll down to blog#19), campaigning state wide is bringing DuBose’s message of anti-corruption and efficient government to light. Imagine how much of your government he could clean up and make efficient if he were your governor.
DuBose is still advocating for the "point of sale" bill. The coming inevitability that some version of HB356, the "point of sale" bill, will make it through this year, is the perfect example of what true leadership, combined with the people’s voices can do. By adding your voices to DuBose’s, and those who are working with him to stop the corruption, the truth about Georgia’s government is coming out of the darkness.

"It has shown that about 25% of the businesses that have business licenses do not have sales tax certificates," Rep. Porter says, "That's how much cheating is happening." *

Are Millions In Georgia
Sales Taxes Missing?*

Yes, Georgia.
That’s what DuBose Porter has been saying for years.

Also as reported in the AJC by Aaron Gould Sheinin:

‘House Minority Leader DuBose Porter (D-Dublin), who has said for years that the state loses hundreds of millions of dollars a year in uncollected sales taxes...’

And now that DuBose is getting a statewide audience others are being forced to honor the obvious truth: As reported this morning by Paul Crawley:

‘Rep. Porter is being joined by a growing number of Republican lawmakers interested in his bill that would share state sales tax records with local governments to compare with their business licenses.’

If Crawley had been reporting on the debates, he might have added Democratic candidates are jumping on to DuBose’s bill as Sheinin added in his report later:

‘...That proposal also was seconded by Attorney General Thurbert Baker and former Gov. Roy Barnes.’


DuBose has kept the battle going for you to get your paid sales tax back as emphasized by this report from Tom Baxter of Insider Advantage:

‘...But as was evidenced again Tuesday night in the first televised debate of the Democratic candidates, he has given his party what is so far its defining issue. Porter’s rivals have endorsed... (HB356).’

This video from 11Alive explains
DuBose’s “point of sale” bill further:

With your support there is no way they can choose to furlough teachers and state employees, instead of passing this bill, this year.
Stay Informed. Get engaged. Georgia cannot financially afford to continue its corrupt policies. The results, that Georgia and our entire country are now experiencing, are self-evident.
Last year the Republican leadership killed HB356 in committee because they are operating under some misguided idea that when you vote for smaller government you mean “phase out” public schools and furlough teachers. ( As you know Georgia is already #1 in its population in the correctional system. You can predict that number on 3rd grade reading scores. You can’t afford to phase out public education. Don’t let blind allegiance to any one party keep you voting rich and living poor. Staying at the bottom of education and at the top of the correctional system percentages will keep jobs and industry away from Georgia. All the U.S./Ga. jobs of the future will go to the well-educated. DuBose Porter wants Georgians in the front of the well educated line, not the unemployment line.)
DuBose Porter knows when you voted for smaller government, you were voting for efficient government, government that maximizes your hard-earned money and puts it to work for you, not against you. Corruption in your elected politicians has allowed up to 25% of your already paid sales tax to stay in the hands of unscrupulous business owners, as discovered in the new pilot study. It is time to put your voice back in your government.

*Are Millions In Georgia Sales Taxes Missing?

COLUMBUS, GA - This is a tale of two cities, separated by the Chattahoochee River: Phenix City, Alabama and Columbus, Georgia.
It's a story of how these two cities collect their sales taxes, or as the case may be here in Georgia, don't collect a big chunk of them.
Georgia's legislature is wrestling with more than one-billion dollars in budget cuts again this year, but some argue millions of dollars of uncollected sales taxes are falling through the cracks.
Like other Georgia cities, Columbus has no idea how many of its businesses are actually paying their sales taxes.
That's because the money goes directly to the State Department of Revenue in Atlanta, who then sends back a single check to Columbus each month.
"We just want to know where it's coming from and that we're getting all that's due us," Columbus City Manager Isaiah Hugley tells 11 Alive News.
"We don't know where that money comes from, what area of town, what sectors it came from; we don't know anything," he adds, "All we know is that we're on an honor system where the State of Georgia puts $3.3-million into an account (each month)."
Across the Chattahoochee River sales taxes flow more smoothly and accurately.
That's because Phenix City's businesses pay them to a private company that cross checks those tax records against local business licenses to make sure there's no cheating.
Some estimates say Alabama cities have increased collections more than 10% under their system.
"They pick up several dozen every year where they found people that weren't paying sales taxes here...and they collect that," Phenix City Finance Director Stephen Smith tells 11 Alive News.
State Revenue Commissioner Bart Graham has admitted to state lawmakers that Georgia may be missing out on as much as 5% of sales tax collections, perhaps more.
Georgia State Representative DuBose Porter (D-Dublin), the House Minority Leader, claims collecting the missing taxes could mean an extra $250-500-million right away, enough to eliminate more furloughs for teachers and state employees.
The gubernatorial candidate also points to a pilot program in Georgia that indicates a lot is missing.
"It has shown that about 25% of the businesses that have business licenses do not have sales tax certificates," Rep. Porter says, "That's how much cheating is happening."
Rep. Porter is being joined by a growing number of Republican lawmakers interested in his bill that would share state sales tax records with local governments to compare with their business licenses.
"We need to do everything we can to perfect the sales tax system," admits Senate Majority Leader Chip Rogers (R-Woodstock).
"Some of the things Alabama has done have been very beneficial to them," he adds.
Some, including Revenue Commissioner Graham, fear a change might mean far more local audits for companies with stores in several counties, instead of one statewide audit.
But others are talking about a system where several local governments could combine those audits to make it easier on large companies.

Because DuBose now has the opportunity to run a statewide campaign his fight against corruption in Georgia’s government is reaching a larger audience. You are hearing, you are listening, and your voices are having an impact. Get your money back from the cheaters.

With the Internet it is possible for the people to win the war against the big donors who do better when the middle class lives poor. Join DuBose Porter and help stop those who want to keep Georgia’s financially unsustainable status quo. Click here to volunteer to help us spread your word.

Put your voice back in your government
and your money back in your pocket.
Vote for DuBose Porter: an Independent Mind
in the Democratic Primary, July 2010.

53. Watch DuBose Porter at the Debate.

Watch the whole Democratic Debate
held in Athens Tuesday night on the link below:

http://www.cbsatlanta.com/video/22417918/

DuBose. Experience, Character, Solutions.
Vote July 20, 2010

52. DuBose Porter: Won the DUBATE!

A young student was at the Democratic Debate typing furiously away throughout the debate. We found out later he was live blogging. This same student, Dustin Baker, posted his opinion on a blog at Georgia Liberal today at lunch and it did not take long before our, "Dawgs for DuBose" members where emailing us with the link. Needless to say we all agreed Dustin got it right.

(And then this came in so we are adding it before Dustin's recaps:)

The Du-Bate: More Proof
that Porter takes the Win

February 3, 2010 by Dustin · Leave a Comment
Filed under: Election 2010, State News

I just wanted to point out that I am not the only person that thinks Porter lead the debate last night:

By Tom Baxter, InsiderAdvantage Georgia

House Minority Leader DuBose Porter isn’t the front-running Democrat in polls of the governor’s race, nor is he the top fundraiser. But as was evidenced again Tuesday night in the first televised debate of the Democratic candidates, he has given his party what is so far its defining issue.

Porter’s rivals have endorsed House Bill 356 the measure he authored which would let local governments collect sales taxes at the point of sale. But the lawmaker and newspaper publisher from Dublin can claim first dibs on the issue of uncollected taxes….

————————

By Aaron Gould Sheinin The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

House Minority Leader DuBose Porter (D-Dublin), who has said for years that the state loses hundreds of millions of dollars a year in uncollected sales taxes, repeated that mantra Tuesday and said it could be a source of education funding. That proposal also was seconded by Attorney General Thurbert Baker and former Gov. Roy Barnes….

Democratic debates by Dustin Baker:

Debate Recap: DuBose Porter #1
By Dustin Baker
February 3, 2010 by Dustin

Filed under: Election 2010, State News

The star of the night was Dubose Porter#1. As some of his supporters said at the after-party, it was a Du-bate, and I have to agree with them. Porter showed up and he showed up strong. He had the most shirts and supporters there. I would say there were easily 15-20 people there with Porter shirts on.

Porter said education needs to be our number one priority. He said we need to collect money that is owed from sales taxes that are unpaid. He also noted his work on the education committee.

Porter also talked about a high-speed train system. He says we need to get one to deal with our traffic problems. Better transportation, he argued, would attract more businesses. The federal government would be footing the bill for most of it. He said he would support such efforts if he were governor.

Porter also took a well-deserved shot at Barnes. Porter said, as governor, he would expand the PSO program. He said he would not veto it as Governor Barnes did. I can say I am disappointed with Barnes for this. PSO is an excellent program.

Porter also said we need a zero-tolerance ethics policy. I could not agree more. Porter has fought for six years against the Hawk system, so he is no Johnny Come Lately on Ethics Reform. I feel very comfortable with his history on Ethics.

Porter brought up a Constitutional Amendment he is sponsoring, which would ban individuals from serving the Legislature if they have not filed and paid their taxes. This is the type of ethics reform we need.

Porter laid out his priorities in relation to health care:

1. Cover children in GA “needs to be a priority.” Do not reduce Peachcare
2. Put in a electronic health care system. (I believe this is correct, but if I misheard this, please correct me).
3. Reorganize reimbursement system.

Porter was also asked about Sunday Sales in Georgia. I thought this question was basically a politically divisive question that I doubt would have much impact on the state economy. He said he would leave it up to the people by a referendum or the legislature to take the initiative. He seemed to indicate that he would support a referendum to allow the people of Georgia to decide.

Barnes tried to say that he had the experience that other candidates did not have, but Porter did a great job answering it, saying: I have been in the legislature for 28 years, I have the experience. I am running for education. (paraphrase).

Overall, I say Porter gets first place. He showed up, presented himself well, and talked about the issues.

General David Poythress #2 was great at the debate. Though the poor guy had to go last almost every time, but what he said was good.

Poythress advocated closing tax loopholes to help pay for education. He said we did not need new taxes, we just need to close these loopholes and collect the taxes already on the books. He wants to overhaul the Revenue Department to make it more efficient.

Poythress is making a commitment to getting people back to work… and he is willing to put his salary on the line. He said he would not take a salary as governor until unemployment was under 7%. This got a shock across the room and everyone sat up just a little bit higher. Whether or not you feel this is a gimmick, it will resonate with voter, especially those who are furloughed or getting laid off.

Poythress also said his military background help him understand that Georgia needs a strategic plan. He said “Our state does not have a strategic plan about anything that makes any sense.”

When asked about the Water issue, Poythress said we need Congressional reauthorization. Politically, that is not likely to happen. Perdue and administration are going the legal route, but that is not a sure route, as the court could decide either way. He said the least successful attempt would be to negotiate a resolution with FL and AL.

Poythress also said he would put initiatives into place that would get doctors into south Georgia. I think this is a great idea, as south Georgia has a shortage of doctors.

Sadly, I have to give Poythress his demerit for mentioning 9/11. Again, that noun+verb+9/11 thing just is not going to cut it here. However, overall I have to say Poythress gets 2nd place. Good job guys.

Thurbert Baker #3 did a good job at the debate last night. Baker did a great job of hitting on education issues. Many of his family members are involved in education, and I think that helps him prioritize as the top issue for a potential Baker administration.

Baker was also asked a question on property taxes. He answered that property owners should have their properties assessed each year and also have the right and ability to appeal any rulings on their property values.

I did feel like Baker dodged the question on the JOBS bill. He was asked if he philosophically supported it, but he did not answer that and instead diverted to saying he supports getting Georgians back to work with specifically addressing the JOBS bill.

Baker said he would also be willing to consider making Georgia Sunshine Law violations a felony.

Baker also expressed his support for the second amendment. I am concerned about this, as he was asked if he supported allowing people to carry guns in church and on public transportation. While he said it would be handled in court, he did not give a specific answer. I support gun rights as much as the next Georgia, and probably more than many of my fellow Democrats, but I do not support people carrying guns on public transportation.

Baker also shared a personal story during the debate about his daughter having diabetes and how it helps him understand how the average Georgian deals with the health care issues.

I give Baker third place in the debate.

Carl Camon #4 would be what VH1 calls the “Jump of the Week.” Many who I talked to were very impressed with Camon’s performance. While it may not have persuaded them to vote for him, they say he was the unknown candidate that really “hung in with the big boys” at the debate.

Camon is a small town mayor of Ray, GA. One of the moderators called it “similar to the size of Wasilla.” This got a few laughs from the audience. Camon spent a good bit of time talking about how it helps him relate to the people.

One of Camon’s promises was that he would go to a different school in each county of the state and teach a course. He wanted to see first hand our school system is and how he could improve it. I thought this was a good proposal.

He also talked about Quality Basic Education. He said, for example, that we should keep children from repeating grades by doing a better job the first time. In the end, he argues, this will save money.

Camon also said ”Some believe you have to have money, ‘look a certain way’ to be governor…” I am not saying that Camon played the race card here, but some people got that impression. I think he was simply referring to the fact that he was from a small town and a mayor, not on the state level. However, the word choice could have been better.

I give Camon fourth place.

I was very unimpressed with Roy Barnes #5. I am not on the “hate-Roy-because-he-is-too-moderate” bandwagon. And, I am going to try to be fair in my analysis here:

First, Barnes did not seem too excited to be there. Being a former governor, I might have had higher expectations of him than some of the other candidates. Perhaps my expectations are informing my judgement. He seemed to be uncomfortable on the stage and also seemed to be moving from side to side frequently. He looked the least-professional on the stage.

That being said, Barnes wanted to help recoup some sales tax to help fund education. He also was against some ear-mark projects in the state budget, such as an equestrian park. He said education should take priority over these projects, and I whole-heartedly agree.

He also said we should not be furloughing teachers. I think this may be an attempt to reach out to the teachers he alienated. He also said he supported his unpopular educational reform from his past term in office. He seemed to imply that No Child Left Behind had co-opted his idea. However, NCLB has been an epic failure, so equating the two projects was probably a bad idea.

Barnes said he had no intentions of running for governor, but his grandchildren inspired him to run again so that he could help strengthen the education system. I felt this was noble. He said he was not doing it to get another a line on his resume.

He also said we could cut the state government but that we should not cut direct (teacher) education.

He said Young Georgians should stay in Georgia, because there are better days to come!

Also, how many time can you mention 9/11. You are both a Democrat and NOT Rudy G. That noun+verb+9/11 stuff just is not going to cut it, at least not in my blogs domain.

Overall, maybe due to my high expectations of him, I have to give Barnes fifth place. Sorry Roy, Nothing personal! You did not do a BAD job at the debate; but, you did not really stand out either. There was something about all the other candidates that I walked away saying “oh candidate X said this/stood for that.” I did not have that with you.

The 9/11 references were a little weak, but you seem to think you are going to walk-in and win the primary.

I caution you to look at Martha Coakley, the MA Democrat that lost Kennedy’s senate seat. She lost because she took her popularity for granted. She thought she was a sure-win, and the people assured her that she was not.

You decide 1 to 5,
DuBose Porter will put your voice,
back in your government.

51. DuBose Porter and Dawgs for DuBose

Above are photos of Dawgs for DuBose after the debate. We did not have free food, but we did manage to pack the House. Many thanks to Warren Mullis and all the members of Dawgs for DuBose.
The Debate was a huge success for DuBose Porter and Team DuBose and Dawgs for DuBose! Cameras were not allowed in the debate, but Team Porter had the most supporters there by far. We were the only group that had a large number of college students and all of our supporters wore their DuBose Porter "Works for Me" shirts. DuBose clearly won on the issues, the number of supporters in the crowd and two newspapers have already said he defined the issue of the night!

Porter leads, Barnes and Baker agree.

Excerpts from Last night’s debate
Collecting Unpaid Sales Taxes The Defining Issue For Democrats So Far
By Tom Baxter, InsiderAdvantage Georgia
House Minority Leader DuBose Porter isn’t the front-running Democrat in polls of the governor’s race, nor is he the top fundraiser. But as was evidenced again Tuesday night in the first televised debate of the Democratic candidates, he has given his party what is so far its defining issue.
Porter’s rivals have endorsed House Bill 356* the measure he authored which would let local governments collect sales taxes at the point of sale. But the lawmaker and newspaper publisher from Dublin can claim first dibs on the issue of uncollected taxes....
(This Blog corrected bill # to 356 the number had been printed incorrectly)
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By Aaron Gould Sheinin The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
House Minority Leader DuBose Porter (D-Dublin), who has said for years that the state loses hundreds of millions of dollars a year in uncollected sales taxes, repeated that mantra Tuesday and said it could be a source of education funding. That proposal also was seconded by Attorney General Thurbert Baker and former Gov. Roy Barnes....

If you want to know more on the "point of sale" bill scroll down to Blogs#32, 18,17, and 15. DuBose also spoke on many of the other issues that you will see as you scroll on down.

Vote for DuBose Porter.
An Independent mind in the Democratic primary.

50. DuBose Porter on National Board Certification for Teachers

Several teacher's have asked DuBose where he stands on National Board Certification. Here is his statement from a press release from September 28, 2009:

DuBose Porter speaks out again

against elimination of

National Board Certification for Teachers

Atlanta – DuBose Porter, candidate for Governor in 2010, again voiced his opposition to the elimination of the year long rigorous program of becoming Nationally Board Certified, and the 10 percent salary increase that comes along with it, for teachers.

“We should not eliminate Nationally Board Certification for our teachers,” said Representative Porter. “Teachers throughout Georgia have gone through this rigorous program because they know it will improve their skills in the classroom. This is another step backwards for our future citizens. This Legislature has once again damaged Georgia's prosperity in the future by cutting education today. "

To view DuBose Porter’s remarks during the session against the passage of HB 243 which took Georgia another step back in education click below:

http://media.legis.ga.gov/hav/09_10/reps/dubose.wmv

DuBose Porter believes in Education.
When it comes to our children, we can invest now or pay later.

Georgia is number one in the percentage of our population in the correctional system.
It cost $8,000 to educate a child and up to $50,000 to imprison one.
You can't afford those statistics.

Vote for DuBose Porter.
Put your voice back in your government.
Democratic Primary July 2010