From GeorgiaDailyDigest.com

Dubose Porter:"...our members are more energized this year, with good reason. They are hungry and realize what we have to do to retake the majority."
Jan 31, 2006

House Democratic Leader Dubose Porter discusses eminent domain, immigration and other legislative issues from his office at the Capitol.

(Editor's Note: This interview may be reproduced for distribution with credit given to GeorgiaDailyDigest.com.)

GDD: Welcome to Georgia Daily Digest. What are the legislative goals of the Democratic caucus this session?

Porter: Our goals this session are to work towards those ideals that have defined Georgia Democrats. We are for providing opportunity and security for all Georgians. Georgia Democrats would restore the nearly $1.1 billion in cuts to public education that have happened over the last three years which has forced 100 school systems to raise local property taxes. We would pay teachers what they deserve and give them a 6 percent raise. We would reduce class sizes, which have been postponed under this Governor, and have been proven to increase student achievement. We would protect the HOPE scholarship, secure the opportunity for a technical school education and improve access to all higher education. We would insist that every child’s education be funded equally and adequately throughout the state. We would expand PeachCare for Kids to provide health insurance to more uninsured children. We would provide state employees with a solid health benefit plan that would be affordable and ensure that doctors and hospitals in our local communities are in the state’s network of providers. We would oppose any attempt to close government to the public and fix eminent domain so it protects property rights and serves the public good. We would also work for more public/ private partnerships bringing economic development and jobs to neglected areas of Georgia and make the Commissioner of Economic Development a statewide elected position.

GDD: The eminent domain issue seems to be struggling to reach a consensus. What do you think needs to be done on this issue this year?

Porter: First, we must make certain this power is only used for true public purposes. We also need to make sure terrible legislation that was introduced last year is not resurrected. One of those bills was SB 5 that allowed the government to use eminent domain to seize your property so it can be used as a private development such as a Wal-Mart or used for a landfill. There was also HB 218 that would make it legal for government to shield economic development deals from the state's sunshine laws -- at least until those deals are actually completed and bulldozers are clearing all of the trees next door. The Republicans have already tried to reintroduce SB 5 this session under a new name and bill number, but they were exposed and had to remove the measure from SB 414.

Second, Georgia Democrats introduced a bill to propose a constitutional amendment that protected open government and property rights. This was introduced last year by Democrats in an effort to combat legislation such as SB 5 and HB 218. It would require that any exceptions to the Open Records and Open Meetings Act be approved by a two-thirds majority in both chambers of the General Assembly. One important effect of the amendment is that it would subject the currently exempt General Assembly to the Open Records and Open Meetings Act. We would also ask candidates to sign a pledge to support open government. We also have legislation coming that would put some teeth in holding those governments who abuse eminent domain accountable.

GDD: Immigration is another issue this session with no obvious solution. Is there a Democratic caucus position on immigration?

Porter: It is a problem in Georgia, like in many states, but it is already against the law to provide state services to non-citizens. It is also established law that if someone is sent to the emergency room they have to receive medical treatment, and determining who is provided a higher education should be left up to the Board of Regents. A more prudent approach to the issue might be to study a way to get undocumented immigrants registered with their employers. Our own Governor recently agreed with Democrats and said illegal immigration is an issue that needs to be dealt with at the federal level.

GDD: How would you characterize the relationship between the House Republican and Democratic leadership?

Porter: In one word, that relationship is cautious. I wish there was less partisanship and more cooperation among all members of both parties. I think we all need to do a better job at taking a step back and asking if a particular issue is what is best for the state of Georgia. If you are involved in politics you most likely are very passionate about your beliefs but, at the same time, you have to hear what the other side is saying. When there is room for compromise, you have to take advantage of it because it is the reason voters elected us to office. It is my opinion that House Republicans have taken partisanship too far.

GDD: How would you rate the Democrats in the House for their effectiveness as the minority party and is there anything you want Democrats to do better?

Porter: Last year, we were still in shock over losing control of the house; but our members are more energized this year, with good reason. They are hungry and realize what we have to do to retake the majority. We are working every day to make that a reality. We’re doing a better job of getting our message out, and it is resonating with public. That can’t be more evident than looking at what the Governor has proposed during an election year. He is now talking about lowering class sizes and giving teachers a pay raise. This is what we have always been about, and he is trying to sound like a Georgia Democrat when it comes to education. We must be doing something right. But our goal is to do an even better job of getting our message out to the voters so we can define ourselves, and not be defined by Republicans. Georgia Democrats have a great record for this state. We thought everyone knew that; but it is up to us to talk about what we have done and who we are as Georgia Democrats.

GDD: You were in the majority and leadership for more than 20 years. How difficult has the transition to minority been for you?

Porter: It has been an adjustment just like it is with any change you go through, but I have learned that you can still be effective and play a major role in shaping debate. We are the only check this Governor has and that is important because Republicans hold both houses of the General Assembly. There is no telling what would get passed if we were not calling them on their radical legislation. These are not conservative Republicans in positions of leadership in the House. These are radicals. Eminent domain is a perfect example. Unchecked, Republicans would have put private interest above public policy.

GDD: How confident are you that the Democrats will regain control of the House this November? Where do you think you stand the best chance of picking up the needed seats?

Porter: Yes, we will win. We’re better at leading than the Republicans because Democrats work for improving the lives of all Georgia’s citizens. We are also going to bring our message of opportunity and security to the people of Georgia much more aggressively than we have in the past. This is why we will be successful in the fall. We have recruited solid candidates in our targeted districts throughout the state which will put us over the top. In 2004, there were several close races that were decided by less than a couple hundred votes. Our grassroots folks are as fired up as I have ever seen them, and we're even hearing that many Republicans are upset with the direction their current leadership is taking our state. We will be reaching out to them as well. We will also have a strong candidate for Governor leading our ticket, and Sonny and the President won’t have any coattails. I am looking forward to the November '06 elections.

GDD: Georgia has taken some employment hits during the past year due to restructurings at GM, Ford, Merck and others. What level of concern do you have about Georgia’s job market?

Porter: I am very concerned about the direction Georgia is headed when it comes to creating jobs. Georgia was tied for second in the nation in the increase in the number of new unemployed, which is the highest rate in over 11 years. These losses have been devastating under this administration. Not only that, Georgia had the sharpest drop in Real Median Income for 2004 falling by 4.7 percent. But while we're losing jobs and income is declining, this Governor is capping HOPE grants to technical schools for students at 95 hours when workers need valuable job training. Georgia needs a leader who is going to be relentless in recruiting business and keeping our valuable manufacturing jobs. The Governor took a gamble by not making one last plea to Ford to keep their plant running and lost. We can’t take a gamble on him by giving another four years in the Governor’s office.

GDD: Governor Perdue has introduced a plan for a "HOPE Chest" constitutional amendment dedicating Lottery funds for HOPE scholarships. Is this needed?

Porter: Governor Perdue will try to run on this issue, but he can't use it to hide from his anti-HOPE past. The Governor is a “Sonny Come Lately” to the HOPE Scholarship. He voted against the original proposal and also to repeal the program. More recently, when tuition costs were on the rise the Governor was trying to cut the HOPE Scholarship which would have been devastating to students and families throughout Georgia. In 2004, he also proposed cutting $120 million in payments for HOPE student’s textbooks and fees. He even misused $1.7 million in Lottery money that should have gone to HOPE to create a web site that was not necessary. Georgia Democrats will make sure the public knows this because the HOPE Scholarship cannot afford another four years under this Governor.

GDD: In your part of the state there continues to be some unrest related to changing healthcare providers for state employees and teachers. Do you believe this will be an issue in this year's election?

Porter: All I am hearing at home from my state employees and teachers is outrage over what has been done to their health benefits so, yes, I do believe it will be an issue in the election. State employees and teachers have seen their health insurance premiums go up substantially in the past year while their wages have remained stagnant. The state has also switched over to United Healthcare as the sole provider of health benefits, and there has been great confusion about what doctors and hospitals are in their network. They are angry that this Governor would gamble with their health insurance and enter into a contract before knowing the details of what hospitals and doctors are covered under the new provider. Yet, it speaks to a larger issue. This Governor and Republican leadership also wanted to gamble on a new Medicaid Waiver program that is untested, and they locked out 75,000 children from PeachCare whose parents were late on monthly premiums. Healthcare is not their priority. It is for Georgia Democrats. We know that a better educated and healthier Georgia is good for business.