Issues
Healthcare
Improving access to HEALTHCARE — especially for the blind, the disabled, the elderly, and mothers and babies. Georgia ranks 44th out of 50 in infant mortality in the US. We should expand the waivers that assist the elderly find housing and personal care, help fight addiction, and support rural hospitals.
Women’s Healthcare Issues are front and center in Georgia. Infant and maternal mortality are among the highest in the 50 states. Many of Georgia’s rural hospitals and medical clinics don’t even have one OB/GYN doctor!
Environment
Protecting our ENVIRONMENT through common-sense legislation to ensure clean air and water, protection for our mountains, and HIGH-SPEED INTERNET so we can continue to attract environmentally-friendly businesses and prepare our children for technology and education in their future.
To improve the environment, we must elect officials who will move quickly to do the big things that can only be done by governments around the world. Change laws so that it is easier to produce and install solar and wind energy all over our country.
We must stop drilling for oil or gas in our national parks, off-shore, or anywhere in our country. Also, stop all mining of coal. Begin to re-educate Americans in the fossil fuel industry to become proficient in supplying renewable energy. We must make laws stronger to protect our forests. Forests are natural protectors and help reduce CO2. We must stop logging and replant old forests!
We must change the laws regarding transportation and begin giving tax credits or subsidies for the installation of more rapid transit, bicycle pathways, car sharing, installing charging stations, and purchasing electric cars. Hire agencies to help cities and states make these changes as rapidly as possible.
Education
I will support our wonderful teachers and students in North Georgia’s excellent public schools by emphasizing dual enrollment and vocational options, and returning the full HOPE scholarships which provides affordable access to technical schools and colleges.
Prison Reform
We have more than 100,000 people in jails and prisons across Georgia, and more than 400,000 on probation. That’s more than twice the rate of the rest of the country! We are spending more than twice as much (per person) each year on people in prison ($20,000) as we do on kids in school ($9,000). Last year alone we spent almost $ 1 Billion on incarceration. What would our communities look like if we invested that money in education, mental health, or substance abuse treatment and rehabilitation programs instead of prison cells?
Justice reform is one issue that Georgians have agreed on in the recent past. John Lewis and Doug Collins worked together with the previous Georgia Governor on this. We need to work together again – it just takes LEADERSHIP!
WE CAN HELP family, friends, and neighbors who are struggling with SUBSTANCE ABUSE and ADDICTION.
WE CAN ADDRESS racial and economic INEQUITIES in our justice system, especially for non-violent drug offenses.
WE CAN PROVIDE education and job training in our jails and prisons, so people get a SECOND CHANCE when they are released, not a SECOND SENTENCE.
WE CAN CUT THROUGH RED TAPE that keeps people from being able to restart their lives and become productive members of their communities.
Equal Rights
The Equal Rights Amendment says: “Equality of rights under the law shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex.” Who could be against that? Pay discrimination is rooted in how society has valued (or failed to value) work traditionally done by women. This is a much bigger problem to solve; legislation alone can’t necessarily fix this, but leaders can and should speak about this “value gap” and suggest ways to change how we value work.
Tourism
Expanding TOURISM and the ARTS in North Georgia! We need to use the preponderance of artists and artisans in North Georgia to promote tourism as well as improve our quality of life.
Infrastructure
President Biden has delivered a once-in-a-generation investment in our nation’s aging infrastructure. June has been an unwavering supporter of the President because our communities deserve access to safe drinking water, high-speed internet, and a cleaner environment.
Furthermore in America, we have severe problems with our aging roads, bridges, and communications infrastructure. June supports funding projects to bring our roads, airports, and transit into the 21st century.