I would like to thank Mary for that kind introduction. I would also like to thank Grady Yancey, your president for the invitation to speak, as well as Bob Cribbs and Merri Brantley, your government relations staff. Having the opportunity to speak to educators is an honor for me. The education of our young people is without a doubt the single most important issue we face and each of you play an essential role in the future success of our children. For me, just standing here is a victory in itself when you consider where I came from and what it has taken for me to get here. I come from a family that didn’t have much. I went to work when I was 11 years old, and worked two jobs through junior high school and high school to help support my family. It wasn’t a hardship…it was a responsibility. I was not able to go to college, but in the Senate I will work my heart out to make sure that others have that opportunity. My life has taught me to believe in old-fashioned American values… the Georgia values that still work. The values that have guided my life will guide me in the Senate -- a commitment to family… a rock-solid belief in the value of hard work… and a belief that in America… and especially in Georgia… anything -- absolutely anything -- is possible. I will be a hardworking Senator for Georgia’s hardworking families. That’s what separates me from my opponent. Because I believe deeply that education has always been the key to success for most Americans, I will work tirelessly to improve our public schools. Paul Coverdell has not, and he will not -- but I will. Because I believe deeply in the value of work, I will vote to raise the minimum wage. Paul Coverdell has not and he will not -- but I will. Because I believe deeply in the obligation one generation has to another, I will vote as your Senator to use the federal budget surplus to protect the Social Security Trust Fund. Paul Coverdell has not and he will not -- but I will. Because I believe deeply that we have a basic responsibility to our families’ health, I will fight for a health care bill of rights that includes the right to choose your own doctor, and the right to sue your insurance company or HMO if it won’t let you get the treatment you need. Paul Coverdell has not taken that stand and he will not -- but I will. You know how insurance companies operate. They tell you that before you get your car fixed, you have to get three appraisals. Well, there’s a difference between a car and a human being whether the insurance industry likes it or not. You shouldn’t have to get three appraisals -- and settle for the cheapest bid -- before the insurance you paid for saves your health or your life. I am running for the United States Senate because I believe that Georgia’s working families need a voice in Washington… someone who has come from a little and built a life… and now wants to fight for Georgia’s values and Georgia dreams in the United States Senate. Paul Coverdell hasn’t been that kind of Senator. Paul Coverdell will never be that kind of Senator. But I will. In this era of global markets, I believe that there is nothing more important than giving our children a world-class education. And that means there is nothing more important than supporting public education and the 90% of children who attend public schools. In particular, I believe that it should be a national priority to invest in early childhood education and the early grades. We need to make kindergarten more available, and we need to fully fund Head Start, so that all eligible children can participate. But that’s not what Paul Coverdell believes or how he votes. During the 1995 Budget debates, Coverdell voted for $40 billion in education cuts. Had Coverdell has his way, Georgia would have lost over $1.1 billion in federal assistance for local education. In 1995, Coverdell also voted -- twice -- to cut $6 billion from school lunch and other child nutrition programs. I believe that we should set as a national goal the reduction of class size to manageable levels, and that we should hire the professional personnel and make the capitol investments to make that happen. But that’s not what Paul Coverdell believes or how he votes. Just three days ago, Coverdell voted against using federal dollars to hire 100,000 new teachers for the early grades. Had that legislation passed and it only lost by a single vote in the Senate it would have cut first- through third- grade classroom sizes to a national average of 18 students. And four days ago, Coverdell led the floor fight to defeat a bill that would have used federal funds to leverage hundreds of millions of dollars for Georgia school construction and renovation. That’s right, Paul Coverdell was the Senate’s most vocal opponent of sending federal school construction money to Georgia, even though more than a third of our schools currently need rebuilding or major repair. But increased investment is only part of the story. Just as any business does, we should demand accountability from our schools students, teachers, and administrators to assure that increased investment produces increased results. That’s why I will work to improve our public schools by raising standards for both students and teachers. That’s why I will work to make our public schools safer and better places to learn, by restoring discipline and respect. Violent troublemakers should be sent to alternative schools so the rest of our kids can learn in peace. Our juvenile court system has to send clear messages that age is no excuse for crime. We all know that strong families teach the best values… but we must help families protect their children from guns and gangs and schoolyard drug pushers. In short, Georgia families want a Senator who will fix our public schools. And that’s not the Senator we’ve got. Georgia families also want a Senator who cares about the air we breathe and the water we drink. And that’s not the Senator we’ve got either. Paul Coverdell has voted against every major piece of environmental legislation that has come before the Senate in the past three years -- 23 anti-environmental votes in all. While the newspapers are filled with stories about the water problems right here in the Atlanta area, Coverdell voted to gut the Safe Drinking Water Act and the Environmental Protection Agency. Georgia families also want a Senator who cares about our parents’ retirement. I will fight to protect Medicare, our people’s pensions, veterans’ benefits, and our Social Security. But that’s not the Senator we’ve got today. During the last six years, Paul Coverdell voted to cut Medicare by $270 billion. And Paul Coverdell actually supported legislation that would have enabled companies to raid their workers’ pension plans. On these and so many other issues, the differences are clear… and the choice is clear. Georgia’s values…versus Coverdell’s votes. I have lived here my entire adult life… raised a family here…built a business here…I’ve worked with Kennesaw State University to expand educational opportunity…with the American Heart Association, I’ve been in the front ranks of the fight for health care. I’ve been proud to be a Riverkeeper, fighting to save precious drinking water. I’ve been in private business, but I also like to think I’ve been in public service. In the Senate, I will work hard for what the hardworking families of this state want and need. Together, we can win the critical battle for a secure retirement and higher wages. Together, we can honor our fundamental obligation to protect Georgia’s environmental legacy. Together, we can win the decisive battle for quality public education and safe and drug-free schools. Together, we can take Georgia to the Senate. Paul Coverdell has not done this. He will not do this. But with your help, I will. I will take Georgia values with me to the Senate every day. Thank you. God bless you. And God bless Georgia. ### |
