Response from Senator Chambliss and Mr. Jim MartinFriday, November 28, 2008 12:28 PM
From: "Breyer, Emelita D." EBREYER@emory.edu

Dear Leaders and Friends:

I would like to thank everyone for your leadership in ensuring that we raise the questions that impact all our community. 

I believe that knowledge of how our candidates will respond in time of crisis is crucial in our decision of selecting the right leader for our people.  As the attached issues will persist in our community and will continue to be the cause of our people＊s frustrations and difficulties, it is almost a must that we pursue these issues together in unity to advocate for a reasonable and fair solution to these issues. 

We were given limited time in this runoff to put these questions together and spread the impact of these issues to all our community.  I would like to apologize now for communities who were not reached in time and for those
who were not given sufficient time to prepare for this initiative.  I do hope that you will be able to address and share this information to communities that were not included in the list below as they may also benefit in this information.  I would like to inform everyone that since we are all limited
by the amount time to contact everyone,  there were people and groups who supports and believes in the impact of this initiative but were not able to join the list because of limited time.

Thank you very much for your support and we look forward for further help in sending this information to the rest of our people here in Georgia and across the nation.  Please publish this information and response to your websites and newspapers.  We would appreciate if you could also send the
information to your members through your listserves.  Again, thank you  so much.

Contributing Organizations:

Asian/Pacific American Council of Georgia (15 APIA Communities)
Asian American Women Association,
American Chinese Professionals,
Asian Cultural Experience
BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir
British American Business Group
Center for Pan Asian Community Services,
Coalicion de Lideres Latinos-CLILA, Dalton, GA
Cobb Immigrant Alliance ,
Council on American-Islamic Relations,
Filipino-American Christian Church,
Georgia Indo-American Chamber of Commerce (GIACC),
Georgia Latino Alliance for Human Rights (GLAHR)
Indonesian Community Heritage Foundation
Korean American Political Action Committee,
Laotian American Society (LAS),
Legal Immigration Association,
National Association of Asian American Professionals,
National Association of Chinese Americans (NACA),
Organization of Chinese Americans Georgia (OCA-GA)
Pakistani American Community of Atlanta ,
Southern Christian Leadership Conference
Thai American Chamber of Commerce,
Thai Association World Center USA,
Vietnamese American Community Georgia (VAC-GA),
Viva ( Savannah , GA )

Sincerely,

Dr. Emelita D. Breyer
Chair, Senatorial Candidate＊s Forum

NACA/OCA 等26亚裔组织向乔州参院竞选议员提的问题请见：

http://www.atlanta168.com/articles.php?id=611

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Senato Saxby Chambliss  的回复：
November 24, 2008

Dear Friends,

December 2nd is a going to be a historic election day.  As Georgia voters, those of you reading this now have the opportunity to shape the course of our future.  You have the opportunity to make sure our shared values of traditional families, hard work, lower taxes and smaller government are protected.  But you must vote, and you must encourage everyone else you know to vote on December 2.

We are in tough economic times, and I understand that it can be difficult to make ends meet, and for the small business owner to make payroll. That is why I have been fighting to keep taxes low ━ you work hard for your money and you should be able to keep more of it.  I am the Senate sponsor of the Fair Tax to eliminate the IRS completely and let the taxpayer decide how much of their money to pay in taxes.  My opponent does not support the Fair Tax, and as a state legislator, he voted for the largest tax increase in Georgia’s history then he voted to raise his own government funded expense account.

I am the conservative in this race, on fiscal issues and on social issues.  I am pro-life and pro-Second Amendment.  I believe in student initiated prayer in school and keeping criminals locked up behind bars where they cannot hurt honest, hard working citizens.  My opponent Jim Martin voted three times against allowing prayer in public schools and even voted against making it a felony to distribute illegal drugs within 1000 feet of school property.  Jim Martin even voted against making partial birth abortions illegal in Georgia.  Make no mistake about it, Jim Martin doesn’t share our values. 

It would be my great opportunity to continue to serve as your U.S. Senator for the next six years and I would be honored to have your support on December 2nd.  Based on what we have accomplished together so far, I am confident that we can achieve even more in the future.  

Talk to your family and your friends and please vote on December 2nd.  

Sincerely,

Saxby Chambliss

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Mr. Jim Martin's Response:

Domestic Policy

(Immigration) ------ Basic Immigration approach

The United States, of course, is itself a nation of immigrants.  As such, we must value the role that those who come here from other countries play in our society.  However, the number of undocumented workers currently in this country is posing a threat to our economy.  Under the Bush administration, the number of undocumented persons in this country has increased significantly.  Something must be done about this now. 

            It is time to put in place reasonable policies that can effectively address the immigration problem in this country.  First, we must start enforcing the laws that currently exist and crack down on employers who exploit illegal labor.  Second, we must adequately secure our borders.  Finally, we must create a path for citizenship for those already here provided that they pay taxes, learn to speak English and take their place at the end of the line.

(Health Care)

The healthcare system in the United States has become a disaster.   The unreasonably high cost of health insurance has left nearly 50 million Americans without coverage.  The cost of providing care to the uninsured gets passed along to those with insurance in the form of higher premiums.  This vicious cycle must be stopped. 

            As when I helped create the PeachCare program here in Georgia, I will bring to Washington the type of experience and creative thinking that will be required to solve the healthcare crisis.  From guaranteeing coverage for every child in America, to negotiating with drug companies to make prescription drugs affordable, I believe we can make healthcare accessible and affordable to everyone. 

            Providing health care for every American will require hard work and creative thinking.   First, we need to get the government’s financial house in order, balance the federal budget and stop needless deficit spending.  Next, we need to consider revising the Bush tax cuts to the wealthiest among us and determine whether those funds could be redirected towards universal health care.  Finally, we must look at current policy and find areas that can be changed for the better.  For example, the government is presently precluded from negotiating with drug companies over the price of prescription drugs purchased as part of Medicare Part D.  By changing this single policy, billions of dollars will be saved. 

(Economy) --- Rescue Bill

The current financial crisis, brought upon by 8 years of the Bush administration's failure to exercise reasonable oversight of the markets, has placed us in a precarious position.  While I am acutely aware that government action was required, I do not believe it was prudent to hurriedly commit $700 billion in taxpayer dollars to a bailout package that did  not address the problems that got us into this mess in the first place. 

The bailout package passed by Congress did not include the following necessary components:  (1) reasonable regulation of financial institutions to prevent this situation from happening again; and (2) consumer protection laws that will protect individuals and the public from the consequences of the very abusive lending practices that are at the root of this crisis.   As such, I would not have supported  the bailout bill. 

(Economy) --- Housing & Jobs

As your Senator, I will ensure that the average American has a voice in Washington - not just corporate CEO’s and Wall Street investors.  I will work to develop strong consumer protection laws to protect us from corrupt credit card companies, insurance companies and banks.  I will advance legislation and policy encouraging innovation and job growth.  I will fight for tax relief to the middle class.  Most importantly, I will make certain that Washington maintains the same fiscal discipline that each and every one of us must maintain. 

(Economy) --- Deficit

13. Do you support the Fair Tax ? If so, Why or Why not?

I support a tax policy that eases the burden and enhances the spending power of the middle class.  The so-called “Fair Tax” places too great a burden on the middle class.  As such I do not support it. 

(Education)

With the technological revolution and the globalization of the economy, it is more important now, than ever before, that every American have access to college or post-secondary education.   In fact, it is estimated that in our children’s generation, 90% all jobs will require some form of post-secondary education.

College tuition is at an all-time high, increasing well beyond the rate of inflation and salaries.  Middle-class Americans are finding it harder than ever to send their kids to school.  The federal government cannot allow this to continue.   Whether it be providing more grant money, or incentivizing academic institutions to lower their costs, the government should work to ensure that college is not just a privilege for the few, but rather a right for all.  

            The federal government can also play an important role with respect to K-12 education.  While I believe local school boards, parents and teachers are best situated to determine what is best for their students, the federal government can ensure that adequate funding exists for our educators to have a real chance of preparing our children for the future. 

(Energy)

 In the short term, we must increase domestic production by allowing environmentally reasonable drilling on existing leases.  Oil companies currently own leases on 68 million acres of land thus enabling them to substantially increase production here at home.  Third, we must put and end to the speculative bubble and manipulation in the commodities markets that is artificially propping up the price of oil – to the tune of approximately $1/gal. at the pump.  These are immediate measures that can be taken to reduce prices in the short term. 

We must stop cutting taxes for oil companies that are earning record profits.  We must instead create tax incentives for those companies to invest their profits in new, clean and renewable sources of energy.  Not only can we reduce our dependence on foreign oil this way, we can create new “green” jobs to bolster our economy while improving our environment. 

Additionally, we should work to spur investment, not just by oil companies, but in other industries as well developing different technologies.  We should provide tax incentives that encourage the automobile industry to develop new and innovative technologies powering cars on non-petroleum based fuels, not to simply increase the fuel efficiency of existing internal combustion engines which still requires the use of petroleum based fuels.  Of course this is the more difficult course of action, but this is necessary to end our dependence on foreign oil. 

Finally, we must revolutionize the way we consume energy outside of the automotive industry to preserve our resources and the environment.  We must commit to using electricity from renewable resources.  We should change the manufacturing industry and reduce greenhouse emissions by implementing an effective cap and trade system.   With the backing of American ingenuity, dedication and commitment, this can be a reality. 

 (Georgia: from Local Issue to Federal Support)

18. Do you support the deepening of the harbor for Savannah ports? How

does this deepening addresses environmental concerns?

Yes.  The environmental impact studies are nearly complete and all signs indicate that the deepening may be achieved in an environmentally sound manner.  Deepening the harbor is critically important to Georgia’s economy. 

Foreign Policy

(Leadership)

As the world’s most powerful and influential country, the United States has a moral and ethical obligation to use its resources and influence to help create a safer future.  However, in order to maximize our influence, the United States must work hard to reestablish its credibility and stature in the world.   This work must begin by engaging our allies and working cooperatively to address issues that affect us all.