PRESS STATEMENT: House Vote on Emergency Economic Stabilization Act

Despite warnings of economic depression, Congressman Jack Kingston votes NO on the bill and is a leader of the effort to defeat it, all in the name of politics

TYBEE ISLAND, Ga. (September 29, 2008) - Lt. Col. (ret.) Bill Gillespie, Democratic candidate for Georgia's First Congressional District, has released the following statement regarding today's vote by the U.S. House of Representatives on H.R. 3997. This bill included the 'Emergency Economic Stabilization Act,' which is the bipartisan legislation designed to address America's economic crisis. Congressman Jack Kingston voted no and was amongst a group of partisan House Republicans that worked to defeat the legislation. The final roll call was 228-205.

Bill Gillespie said: "I am disappointed Jack Kingston once again put partisan politics ahead of the people and voted no today on legislation aimed at keeping America out of an economic depression. Our country is in this mess because Jack and his special interest friends loosened rules on Wall Street. It is inconceivable that Jack does not support legislation to help fix the problems he caused. His vote today is a vote in support of more foreclosures, bank closings, credit freezes, business failings, job losses and overall economic depression."

Gillespie added: "Jack does not understand or feel the economic crisis. While South Georgians are being sent to the poor house, Jack and his friends are in the clubhouse."

Gillespie continued: "Although the legislation failed today, the crisis remains. It is time for bipartisan action not political posturing. I call for Congressman Kingston to support the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act and secure our country's economic future. I urge him to lobby other members of Congress to do the same."

Bill in Valdosta

Bill Gillespie came to Valdosta, Lowndes County, Saturday and spoke to a packed house party. One of the college student attendees told me she had never heard a politician speak like that. Not only did he tell a story that tied the south Georgia road and rail infrastructure left over from the logging industry to renewable energy and exports for GA-01; he also fielded questions throughout and worked them into his talk.

As she said, this was no talking points politician.
Sure, he has plenty of issues and he worked through the top several of them, but he wasn't just parroting lines; he was weaving them together with his own biography and the those of constituents and audience members.

She also said she didn't remember a time when Jack Kingston was not the rep. for GA-01. And she'd like to be part of changing that.

Bill Gillespie is an even easier sell than Barack Obama in these parts. Everybody knows who Jack Kingston is, but they mostly don't know Bill yet. When they hear there's somebody running who wants to actually build jobs for south Georgia and has a plan to do so, not to mention get us out of Iraq, they're for it, and they're for Bill.

Clean Energy Produces Jobs and Clean Air

Bill gets it that clean energy produces both jobs and a clean environment. As he says, Invest in technology and infrastructure for a clean energy grid:

“Creating the new technology and infrastructure for a ‘clean’ energy grid would generate billions of dollars in economic activity and put hundreds of thousands of people to work in new jobs. In addition, our country must motivate business to wean itself off fossil-fuels, and can receive an economic boon while doing so. California’s 2006 state law—led by Silicon Valley venture capitalists—that requires fossil-fuel producers to limit green house gas emissions added 20,000 jobs and a $60 billion increase in gross state product.”

With Bill Gillespie supporting such a bill from Congress, there's no reason the Georgia legislature can't follow the lead of 16 other states (by now maybe as many as 23 other states) in passing a green house gas emissions law, which would not only clean up the air but also produce jobs. Companies are already scrambling to be green all over the country. Why build another dirty coal plant in Georgia when we could move ahead and become a leader in green energy?

Bill on the Environment: Renewable Energy

Bill Gillespie is big on the environment, as you would expect from somebody with B.S. and M.A. degrees in Environmental Science. This concern runs through several of his top ten issues. Today, let's look at Bill's energy plan: Create the South Georgia Alternative Energy Alliance.

Why pay for foreign oil or burn dirty coal when Georgia has abundant sunlight, wind off the coast, wood chips and bark to burn, and switchgrass and peanut shells for biofuels? Bill says:

“Imagine the economic opportunities if there was a whole new industry in South Georgia. Hundreds of new businesses move in. Thousands of new jobs are produced. As more money and people enter our economy, demand for all services increase. This is my vision. I want to create the South Georgia Alternative Energy Alliance, which would make South Georgia the national leader in alternative energy production and research.”

Band together together local and state government plus universities and business to take advantage of what we already know how to do (more later about what's been going on it Tifton), and fund deployment of solar, wind, and biofuels with federal grants and private venture capital. Georgia state and local governments, currently running shortfalls, would derive income from this new industry just like the private sector. And don't stop with just generating energy in Georgia; turn Georgia into an exporter of parts and knowhow to generate energy.

Fight the climate crisis, clean up the environment, and generate jobs along with energy. As Bill says,

“...clean energy technology—”cleantech”—could become the next great engine of the U.S. economy.”

Let's start right here in south Georgia!

Bill on Health Care

"In rural Georgia there is a great need for medical care. In Georgia's First Congressional District many health clinics are losing staff due to lack of funding. Our rural areas are in need of a renaissance and we must be able to provide quality health care to those areas." That's Bill Gillespie's response to question 14 of the Your Candidates Your Health 2008 voter guide questionnaire.

Here's Bill's answer to #5: "I would make sure that the federal government supplies items needed for preventative medicine to those who need them before an accident happens. I have heard many stories about how a simple shower seat would have prevented a slip and fall accident resulting in surgeries as dangerous as a total hip replacement. I would also like to see local hospitals start wellness programs that promote safe and healthy living that are available to the public." There's plenty more.

Meanwhile, what does Jack Kingston say? We don't know: he hasn't answered the questionnaire yet. But we do know Jack has voted against medicaid, against mental health, and against children's health care.

If you want to continue to benefit big business at the expense of our health, vote Jack Kingston. If you want health care for everyone, including prevention, open hospitals, and more research, vote Bill Gillespie.

GA-01: Bill and Jack on the Middle Class

While Republican Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson is proposing to bail out big finance companies at the expense of the rest of us, is a good time to review Republican Jack Kingston's record on the middle class. His grade from themiddleclass.org is an F. Back in 2003 he got his highest grade, which was a D. Jack just keeps voting against medicaid, mental health, children's health care, affordable college, public transportation, and renewable energy. And of course he's for the war in Iraq, which wastes $10 billion a month, more than enough to pay for all of the above.



Meanwhile, you know what Bill Gillespie stands for: getting us out of Iraq, affordable health care, education, preserving the environment, and investing in south Georgia's economy, including "the 'South Georgia Alternative Energy Initiative' making our region the national leader for alternative energy research and production".

Would you rather have somebody in the House who represents big business, or Bill Gillespie, who will represent you?

Bill at the Blue House

Bill Gillespie signs at the all-volunteer Obama office in Valdosta, Lowndes County, Georgia. There's Bill literature inside, which goes out the door quickly.

Bill was the main speaker at the opening of this office:

Bill supports Barack, so naturally Barack's office supports Bill. After all, when Barack is president he'll need Bill in Congress to help get out of Iraq, make health care affordable, and deploy renewable energy.

Valdosta Fundraiser

Bill's coming to Lowndes County next Saturday. The Saegers are hosting a fundraiser at their house, Park @ Williams, 7-9PM, 27 September. Contact Cameron Brenchley for more information, chbrenchley@hotmail.com.

Come meet Bill, ask him about helping as a statesman to end the war in Iraq and to prevent wars using soft power.

This event is not just for Valdosta: Lowndes County, Brooks, Echols, Lanier, Berrien, Cook, etc.; all are invited.

Glynn County Meet and Greet

Bill's a travelling candidate. Tomorrow, Thursday 18 September 2008, he'll be in Glynn County on St. Simon's Island.

You are invited to meet Bill Gillespie at a fundraising party at the home of David and Audrey Stewart. Co-hosts are Joan and Jack Ross. Wine and other beverages and finger foods will available.

Details here. Go, meet Bill, ask about his South Georgia Energy Initiative. Don't be late; be ready to donate.

ALERT: Gen. Wesley Clark Endorses Gillespie

SAVANNAH, Ga. (September 12, 2008) – Gen. Wesley Clark and his political action committee, WesPAC-Securing America’s Future, have endorsed Democrat Bill Gillespie in Georgia’s First Congressional District election.

Gillespie served 23 years in the Army, working in various leadership positions while stationed in places such as Korea, Germany and the Middle East. He served in Iraq as Senior Logistician for the Third Infantry Division, earning a Bronze Star. Gillespie retired last year as a Lt. Colonel and disabled veteran.

Clark said, “I am proud to endorse Lt. Col. (ret.) Bill Gillespie for Congress. America has reached a critical point, and we need strong leaders in Washington with the courage, knowledge and integrity to overcome our many challenges at home and abroad. Bill’s ideas to develop alternative energy, lower taxes for families and small businesses and recruit manufacturing back to America are just what the ailing economy needs. I also support Bill because he’ll fight hard to increase healthcare, education and other benefits for our brave veterans. Bill represents a hope for change in southeast Georgia - a change to government that represents the people not just special interests with lots of money.”

Clark, who was a 2004 candidate for President, spent 34 years in the Army and the Department of Defense, receiving many military decorations. He commanded Operation Allied Force in the Kosovo War during his term as NATO’s Supreme Allied Commander Europe from 1997 to 2000.

Gillespie said, “I am honored by the endorsement of Gen. Wesley Clark, one of our country’s finest military and political leaders. We share many goals, especially making sure our country honors the sacrifices of our troops and their families by taking good care of them when they return home. Last year the Democratic-majority in Congress passed the largest ever funding increase in the 77-year history of the Veterans’ Administration. It is still not enough. The toll of the War on Terror on our military has been large, and I will seek even more increases in funding for veterans benefits.”