FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE PRESIDENT OBAMA THAWS THE FROZEN TUNDRA WITH A HEARTWARMING SPEECH ON MOVING AMERICA FORWARD (Decatur, Ga – January 28, 2014) Former State Senator Steen Miles, a Democratic candidate for the U.S. Senate seat vacated by Saxby Chambliss, issued the following statement today following President Barack Obama’s State of the Union address: “While frigid temperatures and snow blanketed much of the nation, President Obama’s State of the Union address was heartwarming, touching important themes for the nation and for moving Georgia forward as well. The President covered important areas of national security, affordable health care, income inequality, job creation, education, climate change, gender equality and immigration. One could not help but be struck by the President’s resolve to continue to protect the working and middle classes by speeding economic growth and creating more jobs. The president outlined plans to raise the minimum wage through executive order if Congress refuses to act. He will order all federal contractors doing business with the government to pay their workers a minimum wage of $10.10. He suggested business owners to do the same. We can address income inequality here in Georgia by following the President’s example. We can also bridge the income gap between men and women working the same jobs by paying the same salaries. We have an opportunity here in Georgia to partner with business, government and our excellent university system to train Georgians with skills employers need and match those skills with jobs. We can work to stop climate change by promoting clean sustainable energies and reducing carbon pollutants by investing in real rail. We can limit developments that threaten natural green space and we can invest in renewable energies like wind, solar and water. We are on record in support of protecting our environment. An investment in education pays handsome dividends. We can invest in early education, hi-speed broad band connectivity in our schools and ramp up training in science, technology, engineering and math. We can begin to teach our children problem solving and critical thinking skills rather, as the President said, merely teaching them to circle a bubble on a test. We can fully restore the Voting Rights Act to prevent voter suppression and overhaul our elections so that no one stands in line for more than 30 minutes in order to cast a ballot. It was a heartwarming speech that could thaw the coldest of hearts, especially the introduction of Sergeant Corey, the veteran wounded in Afghanistan who is fighting incredible odds to be whole again. It’s a story repeated often here in Georgia by the 800-thousand veterans who call this state home. We can do better by them by overhauling the service delivery process to expedite benefits for their psychological and physical wounds. I have joined with our veterans and pledged to be their voice in Washington if elected. Finally, perhaps we Georgians should take heed to one of the President’s concluding statements, “It is the power of our vote and not the size of our bank account that drives our democracy.” Together - Georgia Forward ### You can help our efforts by making a campaign contribution on our website at steenmilesussenate or mail to P.O. Box 360961 Decatur, Ga. 30036. Thank you!
Posted on: Wed, 29 Jan 2014 13:26:13 +0000