ATLANTA — Crime and education were hot topics in Monday’s governors debate, which saw a rematch between Gov. Brian Kemp and challenger Stacey Abram.
Abrams and Kemp faced off during the 2018 debate stage before Kemp narrowly defeated Abrams by an estimated 55,000 votes in the November 2018 election.
Libertarian candidate Shane Hazel joined the two in a debate at the Atlanta Press Club on Oct. 17.
Crime and gun laws cause friction
in debate
Kemp claims his policies and plans to track down street gangs and add tougher penalties for such perpetrators have helped crack down on gun violence.
“During the pandemic, when I was talking to people about how we were responding and what we were dealing with, I was told by educators, sports directors, and others, ‘We’re losing, so let’s put the kids back in the classroom. I heard they had to,’ Kemp said. “They are recruited by street gangs because they are not in the classroom. So we focus on these things to make sure these kids are in the right environment.”
Abrams objected, however, citing mass shootings and other acts of gun violence in Georgia and elsewhere.
“Street gangs are part of the problem, but we have governors who have flooded the streets with guns by undermining gun laws statewide and making guns available to dangerous people,” Abrams said. I was. “There is no waiting period in Georgia. There is no universal background check. , stopped undermining weapons with this Governor’s Criminal Carry Act.”
Kemp supported signing the state’s “Constitutional Cell Phones” law. This eliminates the need for background checks to carry concealed weapons in Georgia.
“Yes, more and more people are buying guns because they think it’s the only way to protect themselves because guns are all over our streets,” Abrams said. rice field.
Abrams interrupted Kemp’s repeated insistence that background checks be done when someone buys a gun.
“If you buy weapons in Georgia in a private sale[no background check required],” she said.
Hazel stayed true to a libertarian model that reduced government involvement and favored a handful of gun control laws.
“Like I said before, most civilians go about their day harming no one,” Hazel said. “But government people with guns still chase people with badges when they don’t have to.”
Candidates have different educational priorities
Moderators emphasized Kemp’s focus on content taught in schools this year. In part, his signing of the bill prevented the teaching of certain race-related topics. If re-elected, he plans to allocate his $65 million to address learning losses due to the pandemic.
Kemp said the planned fundraising is just the next step in a process that has already taken place, including a $5,000 teacher pay raise.
“We’ve been pushing those things. You can talk to school superintendents all over the state…we’ve actually been working with them over the past year and a half, two years on learning loss.” Kemp replied, “We have passed two different laws dealing with the teacher pipeline, which will bring more teachers into the system. We are working together to bring more of the right people into our classrooms to help guide our children.”
Abrams plans to use some of the state’s $6.6 billion surplus to expand pre-kindergarten access and raise teachers’ salaries by $11,000.
“I can confirm that we are increasing access to the pipeline because teachers are not in the pipeline because they earn enough money to take care of themselves and their families,” he said. Abrams said. “That’s why, under this governor, there’s a 67% retention rate. His other CEO, who has lost more than 30% of his workforce, will be laid off.”
Kemp pointed to Abrams’ previous criticism of Kemp reopening businesses and schools earlier than other states during the pandemic shutdown.
“If Stacey Abrams has been governor for the last four years, you get that extra income because you wanted the state to stay in lockdown and criticized me when I reopened the state. I couldn’t have done it.
He is using a portion of his income for additional income tax refunds to taxpayers and is planning a one-time property tax relief grant. Hazel opposed using tax money for education, especially since some taxpayers do not use the public school system.
Kemp relied on his record signing the Parent Bill of Rights, which allows parents to intervene in their children’s education.
“Honestly, people are tired of their children being indoctrinated in the classroom, but we are working with educators to make sure these laws are based on common sense. ‘” Kemp said. ”
Abrams countered, showing that overregulation of Kemp’s policy on educational restrictions and parental interference in the classroom leads to teacher turnover.
“When a teacher is told to lie to a child, that’s what happened with a divisive concept like law, and the teacher can’t teach the whole history of the student,” Abrams said. As the next governor of Georgia, I will repeal those laws.”
Kemp addresses the contraceptive ban debate
When asked if she plans to push for further abortion or restrictions on birth control, Kemp replied, “No, I won’t.”
He later added, “No, that’s not what I want,” before pres. Joe Biden administration.
The host’s question for Kemp stems from a recently recorded conversation between Kemp and an unknown person at the University of Georgia tailgate. The recording captures an unknown individual questioning Kemp about possible emergency contraceptive bans.
In the taped conversation, Kemp did not directly say whether he would support such a proposal, but said during the legislative session beginning in January that “it depends on where the legislators are” on the issue.
Abrams has vowed to repeal Georgia’s new abortion law, which bans abortions if a fetal heartbeat is detected.
Abrams reacts to Kemp’s goal
Loss in 2018
Following Kemp’s victory over Abrams in the November 6, 2018 election, Abrams did not concede until 10 days later.
During the debate, Abrams said after acknowledging that as secretary of state he had presented the challenges facing voters under Kemp’s leadership:
She referred to stories of students denied access to vote and voter complaints included in her case against the Secretary of State in 2018 alleging voter suppression.
“We didn’t win every claim, but we made significant changes to election law,” Abrams said. “As Governor, I will stand up for voting rights. I will never.”
Kemp noted his leadership as secretary of state when he implemented online voter registration in the state.
“It’s just not true when someone says we’ve been repressive in the state when voter turnout has increased over the years, including minorities like African Americans, Latinos,” Kemp said. said.
A federal judge ruled against claims of voter suppression in Georgia in a 2018 lawsuit by Abrams’ voting group, Fair Fight Action, but the judge found several voter burdens. Pointed out state practices.
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