Wednesday, November 26, 2008

Georgia’s New Interstates: The Biggest Winner of the Election

Whenever real issues are vigorously debated in an election, everyone wins. Such was the case this year in the race for Georgia’s 12th Congressional District concerning the Deep South’s long-stalled proposed new interstates, I-3 and I-14.

Incumbent Congressman John Barrow (D-GA) ended up winning re-election, but only after having to face criticism during five debates - four of which were televised - over his lack of action in supporting the new interstates during his four years in office.

In those debates, Barrow says he in fact supported feasibility studies by voting for the Transportation Equity Act a Legacy for Users (TEA-LU) legislation in 2006 that included study funding by Senators Johnny Isakson (R-GA) and Saxby Chambliss (R-GA). He further blamed lack of action on completing the studies on the Bush Administration, and pledged – publicly, on television - to support immediate action on beginning those studies, and support for both interstates based on favorable findings.

What a difference those debates made on this issue! With this revival of the original bipartisan support behind both interstates, there is no reason those studies should not begin before this year is out.

I-14 as proposed in 2004 would begin in Augusta, then follow and use the roadbed of the existing Fall Line Freeway as much as possible to Macon, Columbus, Montgomery, and Natchez.

I-3 as proposed would start in Savannah, then follow and use the existing Savannah River Parkway to Augusta and Knoxville.

During this campaign, alternatives emerged to both plans.

The new I-3 proposal would run from Savannah to Augusta to Asheville instead of Knoxville, and re-designate the new interstate as an extension of the current I-81. This would be more consistent with the existing interstate numbering system. More importantly, it would allow new construction to end at I-85, as the new extended I-81 could run jointly with I-85 and I-26 through Asheville and East Tennessee, dramatically cutting the cost of the project and avoiding new construction in the mountains entirely.

Engineering to include a road bed for light rail to run jointly with both interstates was also added to the debate, to allow the addition of future mass-transit options. Both commuter rail lines should include stations at Augusta Regional Airport, Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport, and junctions with both the northern and southern AMTRAK lines in Toccoa and Savannah. This new interstate-rail combination would transform both commercial airports in our district into true intermodal transportation centers, and open the entire Savannah River Valley to passenger rail service, both for daily commuters and cross-country travelers.

But East Georgia would not be the sole beneficiary of the new interstates in the Peach State. Through traffic on I-85 and I-20 would now have the option of bypassing the Atlanta area entirely, relieving congestion on I-285 and the entire metro interstate grid system without any new construction in the Greater Atlanta area, which would further aggravate traffic congestion, and where construction costs would be much higher than rural Georgia.

Congressman Barrow voiced no objection to either new interstate alternative proposal and reiterated his support for completing the feasibility studies as rapidly as possible.

Both of these projects enjoyed overwhelming bipartisan support when they were introduced. They would do more to energize the economy in rural East Georgia than any project since rural electrification.

Now, while the statements of public support by Congressman Barrow are still fresh, and the historical legislative support of our Senators and the President are still in place, is the time to act for the future of Georgia’s 12th Congressional District, and dozens of similar districts across the Deep South.

Mr. President, order those studies started today, before you leave office.

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Giving Thanks for New Republican Leadership

Our dismal showing in this month’s elections has achieved at least one tremendous positive for the conservative cause – a new Republican leadership team in Washington.

Last week, U.S. Rep. Pete Sessions of Texas was elected Chairman of the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) on a platform for sweeping change in management at the organization. This is precisely what I called for in our post-election news release, and bodes well for dozens of House races across the country in 2010. The NRCC is our organization charged with helping House campaigns, both in technical support and funding.

U.S. Rep. Mike Pence of Indiana was elected as our new House Republican Conference Chairman. The Conference coordinates floor activities and debates, along with media activity for our sitting House Republican Members. Rep. Pence is the former head of the House Republican Study Committee, which is the 110 most conservative Members of the House, so his election shows our party is definitely back on the path to our conservative roots.

With these guys now leading our team, we are on the way towards a new party that can win the support of the American people again.

Let’s put our new leadership and our current House Members in our prayers for the coming session of Congress, in which our guys will be playing two years of defense against a liberal Obama-Pelosi agenda to socialize America.

And don't forget Saxby!!

Have a safe and Happy Thanksgiving,

John

Friday, November 07, 2008

NRA Resignations Underway after Political Sellout of 2nd Amendment to Obama/Barrow

NRA Members Urged to Switch Membership to Gun Owners of America


(Savannah, GA) – Congressional Candidate John Stone today joined supporters across Georgia’s sprawling 12th Congressional district in resigning from and denouncing the National Rifle Association for selling out Americans’ Second Amendment Rights to political expediency in Tuesday’s election.


Anti-gun Democrat John Barrow scored below Republican challenger Stone in the NRA candidate issue survey, but was nevertheless endorsed over Stone by the NRA solely due to Barrow’s incumbency. Stone was solidly endorsed by America’s strongest 2nd Amendment advocacy organization, Gun Owners of America.


But it was the final-week appearance of NRA President Chris Cox in hundreds of thousands of dollars of campaign ads supporting Barrow that has led to lifetime NRA member resignations. The special-interest media campaign to rescue Barrow resulted in a big win for the incumbent, as the Stone campaign could not compete financially with the massive infusion of cash from Washington special interests.


The move by what had been the country’s largest 2nd Amendment advocacy organization was apparently part of a thinly-veiled effort to gain political acceptance in the upcoming Democrat-controlled federal government.


“We have unfortunately seen this same Machiavellian behavior from the NRA before, but never to the shameless extent as in this election,” says Stone. “John Barrow is the former Clarke County Commissioner who tried to ban hunting, and who is supporting plans by Obama, Pelosi, and Reid to introduce and pass new gun restriction laws in the next session of Congress.”


Stone says 2nd Amendment supporters should keep a close watch on NRA activities in 2009, when the group is expected to sign-off on the first series of Democrat bills to gradually restrict gun-ownership under laws similar to those already enacted in Great Britain and Australia, largely eliminating the individual right of gun ownership. In the trade-off deal, NRA would continue to raise funds from members to support ongoing advocacy efforts to “amend” the new laws as they passed over several years, keeping the organization alive.


Stone, an NRA member since the 1970’s, urged all current NRA members to resign and immediately join Gun Owners of America.