Graves Demonstrates Conservative Principles and Record at Lumpkin County Forum

(DAHLONEGA, GA) – State Representative and 9th District congressional candidate Tom Graves (R-Ranger) impressed voters with his knowledge of the issues at a Republican forum in Lumpkin County last evening.  Nearly 75 individuals attended the forum, which was sponsored by the Lumpkin County Republican Party.  Graves and the three other candidates in attendance answered questions from Lumpkin County Republicans ranging from the economy to environmental protection.

Graves continued his message of empowering people and demonstrated a command of the issues facing North Georgians by outlining a vision of less government and more free market solutions.

When asked what could be done to promote jobs and economic development, Graves said Congress should consider legislation similar to Georgia’s Jobs Opportunity and Business Success Act, which he authored last legislative session.  The JOBS Act will cut the Georgia capitol gains tax in half, repeal the inventory tax and provide tax credits and incentives to hire workers who are presently on government assistance.  He said empowering the private sector to create jobs, not empowering government is what is needed to get America’s economy back on track.   

Graves said he would also support repealing the unspent funds from the stimulus bill that was passed earlier this year because it is not working.

He said he strongly opposes the Obama Administration’s efforts to negotiate a new Kyoto Protocol Treaty and the Cap and Trade legislation that passed the U.S. House earlier this year saying it would be a job killer for the southeast and raise taxes on Georgians.

Graves said he opposed Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s Value-Added Tax because it is a miserable system that would only supplement the current system.   Instead, he favors the FairTax because it allows Americans to receive 100 percent of their paycheck and repeals the IRS as we know it.  The FairTax would empower consumers to pay taxes only when they buy goods.

Graves is the only candidate in the race to campaign across the country for the FairTax with U.S. Rep. John Linder, Neal Boortz and Herman Cain.

Candidates were asked how voters would know that their conservative values would be represented in Washington and would not be just another empty campaign promise from another politician.  

Graves said you need to look no further than the candidates’ records.  He pointed to his leadership in the creation of the 216 Policy Group that scored all bills before the Georgia House.  Graves and other members of the group would review bills and support legislation based on four simple conservative principles:

•    Does the bill encourage less government?
•    Does the bill lower taxes?
•    Does the bill encourage personal responsibility?
•    Does the bill provide liberty and justice for all?

Graves said he would do the same in Congress and a dose of North Georgia common sense is needed in Washington.

Graves said after the forum, “I am excited to see so many engaged voters come out tonight in Lumpkin County and grateful for the many who came up afterwards to volunteer to help our effort to get America back on track.”

The Graves campaign is earning the support of conservatives throughout the 9th District and fundraising reports filed with the Federal Election Commission last week revealed the momentum in the race is behind Graves.  His fundraising out paced all candidates in the race with over $279,000 raised for the election cycle from 753 contributors.  The campaign continues to have the largest online presence of any candidate in the congressional race, has over 350 grassroots volunteers and is organized in all 15 counties of the district.

Today, Graves will be honored at a reception after being named to Georgia Trend’s “40 under 40, Georgia’s Best and the Brightest” earlier this month.  Last month, he received the endorsement from the Club for Growth PAC, a free-market, free enterprise group of conservatives.

Graves announced earlier this year he would seek the 9th District Congressional seat, which is currently held by Congressman Nathan Deal who is running for Governor.