Handel: Fix 'Broken' Immigration System, Cut Federal Spending

ROSWELL, GA — Voters in Georgia's 6th Congressional District will head to the polls on Tuesday, Nov. 6 to decide which candidate will represent them in the U.S. House of Representatives. Incumbent Karen Handel, a Republican, is facing a contested re-election bid against Democratic challenger Lucy McBath. The 6th Congressional District includes all of North Fulton County and parts of Cobb and DeKalb counties.

As readers recall, Handel defeated Democrat Jon Ossoff in June 2017 to win the special election for the seat, which was vacated when Tom Price resigned to become President Donald Trump's Health and Human Services secretary. Handel is now serving out Price's unexpired term, which ends in December.

Patch reached out to both candidates to see if they'd answer some questions about their platforms and issues facing the country and the 6th Congressional District. We are still waiting to hear back from McBath, but you can read Handel's unedited responses below:

1. Why did you decide to run for this seat for a full two-year term?

While I've been able to accomplish a lot during my short time in Congress, there is still a lot of work to do.

2. What are the issues that are impacting the 6th Congressional District the most, and what are your ideas to address those topics?

1. Fostering economic prosperity for all. Thanks to historic tax cuts across all income levels, so many hardworking Georgians are keeping more of their hard-earned pay. In fact, taxes for the average family of four in Georgia’s 6th District have been cut by over $4,400 a year. With lower taxes and less regulation, businesses are expanding and investing, unemployment is at its lowest in decades, and wages are rising at the fastest rate in decades. As a result, families are more financially secure. Economic prosperity also means strengthening our nation’s fiscal position. That’s why I will continue to fight for budget reforms to reduce federal spending and finally start to reduce our long-term debt.
2. Ensuring that our families and country are the safest they can be. With historic investments in our military, our nation is safer, and military men and women are better able to do the job they are asked to do. I also helped to pass legislation that makes new investments to fight the opioid epidemic, combat human trafficking, strengthen our mental health system, and make our schools as safe as they can possibly be.
3. Healthcare. Hardworking families are doing better in a robust economy. Still, we must continue to find ways to reduce the cost of healthcare. We have taken several important steps, including providing for association health plans to expand access for small businesses and their employees and expanding health savings accounts. I will continue to work to lower healthcare costs and to fight to ensure that those with pre-existing conditions are not shut out or priced out of health care.

3. What are your ideas to improve traffic flow and transportation options in the district? Are you in favor of expanding MARTA up Ga. 400 north of Sandy Springs? What are your opinions on the proposed bus rapid transit interchanges and the proposed Express Lanes on Ga. 400?

The federal government's role is to be a partner with state and local governments that plan and execute at a local level. I've already been able to work with them to bring $184 million to add lanes to Georgia 400. I will continue to ensure that federal resources are available to projects planned locally.

4. What are your ideas on fighting the opioid epidemic in the 6th Congressional District?

Congress made over $4 billion in new investments to fight the opioid epidemic. This is coupled with changes to the prescribing guidelines and easing some of the restrictions on Medicaid reimbursement for in-patient treatment. Additionally, we fully funded the 21st Century Cures Act that makes sweeping reforms to our mental health system and will help communities build out mental health capacity. My efforts go beyond appropriations, however. I've held two opioid summits with state and local officials and community leaders, so we can all exchange information about what is working, and what is needed.

5. Given the events over the last few years, what do you think should be done to bring back a more civil and respectful tone in our country's political discourse?

It starts with each of us and how we conduct ourselves in our daily lives. Certainly, there are areas where there is great disagreement. However, there are areas where we can and do agree. In Congress, more than 60 percent of the legislation passed and signed into law had bi-partisan support.

6. If elected, what would be your top priorities in your two-year term?

My focus will continue to be keeping families and our nation safe and secure. That means: continue to support our military and our veterans, securing our borders and fixing the broken immigration system, reducing federal spending and the overall debt, and continuing to advance policies that keep the economy growing. We also need to continue to work to make health care more affordable and accessible for all — protecting those with preexisting conditions and expanding our network of Community Health Centers, and reducing the cost of prescription drugs.

7. If the caravan of migrants making its way across Mexico reaches the U.S. border, how should the government respond to the situation?

We should all be able to agree that thousands of migrants storming our border is a national security threat and cannot be tolerated. Our country has always held its arms wide open for those seeking a better life here and doing so in a legal way. Like many, I was deeply troubled by the family separations at the border and was among the first to call for an end to the practice. Still, we must secure our borders, enforce our laws, and fix the immigration system. Abolishing ICE and having open borders is NOT the answer. The answer is fully funding border security, including the wall, and fixing the broken process. Those who are truly seeking asylum should go to one of more than 50 designated legal Point of Entry to have their request processed in a timely and humane manner.

8. If elected, how will you make sure residents are informed of how votes taken by Congress will impact them in the 6th District?

The residents of the 6th District can stay informed through my weekly newsletter which provides a recap of the week, including my activities and key legislation, or participate in regularly scheduled town hall conference calls during which anyone can ask anything. When not in session in D.C., I am here in the district, visiting with civic groups and local employers and attending scores of community events. Since being elected, more than 100,000 6th District constituents have been engaged through the various constituent outreach activities, and I look forward to continuing these frequent and informative open, two-way conversations throughout our community.

9. Given the issue of alleged election hacking in the news at the federal and state level, what should be done to improve and protect the integrity of votes cast by citizens in Georgia? Would you support revamping the system to include a paper trail for voters?

Voters can have great confidence in Georgia’s elections system. Robust security measures exist at every polling place, in county elections offices, and at the state. There multiple layer of security that focus on storing the equipment, testing the equipment, and setting significant checks and balances to ensure an accurate vote count. Further, I led the implementation of photo ID — which has become a national model — further enhancing elections security. All technology has a lifespan, and the electronic machines put in place by then Secretary of State Cathy Cox are based on technology that is more than 15 years old. It is my hope that the next Secretary of State, working with the governor and legislature, will move forward with a new, modern system that will give voters even more confidence.

10: What are your thoughts on the allegations that absentee ballots being are tossed out at higher rates this election cycle in Georgia, leaving some to question if these are voter suppression tactics?

The county elections officials are following the law for verifying the signatures and other information on absentee ballots to guard against voter fraud. Any absentee ballot with a signature mismatch is treated as a provisional ballot, and that voter is given ample opportunity to address the issue. It is disappointing that some continue to use scare tactics and false information to undermine our elections integrity.

Image via Karen Handel's campaign