>>> FELLOW GEORGIA, I SERVE AS THE DEMOCRATIC LEADER IN THE GEORGIA HOUSE AND I'M HONORED TO OFFER THE DEMOCRATIC RESPONSE TO THE GOVERNOR'S STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS TODAY.

I'D LIKE TO TAKE A MOMENT TO REMEMBER THOSE WHO HAVE LOST THEIR LIVES TO COVID-19.

AT ONE TIME, A DISTANT FEAR HAS TOUCHED NEARLY EVERYONE AROUND US.

OVER 35,000 LOVED ONES ARE NO LONGER WITH US.

PARENTS, UNCLES, AUNTS, BELOVED NEIGHBORS, LONG TIME FRIENDS, AND YES, EVEN SOME OF OUR CHILDREN.

I KNOW MANY OF YOU KNOW GRIEF.

I KNOW GRIEF.

TIME STOPS, EVERYTHING FAILS, SEEMS SMALL, INCONSEQUENTIAL.

FOR EVERY GEORGIAN WHO WAS TOUCHED BY COVID LOSSES IN THIS PANDEMIC, WE FEEL YOUR PAIN, AND WE'RE SORRY FOR YOUR LOSS.

BUT FOR FAR TOO MANY OF US, IT DIDN'T HAVE TO BE.

SO MANY DEATHS WERE PREVENTABLE.

AND WAVE AFTER WAVE, PEOPLE FAILED TO GET THE CARE THEY NEEDED AND THEY SUFFERED FOR IT, BUT THE CRITICAL FLAW ISN'T JUST IN OUR INABILITY TO CATCH UP WITH THE NEEDS OF FOLK WHO HAVE COVID, OUR STATE LEADERSHIP HAS NOT TAKEN THE BASIC STEPS THAT WILL PREVENT COVID IN OUR HOMES, OUR WORKPLACES, AND OUR SCHOOLS.

NOR HAS THE GOVERNOR OFFERED HEALTH CARE TO OUR MOST VULNERABLE CITIZENS, BUT WHAT DID WE HEAR ABOUT TODAY, MORE FIREARMS ON OUR STREETS, EVEN KNOW THE GOVERNMENT SEEMS MORE INTERESTED IN GETTING GUNS IN HANDS THAN SHOTS IN ARMS.

INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS OF WHAT HE PROMISED BUT NOT WHAT HE DELIVERED.

AS A MAN OF FAITH, BUT FIRST AND FOREMOST AS A PERSON WITH A HEART, I BELIEVE THAT WE SHOULD CARE FOR THE SICK AMONG US.

WE ALL DESERVE HEALTH CARE THAT ALLOWS US TO SEE A DOCTOR AND GET PRESCRIPTIONS FILLED WHEN WE NEED IT.

IT'S THAT SIMPLE.

RIGHT NOW, THE FUNDING IS ON THE TABLE TO EXPAND HEALTH CARE TO 500,000 GEORGIANS, AND IT'S BEEN THERE FOR YEARS.

UNLESS THE GOVERNMENT ACTS TO EXPAND MEDICAID, GEORGIA WILL ONCE AGAIN DECLINE $3 MILLION OF FEDERAL FUNDING.

LAST YEAR, GOVERNOR KEMP OFFERED A PROPOSAL THAT WOULD HAVE COVERED FEWER GEORGIANS AT A HIGHER COST.

ITS REQUIREMENTS FELL SO SHORT OUTSIDE OF THE INTENT OF THE LAW THAT THEY WERE DENIED BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

YET AGAIN, THE GOVERNOR WOULD RATHER PLAY POLITICS THAN SEE GEORGIANS GET THE HEALTH CARE THEY NEED.

I DON'T THINK I'VE EVER SEEN A SELF-PROCLAIMED BUSINESSMAN LEAVE SO MUCH MONEY ON THE TABLE.

FREEDOM OVER GOVERNMENT SHUT DOWNS IS A DECENT CAMPAIGN RHETORIC.

BUT IT'S NOT A SOLUTION.

THOSE GEORGIAN FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO AVOID THE COVID-19 VIRUS HAVE STILL SEEN AN UNPRECEDENTED IMPACT ON OUR ECONOMY.

HARD WORKING PEOPLE WHO LOST THEIR JOBS THROUGH NO FAULT OF THEIR OWN WERE ABANDONED BY GOVERNOR KEMP AND LABOR COMMISSIONER MARK BUTLER.

AS UNEMPLOYMENT CHECKS CONTINUE TO GET LOST IN A FAILED SYSTEM.

A SYSTEM CREATED BY THE KEMP ADMINISTRATION.

AS GEORGIANS WERE UNABLE TO REENTER THE WORK FORCE IN THE EARLY STAGES OF THIS PANDEMIC, OUR GOVERNOR ADVOCATED FOR AN END TO ENHANCED UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS.

FORCING COUNTLESS PEOPLE INTO AN IMPOSSIBLE SITUATION.

THE GOVERNOR SAID THIS MORNING THAT OUR ECONOMY IS STRONG.

LET'S BE CLEAR, OUR ECONOMY IS STRONG THANKS TO COVID RELIEF FUNDS.

IN FACT, GEORGIANS HAVE SENATORS WARNOCK AND OSSOFF TO THANK FOR OUR SURPLUS.

THE NUMBER ONE QUESTION I HEAR IF MY CONSTITUENTS, CAN YOU HELP ME GET A JOB.

BUT WHEN GEORGIANS COULDN'T FIND WORK, OUR LEADERS FAILED TO HAVE THEIR BACK.

ONCE AGAIN, THE SELF-PROCLAIMED BUSINESSMAN, GOVERNOR KEMP LEFT OUR STATE'S MOST VALUABLE RESOURCE BEHIND.

EVENTUAL AS HOSPITALS ACROSS OUR STATE ARE FILLING UP AND OUR CHILDREN ARE BATTLING COVID, OUR CURRENT GOVERNOR IS A MAN WITHOUT A PLAN.

FOR YEARS, GEORGIA'S EDUCATION SYSTEM HAS FAILED STUDENTS.

I THINK THE CURRENT LEADERSHIP IS READY FOR ITS REPORT CARD.

ADEQUATE FUNDING FOR OUR SCHOOLS, F SUPPORTING OUR TEACHERS, F, TUITION COSTS, F. REPUBLICANS HAVE CUT OVER A BILLION DOLLARS IN PUBLIC EDUCATION FUNDING OVER THE LAST TEN YEARS.

EVEN AT FULL FUNNING.

WHICH WE ASSESS THE FUNDING HAS NOT BEEN UPDATED IN WELL OVER A DECADE.

WE APPRECIATE THE GOVERNOR'S WILLINGNESS TO DELIVER TEACHERS A MUCH NEEDED PAY RAISE IN AN ELECTION YEAR.

DEMOCRATS HAVE BEEN ADVOCATING FOR TEACH R PAY RAISES FOR YEARS, BUT THE WORK CANNOT STOP THERE.

AT A MINIMUM, WE HAVE TO FUNDAMENTALLY REVAMP OUR FORMULA, TO ADEQUATELY FUND PUBLIC EDUCATION AND GET TEACHERS THE SUPPORT THEY DESERVE.

IT'S CLEAR THAT THE GOVERNOR'S EDUCATION PROGRAM HAS FAILED US AND CHANGE IS NEEDED NOW.

BUT INSTEAD OF TALKING OR TAKING ON THESE ISSUE, THE MAJORITY PARTY HAS CHOSEN TO FOCUS ON BANNING BOOKS AND CENSURING TEACHERS?

LET'S GET SERIOUS, FOLKS, WE CAN'T AFFORD TO FALL SHORT FOR ANOTHER SESSION.

COLLEGE COSTS, TOO, HAVE CONTINUED TO RISE OVER THE LAST DECADE.

INCREASING THE BAR YORS TO A HIGHER EDUCATION AS WE FAIL TO FULLY FUND AND PRESERVE THE EXISTING HOPE AND NEEDS BASED SCHOLARSHIPS.

THIS MORNING, THE GOVERNOR TOUTED THE EXPECTED 2 TO $3 BILLION SURPLUS WE'RE LIKELY TO FIND WHEN WE BEGIN TO WRITE THIS YEAR'S BUDGET.

THIS EXTRA FUNDING PRESENTS US WITH A CHOICE.

DO WE CONTINUE TO PRETEND THAT GEORGIA DOESN'T HAVE THE RESOURCES TO TAKE CARE OF THE MOST VULNERABLE OR STAND UP TO SAY ENOUGH IS ENOUGH.

NO MORE SCHOOLS WITH OUTDATED TEXT BOOKS.

NO MORE CHOOSING BETWEEN A MEAL ON THE TABLE AND PRESCRIPTIONS TO STAY ALIVE.

WE HAVE THE RESOURCES TO BE BETTER.

IT'S TIME TO ACT.

THIS YEAR THE LEGISLATURE CAN FULLY EXPAND MEDICAID, MULTIPLY INVESTMENT AND BROAD BAND TENFOLD, DOUBLE THE RURAL HOSPITAL TAX CREDIT FOR THIS YEAR.

DOUBLE OUR INVESTMENT IN SICKLE CELL RESEARCH AND FUND TUITION FREE TECHNICAL COLLEGE FOR FIVE YEARS.

AND FOR LESS THAN HALF THE $1.6 BILLION THAT THE GOVERNOR WOULD RATHER NOT SPEND, NOT TO MENTION OUR OVERFLOWING RAINY DAY FUND WHICH COULD BE PUT TOWARDS RETHINKING HOW WE FUND OUR SCHOOLS, INSTEAD OF STOCKPILING GEORGIA'S TAX DOLLARS IN AN ACCOUNT THEY'LL NEVER SEE BENEFITS FROM.

EVEN BEYOND THE SURPRISE SURGE IN FUNDS, THE BUDGET IS ALREADY THERE TO DO A LOT OF GOOD.

MILLIONS OF DOLLARS ALLOCATED FOR RENTAL ASSISTANCE AND RURAL BROAD BAND SIMPLY NEED TO BE DEPLOYED.

THANKS TO THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION, WE HAVE MUCH NEEDED RELIEF IN INFRASTRUCTURE.

INVESTMENT IN JOBS BACK, A HUGE OPPORTUNITY TO PUT GEORGIANS TO WORK AND STIMULATE THE ECONOMY AND LOCAL COMMUNITIES.

BUT WE MUST ASSURE THAT GEORGIA'S MINORITY BUSINESS COMMUNITY IS AT THE TABLE AND HAS A FULL PLATE IN THE IMPLEMENTATION.

IT IS CLEAR THAT WE HAVE MUCH TO DO AS ELECTED LEADERS OF THIS GREAT STATE.

THE ISSUES FACING GEORGIANS TODAY ARE NOT SMALL.

THEY REQUIRE STRONG LEADERSHIP.

THIS MORNING, YOU HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO HEAR FROM OUR CURRENT GOVERNOR.

PUTTING EVEN MORE FIREARMS ON THE STREET WITH NO OVERSIGHT, PASSING EVEN MORE TAX CUTS THAT ONLY BENEFIT THE WELL OFF AND WASTING TIME IN THE COURTS IN FRIVOLOUS LAWSUITS AGAINST THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION.

THAT'S OUR GOVERNOR'S VISION FOR GEORGIA.

A RACE TO THE RIGHT TO KICK OFF HIS CAMPAIGN WHILE EVERY DAY GEORGIANS NEED SOLUTIONS.

OUR REPUBLICAN COLLEAGUES IN THE STATE LEGISLATURE ARE FIGHTING RIGHT ALONG, WITH BILLS THAT BAN BOOKS FROM SCHOOLS, LIBRARIES AND RESTRICT WHAT TEACHERS CAN DISCUSS IN A CLASSROOM.

ALL BASED ON DEEP SEEDED FEARS OF OUR UGLY PAST, NOT TO MENTION THE MAJORITY'S RECENTLY PASSED MAP THAT UNDERMINES THE REPRESENTATION OF GEORGIA VOTERS EVERYWHERE.

FOR THOSE THAT WILL FOLLOW ALONG WITH OUR LEGISLATIVE SESSION FROM HOME, KNOW THIS, WHILE REPUBLICANS CONTINUE TO PROPOSE STUNT LEGISLATION FOR A CHANCE TO APPEAR ON TV, DEMOCRATS ARE THE GROWN UPS IN THE ROOM.

GEORGIA DEMOCRATS ARE FOCUSED ON ENSURING OPPORTUNITY FOR ALL GEORGIANS, REGARDLESS OF ZIP CODE, BACKGROUND OR ACCESS TO POWER.

THAT'S WHY DEMOCRATS ARE PUTTING FORWARD SOLUTIONS ON ISSUES THAT ALL GEORGIANS CAN AGREE ON, TUITION FREE TECHNICAL COLLEGE, COMMON SENSE GUN LAWS, INVESTING IN STUDENTS AT RECORD LEVELS AND WORKING TOWARDS A LESS DIVIDED FUTURE.

THAT'S WHAT A ONE GEORGIA AGENDA LOOKS LIKE.

AS WE ENTER A NEW YEAR, I HAVE GREAT HOPE FOR WHAT LIES AHEAD.

THERE'S FAR MORE THAT UNITES US THAN DIVIDES US.

I HEAR IT FROM MY NEIGHBORS IN MIDDLE GEORGIA ALL THE TIME, FARMERS, BANKERS, GIG WORKERS, PEOPLE REALLY DON'T CARE WHAT PARTY YOU'RE IN.

THEY WANT TO SEE HOW YOU CAN DELIVER FOR THEM.

WHY ARE WE STUCK ON OLD FIGHTS OF THE PAST WHEN WE COULD BE LOOKING TO THE ECONOMY OF OUR FUTURE.

NOW, LISTEN, ATTRACTING ELECTRIC CAR MANUFACTURING IS A GREAT START.

BUT IT'S JUST THE BEGINNING, AND IT NEEDS TO BE.

GEORGIA COULD BE THE GLOBAL HUB FOR CRYPTOCURRENCY, FOR GROWTH OF THE WEB, 3.0.

MY STATE NEEDS TO BE LOOKING AHEAD, NOT BEHIND.

BUT THE GOVERNOR HAS LED US BACKWARDS WITH YEARS OF TIMID LEADERSHIP, UNABLE TO TAKE ON THE BIG CHALLENGES WE FACE.

THE POLITICAL TIDES ARE CHANGING, THE 2022 CAMPAIGN SEASON WILL REMIND US OF THE WORK IT WILL TAKE TO BRING US TOGETHER.

BUT WE CANNOT AFFORD TO CONTINUE TO PROPOSE MORE OF THE SAME.

THE CHALLENGES I HAVE LAID OUT FOR YOU DON'T COME WITH EASY SOLUTIONS, BUT THAT DOES NOT MEAN THEY'RE NOT WORTH SOLVING.

THIS IS HOW WE BUILD A STRONGER GEORGIA, WITH BOLD LEADERSHIP THAT STARES THIS MOMENT IN THE EYE AND REFUSES TO FLINCH.

THIS IS HOW WE WORK TOWARDS ONE GEORGIA.

THANK YOU, AND GOD BLESS OUR GREAT STATE OF GEORGIA.