大選專題 | 眾多華裔看好的佐州50區眾議員候選人Kelly Stewart的五個承諾 你知道幾個？

FREEZING PROPERTY TAXES

Johns Creek』s homeowners need meaningful tax relief. As our next State Representative, Kelly believes in increasing the homestead exemption and will fight increases in property taxes by proposing legislation to keep Fulton County from levying any additional property taxes and freezing assessed property values. No one should be taxed out of their home and this will prevent the assessed value of homes from going up except when they』re sold or renovated so residents』 property taxes will stay the same each year.

ELIMINATING INCOME TAXES

Currently, there are nine states with no state income tax. Alaska, Florida, Nevada, New Hampshire, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington, and Wyoming.

Honest Georgians are the only ones taxed on income. Not visitors, tourists, illegal aliens, or underground criminals.

Kelly is committed to reforming Georgia』s tax code by eliminating the state income tax and replacing it with a Georgia Fair Tax where everyone is treated fairly in paying taxes on broad-based consumption. There are no loopholes and there would be no audits.

For Georgia』s workers, this means an immediate pay raise by receiving more of what they earn.

For Georgia』s retirees, there would be no state tax on Social Security benefits, withdrawals from IRAs, 401(k)s, other defined-contribution employer retirement plans, private pensions, and public pensions.

For businesses in Georgia, the corporate income tax and franchise tax penalize businesses and hinder job creation.  Eliminating these taxes from companies would help expand their business growth as well as attract more businesses to Georgia creating new jobs. This would also eliminate the need to provide tax credits or incentives to recruit companies to come to Georgia.

CONTROLLING SPENDING

Kelly believes in limited government with less taxes and less spending. Kelly will be ready on day one to help make the tough decisions to provide high quality, efficient, and effective government services.

​Kelly is committed to balancing the budget each year without raising taxes, streamlining state agencies, eliminating wasteful spending, and cutting wasteful government programs.

​Because the state』s economy continues to grow and do well, Kelly does not support the creation of new government programs but will rather work to reduce taxes giving families an immediate pay raise and will ensure the state continues to build up its reserves.

​Kelly supports zero-based budgeting where all expenses must be justified and every function within an agency is analyzed for its needs and costs to assess its activities against its statutory responsibilities, purpose, and performance.

IMPROVING TRANSPORTATION AND REDUCING TRAFFIC

All major roads in Georgia lead to Atlanta which creates gridlock and congestion. All options should be on the table when considering the most cost effective and efficient ways to improve transportation, reroute pass through traffic, and reduce local traffic.

​Kelly is committed to funding transportation initiatives to improve congestion, enhance safety, construct new highway projects, accommodate the movement of freight traffic, and maintain our roads and bridges. Kelly will work to ensure transportation projects, funding, spending, and progress are on track and will improve transportation and reduce traffic.

​Projects Kelly will work on to improve transportation, reroute pass through traffic, and reduce local traffic include:

• ​Synchronizing traffic lights

• Implementing interchangeable lanes

• Consolidating all metro transportation systems under one umbrella

• Creating a truck transit route around Atlanta

• Constructing lanes for bus transit

• Building a northern arc connecting I-75/I-85

• Building an outer loop

• Expanding Route 27 to four lanes from Tennessee to Florida

• Expanding Route 16 to four lanes from Columbus to Savannah

• Investing in infrastructure to prevent collapsing bridges and buckling highways

• Expanding the Public Private Partnership program of GDOT to better allocate limited resources by leveraging the private sector innovation and capital

• Ensuring Major Mobility Investments are completed on time and on budget (www.GAroads.org)

• Supporting GDOT』s Safe Routes to School so children may walk or bike to school safely

Expanding rail through Johns Creek is not an option Kelly will support for three reasons.

1. ​It will not improve transportation, reduce traffic, or reroute traffic.
2. It is cost prohibitive. The per mile cost to construct rail is $209 million versus the $20 million per mile cost to construct an interstate highway or $5 million per mile to construct a four-lane highway.
3. It will devastate the character of Johns Creek.

EXPANDING EDUCATIONAL CHOICES

The number one reason families move to Johns Creek is because the schools are among the best, top-rated schools in the state.

​Kelly was appointed by Governor Deal to serve on the Board of Directors and School Board for the Department of Juvenile Justice. Kelly also served as an Admissions Counselor in the University System of Georgia recruiting students to Gainesville State College. Kelly understands firsthand what it means to make sure every child from every background, regardless of circumstances has access to the best education in order to prepare them for a bright future.

​A strong education system leads to a strong workforce which leads to a great business environment which leads to a strong economy. We cannot ever afford to fail our students and must meet the needs of today』s classroom.

​Education is the great equalizer but not every child learns the same way or takes the same path. Education can』t be a one-size fits all so parents must have every option available to decide what is best for their child. More options and more flexibility mean better results for children.

​Kelly is dedicated and committed to making sure schools in Johns Creek remain the best in the state and will work tirelessly to make sure students throughout Georgia have every opportunity to a great education and to be successful.

​Kelly will work to improve and expand educational opportunities by focusing on these initiatives:

​K-12

• Eliminating Common Core, needless regulations, mandates, and bureaucracy

• Empowering local school boards, teachers, and parents

• Supporting school choice so parents make the best decision for their child』s education

• Refining homeschooling laws to allow students access to school athletic programs and facilities as their parents pay the same school taxes and should receive the same services

• Creating Education Savings Accounts to let parents determine how their child』s education dollars should be spent

• Expanding Special Needs Vouchers to more students so every child can succeed

• Increasing Scholarship Tax Credits to provide greater access to private schools

• Focusing on improving third grade reading levels which is an indicator used in prison planning

• Ensuring classrooms have the newest technologies and innovations to expand the learning environment

• Developing programs where students graduate with certifications, so businesses have an immediate, talented pool of workers earning competitive wages

Post-Secondary

• Freezing tuition rates

• Protecting the HOPE Scholarship to ensure it is based on merit ONLY

• Continuing to provide scholarships, grants, and loans for needs-based students