Scott for Georgia | Republican Candidate for Congress

Austin Scott meets with area farmers

admin — Thu, 24 Feb 2011 03:32:32 +0000

February 23, 2011 Angie Thompson

TIFTON — U.S. Rep. Austin Scott, R-Ga., the new 8th District congressman from Tifton, met with local farmers over breakfast Tuesday morning at Tifton’s Shoney’s restaurant. He said he wanted to gather input from farmers that he could use during the federal budget-making process.

Scott, who was sworn into office Jan. 5, was appointed to the House Armed Services Committee and the House Committee on Agriculture.

He met with approximately 15 farmers in a private session at the restaurant Tuesday morning.

“Cuts to agriculture have a direct impact on our economy in this area,” Scott said. “I wanted to make sure that when we make adjustments in the budget for agriculture, we get input from farmers and put the money where it is needed the most.”

Scott said prices for commodities produced in this district are good at the moment, but that safety nets to help farmers in the event of extreme volatility in the market versus direct payments to farmers have to be considered. He said issues with immigration were also on the minds of farmers.

“We have to find a way that maintains the integrity of U.S. laws and allows migrant workers to come during the season and go home after the crop,” Scott said.

Scott said the House Committee on Agriculture is meeting soon with the Environmental Protection Agency to “discuss the damage the agency is putting on the industry and regulatory uncertainty of the agency.” He said farmers are constantly facing issues beyond their control with EPA regulations. He said one day a chemical farmers use on a particular crop is approved and the next day it’s not.

“The EPA is pushing for regulation of dust,” Scott said. “That’s probably the most ridiculous regulation I’ve ever heard of.”

When asked why positions in the agricultural industry could not be filled by the currently unemployed, Scott responded that “It’s obvious we have a segment of the population that, quite honestly, doesn’t want to work. That segment doesn’t have the right to drag down the rest of the country.”

Scott said Congress will begin working on the 2012 farm bill later this year.

Cuts to government-provided social services are also a concern. Scott said Congress is weighing where the cuts will be made.

“We are resisting across-the-board cuts,” Scott said. “Certain agencies have grown at a fast pace and others haven’t grown at all. One of the things I hope we push for is more flexibility in the states’ administration of programs.”

States are currently prohibited from performing drug tests on people who receive food stamps. Scott said he would like to see that prohibition removed.

Cutting through red tape is one of the most difficult aspects of his job, Scott said.

“The bureaucracy in D.C. is so large that it is dysfunctional,” Scott said. “Giving more responsibility and control to the states is a way we can make the decisions closer to home. What’s best for one state is not necessarily best for another.”

Getting Americans back to work is the only way to address the country’s $100 billion per month shortfall, Scott said, and deep cuts have to be made to reduce the nation’s $1.2 trillion deficit.

“When you look at the rules and regulations, it is more difficult for some business owners to borrow money than it has been in any recent past,” Scott said. “You can’t create jobs without capital. The regulatory uncertainty creates reluctance to borrow money to create a product.”

The regulatory burden placed on businesses is also discouraging to economic development and job creation, Scott said.

Scott said he is pleased that the House immediately banned earmarks and reduced the budget to run the offices of federal elected officials by 5 percent.

“We are trying to lead by example in those areas,” Scott said. “We have to have agency heads willing to lead by example, but unfortunately, finding agency heads willing to work toward reductions has been difficult.”

To contact senior reporter Angie Thompson, call 382-4321.

Austin on CNN Interview with T.J. Holmes

admin — Wed, 20 Oct 2010 13:38:24 +0000

Austin on Fox News with Neil Cavuto

admin — Wed, 20 Oct 2010 13:33:42 +0000

Take Our Country Back!

admin — Sat, 16 Oct 2010 15:33:46 +0000

Like We Said Before, Give it Back Jim

admin — Wed, 13 Oct 2010 16:08:09 +0000

For Immediate Release
October 13, 2010

Contact: Sam Ray
703.624.6770

Macon, GA – Today, in an interview with Channel 13 WMAZ Jim Marshall announced that he would not be supporting Nancy Pelosi for Speaker saying, “Speaker Pelosi just doesn’t reflect the values of the folks I represent.”

Austin Scott’s campaign spokesman Sam Ray commented, “After taking $46,000 from Nancy Pelosi, voting four times to put her in charge, supporting her agenda nearly 90% of the time and backing her Wall Street bailout and failed stimulus, the election-eve conversion Jim Marshall’s making on his political deathbed doesn’t exactly merit a ‘Profile in Courage’ award. Marshall is now conceding that his support for Pelosi is a defining issue of this race; as such, we will spend the next few days calling on him to return her campaign cash and reject the ad buys she’s made on his behalf. His failure to do so would speak volumes.”

Jim Marshall’s Electoral Deathbed Conversion

admin — Wed, 13 Oct 2010 16:04:44 +0000

For Immediate Release
October 13, 2010

Contact: Sam Ray
703.624.6770

Macon, GA – In his newest ad, Jim Marshall attempts to leap over his deathbed voting record and reach for the right. Unfortunately for Marshall he is no Air Jordan, and the gravity of his votes is too strong to escape.

1. Marshall voted 100% of the time for Nancy Pelosi for Speaker.

2. Marshall voted for the failed $787 billion stimulus.

3. Marshall voted for the $700 billion TARP aka Wall Street Bailout

4. Marshall voted to increase the national debt to $14 trillion

5. Marshall votes 88.5% of the time with Nancy Pelosi’s Agenda (Washington Post)

Even Jim Marshall is Surprised by How Often He Votes With Nancy Pelosi

admin — Tue, 12 Oct 2010 16:00:55 +0000

For Immediate Release
October 12, 2010

Contact: Sam Ray
703.624.6770

Macon, GA – During Sunday’s Georgia Public Broadcasting debate for the Eighth District, Congressman Jim Marshall again tried to mislead voters. In response to Candidate Austin Scott’s claim that Marshall votes with Nancy Pelosi nearly 90% of the time, Marshall argued that he had only voted with the Pelosi around 60% of the time, citing various analyses from different publications. As Marshall read aloud his strategically chosen list of publications that supported his claim, he conveniently failed to mention the Washington Post’s analysis of his voting record.

On the Washington Post’s website, under U.S. Congress voter database, Congressman Jim Marshall is listed as having voted with the Democrat majority 88.5% of the time over the last two years.

“Although Jim Marshall is surprised by his own actions, Georgians are not. Marshall voted for the $700 billion TARP to bail out Wall Street, the failed $787 billion stimulus, to increase the national debt to $14 trillion and yes for Nancy Pelosi for Speaker four times. This is exactly what Georgia voters have come to expect from Jim Marshall, and why there needs to be a change,” commented campaign spokesman Sam Ray.

Jim Marshall Just Doesn’t Get It

admin — Mon, 11 Oct 2010 14:51:51 +0000

After Voting for the failed $787 Billion Stimulus and to Increase the National Debt to $14 Trillion, Marshall Doesn’t think China will get ‘Horsey’ with American Debt

For Immediate Release
October 11, 2010

Contact: Sam Ray
703.624.6770

Macon, GA -On August 10, 2010 Jim Marshall told a group of constituents during a town hall that “China is not going to get real horsey on [The United States’] debt… they only want to do business.” (See “Town Hall Jim Marshall Forsyth, Georgia”)

However, yesterday the New York Times reported that China’s not as harmless as Marshall leads voters to believe. According to the article, China is currently engaged in currency manipulation that could lead to a “destructive currency war” with the United States.

“If this is not what Jim Marshall means by China not acting ‘horsey,’ then what is?” commented campaign spokesman Sam Ray.

Earlier this year Jim Marshall voted to increase the national debt ceiling to $14 trillion. Since then, his majority in Congress has voted to pass a plethora of job killing spending bills -such as the $787 billion stimulus and the $700 billion TARP- that have driven the nation’s debt to an all-time high of $13.6 trillion. Currently, the Council on Foreign Relations estimates that China holds at least $1.4 trillion in U.S. debt – making it the largest foreign holder.

Trillions Spent and Still No Jobs

admin — Fri, 08 Oct 2010 14:38:32 +0000

Jim Marshall’s Spending and Stimulus Votes Don’t Cut the Mustard

For Immediate Release
October 8, 2010

Contact: Sam Ray
703.624.6770

Macon, GA – Today, the Department of Labor announced that the U.S. lost 95,000 jobs in September with a national unemployment rate of 9.6%. This news marks the fourteenth consecutive month that national unemployment has topped 9.5% and the thirty-sixth consecutive month that Georgia unemployment (10%) has topped the national average.

These numbers clarify the disconnect between Washington’s agenda and America’s needs.

This jobs situation explains why Jim Marshall desperately continues to distract from his voting record.

Marshall voted:

• For the $787 billion stimulus that failed to keep its promise to create jobs and keep unemployment below 8%

• For for the $700 billion TARP aka “Wall Street Bailout”

• For over $6 trillion in spending bills since he was elected (35 of 40 appropriations bills signed into law)

• For Nancy Pelosi for Speaker and her agenda (four times)

• For Nancy Pelosi’s agenda 89% of the time

Two years and trillions of dollars later, Jim Marshall and his Democrat majority in Congress have failed to create jobs. Instead, they have rammed through destructive legislation that has stifled private sector growth, sent jobs overseas, and mortgaged our children’s future with historic debt.

Enough is enough.

It is time for a leader who puts the needs of Georgia’s Eighth congressional district above the Obama-Pelosi agenda. It is time to cut spending, promote private sector growth, and get the economy back on track.

FreedomWorks PAC Endorses Austin Scott in the Georgia District 8 Congressional Race

admin — Thu, 07 Oct 2010 14:34:34 +0000

For Immediate Release
October 7, 2010

Contact: Sam Ray
703.624.6770

Macon, GA – Today, FreedomWorks PAC officially recognized fiscal conservative and small businesses owner Austin Scott in Georgia’s 8th Congressional race as part of their “Take America Back” campaign.

FreedomWorks PAC believes “Austin Scott’s promises to protect the Constitution and fight on behalf of taxpayers against runaway government spending and the continuous erosion of our fundamental freedoms will propel him to victory in the November 2nd general election.”

“As a small business owner and state legislator, Austin Scott has proven he is the strong leader Georgians need to cut spending, reduce the debt, and get the economy back on track” said campaign spokesman Sam Ray.