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Tag: georgescott4congress

Education

Safe, Effective Public Schools Defending public schools, teachers, and students

Over ninety percent of our children in grades K–12 attend public school. For that reason alone, it is imperative that all our children—regardless of race, gender, religion, or zip code—have access to a quality public education. We know that too many of our public schools are struggling, just as we know that more money alone is not the answer. However, we must not exacerbate the problem by starving struggling schools of public funds. A quality, free, public education must be maintained as the fundamental right of every child, which it has been for over two hundred years.

For students who pursue a post-secondary education, college is the second biggest investment they will make in their lives, after buying a home. But for some students, even their student loan debt load has eclipsed the price of purchasing a home. The cost of a college education has skyrocketed. It is out of reach altogether for some, and others graduate with student loan debts closing in on $200,000 with nothing to show for it but a piece of paper. If the next generation is to be competitive in a global economy, we must do more to make higher education affordable and release the anchor around their feet that is unnecessary college debt.

PUBLIC SCHOOLS

According to the U.S. Department of Education, the federal government provides only 8% of total funding for education and school-related services at the elementary and secondary levels. This figure includes federal funding for initiatives such as Title I, IDEA, the National School Lunch Program, and Head Start, all of which are valuable programs for reducing socioeconomic inequities. Accordingly, Congress needs to ensure that these programs are fully funded. They must not be allowed to become the targets of ideologically driven budget cuts or policy initiatives.

I will oppose any attempt to defund public education—whether through cuts to the education budget, tuition voucher programs, income tax credits for private school scholarships, income tax deductions for private school tuition, or any other scheme designed to transfer public funds to private education. We must never allow education to become a mere market commodity. It must be maintained as a fundamental right of every child.

HIGHER EDUCATION

As the global marketplace grows more competitive, we must prepare the next generation for success in the workforce. This means expanding opportunities for higher education and job training. There are many career fields that now require training beyond high school, but do not require a 4-year degree. Eligibility for student loan and Pell Grant programs must change to accommodate this new reality.

The average annual cost for tuition, fees, room, and board at a 4-year, public university has soared from what it was a decade ago—$31,000—to over $45,000 today. In that same period, average student loan debt has risen over 60% and now exceeds $34,000 on average per student or parent. Since higher education has become so essential to climbing the American ladder of opportunity, we must do a better job of making it affordable.

Congress should lift restrictions that prohibit student loan recipients from refinancing their loans when interest rates drop. Congress should expand the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program (PSLF). Congress must repeal current financial regulations that forbid the discharge of student loan debt in bankruptcy proceedings. Furthermore, Congress should pass the Student Loan Repayment Assistance Act, which offers employers the same tax benefits for student loan repayment assistance that they already receive for tuition assistance.

ISSUES

Affordable, High Quality Health Care Improving access for every American

In Congress, I will support policies to ensure health care coverage for all Americans that is both affordable and accessible. In the long term, this will likely mean moving toward a single-payer health care model. However, we can take immediate steps that build on our existing healthcare infrastructure to ensure improved health care access and affordability in the short-term. To do this, Congress must work to strengthen the ACA, not to sabotage it.

First, Congress needs to reinstate the Affordable Care Act’s individual mandate and cost-sharing reduction subsidies, both of which have been unwisely discontinued under the current administration. Repealing the individual mandate has encouraged some younger and healthier individuals to stop paying for health insurance. Removing these individuals from our health care insurance risk pools has led to higher premiums for those who are still insured.

Second, the current administration’s elimination of the cost-sharing reduction subsidies—which had been used in order to decrease out-of-pocket costs such as co-payments and deductibles—has unnecessarily raised health care costs for working men and women across the country. Those subsidies should be restored, at least for the short-term.

Third, Congress should add a Medicare buy-in option to all ACA health care exchanges. Private health insurance administrative costs typically account for 15–20% of premiums, while Medicare’s administrative costs are in the neighborhood of only 3–5%. It is time we allow individuals under the age of 65 to purchase Medicare through the ACA’s health care exchanges so that these savings can be passed along to millions of hardworking Americans in the form of lower premiums.

In addition to strengthening the ACA, we urgently need to address the crisis of opioid addiction that is ravaging our families and communities. It is a public health crisis which claims more lives with each passing year. Our federal government, leveraging the Centers for Disease Control, must work with state and local governments to identify better ways to prevent and treat such addictions. Law enforcement at all levels must interdict networks that produce and distribute these deadly drugs. Finally, health care providers and pharmaceutical companies must reduce access to opioids prescribed legally, seeking non-addictive alternatives for pain management.

News

VOTEVETS ENDORSES GEORGE SCOTT FOR CONGRESS

DAUPHIN COUNTY, PA – VoteVets PAC, a national group of veterans, representing over 550,000 veterans, military families and civilians supporters, is today endorsing George Scott for Congress.

“George Scott is inspiring people of central Pennsylvania, and for good reason.  He’s a man of integrity, strength, and leadership, whose experience and perspective is sorely needed in Washington, right now,” said Patrick Murphy, Iraq War veteran, former Congressman, and VoteVets senior adviser. “George is a man whose life has been about serving others, whether in uniform, or in the church.  That kind of servant-leader is why he will make an extraordinary Congressman. We’re proud to endorse him.”

According to his biography, George Scott served in both the CIA and the U.S. Army and for over 20 years, serving our nation in both peace and war. He was deployed for Operations Just Cause, Desert Shield, Desert Storm, and Enduring Freedom. After commanding a battalion of 1,800 soldiers, he retired from the Army as a lieutenant colonel.

Founded in 2006, the mission of VoteVets.org Political Action Committee is to elect Veterans to public office, with a focus on Iraq and Afghanistan veterans, and hold public officials accountable for their words and actions that impact America’s 21st century troops and veterans. Though VoteVets.org PAC is non-partisan, candidates it backs must support VoteVets.org’s core mission and beliefs

News

George Scott Releases Statement on Kavanaugh Nomination

September 29—Harrisburg, PA

It takes great courage for any woman to come forward about sexual assault. What Dr. Blasey Ford did on September 27 was inspiring. As a result, so many women have come forward with their own statements about assaults they endured. We must believe the women that come forward. We must hear them, see them and support them.

These powerful stories put into public view and others shared privately with family and friends, are one way that we can eradicate sexual assault. The voices that speak up are opening the doors to conversations that have previously been silenced out of fear. As a society we must talk about this vital concern, an issue that has been swept under the rug by leaders of all types in our nation for far too long.

I am appreciative that Senators Flake and Coons broke through partisanship to find a way to make sure that everyone who has a statement regarding any potential incident is heard, and for Judge Kavanaugh to have a proper avenue to respond. As a former intelligence officer, I am confident that the FBI will do a thorough investigation of matter and report their findings to the U.S. Senate.

However, during the September 27 hearing, it became evident to me that despite his qualifications, Judge Kavanaugh showed significant volatility and political bias. Earlier in September, he stated that it was important for judges to be impartial and unbiased. Judge Kavanaugh’s emotional responses at the hearing have caused me to question his long-term suitability for the court.

There are too many questions about Judge Kavanaugh’s background and behavior and too much partisan combativeness. He does not have the judicial temperament required to serve on our nation’s highest court.

Our nation, as well as the court system, would benefit if the Trump Administration would withdraw Judge Kavanaugh’s nomination and submit another qualified candidate in his place.