Derrick Jackson served five terms in the state House representing a district that covers parts of south metro Atlanta. The Democrat from Tyrone is running for his party’s nomination for governor.
Here are his stances and record on key issues.
Affordability
Jackson proposes raising the minimum wage and awarding $50,000 grants to small businesses.
He says he would raise the minimum wage to $15 per hour initially and $27 an hour by the fourth year of his administration, lifting Georgians out of poverty.
Georgia’s minimum wage is set at $5.15, but the federal $7.25 hourly wage applies to most businesses.
Any increase in the minimum wage would require approval by the Republican-controlled General Assembly, which didn’t consider Jackson’s minimum wage bill this year. Companies oppose boosting the minimum wage, saying they’d be driven out of business if their labor costs rose significantly.
The small-business grant idea, which Jackson says would be paid for with the state’s $14 billion in reserve funds, would award money to companies for hiring, capital improvements or modernization.
Taxes
Jackson says he would exempt many Georgians from paying state income taxes, including nurses, K-12 public schoolteachers, military veterans and people over 65 years old.
He says the income tax benefit would help Georgia recruit and retain more nurses and teachers. Georgia has one of the nation’s largest nursing shortages, and it’s projected to have 20% fewer nurses than the state needs by 2038, according to the National Center for Health Workforce Analysis, a federal agency.
Jackson says military veterans and older adults have already paid their taxes and deserve to retire without continuing to contribute.
The income tax plan would be expensive, but Jackson estimates its $3 billion to $4 billion annual cost could initially be covered by Georgia’s surplus money. The state government would have to find money to pay for the loss in revenue in future years.
Immigration
Jackson says he supports abolishing the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency. He introduced a bill this year that would prohibit law enforcement agents from wearing masks.
His bill didn’t receive a hearing in the Republican-controlled Georgia House.
Georgia’s borders are already safe, Jackson says, so there’s no need for ICE to be operating in the state.
Jackson says Georgia should welcome immigrants because they pay taxes, go through the process to become citizens and start businesses. Most immigrants are trying to start a new life, and they don’t commit crimes at higher rates than U.S. citizens, he says.
He opposes the Trump administration’s efforts to intimidate and deport immigrants.
Healthcare
If elected, Jackson plans to expand Medicaid, the state and federal health care plan for the poor and disabled. Most Georgia Democrats support Medicaid expansion, and most Republicans oppose a full-scale expansion.
Jackson says healthcare should be a right, not a privilege enjoyed only by those who can afford it or who have employer-sponsored health insurance plans.
Georgia is one of 10 states that has decided against expanding Medicaid through the Affordable Care Act, which would provide 90% federal funding for health insurance coverage to lower-income adults who still earn too much to qualify for traditional Medicaid.
Expanding Medicaid in Georgia would require the Republican-led General Assembly to pass a bill, and the governor would then have to sign it into law.
Besides Medicaid, Jackson says he also wants to increase the number of nurses, gynecologists and pediatricians, especially in underserved communities.
Housing
Jackson’s housing platform would give money to first-time homebuyers, prevent steep rent increases, and give older adults a tax break.
Under his plan, Georgians seeking to buy their first home would receive $45,000 from the state government — $30,000 for a down payment and $15,000 for closing costs. Like his small-business grant proposal, the homeownership money would come from Georgia’s $14 billion reserve fund.
His renter’s assistance program would limit how much landlords can raise rents each year, which he says would especially help older adults and college students. He says the cap should be set at 2% to 3% per year.
He also wants a statewide homestead exemption for older adults so they don’t have to pay much money in property taxes. He says older Georgians who own their homes shouldn’t be forced to move when they can’t afford steep property tax bills.
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