Atlanta Progressive News

(APN) ATLANTA — In our continuing coverage of the Georgia State House District 59 race, to replace State Rep. Margaret Kaiser (D-Atlanta), this article contains the responses of candidate David Dreyer to the Atlanta Progressive News candidate questionnaire.

 

Dreyer is an attorney and currently serves on the Grant Park Conservancy.

 

Previously, he served on the Executive Board of the American Constitution Society; as an intern to State Rep. Pat Gardner (D-Atlanta); as the chair of the Red Clay Democrats; and in other positions of service.

 

Previously, APN ran the responses of candidates Janine Brown and Josh Noblitt, the other two candidates in the race.

 

http://atlantaprogressivenews.com/2016/03/11/apn-candidate-qa-janine-brown-hd-59/

 

http://atlantaprogressivenews.com/2016/03/12/apn-candidate-qa-josh-noblitt-hd-59/

 

Dreyer’s responses to APN’s questions are as follows:

 

DO YOU BELIEVE ALL HOUSE AND SENATE COMMITTEES SHOULD KEEP MINUTES INCLUDING A RECORD OF ALL VOTES, YEAS, NAYS, AND ABSTENTIONS; AND THAT THOSE MINUTES SHOULD BE MADE PUBLIC?  DO YOU HAVE ANY ADDITIONAL IDEAS FOR TRANSPARENCY AND PUBLIC PARTICIPATION IN THE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS?

 

Yes. Also, all committee meetings should be broadcast online in real time and Georgians should be able to remotely provide testimony and comments.

 

Transparency is crucial to making sure our elected officials are accountable to the people and not special interests or insiders. We need to always be transparent and open to new ways to make legislative information accessible.

 

WHAT IS YOUR POSITION ON NUCLEAR POWER?
I’m opposed to nuclear power. We only have to read about all the ongoing problems at Fukushima to understand the catastrophic consequences that arise from nuclear power.

 

Also, we should never have approved the two current reactors under construction in Georgia, which are way over budget, and I oppose the new nuclear reactors proposed by Georgia Power. Just think if we had invested the dollars for the current reactors under construction in a smart and more efficient power grid, buried power lines and renewable energy. Instead, we’re using 20th century technology with the potential for catastrophic consequences.

WHAT ARE YOUR PLANS, IF ANY, TO EXPAND WIND AND SOLAR IN GEORGIA?

 

I’m going to be a strong advocate for renewable energy. First, we need to increase the tax rebates for any individual or business installing solar or wind. Next, we need to require Georgia Power to use at least 50% renewable energy, up from the current 2%, by a date certain. We also need to require Georgia Power to increase the reimbursement rate for individuals and businesses that contribute excess capacity from wind and solar that they have installed.

 

I also pledge to take never take any campaign contributions from Georgia Power or the Southern Company.

 

WOULD YOU SUPPORT REDUCING PETITION REQUIREMENTS FOR INDEPENDENT AND POLITICAL BODY (MINOR PARTY) CANDIDATES FROM THE CURRENT ONE PERCENT STATEWIDE, FIVE PERCENT NON-STATEWIDE REQUIREMENT?  IF SO, WHAT SHOULD THE NEW REQUIREMENT BE, IF ANY?

 

Yes. We have to increase participation in our democracy that too often operates more as an oligarchy. I support the recent Northern District of Georgia decision, which set a 7,500 signature requirement for statewide ballot access for parties.

WOULD YOU SUPPORT ADDING A VOTER VERIFIABLE PAPER AUDIT TRAIL TO ELECTRONIC VOTING SYSTEMS IN GEORGIA?

 

Yes. We also need to provide the opportunity for independent groups to audit the electronic voting results in Georgia.

 

WHAT IS YOUR POSITION ON THE REFERENDUM TO CREATE A STATEWIDE OPPORTUNITY SCHOOL DISTRICT TO TAKE OVER SO-CALLED “FAILING” SCHOOLS?

 

I’m opposed to OSD and will campaign against OSD.

 

DO YOU SUPPORT AN EXPANDED MEDICAL CANNABIS PROGRAM (IN-STATE CULTIVATION, FULL PLANT MEDICINE, EXPANDED LIST OF CONDITIONS)?  DO YOU SUPPORT DECRIMINALIZATION (NON-MEDICAL)?  DO YOU SUPPORT LEGALIZATION (NON-MEDICAL)?

 

I support expanded medical cannabis program to increase the number of ailments that can be covered and in-state cultivation. I support decriminalization of under one ounce of marijuana, and I am open to discussions regarding legalization of marijuana.

 

WHAT IS YOUR POSITION ON CITYHOOD AND ANNEXATION IN GENERAL?  DO YOU BELIEVE GEORGIA’S CITYHOOD AND ANNEXATION LAWS SHOULD BE CHANGED?  IF SO, HOW?

 

I believe in allowing voters to have more say over their government, but I am concerned about some of the ways new cities are being used. Ultimately, no new cities are proposed for HD 59, so I have to defer to local voters facing cityhood issues.

 

WHAT IS YOUR POSITION ON THE PROPOSALS FOR NEW CITIES IN DEKALB COUNTY, SUCH AS STONECREST AND GREENHAVEN?

 

I defer to local voters on cityhood issues.

 

WHAT IS YOUR POSITION ON THE PROPOSED CITY OF SOUTH FULTON?

 

I defer to local voters on cityhood issues.

 

DO YOU SUPPORT GMO LABELING?

 

Yes, absolutely.

 

DO YOU SUPPORT ANY OF THE RECENT PROPOSALS REDUCING THE EARLY VOTING PERIOD, OR ALLOWING LOCAL JURISDICTIONS FLEXIBILITY TO REDUCE EARLY VOTING?

 

I adamantly oppose any proposal that will shorten or make it more difficult to vote, including reducing the number of early voting days. We should be working to make it easier for everyone to vote, such as automatic voter registration, same-day voter registration and change of address, allowing voters to vote at any precinct on election day and making it easier for voters to get absentee ballots.  In my pro bono legal work, I have been involved in protecting voter rights since 2004 and headed up the voter protection litigation efforts for statewide Democratic candidates in 2014.

 

DO YOU SUPPORT A U.S. CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT IN RESPONSE TO THE CITIZENS UNITED RULING, CLARIFYING THE ABILITY OF CONGRESS TO REGULATE CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS?  (THE STATE COULD EITHER CALL FOR SUCH AN AMENDMENT BY RESOLUTION OR CALL FOR A CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION.)

 

Yes.

 

(END/2016)