Hey John,
Welcome back to my weekly newsletter! As a reminder, I will be using this forum to keep you up to date on the most important news in Georgia, our nation’s capital, and throughout the country.
This has been a tough few weeks for Georgia. Gov. Kemp’s insistence on reopening businesses in our state has made Georgia the first to reopen nationwide while cases are continuing to increase all over the state. So, I encourage you to continue social distancing as much as possible regardless of what you hear from the governor. We must continue to trust in the advice of doctors and pandemic experts -- whether that means wearing masks while going for groceries or avoiding in-person visits with our loved ones.
This fight is not over. But with each of us doing our part, and our valiant frontline workers continuing to support us, we will get through this.
Please read on for some more updates about what’s been going on in the state.
-- Hank
COVID-19 in Georgia update →
Since Gov. Kemp made the decision against the advice of doctors and experts to rush our state to reopening, things have not improved. In fact a new hotspot of the virus has emerged in Gainesville where cases are increasing exponentially (and where many of our chicken processing plants are). This hotspot has also spread into Habersham County.
The state is working to contain the situation, but health care workers are becoming overwhelmed. A new model has projected as many as 4,913 deaths in Georgia by August. More than 30,000 Georgians have already tested positive for the virus. As long as we continue social distancing and following other public guidelines, these numbers can and will go down.
Hank gets 0% from CPAC →
The Conservative Political Action Committee (CPAC) released its 2019 ratings for Congressmembers. I got a big, fat 0%! Now, I usually dislike doing poorly, but in this case I couldn't be more proud of my 0%!
In the era of President Trump, the CPAC has turned into a Trump fan club -- denying climate change, condemning a woman’s right to choose, voter disenfranchisement, and so much more. I am delighted that CPAC doesn’t see me as an advocate for these issues, and I pledge to continue doing everything I can to keep my rating at 0%. Will you help me celebrate this wonderfully low score by pitching in a contribution today?
Fighting for digital privacy →
COVID-19 is a crisis, that’s for sure. But a crisis shouldn’t mean we suspend the rights of Americans. To that end, I recently introduced legislation to protect Americans’ right to digital privacy.
I believe it’s critical that we have federal rules and limitations when it comes to collection of citizens’ mobile data. We must balance crisis response with civil liberties, the right to privacy, and transparency.
You can count on me to always prioritize the people of Georgia and look out for your interests. Thank you for your support (and for making it all the way through this newsletter)! I will continue to keep you updated.
Personal note →
I emailed you all last week about how the Department of (In)Justice has let Michael Flynn walk free, despite him pleading guilty to lying to the FBI. My sheer anger at this situation goes beyond prose, and so I would like to share with you this poem I have written. Poetry has long been an outlet of expression for those who suffer injustice, and our entire country is suffering the injustice of a president who gets his buddies off the hook but leaves everyday Americans behind.
The blindfold worn
By Lady Justice
Today is soaked
With tears of anguish
Her sword
At the ready
To, in due time
Do justice to the abuser.
It’s been said that
The arc of the moral universe
Is long
But it bends
Toward Justice.
Lady Justice
Will soon
Have
Her day!
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