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The elected governor, Brian Kemp, emerged from his narrow victory, determined to follow through on the conservative campaign promises that allowed Republicans to mobilize to secure a record number of votes for governor, even if it means diving at the heart of conflicting social debates.
Kemp said Monday in an exclusive interview with the Atlanta Journal-Constitution and Channel 2 Action News that he would not disavow his promises to promulgate new restrictions on abortion or extension of gun rights to even fire was arguing for teachers' salary increases and other initiatives aimed at a broad electorate.
"Everything I've talked about in the campaign I'm planning to do. It's something I'm proud of: doing exactly what I tell people when I run, "he said.
"I was a strong supporter of the second amendment. And I will continue to do it, "added Kemp. "I have been a strong supporter of life. And I will continue to do that. I've been conservative in budgeting and streamlining the government.
"That's what Georgians want – a person who will go to work."
Kemp stressed his conservative approach by unveiling Monday a transition team with dozens of known Republicans. The group included state legislators, conservative activists, major financiers and former US Secretary of Health and Human Services, Tom Price.
When asked if the transition team was a sign that he was not abandoning conservative policies to adopt a more moderate stance, Mr. Kemp quickly agreed.
"You can not leave your roots of who you are. But these Conservatives, many of them have worked on the other side of the Legislative Assembly, locally or within their communities, "he said. "And that's what they will do in the committee to advance the program to help all Georgians."
It remains to be seen whether he is pursuing a more centrist policy after his defeat against Democrat Stacey Abrams. He will not take up his duties until January, and over the next two months his transition team will refine his policies, develop a budget plan and propose appointments to the highest positions.
But some critics urge Kemp to take a broader approach after winning the elections with only 50.2 percent of the vote, thanks to huge margins in rural Georgia that have defeated Democratic dominance in densely populated areas, including the Atlanta subway. .
"I understand the desire and need to calm down his base," said state representative Scott Holcomb, a suburban Democrat from Atlanta who has gone on to another term.
"But the lesson of the elections is that this approach has serious long-term risks. The elected governor won only 1.4 percent of the vote – and he oversees the elections with him, "said Holcomb. "It has very little room for error, and it is likely to further alienate the most populous and growing parts of the state."
"What am I focused on"
The Republican has hinted that his first-year program would almost certainly include a $ 600 million teacher payroll, a proposal to lower taxes and business regulation, and an increase in the credit program. popular tax intended to support hospitals in difficulty.
But he also made it clear that he was not shying away from social problems, such as his support for a law known as the "Constitutional Port" that would let gun owners conceal and wear guns. handguns without a license, or his wish to "sign the most severe laws on abortion in the country."
It also includes support for a controversial "religious freedom" proposal despite threats from some Hollywood actors and leaders to boycott the state and its booming film industry. They warn that this would constitute legalized discrimination and tarnish the reputation of state enterprises.
Kemp and other supporters argue that such a measure would protect people of faith from the intrusion of the government and enhance the legal protection of opponents of same-sex marriage. And he repeated that he would only support a mirror copy of the version of the federal law passed in 1993 by a bipartisan vote.
"I support the exact wording of the current federal law. It protects freedom of religion, which we should absolutely do. It does not discriminate, "he said. "And I was very clear about that. I will veto something less and veto something more. "
The former secretary of state said he did not insist on Abrams' refusal to call the elections "legitimate" or on his heated words accusing him of abusing his office. And he ignored the litigation that his new rights group, Fair Fight Georgia, was planning to table this week in an attempt to classify his "blatant mismanagement" of the elections.
"They brought all kinds of lawsuits. Many good resources have been wasted in some of these ridiculous trials. What she will do in the future is her business, "he said. "I must be the governor of the state and it will be my business. That's what I focus on. "
Kemp, however, hinted that he was open to a law next year that goes beyond replacing obsolete voting equipment by including new standards on certain voting policies. He did not want to elaborate, but said any action should address the concerns of local election officials and adopt a "methodical" approach.
"I've always said that it takes an orderly process," he said. "The worst thing we can do is act quickly without it working."
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Kemp's transition team telegraphed his embrace of the party's conservative wing. The most prominent name was Price, a declared critic of the Affordable Care Act, who resigned from his post in President Donald Trump's Cabinet after the September 2017 scandal after accumulating at least $ 1 million in travel expenses. private and military planes.
Kemp said Price, an orthopedic surgeon and a former US member of the US House, will help him refine his health care policy that includes fierce opposition to extending Medicaid but a promise to seek a federal waiver to stabilize insurance premiums.
"He is a very intelligent man. He has talked a lot about health care and all the situations in which he has been over the years, he certainly learned a lot, "said Kemp. "It brings a lot of value, and you can see from the team that we have a very diverse team coming from different backgrounds."
Other members of the group include Virginia Galloway of the Georgian chapter of the Faith and Freedom Coalition, a conservative pressure group; Alec Poitevint, ally of Sonny Perdue and former president of the Republican National Committee; and the former United States. Representative Bob Barr, presidential candidate in 2008 as a libertarian.
Just as he was heading to the future, Kemp also invoked the past: his 2002 legislative election victory over Democratic Senator Doug Haines, a victory in a left-leaning Athens district that has launched his political career.
This tight victory became a touchstone for Kemp in the weeks following the Abrams' defeat, leaving an important part of the Democratic electorate furious – and convinced to take advantage of his role as a senior election official to delete the votes.
Kemp said that he had been bombarded with criticism after his victory 16 years ago, while his neighbors and community leaders were predicting that it would be "terrible for the district".
"But do you know what I did? I did exactly what I said I would do. I represented the values of our district. I have worked hard to reduce taxes and streamline the government, "he said. "You want someone who is fighting up there for you. I guarantee you that I will do it. "
He sees this election through a similar lens.
"I have a great opportunity, he said, to prove to people who have not voted bad for me.
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