Q. Do you favor extending MARTA rail lines into Cobb?
Cooper: No. We already have buses that connect to the MARTA system and often they are running practically empty. For years, Cobb citizens have been adamantly opposed to extending MARTA rail lines into Cobb, and the time for this type of rail system has passed due to the astronomical cost of building such a system. Also, MARTA has been unable to operate its rail system in a cost efficient manner, and I certainly would not want Cobb tax payers to become a revenue source for them.
Rhodes: Improving transportation is critical for the future of Cobb County and the greater metro area, or we risk impacting the economic future viability of the region and state. Considering projects without a comprehensive transportation plan would be business as usual under the Gold Dome and a tremendous mistake. The expansion of MARTA will likely be part of a comprehensive plan, and Cobb County local leaders must decide (with the input of their constituents) if MARTA is right for Cobb. In the past, there has been an ongoing cost concern. I look forward to participating in the analysis on the cost effectiveness verses ridership and what other alternatives will be alleviated because of the cost for such a mass transit system.
Q. Are you in favor of light-rail lines for Cobb? If so, where?
Cooper: First and foremost, we need to find the simplest and least expensive solutions that can be implemented as quickly as possible. Light rail is a good long term goal, but our congestion problem is a today problem. We need to look at options such as the one used in Tampa (http://books.mcgraw-hill.com/EST10/ site/supparticles/Reversible-express-lanes.pdf) where reversible lanes were developed and used as a segway to introduce light rails. If we do build a light rail system in the metro area, it also needs to address the east west traffic flow on I-285. However, my constituents recently responded to a survey I sent, and their responses showed they were split on this issue. Given the state of the economy, their major concern seemed to be the cost.
Rhodes: Light-rail planning must be part of a broader comprehensive discussion. Most mass transit systems are extremely expensive for the taxpayers and are almost always underutilized. If a budget decision comes down to light-rail or more capacity on our roads and interstate system, I would certainly listen to all involved before making any final decision but feel that more capacity on our roads and interstate system is really needed. The expense of putting in enough light-rail and broader mass transportation system that would actually make a difference in our transportation problem would be very expensive for our taxpayers.
Q. Do you think Cobb's light-rail lines should link up with MARTA trains? Where?
Cooper: Roads to nowhere do nothing to solve problems. If Cobb citizens were to agree to fund a light rail system, to be most effective, it should give Cobb citizens as much travel flexibility as possible. The least expensive way to do that would be to feed into the already established MARTA system. However, connecting up with MARTA is fraught with problems. Cobb County cannot and should not be expected to fund MARTA, and any connections needed to be made would have to be managed as a joint venture, with an iron clad contract insuring that the taxpayers of Cobb County are not assuming anymore cost than they vote to assume.
Rhodes: If Cobb County makes a decision to invest in light-rail and it does not link up with MARTA, it is like building a bridge to nowhere. It would be likely that a light-rail decision for Cobb would ultimately be a decision to link up with MARTA regardless if you like that or not. As I stated earlier, without a broader comprehensive plan, a piecemeal approach becomes extremely expensive. There would certainly need to be citizen involvement and strong support for such an effort.
Q. Do you favor adding or converting Interstate lanes to toll lanes?
Cooper: Only if we add, not convert lanes into high occupancy toll (HOT) lanes, which allows carpooling drivers, buses, motorcycles, and emergency vehicles to enter the lane free while other vehicles pay a toll that varies according to the amount of traffic on the highway. Also, only if the money collected is specifically reinvested into other congestion reliving solutions for that segment of interstate.
Rhodes: Absolutely not - I do not favor taxing citizens more, especially when it comes to highways we taxpayers have already paid for once. The promise made with the Georgia 400 toll has been a promise broken. That toll should have been removed when the 400 debt was retired.
Q. Do you support adding reversible lanes to I-75 through Cobb?
Cooper: Yes. Lots of cities have gone to reversible lanes on their interstates to ease congestion and decrease travel times as a transition into other long term solutions. Adding reversible lanes would be a fairly quick and affordable solution, whereas light rail at best is a ten year study, plan, and build project.
Rhodes: I feel certain that a comprehensive transportation plan would include reversible lanes and would go a long way to add capacity to a much needed corridor. Cobb citizens are tired of being stuck in traffic and because we have gone so long without creating a comprehensive transportation plan, it will be years before these projects will come to fruition. Reversible lanes will need to be additional lanes in order to have a serious impact on our transportation needs in Cobb and throughout the metro Atlanta area.
Q. Should reversible lanes be built before or after light rail lines?
Cooper: Before. If it is decided that the first step to addressing our traffic woes here in Cobb is the use of reversible lanes, they should be developed first because they are less expensive and a quicker solution. However, they must be part of a comprehensive plan of achievable solutions to our problems for piece mill solutions are never cost efficient in the long term. GA needs to get its economy moving again, so that we can put people back to work. New businesses are not likely to relocate to GA if we have grid-lock in the metro area.
Rhodes: I would favor building reversible lanes before spending money on light-rail but know that serious discussions need to take place before any type of piecemeal planning is done.
Q. Do you plan to vote to approve and fund the Transportation bill in 2012?
Cooper: Yes. I supported this year's transportation legislation because it allows the voters to approve regional plans specifically designed by local citizens and local elected officials for their area of the state. In 2012 all citizens will be asked to vote on the plan for their area and to approve an additional penny sales tax to fund those improvements. Our region will be one where enough revenue would be generated to actually pay for major transportation improvements. We must get traffic moving. The metro Atlanta area is the economic engine of the state, and key to a prosperous Georgia. I plan to work diligently with our local groups and county commissioners to make sure this a successful process and to keep my constituents informed. This puts the power in the hands of the voters.
Rhodes: Metro Atlanta has needed a comprehensive transportation for many years. Our legislature has failed to deliver for years because of the politics as usual and we the citizens are paying the price. The transportation bill of 2012 is a move in the right direct and voters will decide if they are willing to fund such an effort. It is unfortunate that this issue did not get the priority that it deserved and should have been on the 2010 ballot in November. I will certainly support the taxpayers' decision in 2012. Because our transportation problem, in a broad context, has been ignored for the last 15 to 20 years, it is now going to take directed funding to make any significant impact. I believe the voters will support such funding , and I hope they demand that those tax dollars are wisely spent.
Q. Do you favor more restrictions on lobbyist gift to legislators? Exactly what type of gifts and what amounts would you ban?
Cooper: Yes. The ethics law we passed in 2005 rated GA the 6th most stringent state. This year we increased filing fees and fines for late campaign and lobbyist disclosure reports. We better defined abuse of office, improper conduct, sexual harassment and increased penalties for these offenses. I supported a reasonable cap on what lobbyist could pay for gifts, meals and entertainment. As a checks and balance, legislators could also have to report any gifts, meals or entertainment. Unfortunately, neither measure passed.
Rhodes: The ethics reform passed during this last session was a bad joke resulting in absolutely no change beyond a new form being completed. Citizens have called for real reform and nobody seems to be listening. With serious ethics issues in the legislature in just this last session, you would think real reform could have been passed. I see no place for any gifts beyond a typical, reasonably priced business meal. Lobbyist trips, expensive bottles of wine and inappropriate relationships have no place for the public servant. Offenses that accrued during the last session should have resulted in removal from office. It is time to get serious when our elected officials are dealing with billions of dollars of our money.
Q. Do you favor legislation that would deny admission to state universities to all illegal immigrants, even those who graduated from a Georgia high school?
Cooper: Yes. I support legislation that requires all university students to be US citizens or if they are foreign exchange students they must be in the country legally. We already have a law that says if you are not a GA resident you must pay out of state tuition (this includes foreign exchange students that are here legally). Our state universities are full, and GA citizens are being denied admission because of lack of space. We should never forget that tuition covers only a portion of the full cost of a college education. Taxes paid by Georgia citizens make up the difference in cost.
Rhodes: First and foremost, we would not be having such a discussion if the real problem was addressed. People here illegally are breaking the law and should not be here - that is the problem. All these other issues are second to that central issue. Since our federal government refuses to secure our borders, we must have these discussions. The Board of Regents has been given very clear direction by the legislature that illegal immigrants are not to receive in- state tuition and they are failing to adhere to that requirement. It is time for the legislature to demand that we are a nation and state of laws.
Q. Would you vote for an immigration law similar to the one recently passed in Arizona?
Cooper: Yes. Georgia and all states must take action since the Federal government is failing to do so in a consistent and systematic manner. There are countless laws currently in place, but they are not being enforced on the federal level. The federal government is suppose to secure our borders and must enact meaningful immigration reform. There is no reason for the feds not to be able to track visitors with legal visas when they are in our country. I support Sheriff Neil Warren's efforts to enforce the current law by arresting illegals. Cobb and GA have a growing gang problem, and this can be traced back to the flow of illegals across our borders.
Rhodes: Yes, it is time that the states show the federal government that a federal solution is demanded.
Q. Do you favor a state law that would outlaw furlough days for teachers in the future?
Cooper: I would oppose such an effort. As a republican, I believe that control closest to the citizens affected is best and that means local school boards who are elected should make the decision about furloughing employees. They know the state of their budget. However, sometimes it seems necessary for the legislature to set guidelines such as we did with HB 977 which prevents the use of state funds for administrative pay raises in a year when teachers and other employees are furloughed. I defiantly do not think that school budgets should be balanced on the backs of classroom teachers.
Rhodes: Bad budget decisions of the past have caused State Budget dollars to be allocated in areas of less priority than education. The Governor's veto of the Zero Based Budgeting Bill and Sunset Bill was a slap in the face of the taxpayer and could have really helped with such a problem in future years. I realize that the economy and State Budget was difficult and will be even more difficult in the coming year. Local school systems must have flexibility, and more requirements placed on them by the State Legislature only adds to problems down the road. So I am not in favor of mandating what a system can or cannot do with local policy. Specifically, failed priority decision s of the past resulted in increasing classroom size for K-12 education, and that was, and is, simply wrong.
Q. At what point would you consider increasing taxes in Georgia?
Cooper: In the legislature, I've voted to cut our state's budget by 20%. In an economy as sluggish as ours is today, raising taxes is not the way to go. I believe it is wisest to cut our way out of budget problems, not raise taxes.
Rhodes: Georgia is the 16th highest tax state in the nation, so we certainly are not under taxed. We need a strong Zero Based Budgeting Bill and a strong Sunset Bill that allows the Governor's office and the Legislature to have total budget oversight on how every taxpayer dollar is spent. Why? Because we are not spending those tax dollars wisely.
Q. If Georgians elect a governor from a party that is not your own, do you think you can work constructively with that governor?
Cooper: Of course. When Republicans were in the minority and Democrats, held the House, Senate, and Governorship, I passed several pieces of major legislation including a rewrite of the states stalking laws. I was successful when Republicans held the Senate and the Governorship, but the House was still in Democrat control. I have the experience and the ability to work successfully for my constituents regardless of which party holds the Governorship. Most legislation that comes before the General Assembly is bi-partisan, legislation must garner votes from members of both parties in order to pass. I look at each piece of legislation, and make my decisions based on its merit. As chairman of the Health and Human Services Committee, I can guarantee you that legislation regarding good healthcare for citizens of Georgia is not Republican or Democrat specific.
Rhodes: Regardless of which party is in the Governor's office, I will work to represent the citizens of this district with integrity, sound ethics, and commons sense approach to good governing. Principle over politics is what I will live by in the State Legislature.
Q. What do you think will be the biggest issue facing the General Assembly in 2011?
Cooper: The big issues are all interrelated because the problems we face with the budget due to falling revenues is directly related to Georgia's high unemployment rate. When we find ways to create more jobs in the state, which includes a very careful look at our tax structure to make sure we are competitive with other states, then the state budget crisis will become less of an issue.
Rhodes: The biggest issues facing the General Assembly will continue to be the budget. We must make better decisions and set priorities. When K-12 education takes the state cuts that it did, we have a serious issue. Not one agency has been combined and not one department phased out in state government. We need to established our key priorities in this difficult budget time just like families and business must do.
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