George pledges funds for space program
Times-Mail     April 26, 2012

MITCHELL — Saying he is concerned that “America has lost its way in space,” Congressional candidate Jonathan George this week pledged that, if elected, he would support more funding for NASA programs.

Wednesday in Mitchell, home to the late astronaut Virgil I. “Gus” Grissom, George also harkened to other Indiana astronauts, including Bedford’s Charlie Walker and Ken Bowersox.

“At the moment, it seems NASA has abandoned manned spaceflight,” George said in a press release issued before his appearance. This isn’t good for Indiana or the nation.”

He said the nation continues to reap benefits from technologies spun off from the space program.

“Almost every technology in your iPhone can trace its origin to the Apollo program,” he said.

“If elected, I will push to restore funding to the abandoned Constellation program to get America back to the moon and to inspire another generation to follow in his (Grissom’s) footsteps. I will also push to fund a follow-on to the James Webb Deep Space telescope, the replacement for the Hubble, to continue to build our understanding of deep space.”
“Yes, it is expensive up front, but the long-term payback in innovation, education and invention is priceless. It is a smart investment of our tax dollars today for our future.”

See the article on the Times-Mail website (subscription required): George pledges funds for space program.

Five 9th District Democratic US House hopefuls respond to students’ questions
Candidates questioned by students from South, North, IU during Tuesday debate

By Christy Mullins 331-4266 | cmullins@heraldt.com
April 25, 2012

Five Democrats vying to represent Indiana’s 9th District in the U.S. House agreed across the board Tuesday that gas prices are too high, public education is worth the investment, and Hoosiers need jobs in a desperate way.

Their thoughts varied, however, on whether women’s health issues and clean energy were up to Congress to discuss. One candidate, especially, called both issues a waste of time.

“We’re never going to solve these problems,” John Griffin Miller said in Tuesday night’s 9th District candidate debate at Bloomington High School South.

Miller said abortion, contraceptives and other women’s health issues come up every election year to get people out to the polls.

And he said alternative energy is a “misappropriation of our attention.”

“We’re spending trillions right now to solve a problem that is not solvable,” he said, “while thousands of children in Africa are dying of diarrhea.”

All five Democratic candidates — Miller, Jonathan George, John Tilford, Robert Winningham and Shelli Yoder — participated in Tuesday night’s debate in the South auditorium.

Three young Democrats from South, Bloomington High School North and Indiana University asked questions about health care, the national deficit, public education, job creation, foreign policy, abortion, gas prices, climate change and the experience each candidate would bring to the table, if elected.

Mary Catherine Carmichael moderated the debate, which began promptly at 7 p.m. and lasted nearly two hours.

The debate, co-sponsored by the Monroe County Democratic Party and the Indiana University College Democrats, was structured more like a panel. Each candidate got less than a minute to answer each question, with no time for rebuttal.

The panel structure skewed a bit, however, when Shelli Yoder returned to the issue of women’s health.

“It doesn’t just come around every two years — it happens every day,” she said, addressing the panel and the audience all at once before answering an unrelated question.

Yoder

Yoder, a working mother, a “small-town Hoosier girl” and an associate professor in the IU Kelley School of Business, said she’ll represent middle-class working families if elected to the 9th District.

Yoder also described herself Tuesday as pro-teacher, and said teachers should be “invited to the table to discuss legislation that impacts teachers.”

She seemed most passionate about clean energy, renewable resources and “electric cars that will carry us through the 21st century.”

Yoder’s parents owned a small filling station that went under in the 1980s, she noted Tuesday.

“We are expecting something that’s finite to be infinite, and that’s not going to happen,” she said.

“One of the great things about the 9th District is its access to natural resources.”

Winningham

Robert Winningham, an economic developer by trade, said his experience would be crucial for creating jobs in the 9th District.

He circled back to job creation in nearly every answer.

On whether he supports the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, Winningham said he’d keep and perfect what’s been passed: “As a job creator,” he said, “I know that when workers are ill or their children are ill at home, they’re not as productive in society.”

Winningham wants to bring growth and economic development to every city in the 9th District, he said, and cut programs that aren’t useful.

He prizes public education and thinks schools should teach the problem-solving skills that employers want — not teach to pass standardized tests.

“Teachers are being beaten up for those efforts,” he said.

George

Candidate Jonathan George, a retired Air Force brigadier general, said it’s embarrassing that all Americans can’t be covered by the kind of health care insurance he’s received with a 30-year military career. He supports the Affordable Care Act, but said it needs some adjustments still.

On the economy, George said major cities are doing fairly well. “It’s everyone between the Sierra Mountains and the Appalachian Mountains that are expected to be defensive linemen for our country,” he said.

George said making investments in everything from roads to research will help bring commerce back to the Midwest and the 9th District.

Tilford

John Tilford, a retired Army Reserve colonel, urged the audience to research each candidate and take note of his decades of public service in the 9th District.

On education, Tilford said student loans shouldn’t double, and it’s a “no brainer” that standardized tests are a “let-down” to the public education system.

He saluted Ivy Tech Bloomington Chancellor John Whikehart for changing curriculum at the community college based on what employers are looking for.

On global warming, Tilford said it’s both “not fiction” and “a world problem,” but “we can help find the solution.”

“Yes, it exists and it’s going to come back to haunt us,” he said. “That’s not the question. The question is, how bad is it going to get?”

Miller

John Miller, a nonprofit director and the only candidate who said he opposes spending money and time on climate change, introduced himself as a candidate running not for Congress, but against Congress.

He said Congress has been bought and paid for by corporations, and current members of Congress “will never look out for the 99 percent.”

Miller blames banks for problems in public education, wars, and unemployment.

He doesn’t believe the United States is in an economic crisis. He said it is a banking crisis.

“We didn’t have a famine. We didn’t have a disease. This is a banking problem — not a real external crisis,” he said. “Banks need to be broken up, and that’s what will bring the economy back.”

Voting

Early voting has begun for the primary election, set for May 8. The prevailing Democratic candidate will face first-term incumbent Republican U.S. Rep. Todd Young in the fall election.

See the article on the Hetald-Times webste (subscription required): Five 9th District Democratic US House hopefuls respond to students’ questions.

Fifth congressional candidate answers questions on policies
Times-Mail April 23, 2012

Jonathan George

Education: Southern Illinois University, bachelor’s degree in agronomy and agricultural education; Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government master’s degree in public policy; NATO Defense College (in Rome), graduated with highest honors; University of Michigan Ross Business School executive seminar graduate.

Occupation: After retiring as a brigadier general from the United States Air Force, I returned to Lawrence County to farm, but because of our nation’s changing situation I am compelled to continue serving.

Political experience: I was a White House Fellow for Presidents Ronald Reagan & George H.W. Bush, and served as assistants to two different Secretaries of Agriculture and two different Secretaries of Energy, where I was responsible for a $25 billion budget, and as the senior military advisor to two different ambassadors, all equally divided between Democrats and Republicans. My last assignment was at the White House as the senior director of Defense Policy and Strategy for President Barack Obama. Hopefully my experience attests to an ability to lead in a bipartisan manner in order to move our country forward.

If and when a constituent asks, “Why should I vote for you over another candidate?” what is your response? As the only candidate born in the 9th District, a farm-land owner for 30 years and the place where most of my family calls home, I am committed to our fellow neighbors to work hard to make southern Indiana better for everyone. This history and my unusual military career allows me to understand what the 9th District has to offer and the challenges we face so that I can hit the ground running on day one. Our future isn’t so much threatened by overseas threats but more from a breakdown in our domestic policies, programs and the lack of dignity and respect among our elected officials.

What do you see as the top priorities for Congress during the next term? Making our economy strong is key to solving many of our problems. Hoosiers and Americans can compete globally with the right policies. We have to re-build our manufacturing base, strengthen our agricultural foundation and continue expanding high-technology jobs to lead the world in the 21st century. The government makes investments in our country all the time — building roads and bridges, agricultural research stations, computer data centers, postal distribution centers and similar facilities and processes. Too often we are left out.

What are your views on job creation and economic development? For us that is simple and here’s an example — Crane Naval Surface Warfare Center is one of the few federal government investments in our state and it is very valuable to all of America. Soon it will be on the chopping block of the base realignment and closure decision committee. As your Congressman, I will do all that is possible to make sure that Crane is protected from closure and more importantly that investment is increased to provide valuable jobs to make America stronger. Another example is that we must work together to reduce poverty, crime, drug use and domestic violence, all which hold us back from being healthy and productive.

See the article on the Times-Mail website (subscription required): Fifth congressional candidate answers questions on policies.

By Jonathan George

We have a growing economic problem in America that the President alone can’t fix – but we can help him and ourselves one bridge at a time.

Southern Indiana is blessed to have many qualities that make a society great. Hoosiers are hard-working craftsmen and journeymen, educated, quick to help others, and independent. For decades these valuable Hoosier traits turned Indiana into a highly productive people that helped fuel American greatness.

Our greatness is slipping, however. High unemployment, rising poverty, increased illegal drug dependency and an escalating crime and domestic violence rate show us in decline.

Reversing these alarming trends begins by turning the economy around. Here’s one “concrete and steel” way to do so.

The 1950s and 1960s saw enormous growth, partly due to the enormous number of bridges and roads that our nation built. Sadly, many of these bridges have deteriorated. In fact, the greater Louisville, Clark-Floyd-Harrison Counties area has fewer quality bridges across the Ohio River than 50 years ago.

With a little research, we might find that General George Rogers Clark crossed the Ohio faster in the 1770s than Hoosiers did during much of the past year. We must do better.

I believe Indiana needs six new bridges across the Ohio River between Cincinnati and Evansville, starting with Louisville’s “East End” and “Spaghetti” bridges which have been under study for 30 years (they still aren’t built and won’t be until at least 2017).

Bridges are expensive, but they bring prosperity. A new bridge across the Ohio River is about a $1.3B project. But economic developers such as the Louisville and Southern Indiana Bridge Authority quickly point out that they pay for themselves in as little as 12 years with increased commerce and efficiencies, and they can do so without tolls.

Four other bridges, two between Louisville and Cincinnati and two between Louisville and Evansville, are also justified and would allow more Hoosier commerce to take advantage of one of the world’s greatest waterways, our Ohio River.

Just as importantly, Hoosiers have the ability to take on these construction projects ourselves. Just ask Walsh Construction who is replacing the Milton-Madison Bridge. Using an innovative technique, this Indiana-based company is performing a complete bridge replacement with only a 10-day closure. The project has garnered accolades as one of the top 10 bridge projects in the nation. Most importantly, they are delivering the project below budget and preserving 1,400 jobs by avoiding a complete bridge closure. And there are other Hoosier firms that are ready to help, such as Indiana Steel Corporation.

The United States Congress has an obligation to keep everyone of our nation’s 435 congressional districts valuable to our great country. If I am fortunate to be elected as your U.S. Representative, I’ll work to build a consensus that gives southern Indiana a fair chance to be strong. And we’ll start by building much needed bridges.

The five 9th District Democratic candidates gathered for a debate on health care, but there was little disagreement due to the absence of the incumbent. “I don’t think it’s a contentious issue with any of us” said Jonathan, referring to the audience and his fellow Democratic candidates.
Read more from the Indiana Daily Student:

Ind. Congress candidates debate health care issues
By Jaclyn Lansbery | IDS
POSTED AT 01:00 AM ON Apr. 12, 2012  (UPDATED AT 10:52 AM ON Apr. 12, 2012)

About 100 people gathered inside Garton Hall at Saint Marks United Methodist Church to listen to the five candidates for Indiana’s 9th Congressional District debate the issue of health care in the United States.

The “Community Health Care Conversation” was sponsored by Hoosiers for a Commonsense Health Plan and the League of Women Voters for Bloomington Monroe County.

The candidates, who were asked to avoid campaign speeches and distributing campaign materials, included Democrats Jonathan George, Shelli Yoder, John Miller, John Tilford and Robert Winningham.

“We believe that it’s time for the U.S. to create a modern health care system like the rest of the developed democracies and capitalists democracies in the world and create a national health program where everyone is included,” said Karen Stone, the coordinator for community education and outreach for HCHP.

HCHP Director Rob Stone showed PowerPoint slides that compared the amount of money the U.S. spends on health care to how much other democratic countries spend.

“That’s a really big problem for a number of reasons,” he said. “And that really sets us apart as a nation.”

Audience members were given a chance to write questions on notecards that Rob gave each candidate to answer.

“This is sort of us coming together when we all have a keen interest in taking care of each other, but then we’re speaking amongst the choir,” George said. “I don’t think it’s a contentious issue with any of us.”

Winningham, who said his family once had a hard time paying medical bills, said, “There’s a certain unfairness that we’re dealing with as a family.”

Yoder, associate director of professional development of the IU Kelley School of Business, said health care is a right and not a privilege and that health care and jobs go hand in hand.

“You should get it as a human right,” Miller said. “That’s where I stand on that. I don’t really feel like government is serving us right at all, and I want to make sure that the congressman we elect in Southern Indiana is going to make a difference and change things in Washington.”

Both Miller and Yoder said people need to fight together to bring change. But Tilford said Congress will not likely pass a single-payer plan.

George said it takes a good leader to overcome failures and setbacks, and he will inspire confidence and winning.

“That comes down to you, folks,” he said. “I don’t want people to talk away from this discouraged, thinking that we’re going to give up.”

The last question Rob asked is why the candidates believe the Affordable Care Act is unpopular.

“I kind of hope it gets overturned, which is probably heresy amongst Democrats,” Tilford said.

Jonathan said the ACA has gotten slammed by people who don’t have invested interested in seeing the health care system changed.

“Change is scary,” Winningham said.

Yoder asked the audience members to close their eyes and say the word “mandate” to themselves and then to say “option.”

“How different that feels,” she said. “You tell people what to do, they don’t want to do it. You give them the option, they like to do it.”

Monroe County Commissioner Mark Stoop said he expected the candidates to insert political statements.

“Overall, they focused on health care,” Stoop said. “I appreciated that they stuck to the message that single-payer is the way to go.”

See the article on the IDS website: Ind. Congress candidates debate health care issues.

PRESS RELEASE

George Applauds Seoul Nuclear Security Summit as “American Leadership in Action”
Cites success as a model to address other national concerns

Heltonville, Indiana, April 4, 2012—Retired Brigadier General Jonathan George praised the Obama administration and bipartisan efforts following last week’s nuclear security summit in Seoul, South Korea. George, who served in the National Nuclear Security Administration and the National Security Council, is a Democratic candidate for Indiana’s Ninth Congressional District.

“Nuclear material is the key component that terrorists and rogue nations need to build nuclear weapons; unfortunately, much of it is poorly protected and scattered around the world,” George explained.  “In 2009, President Obama initiated and endorsed a bipartisan plan of securing stocks of nuclear material around the world.  In 2010, he hosted over 45 world leaders in Washington, D.C. to help secure and eliminate nuclear materials in their countries.  Last week the President attended the nuclear security summit in Seoul, South Korea—a forum to measure and discuss efforts to secure loose nuclear materials.   Over the past three years, American leadership has helped the countries of Ukraine, Romania, Libya, Turkey, Chile and Serbia to completely remove their stockpiles of weapons-usable uranium.  They joined 13 other nations that did so previously:  Brazil, Bulgaria, Colombia, Denmark, Greece, Latvia, the Philippines, Portugal, Slovenia, South Korea, Spain, Sweden and Thailand.”

“Last week’s summit success was American leadership in action and was supported by hundreds of dedicated Americans at the Departments of State, Energy and at the National Security Council.  Their focused commitment makes our nation safer,” said George.   “U.S. freedoms are largely built on a decades-long cooperation in national security matters between both Democrats and Republicans.  The bipartisan approach taken for this summit is a model for addressing other nationally important issues.”

“This is what we can do when we put the needs of our country first as we work together for the common good,” observed George. “This is type of leadership I will take to Washington.”

George served in the White House for five presidents, from Reagan to Obama, during his 30-year Air Force career. He retired last year, declining a promotion in order to have the opportunity to further serve the country and Indiana out of uniform.  George lives on his family’s farm near Heltonville with his wife and three children.

More information about George is available on his campaign website, www.georgeforcongress.com.