Ballotpedia, Vinson Watkins

Candidate website

The candidate's website says, "Austin Scott... is the most active stock trader in Congress. He bought FuelCell Energy (FCEL) in 2020 and sold it in 2021 for a 780% gain... sitting on the Commodity Exchanges, Energy, and Credit subcommittee..."

The candidate's website says, "Sens. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) and Josh Hawley (R-MO) introduced the bi-partisan Ban Stock Trading for Government Officials Act, which would overhaul how members of Congress, the president, the vice president, senior executive branch officials, and their spouses and dependents would be able to invest. ... It would bar them from holding or trading individual stocks."

The candidate's website says, "And the shameful exception that allows employers to pay servers a piddling $2.13 must be eliminated. Any business that relies on paying poverty wages for the sake of its success does not deserve to be in business."

The candidate's website says, "The GOP seems incapable of telling the truth about Social Security. They use the same old scare tactics, telling us that the only way to save the program is to raise the retirement age and cut benefits."

The candidate's website says, "But… plot twist… the SSA made $11 billion in overpayments in 2022 alone. They recovered $4.7 billion before instituting a policy against recovery of overpayments. They wrapped the year up with $21.6 billion still uncollected. Hardly a model of efficiency."

The candidate's website says, "The government consistently borrows money from the fund, and issues bonds to protect it. The government has never defaulted and always paid the loan with interest. And that interest has saved Social Security."

Said, "The minimum wage has not been raised since 2009. 15 years of a poverty-inducing $7.25. Shame on us for allowing that."

Said, "If we applied it to every dollar of every paycheck, social Security could be increased beyond the pittance most of us get, and be set indefinitely."

The candidate's website says, "And many democrats claim that the problem is that the fund has been raided by Congress."

The candidate's website says, "Social Security, currently taken out of your paycheck at a rate of 6.2%... applies to 100% of most people’s wages, but only a fraction of the income of the wealthy..."

The candidate's website says, "And the loans Congress pulls would be bigger, increasing the bond market, drawing more interest, and growing the economy."

The candidate's website says, "How dare the government even suggest raising the retirement age while they mismanage over $20 billion! Changes must be made."

Said, "We must immediately raise the minimum wage to $15. No baby steps. No half measures. And the bill must stipulate that the wage be increased every year to keep up with the cost of living and inflation."

The candidate's website says, "Congresscritters should not be allowed to trade stocks. They are privy to data unknown to most citizens, making for obvious insider trading."

Believes that members of Congress should not be allowed to trade stocks.  

The candidate's website says, "Tax the rich some more."

Supports increasing taxes on higher earners. 

Said, "Send me to Washington so I can fight to increase your social security."

Disapproves the proposal to increase the age requirement for Social Security. Believe that "changes must be made" with the handling of Social Security. 

Supports the bi-partisan Ban Stock Trading for Government Officials Act.

- Said, "We must immediately raise the minimum wage to $15. No baby steps. No half measures. And the bill must stipulate that the wage be increased every year to keep up with the cost of living and inflation."
- Believes that members of Congress should not be allowed to trade stocks.  
- Supports increasing taxes on higher earners. 
- Disapproves the proposal to increase the age requirement for Social Security. Believe that "changes must be made" with the handling of Social Security. 
- Supports the bi-partisan Ban Stock Trading for Government Officials Act.

Economy

The candidate's website says, "In 2022, natural gas accounted for 47% of Georgia’s total electricity net generation, and nuclear power accounted for 27%. Coal accounted for about 13% and renewable energy, including hydroelectric power and small-scale solar, accounted for nearly 13%."

The candidate's website says, "It is ridiculous that Georgia still uses coal at all. It’s dangerous, inefficient, and barbaric. Whereas nuclear is clean and safe and will create many good-paying jobs while lowering energy bills."

The candidate's website says, "Georgia needs to invest in modern nuclear power. It’s the safest, most efficient source of energy available... Georgia is blessed with a generally stable tectonic position..."

Believes "Georgia needs to invest in modern nuclear power. It’s the safest, most efficient source of energy available."

Said, "Nuclear is the safest, most efficient form of energy available and I want to lower Georgia’s power bills by building modern nuclear power plants."

- Believes "Georgia needs to invest in modern nuclear power. It’s the safest, most efficient source of energy available."
- Said, "Nuclear is the safest, most efficient form of energy available and I want to lower Georgia’s power bills by building modern nuclear power plants."

Energy & the Environment

Said, "I’m on Medicare due to my disability... it has a premium, a co-pay, and a deductible... I simply couldn’t afford to use it."

The candidate's website says, "Medicare For All would save $450 billion in health care costs and 68,000 lives per year."

The candidate's website says, "OBAMA-CARE… The Affordable Care Act is, frankly, not very affordable for those who need it most. And the assorted deductibles, co-pays, and premiums mean many poor people can’t afford to use it."

Believes "OBAMA-CARE… The Affordable Care Act is, frankly, not very affordable for those who need it most. And the assorted deductibles, co-pays, and premiums mean many poor people can’t afford to use it."

Said, "As the father of a Type 1 Diabetic, I know how important it is for insulin to be affordable. It’s a matter of life and death."

The candidate's website says, "And so it is with many other medicines, surgeries, and procedures. Every American citizen deserves world class medical care without losing their home, their retirement, or their dignity."

Believes "And so it is with many other medicines, surgeries, and procedures. Every American citizen deserves world class medical care without losing their home, their retirement, or their dignity."

Said, "I support universal healthcare and it should include dental, vision, hearing, and reproductive health."

The candidate's website says, "The empowerment of women is the hallmark of civilization. Old men trying to maintain their wrinkled and decrepit need to control women’s reproductive rights are recused."

Believes "The empowerment of women is the hallmark of civilization. Old men trying to maintain their wrinkled and decrepit need to control women’s reproductive rights are recused."

- Believes "OBAMA-CARE… The Affordable Care Act is, frankly, not very affordable for those who need it most. And the assorted deductibles, co-pays, and premiums mean many poor people can’t afford to use it."
- Said, "As the father of a Type 1 Diabetic, I know how important it is for insulin to be affordable. It’s a matter of life and death."
- Believes "And so it is with many other medicines, surgeries, and procedures. Every American citizen deserves world class medical care without losing their home, their retirement, or their dignity."
- Said, "I support universal healthcare and it should include dental, vision, hearing, and reproductive health."
- Believes "The empowerment of women is the hallmark of civilization. Old men trying to maintain their wrinkled and decrepit need to control women’s reproductive rights are recused."

Healthcare

Said, "The people we send to Congress to represent us have spent the last term doing little more than vote over and over again over who gets to be Speaker..."

As of March 19, 2024, Vince Watkins’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Voting & Elections

Said, "America in the 21st century is an awesome time and place to be alive! ... The far right thinks we’re coming for your guns. I don’t want your guns. ... The result is that everyone is bickering like it’s the end of the world instead of the greatest time and place to be alive in the history of the Earth."

Public Safety

The candidate's website says, "Students should emerge as educated adults prepared for the pursuit of happiness and the responsibilities and rewards of citizenship."

The candidate's website says, "An educated populace makes for higher paying jobs, more consumer spending, a rising economy, and the ability to compete in a global market."

The candidate's website says, "Free education isn’t charity. It’s an economic necessity that will take our nation to the next level. Otherwise, we will be China’s bitches as we helplessly watch Islamic terrorism destroy one democracy after another."

The candidate's website says, "Teachers are a cherished and prized resource. The best of them should be making six figure salaries"

Said "Teachers are a cherished and prized resource. The best of them should be making six figure salaries"

The candidate's website says, "Schools should be free to all… magnificent structures dedicated to the pursuit of knowledge, intelligence, and the betterment of humankind."

Supports that "Schools should be free to all… magnificent structures dedicated to the pursuit of knowledge, intelligence, and the betterment of humankind."

The candidate's website says, "Free education should be merit-based and should include everything from Criminal Justice to welding to literature."

Believes "Free education should be merit-based and should include everything from Criminal Justice to welding to literature."

Said, "If we are to preserve our sacred Republic, we need to make certain our children are taught its history, and prepare them to be its future."

- Said "Teachers are a cherished and prized resource. The best of them should be making six figure salaries"
- Supports that "Schools should be free to all… magnificent structures dedicated to the pursuit of knowledge, intelligence, and the betterment of humankind."
- Believes "Free education should be merit-based and should include everything from Criminal Justice to welding to literature."
- Said, "If we are to preserve our sacred Republic, we need to make certain our children are taught its history, and prepare them to be its future."

Education

The candidate's website says, "Predictably, Republicans accused Democrats of not voting for a key veterans bill. But the truth is they opposed the dangerous Net Neutrality rider."

Said, "But the border is 2,000 miles long. And if you show me a 10 foot wall, I’ll show you a 12 foot ladder."

Said, "Each year, our southern border allows in over 300 million people... leaving our actual illegal immigrant population at an estimated 12 million... Which means they are paying taxes and even into social security and will never see or benefit from that money."

The candidate's website says, "That also means halting expansion-minded dictators like Putin. If we allow him to take Ukraine, he will continue, just as Hitler did when the Sudetenland was sacrificed to his hate and greed."

The candidate's website says, "The expense of useless walls that will need more maintenance than Mexico will pay for are an idiot’s solution to a bigger problem... A huge percentage of immigrants simply fly into the US and just overstay their visas."

The candidate's website says, "Illegal immigration costs money and we should continue to tighten our border, but we need to be ready for how expensive the solution will be. And the fact that Mexico is never going to cut us a check for it."

The candidate's website says, "It’s easy to sit in Massachusetts and preach the virtue of sanctuary and immigration and open borders while letting the southern states deal with the problem. A few busloads of immigrants changed New York’s tune."

Said, "We have about 750 miles of wall, fence, or other physical barriers, to include the mammoth 87 miles of wall built during the Trump administration. Mexico still hasn’t paid for it."

Said, "We must make certain Ukraine is not annexed and supply them the equipment they need."

Supports Ukraine. Said, "We must make certain Ukraine is not annexed and supply them the equipment they need."

Said, "The United States IS the world police... we must fund and maintain a next generation military beyond mere state of the art... We must be ready to defend ourselves and our allies from all threats..."

Said, "Part of our national defense is care for the men and women who guarded us while we slept. Veterans should receive whatever care and comfort they need. We owe them our lives, our freedom, and our way of life."

Said, "We also need to tighten our policies at border stations to include a complete revision of our asylum policies."

The candidate's website says, "The border can be enforced at ground level by technological means currently being tested and used without the need of a wall or fence."

Believes "The border can be enforced at ground level by technological means currently being tested and used without the need of a wall or fence."

- Supports Ukraine. Said, "We must make certain Ukraine is not annexed and supply them the equipment they need."
- Said, "The United States IS the world police... we must fund and maintain a next generation military beyond mere state of the art... We must be ready to defend ourselves and our allies from all threats..."
- Said, "Part of our national defense is care for the men and women who guarded us while we slept. Veterans should receive whatever care and comfort they need. We owe them our lives, our freedom, and our way of life."
- Said, "We also need to tighten our policies at border stations to include a complete revision of our asylum policies."
- Believes "The border can be enforced at ground level by technological means currently being tested and used without the need of a wall or fence."

Foreign Policy and Immigration

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Vince Watkins

Ballotpedia, Darrius Butler

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Democratic Party of Georgia, Darrius Butler

Plans to expand the auto and manufacturing industry.

Wants to build better infrastructure in rural Georgie through better roads, bridges, and wifi hotspots.

Supports the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 but believes more can be done to help with inflation such as the Federal Reserve having interest rates that are comprehensible and doable.

Believes farmers should be included in the decision making process by creating an organization that would allow small farmers to talk to their elected officials, expanding the agricultural sector.

- Plans to expand the auto and manufacturing industry.
- Wants to build better infrastructure in rural Georgie through better roads, bridges, and wifi hotspots.
- Supports the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 but believes more can be done to help with inflation such as the Federal Reserve having interest rates that are comprehensible and doable.
- Believes farmers should be included in the decision making process by creating an organization that would allow small farmers to talk to their elected officials, expanding the agricultural sector.

As of March 19, 2024, Darrius Maurice Butler’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Wants to strengthen America's healthcare system.

Plans to invest in our medical infrastructure and medical professionals to avoid what happened with COVID-19.

Believes the federal government needs to step in to make sure Georgia expand Medicare and Medicaid so everyone, especially rural Georgia, receives healthcare.

Said, "There is no reason we cannot put into federal law to cover all 50 states and US territories that women have the right  to do with their bodies as they please. As a man, I cannot get pregnant, it is not my responsibility to tell you want you can or cannot do with your body."

- Wants to strengthen America's healthcare system.
- Plans to invest in our medical infrastructure and medical professionals to avoid what happened with COVID-19.
- Believes the federal government needs to step in to make sure Georgia expand Medicare and Medicaid so everyone, especially rural Georgia, receives healthcare.
- Said, "There is no reason we cannot put into federal law to cover all 50 states and US territories that women have the right  to do with their bodies as they please. As a man, I cannot get pregnant, it is not my responsibility to tell you want you can or cannot do with your body."

Supports the John Lewis Voting Rights Act and reinstating the 1965 Voting Rights Act in the context of the present day.

Said, "We've got to educate voters a little bit better"

- Supports the John Lewis Voting Rights Act and reinstating the 1965 Voting Rights Act in the context of the present day.
- Said, "We've got to educate voters a little bit better"

Wants to protect students from gun violence.

Supports better funding of police to ensure police officers have the best training, resources, and equipment.

Plans to create a national registry to keep police officers accountable.

Said, "I am going to support the Violence Against Women Act and make sure we protect all of the women in our country."

- Wants to protect students from gun violence.
- Supports better funding of police to ensure police officers have the best training, resources, and equipment.
- Plans to create a national registry to keep police officers accountable.
- Said, "I am going to support the Violence Against Women Act and make sure we protect all of the women in our country."

Plans to limit the acres of land that China is buying in Georgia.

- Plans to limit the acres of land that China is buying in Georgia.

Darrius Maurice Butler

- Your US Representative represents the interests of your district in the US House of Representatives, the lower house of Congress. Georgia currently has 14 US Representatives.
- US Representatives can author, sponsor, debate, and vote on bills that become national law.
- Representatives may serve on congressional committees. Committees focus on certain policy areas, such as transportation, education, or labor. They may also run for higher positions within their party, such as the Speaker of the House or Majority/Minority Leader.
- Representatives are elected to two-year terms. To hold this office, a candidate must be a legal resident of Georgia and a US citizen for at least seven years before their election. US Representatives are paid a salary of $174,000/year.