Press Releases

Monday, February 8th, 2010

Gerry Purcell Statement on Governor’s Plan to Reshape Georgia Government

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Monday, February 8, 2010

“Better Government in Georgia is NOT More Centralized Government”

Last week, Governor Sonny Perdue unveiled his plans to propose legislation that would appoint — rather than elect — four statewide constitutional officers. Those offices would include Insurance Commissioner, Labor Commissioner, Agriculture Commissioner, and State School Superintendent.

I oppose this legislation.

This proposal comes at a time when liberty minded citizens are railing against Washington, D.C. for consolidation and centralization of power. This proposal, while done in the name of creating efficiencies, appears to be a power grab in the Peach state.

What we don’t need in Georgia is an imperial Governorship. Keep in mind, too, that
over the years, the Georgia Legislature has shown little appetitive for challenging vetoes from the Governor, even on important legislation like the jobs bill last year.

From the recent headlines from the Gold Dome, I think most of us would agree that Georgia does need better government. Before we take more power away from the people, though, let’s consider some other ideas:

FIVE POINT PLAN FOR BETTER GOVERNMENT IN GEORGIA

1. Terms limits of 12 years for all state and legislative elected offices

2. Pass “Sunset Laws,” which would require that every state agency re-justify its existence every ten years, on a staggered basis

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Thursday, February 4th, 2010

Gerry Purcell Calls on Commissioner Oxendine To Reject The Climate Survey Mandate On Georgia’s Insurers

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, February 4, 2010

Last March, the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) adopted a “mandatory requirement” that insurance companies disclose to regulators the financial risks they face from climate change and the actions they are taking to respond to those risks.

All insurance companies with annual premiums exceeding $500 million would be required to complete and submit an Insurer Climate Risk Disclosure Survey every year, starting in 2010.

Regrettably, Georgia has only a few insurance companies with headquarters within our state, but those that are should not be subjected to mandates that are motivated by the conjecture and hysteria of the questionable “science” of climate change. Until we separate truth from hyperbole regarding climate change, we should avoid punishing Georgia’s businesses and consumers with costly regulatory requirements.

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Tuesday, July 7th, 2009

Gerry Wins Big In Cobb County!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Monday, July 7, 2009

MARIETTA, GA – Participants in the straw poll at the Cobb County Republican Party’s annual Fourth of July Barbecue overwhelmingly supported Gerry Purcell, Republican candidate for Insurance Commissioner in 2010. With over three hundred votes cast in the poll, Purcell took a clear plurality and garnered more than twice the total of any other candidate for the office of Insurance Commissioner.

“The Cobb County GOP Barbeque on the fourth of July is consistently one of the largest in the state,” Purcell said. “The results of the straw poll are a clear indicator that Georgians are ready for some new voices and new leaders for our state, and for a Commissioner who is an experienced health care reformer with a track record of results using free-market solutions. I am honored by their support.”

The yearly Cobb County Republican Party Barbecue is known as a “must-attend event for Republican office seekers.” With 315 votes cast for six candidates in the Insurance Commissioner straw poll, Purcell won 48.5 percent of the total. The next highest percentage of votes received by a candidate was 20.3 percent. The vote result is as follows:

Gerry Purcell – 153 votes (48.5 %)
State Senator Ralph Hudgens – 64 votes (20.3%)
Stephen Northington from Cobb County – 55 votes
State Senator Seth Harp – 31 votes
Mayor Harold Logsdon – 8 votes
John Fuchko from Cobb County – 3 votes

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Thursday, March 26th, 2009

Gerry Purcell Announces Campaign For Georgia Insurance Commissioner

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, March 26, 2009

Gerry Purcell of Alpharetta, Georgia announced today that he is running for the office of Georgia Insurance Commissioner. The office will be open in 2010 as the Republican incumbent, John Oxendine, is running for Governor.

Purcell is nationally known for his advocacy of health care transparency. Having worked over the years to help both employer and government plans save millions of dollars on health care and pharmacy costs, Purcell is a fierce advocate for restoring and protecting the patient and provider relationship, for Georgians having broad access to health insurance options, and for protecting the privacy rights of consumers.

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Wednesday, October 8th, 2008

Gerry Takes To The Airwaves With “Taking Back America” Radio Program

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, October 8, 2008

Next Monday, Gerry Purcell will be hosting a new 8:00 AM drive time radio show called Taking Back America on AM 1620 Radio Sandy Springs. The program will bring conservative clarity to the complex issues of our day and the historic choice we have on November 4.

“As we consider our big decision about running for Georgia Insurance Commissioner in 2010, this program will give us a great opportunity to speak with voters in Georgia and across the country about the most important issues of our day. There is a lot of noise out there, and my hope would be to bring some common sense clarity. We are losing our country – as one by one our historic underpinnings collapse right before our eyes. Now is not the time for mediocrity or the time to allow pessimism to keep us from our duty. We are in a tough battle, but the consequences of failure are beyond our worst imaginations. It is time to take a stand and take back America.”

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Tuesday, September 16th, 2008

Gerry Interviewed by Bill Bennett on AM 1620 Radio

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, September 16, 2008

Back by to popular demand, Gerry spent another hour with nationally known health care commentator and expert Bill Bennett, who tackles the toughest issues in health care every week. In this interview, Gerry begins to lay the ground work for transforming health care in Georgia through the private market. A few straight talk highlights:

*We don’t have a heath care crisis in America, we have a health care cost crisis. This is a $2.2 trillion issue. It will take nothing short of transformation to fix it. We have to be aggressive and we have to start now.

*To fix healthcare, we must deconstruct the layers of healthcare costs that have been added over several decades, without destroying the health care quality we all enjoy. We deconstruct it by following the money and comparing the spend to the results.

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