Rep. Collins presented with failing report card

Raymond Smith and other Indivisible GA 10 members outside Rep. Collins’ Monroe office

The following was released by Indivisible GA 10:

ATHENS and MONROE, GA — More than 50voters from across Georgia’s 10th Congressional District told Republican Congressman Mike Collins Tuesday afternoon that he is failing as their representative. In an orderly but pointed visit to Collins’ office in Monroe, the voters delivered a formal “report card” to Collins’ staff, assessing his performance during the first quarter of the 119thCongressional Session.

The report card assessed Collins as failing on every measure.

 “One of Indivisible GA 10’s missions is to hold elected officials accountable to their constituents,” Barb Burt, co-leader of Indivisible GA 10, told the crowd.  “That means accountable to us.”

Indivisible GA 10 is a non-partisan volunteer organization of Congressional District 10 residents who advocate for the interests of people the District across a wide spectrum of issues. Barb Burt and her partner, Rick Burt serve as co-leaders of the organization.

Voters representing nearly half of the 20 counties in District 10 gathered in a light rain at the Walton County Courthouse in Monroe, before walking together to Collins’ office to present the report card.

Indivisible graded Collins’ performance on five issues: success in lowering the cost of living, supporting healthy families, protecting citizens’ right to vote; working for a safe and clean environment; and being responsive to constituents’ concerns.  Collins’ received an “F” for his performance on each issue.

“These are issues that affect every person in Mike Collins’ district, no matter their political leaning,” said Rick Burt.

The report card also explained why Indivisible GA 10 viewed the congressman as a failure.  It said Collins’ had supported the Republicans’ surrender of Congressional authority over tariffs on imports, which are expected to raise the cost of living for the average American family by $4,700 this year.

Collins also supported cutting federal support for housing programs by 25 percent; for Social Security by more than $1.5 trillion over the next 10 years; and for Medicaid by cutting $1.72 billion —all cuts that will create hardship for families across District 10.

The Congressman earned an “F” on voter protection because he co-sponsored the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act (SAVE).  The SAVE ACT creates major new barriers to voting for women, elderly voters and voters living in rural areas – as many District 10 residents do. The act requires citizens to personally bring a copy of their birth certificate to a specific office in order to register to vote in federal elections. The name on the birth certificate must match the name on their current ID, making it harder for millions of women who changed their name when they married to vote.

Indivisible gave Collins a failing grade for environmental protection, noting that the League of Conservation Voters has given him a lifetime score of 1% in recognition of his consistent opposition to legislation supporting clean energy, wildlife protection and the impacts of climate change

Finally, on responsiveness to constituents’ concerns, Indivisible noted that Collins has consistently refused to meet in person with constituents during Congressional recesses and keeps his calendar secret. 

The Monroe gathering was the latest of several actions organized by Indivisible GA 10 to highlight voters’ deep concerns about the significant negative impact federal cuts and policy changes are having on District 10 residents.

 “We intend to keep the pressure on Representative Collins,” said Barb Burt.  “He seems not to understand – or care –that it is his job to represent the interests of the people in Georgia’s 10th Congressional District.  He works for us, the people of northeast Georgia. And it’s time he started paying attention to our needs.”