David's blog

I am very pleased by the results of the poll commissioned by the Georgia Biomedical Partnership. The Press Release reporting on the poll results is below.

Statewide Poll Shows Significant Majority of Georgians Support Embryonic Stem Cell Research and Therapeutic Cloning

ATLANTA, Sept. 20 /PRNewswire/ -- A statewide poll conducted on behalf
of the Georgia Biomedical Partnership demonstrates that a significant
majority of Georgia registered voters supports embryonic stem cell research
and therapeutic cloning. The poll also shows Georgians overwhelmingly
oppose reproductive cloning.
The poll was conducted by Republican pollster and public affairs
researcher Dr. Whit Ayres of Ayres McHenry & Associates, Inc., based in
Washington, DC. Dr. Ayres has worked as a pollster for Senate Majority
Leader Bill Frist and Senators Lamar Alexander, Lindsey Graham, and the
late Paul Coverdell.
The results show that Georgia voters by a more than two-to-one margin
(67% to 31%) support embryonic stem cell research and by a double digit
margin (55% to 42%) support therapeutic cloning. Voters overwhelmingly
oppose reproductive cloning by a 79% to 16% margin.
In addition, two-thirds of Georgia voters believe that any medical
research allowed by federal law should be allowed in Georgia; and three-
fourths believe that new treatments derived from embryonic stem cell
research done outside the state should be allowed in Georgia.
"These findings clearly demonstrate the vast majority of Georgians
embrace the potential of medical research, including embryonic stem cell
research, to improve their quality of life," said Georgia Biomedical
Partnership President Charles Craig. "The results show that Georgia voters
support the state's robust biosciences industry as a major driver of
improved health and economic growth. The poll also strongly suggests
Georgia voters would oppose attempts to ban or criminalize stem cell
research."
The Georgia Biomedical Partnership is a private, non-profit association
representing 280 pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and medical device
companies, universities, research institutes, government groups and other
bioscience- related businesses and organizations.

I am honored to accept the endorsements of the Georgia Chapter of the Sierra Club and the Georgia Conservation Voters. During my four years in the Georgia Senate, I have worked hard to promote sound statewide environmental policies. If re-elected in November, I intend to build on my record of environmental leadership focusing my efforts on common sense renewable energy and transportation policies. //David

The following Press Release was issued on September 6, 2006.

Sen. Adelman seeks greater local control of DeKalb zoning

ATLANTA- After hearing testimony during two lengthy Senate hearings, state Senator David Adelman (D-Decatur) is urging consideration of greater local control of zoning throughout DeKalb County. Sen. Adelman is the vice-chairman of the DeKalb County Government Study Committee, which met for the second time last night on the campus of Oglethorpe University in the Brookhaven area. The Committee heard testimony from several homeowners’ associations from throughout DeKalb County.

“Local government must be responsive, efficient and must enjoy the confidence of the people,” said Sen. Adelman. “I want to reform local government in a way that gives DeKalb residents greater power over local zoning decisions. As metro Atlanta becomes more populous, the pressures on our infrastructure are becoming too great, thus we need zoning questions to be decided closer to the people.”

Over the last decade, similar hearings have been conducted by state lawmakers with regard to the reorganization of Fulton County government, as well as the incorporation of new municipalities, such as Sandy Springs, Milton and Johns Creek. Some of these meetings were marked by very emotional presentations that at times became heated and personal.

“Unlike some of the past experiences during the Fulton County studies, the Dekalb County Government Study Committee meetings have been issue-oriented, fair and respectful,” added Sen. Adelman. “DeKalb County has the largest population in the state of Georgia. It is a tough job, but we need to take a fresh look at local government in the County.

“One thing I’ve taken from the meetings so far is that we really need to examine whether the typical DeKalb resident has a voice in zoning decisions. Local control is crucial to the longevity of any city, town or county government, especially when it comes to zoning decisions that will affect everyone in a particular neighborhood.”

The DeKalb County Government Study Committee is chaired by Sen. Emanuel Jones (D-Ellenwood). Sen. Adelman (D-Decatur) is vice-chair and serves alongside Senators Gloria Butler (D-Stone Mountain), Curt Thompson (D-Norcross), Dan Weber (R-Dunwoody), Steve Henson (D-Tucker), Steen Miles (D-Decatur) and John Wiles (R-Marietta). The study committee plans to meet again later this month in the south DeKalb area.

I am pleased to have been appointed to serve on the Joint Study Committee regarding a Statewide Trauma Care Network. Too many Georgians die each year from injuries caused by automobile crashes, falls, and gunshot wounds because they do not get to a Level One Trauma Care center fast enough. In fact, Georgia's per capita fatality rate from trauma injuries is far greater than the national average and greater than that of our neighboring states.

For the last four years, I have championed the establishment of a Statewide Trauma Care Network similar to the one in place in Maryland. There is a great need for better access to Level One Trauma Care centers in all of Georgia. Grady Hospital provides world class Level One trauma care but Grady's resources are stressed and Grady's responsibility for trauma patients from all over the state may not be sustainable.

I am the only Democratic legislator appointed to serve on this study committee and I look forward to a continuing bi-partisan effort on this issue.

Our second meeting will be in Macon on September 11, 2006. We will convene in the auditorium of the Mercer University School of Medicine at 9:00 AM (Campus Map - http://www.mercer.edu/About_Mercer/MaconMap/default.htm). In remembrance of the tragedy that took place five years ago on this day, the focus of our meeting will be disaster preparedness and homeland security as they relate to trauma care in Georgia.

There is an open invitation for all stakeholders in this important issue to come speak to our study committee during our third meeting in Savannah, Georgia, on September 25, 2006. We will be meeting at Memorial Health in Savannah, most of the day, and hearing testimony from a variety of entities on this issue. If you would like to speak at this meeting, please email seth@cecilstaton.com, no later than September 11, to reserve a time slot.

Thank you for your continued positive feedback on my website and blog. //David

Statement of Sen. David Adelman (D-Decatur)
Regarding the Anne Frank Exhibit Move to DeKalb County

This news marks an important milestone for a project I have actively worked on for approximately one year. The Anne Frank In the World Exhibit teaches the value of tolerance, human dignity and morality and Anne Frank’s tragically short life embodied the greatest of human strength and faith.

I can think of no better place in Georgia to tell this story than the City of Decatur which is the county seat of one of the most diverse counties in the United States and is the heart of the state Senate District I represent. Since I was first appointed by the Lt. Governor to the Georgia Commission on the Holocaust approximately three years ago, one of my goals has been to bring this exhibit to my state Senate District. The Central DeKalb County location is near MARTA, Emory University, Oglethorpe University, Agnes Scott College, DeKalb County’s courts and government office buildings, thousands of school children and some of metropolitan Atlanta’s oldest and most diverse communities.

I am grateful to the members of the Georgia Commission on the Holocaust for their unanimous vote to locate the exhibit in Decatur and to DeKalb County government for quickly and enthusiastically welcoming the exhibit with financial and logistical support. I look forward to working with local government officials, individuals and local businesses toward our planned opening sometime in late 2006.