Dr. Michelle Au
@AuforGA • 25,704 subscribers
Physician. Mom. Master in Public Health. Proud Chinese American (歐曉瑜). Georgia House of Representatives for the 50th District. Font Police. Au pronounced “OW.”
Videos
While I thought we’d managed to avoid this bill deregulating ivermectin, it was elevated for a floor vote yesterday, shoehorned in with other real public health priorities. I gave the minority report against the bill. It ultimately failed to cross the finish line on Sine Die.
Dr. Michelle Au57,449 views • 4 months ago
Here’s a very small story about the kind of leader Geoff Duncan is, and has been, from my time working with him my first term. When I served in the state Senate, the first bill I ever filed was hijacked. It passed out of the Senate, through House committee, and made it all the way through House Rules, at which point it was yanked back. (I actually appreciated the House GOP leadership for telling me this so plainly—it saved me a lot of time—but essentially I was told: “We like your policy. We don’t like your name on it. So we’re going to give it to a Republican woman.”) And…I get it. Sometimes that’s how it works in this place. It’s about the work, and the policy, not about getting credit. What we actually do and the people we help is what’s most important. But the thing I remember about this process was meeting with Geoff early in my first term, his encouragement, his telling me how he recognized good work when he saw it. I remember the ways he helped me, in the small, invisible ways it takes, to help this first-year nobody in the minority party to move her first bill. And he didn’t like what ultimately happened to that bill, because he believed—has always believed—in people over politics. The following year, that bill came back to us for a final vote. (Without my name in it, of course.) But he saw it, and remembered it, and did something so kind, and frankly unprecedented. He called me up to the rostrum, gave me the gavel, and allowed me to preside over the passage of my own bill. It was the first bill I ever wrote as a lawmaker, and it was ultimately signed into law the Spring of 2022. (Of note, this was also the first and last time we had two women physicians speaking together from the rostrum of the state Senate. And I know there were no subsequent times, because there are still only two of us.) Is this a huge story? No. Was this the most life-changing thing that ever happened in my time at the state Capitol? No. But that’s actually why it’s important. Because the true mark of leadership, and personal character, is what you do when you don’t *have* to. It’s when you show, rather than tell. It’s when you practice mentorship, true bipartisanship, strength of character, and genuine, human kindness, even when no one else might notice or care. Think for a second if we would ever see this in today’s legislative environment. And ask yourself if we would be better to have more moments, and leaders, like this. Geoff is the kind of leader I want to see leading our state. And I know, with our support, that he can win. And that’s why I’m endorsing him to be the next governor of Georgia.
Dr. Michelle Au31,393 views • 4 months ago
People ask me why I no longer serve in the State Senate. Short answer: gerrymandering. I was gerrymandered out. But SD48 wasn't the only seat targeted by the GOP. State House and Congressional seats were targeted too. This was from 2022. And now, SCOTUS has gutted the VRA.
Dr. Michelle Au10,618 views • 3 months ago
🧵 Something I hear occasionally from voters is frustration that Democrats "don't do anything." "Instead of wasting time doing XYZ, why don't you work on bills that will actually go somewhere?" Let's talk about why and how that doesn't end up happening, even when we try. (1/8)
Dr. Michelle Au47,510 views • 3 years ago
The students at Apalachee HS started school a month ago. Today some won’t come home, because the gun lobby’s profits were prioritized over their safety. These could be your kids. These could be my kids. So I ask what any parent would. “What are we doing about the guns?”
Dr. Michelle Au13,267 views • 1 year ago
We’re approaching the 2024 legislative session, a potentially game-changing year for Georgians and their access to healthcare coverage. Since 2020 I’ve hosted an annual one hour forum on Medicaid, the ACA, and Georgia--open to all. This year it's 7x more efficient to watch! 😁
Dr. Michelle Au13,604 views • 2 years ago
Powerful words from Dr. Sofia Chaudhary, MD, a pediatric ER physician speaking to the critical importance of safe storage laws NOW. "Every day I pray I can save at least one life. You in the legislature have the power to save thousands of lives. I'll do my job. Please do yours."
Dr. Michelle Au14,382 views • 3 years ago
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