Deal or No Deal?*

His office won't confirm it, but there are reports that Republican Congressman Nathan Deal is going to run for Governor.

Deal would join Secretary of State Karen Handel and State Insurance Commissioner John Oxendine on the Republican side. His office did acknowledge Deal will be holding a press conference this Friday morning in Gainesville to make what they describe as a "significant" announcement. Meanwhile, with Lt. Governor Casey Cagle dropping out of the race, Deal's close ties to Georgia business groups could make him the de-facto choice for trade and industry organizations. That's according to Trey Hood, political scientist at the University of Georgia.

"He's a fairly conservative Republican. I think he would play well with business interests maybe better than some of the other candidates in the race, and so I think he could attract that from the GOP quarters."

Deal has worked with the Chamber of Commerce on numerous issues, including a plan to dam the Flint River. Deal has served in Congress since 1992. He was elected as a Democrat, but switched parties in 1996. Deal was a captain in the Army and attended Mercer University.

*-Sorry about the cheesy headline...couldn't resist-John

Deal Still Pushing Flint Dams

A plan to build a series of dams on the Flint river will move forward despite vocal opposition from environmentalists and a former president.

Damming the Flint River is an idea dating back to the 1946. And with record drought throughout the state, Gainesville Congressman Nathan Deal says dams should go up. Deal says his proposal will increase Atlanta’s water supply during times of drought. Environmentalists, along with former President Jimmy Carter, say the plan will create an ecological mess. Still, Deal says the plan will move forward, and offered this challenge to President Carter.

"Jimmy Carter---if he has a better way of supplying water to the Carter Center in Atlanta, I’d like to hear what it is. I haven’t heard anything from him in that regard."

President Carter vetoed a funding bill for a Flint dam project during his time in the Whitehouse. In the 1980’s, Congress abandoned plans to build a series of three dams on the river. Essentially, Deal wants to reauthorize that project.

Georgia Republicans vow no ear-marking

Half of Georgia’s Republicans have committed to end earmarking in the US House and pledged to give up pet spending requests for their districts. Paul Broun of Athens, Nathan Deal of Gainesville, Tom Price of Roswell, and Lynne Westmoreland of Granstville say they will forgo earmarks for at least one year.

Most of them are relatively new members who don’t have the seniority to fetch much spending. They are making their stand after their party lost power in the last election.

Democrat Sanford Bishop of Albany said, “It seems to me to be a little hypocritical given the fact that Republicans broke the record on earmarks when they were in the position to control them.”

But the Republicans say quitting earmarking will help reign in free-spending in Washington.

(The Associated Press)