Gubernatorial candidate and United States Congressman Nathan Deal believes this is a critical time in Georgia’s history and in that of the nation.
“Our country is in a battle,” Deal said. “It is a struggle for the soul of America. Unfortunately, the battle that we face is a battle that too often that has consumed civilizations in the past and that is a battle with itself.”
Deal, the guest speaker at the Dec. 7 Barrow County Republican Party holiday dinner, said the United States was founded on the principles of self-determination and self-responsibility. According to Deal, now, in the midst of economic difficulties, people are turning to government at every level – a situation Deals feels eats away at the very heart of the nation.
“These are the times that not only try men’s souls, they try our concept of what government is intended to be,” he said.
Deal said now, more than ever, it is important to elect leaders able to make tough choices. In hard economic times, Deal said the government must do what it is expected to do, not what a small constituency may ask it to do.
“There are basic fundamental responsibilities and services of government,” he said. “As we confront this issue of a tight budget in our state, I hope you will support your elected representatives because they are going to have to make hard choices. They’re going to be faced with making judgments and cutting out programs and cutting back on programs that many of you feel are important.”
In the face of inevitable cuts, Deal encouraged everyone to ask if the programs being cut are fundamental functions of government or if they can stand aside in light of other priorities.
Public safety and education are two priority areas in which Deal believes the government must play a role. Job creation is another area in which Deal said government must assume some responsibility.
Deal cited the need for the state to focus on job creation to better position itself for the future while warning that events in Washington could impact Georgia’s ability to attract and retain industry.
According to Deal, Georgia’s two main advantages in attracting industry are now under attack. Current card check legislation pending in Washington could facilitate efforts to unionize Georgia’s workforce.
“If they do, we lose that competitive advantage,” he said.
Another Georgia advantage threatened by proposed legislation is the state’s low utility rates.
Deal said cap and trade legislation will seriously erode Georgia’s competitive advantage because of the renewable portfolio standard which mandates that an ever increasing portion of electricity must be generated from green or renewable sources.
“We just don’t have the wind or the solar power to meet those criteria and we will have to buy our electricity, or the credits for it, from other parts of the country,” Deal explained that requirement will drive up utility rates and harm Georgia industry.
“Whether we like it or not, a lot of things that happen in the state are linked to what’s going on in Washington,” Deal said.
The current health care reform legislation is another area which Deal said will have a huge impact on state finances due to the requirement to expand Medicare coverage to 150 percent of the poverty level.
“It is a dangerous piece of legislation,” he said. “It will devastate the delivery of health care in this country like nothing we could ever imagine.”
Deal explained to the Barrow County GOP faithful that his experience at the Federal level will help make him an effective Governor and better enable him to stand up for Georgia against onerous legislation such as health care reform.
“Having an understanding of that and having contacts and friendships that I can call on, I think will be important to our state,” he said. “I just think that I have the legislative experience and the understanding of the needs of Georgians and I think now is the time to have that leadership being put to use in the state.”
Deal, who represents Georgia’s ninth district, was first elected to Congress in 1992. As a member of the Energy and Commerce committee and ranking member of its health subcommittee, Rep. Deal has participated in various legislative activities affecting America’s public and private health sectors.
Deal has over 30 years of public service experience in roles including U.S. Army Captain, judge, prosecutor, state legislator and as a member of Congress.
“I think I can be the kind of Governor you want,” Deal said. “I’m not looking to be anything else. I want to be Governor of this state. I think I can do it effectively.”
For more information, visit www.dealforgovernor.com.
