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Kyle Wingfield

Thoughts from Gov. Deal’s inauguration

3:52 pm January 10, 2011, by Kyle Wingfield

Nathan Deal is officially our 82nd governor, sworn into office about an hour ago. The substantive speech from Gov. Deal will come Wednesday, in his State of the State address. (I just heard that the Legislature will not be in session Tuesday due to the weather, and I am assuming that this cancellation will not have an impact on the timing of Deal’s speech.) That’s when he will outline his policy objectives for this session. But here are a few lines from today’s speech that I jotted down:

1. First among the core responsibilities of state government, as listed and discussed by Deal, was that of protecting the public. He went on to spend about as much time talking about public safety as he did education, which was somewhat surprising to me. But maybe it shouldn’t have been: Deal is a former prosecutor, and putting some focus on corrections reform may be a way for him to play to his strengths while looking at some ways to cut spending. He mentioned the stat about 1 in 13 Georgia adults being under some sort of corrections control, at a cost of $3 million per day (about $1 billion a year). He spoke of some alternative measures for nonviolent, nonrepeat offenders and said, “As a state, we cannot afford to have so many of our citizens waste their lives because of addictions…draining our state treasury and depleting our work force.”

2. On education, he called on educators to “be willing to embrace new ideas.” On the HOPE scholarship, he said “I was not elected to make easy decisions but difficult ones” and that he would “save HOPE for future generations.”

3. He spoke more briefly of transportation, water and health care. In his closing, he said “government cannot and should not be expected to provide for us what we can provide for ourselves.”

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48 comments Add your comment

Baby it's cold outside

January 10th, 2011
4:05 pm

Watch the roof at the GA Dome Kyle.

BTW – There is a huge playoff game this weekend…

The roof might collaspe at any moment.

You, me, our kids, the players… Nobody is safe right now inside the Dome.

Here we go again…

Guvner Deal can have his BBQ in the basement for I care.

JDW

January 10th, 2011
4:10 pm

Where are they now?

Former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay has been sentenced to at least three years in prison on charges of conspiracy and money laundering, a Texas judge ruled Monday.

How long before Raw Deal follows?

confederate dunce

January 10th, 2011
4:15 pm

Tom “lil’ hammer” Delay got three yrs. in the big house. He should put the time to good use and learn how to dance.

sam

January 10th, 2011
4:20 pm

If I were the caterer, I’d ask deal for the money upfront.

JDW

January 10th, 2011
4:26 pm

@sam :) That’s for sure!

Wooten's Mini-Me Completes Him

January 10th, 2011
4:47 pm

That’s fer DANG sure!!

@@

January 10th, 2011
5:05 pm

When it comes to Deal, can I hold onto HOPE, Kyle? If it’s good enough for others, it’s good enough for me.

midtownguy

January 10th, 2011
5:24 pm

The up side is that my expectations of a Deal governorship are so low that there is almost no way I can be disappointed.

Michael H. Smith

January 10th, 2011
5:31 pm

Interesting side note on education, FYI.

On its list of America’s Most Literate Cities, Central Connecticut State University ranked Atlanta No. 4

http://www.ccsu.edu/page.cfm?p=8142

Dabir Dalton

January 10th, 2011
5:49 pm

Re: “As a state, we cannot afford to have so many of our citizens waste their lives because of addictions…draining our state treasury and depleting our work force.”

The state doesn’t have the moral right to tell it’s citizens what they can and can not ingest {put into their bodies} nor is the individual entitled to the state paying for the consequences of their actions. So the first step in reducing the budget is to end the drug war on US citizens and stop the state funding of drug rehap. programs.

Ray

January 10th, 2011
5:52 pm

Have they told Nathan yet that HE is the turd in the punchbowl?

killerj

January 10th, 2011
6:32 pm

What? Not an Esteemed Politician Kyle? My My How The Tables Turn Loser,Go Tea Party.

TreatTheAddicts?

January 10th, 2011
6:38 pm

Kyle quotes Deal “He spoke of some alternative measures for nonviolent, nonrepeat offenders and said, “As a state, we cannot afford to have so many of our citizens waste their lives because of addictions…”. ” Sounds like Deal might have liberal leanings? Drug rehab perhaps instead of jail? Glad I didn’t vote for him.

Le Bourgeois

January 10th, 2011
6:41 pm

Point 1, I agree. Drug sentences should be reduced/eliminated for personal possession amounts.

Point 2, Disagree, the GOP answer to STATE education problems is to make financial cuts that are then passed on to local jurisdictions with massive unfunded mandates. Kicking the can down the road will fail this state. Answer, fight the U.S. Dept of Education and quit buying into their programs for a quick buck. Also, raise HOPE standards.

Point 3, Mostly disagree. Transportation and water systems ARE things that government provides via tax dollars. I’m not sure individuals or even companies will find it profitable to create roads and dams. Healthcare should be personal though.

barking frog

January 10th, 2011
6:52 pm

How about scrapping the parole board and let
the Department of corrections handle release
supervision and Probation. The Governor can
handle pardons since it’s his job.

Dabir Dalton

January 10th, 2011
7:12 pm

@ Michael H. Smith Re: On its list of America’s Most Literate Cities, Central Connecticut State University ranked Atlanta No. 4
_______________________

I’m not the least bit surprised as those elected into office here in Ga are put there by the least intelligent of the population and {as the election of Nathan Deal proves beyond the shadow of a doubt} the least moral.

Jefferson

January 10th, 2011
7:25 pm

Deal refinanced his debt after cashing in 800K in pentions. Now who would give that kind of loan with no collateral? Recken’ Purdue’s record enrichment makes it a good loan ? Crooks, the both of em’…

Ima Pol crook

January 10th, 2011
8:13 pm

What a Deal for Ga getting one of the top 15 crooks in congress. Don’t forget he was elected by the lying, christian hypocrites of Ga!

Mr. Dithers

January 10th, 2011
8:59 pm

I gotta agree with midtownguy. If Deal doesn’t get indicted or convicted, he’ll exceed my expectations by a lot.
I am surprised that the water issue isn’t higher up in the queue. Why won’t anyone in power focus on this dangerous problem?

pete

January 10th, 2011
9:16 pm

Deal is a crook, no doubt, and may very well end up in prison. In the meantime, I hope he realizes that public education should be a top priority along with transportation, water, jobs, and the economy.

Michael H. Smith

January 10th, 2011
9:40 pm

Hmmm… Let me see, make sure to follow the logic path that has been is laid down here…


I’m not the least bit surprised as those elected into office here in Ga are put there by the least intelligent of the population and {as the election of Nathan Deal proves beyond the shadow of a doubt} the least moral.

Now, if the least intelligent of the population have the ability to put those elected here in GA into office – consequentially that would mean those of the majority party – then what does that prove about the intelligence and the ability of the minority opposition party here in GA? Intellectually dishonest with themselves or just not too smart, since some of the people can be fooled only some of the time, whereas, all of the people can’t be fooled all of the time?

I think Jay Bookman said it best Democrats, “don’t blame the mirror for the reflect you see”. It is the same image Georgia rejected when it saw the ballot box.

Michael H. Smith

January 10th, 2011
10:05 pm

Mr. Dithers

January 10th, 2011
8:59 pm

Stop and think Mr. Dithers, stop and think. When virtually all your rights to the water on your property has been surrendered by law to someone else what can you do to get the rights to what was your water that is still on your property back into your controlling hands?
Especially when the before mentioned “someone else” just happens to be the Federal Government.

Dusty

January 10th, 2011
10:34 pm

I heard Gov. Deal’s speech and thought it was very good. Made all his points quite clearly. Did not seem to need notes or teleprompters. Gave a straight forward concise message without fanfare.. I think we may have gotten us a good governor (even as liberals declare we haven’t.)

Anyway, I wish him luck. He sounds like a man with a plan. Let’s help him get it to work.

Mr. Dithers

January 10th, 2011
10:38 pm

so, what, do you just give up? someone has to address the problem. We don’t have another four years for the governor to ignore the problem. You have hit on one aspect, but there are other solutions. We’ve had plenty of time to stop and think. Action must be taken.

Dusty

January 10th, 2011
11:09 pm

Mr. dithers,

I think you missed the discussion here two nights ago about reservoirs. Governor Perdue did start working on the water problem . He met with two other governors and finally went to court. He wanted to establish how the adjoining states would share water with Georgoa. . It ended up a court case and the judge said the other states would NOT share water with Georgia.

Governor Deal will start from there. Reservoirs are long expensive land covering projects. They also have to have a water source. It is a complicated plan not possible to do in a short time.

Mr. Smith has also reminded you that when land or water is needed for the location of a reservoir, it can be taken from you legally by the authorities. You get paid. Yes. But you don’t get to decide that you might want to stay.

That is just another reason reservoirs take a long time. Lots of settlement over land and water rights.to start with after a plan is established..And…not to mention…it takes a LOT of money. .

Lil' Barry Bailout

January 10th, 2011
11:12 pm

“government cannot and should not be expected to provide for us what we can provide for ourselves.”
—————-

Amen Brother Deal. Let’s hope he governs that way. No one is entitled to the property of others.

Michael H. Smith

January 10th, 2011
11:53 pm

We are taking action Mr. Dithers but remember who we are up against, it is not just two neighboring states, it includes the Federal Government, which regulates everything from poop to popcorn. And people wonder why I use the word socialism and call the people who support this federal draconian regulatory overreach of power socialist?

Travis McGee

January 11th, 2011
5:52 am

It may take him two terms, but if he’s able to work that little detail out he’ll leave office debt free and I’d guess with a little walking-around money. And, so it is. . . .

carlosgvv

January 11th, 2011
7:42 am

You don’t have to listen to his speech to know what he will do. Protecting Big Business is his one and only truly important priority. If you believe anything else is important to him then you probably think Sonny was a great Governor.

Will

January 11th, 2011
8:37 am

The Deal speech was classic Deal – nothing to shout about and little to no visionary bearing.

You were surprised about the lack of urgency or depth related to education? It was classic Deal. Nathan Deal, like most republican politicians, know they can win without the votes of public school supporters. They will continue the trend of the General Assembly in legislating ways that parents can abandon, rather than improve, public education in Georgia.

No matter. With the democrat party in Georgia a non-factor, Deal and the republican majority have to do next to nothing other than to keep that “R” by their names on the ballot.

Brad

January 11th, 2011
9:01 am

Dusty and Michael: to liven up the conversation, do you think it was appropriate for the Corps of Engineers and TVA to build the system of reservoirs in the southeast (and elsewhere)? Was their seizure of private property socialist?

jconservative

January 11th, 2011
9:32 am

The state is short of money to pay its bills. There are two ways to attack the problem.

First, reduce the size of the bills to be paid. Eliminate some state provided services. For example, do we really need a Georgia State Patrol? There are 159 sheriff departments in Georgia and maybe hundreds of city and county police forces. Do we really need the State Patrol to patrol state highways?

Second, raise taxes to generate more revenue to pay for state services.
This is the tried and true method of solving money problems in Georgia, and the Nation for that matter. The evidence is really strong that this is the solution on the minds of most legislators. Raise taxes!

Which will it be?

Question Man

January 11th, 2011
10:05 am

Didn’t the Republican-led tax reform panel just recommend a plan to increase taxes? Is Governor Deal proposing to be soft on crime and let people out of prison? Isn’t much of Georgia blanketed in snow with sub-zero temperatures? Is hell freezing over?

CJ

January 11th, 2011
10:12 am

Responding to jconservative’s second item–

Republicans are already hoping to raise taxes on the poor and middle class by increasing or adding sales taxes on food, water, phone and specified services (e.g., labor on auto repairs, dry cleaning, MARTA rides, prescriptions, and other necessities, ).

At the same time, they’re seeking to lower the top income tax rates and corporate tax rates. It appears that there might be a multi-year overlap, so temporarily, overall revenues would increase under the proposal being considered.

It seems that most Georgians have voted to shift from a progressive tax system to a regressive tax system. Evidently, making it harder to climb out of poverty or to stay in the middle class is secondary to making sure the benevolent “producers” have enough left over to take care of us.

In a sane world, such a proposal would never make it out of the starting gate. But this is Georgia, a state full of folks who have been brainwashed by corporate tools such as Neil Boortz.

As evidence, notice these two lines from the linked article:

* “The council supported lower corporate income taxes despite saying corporate taxes don’t play a dominant role in attracting business.”

* “While calling for taxes on many services, the council also avoided placing new taxes on legal and financial services, both of which have strong, politically active constituencies who play a major role in funding campaigns.”

http://www.ajc.com/news/georgia-politics-elections/georgia-plan-would-raise-800117.html

Michael H. Smith

January 11th, 2011
10:14 am

to liven up the conversation, do you think it was appropriate for the Corps of Engineers and TVA to build the system of reservoirs in the southeast (and elsewhere)?

Speaking from a matter of constitutional point, NO the federal government should not have. On the part of Tennessee: YES, because the state actually has constitutional authority.

Was their seizure of private property socialist? The federal government action per se’ was very socialistic by degree IMHO based on the enumeration of the commerce clause, as was much of FDR’s New Deal, which he pack the supreme court to achieve after he was stopped by the court on his earlier attempts with parts of it.

If you really want to know how I’m getting to all of this read, Federalist 41 and 45.
The states were to have the majority of rights, the federal government was meant to have only a few rights that are specifically individually listed and no more than just those enumerated rights. Notwithstanding future amendments ratified by we the people expressly granting the federal government more authority under the constitution.

CJ

January 11th, 2011
10:19 am

Correction: Evidently, making it harder easier to climb out of poverty or to stay in the middle class is secondary to making sure the benevolent “producers” have enough left over to take care of us.

Michael H. Smith

January 11th, 2011
10:22 am

For example, do we really need a Georgia State Patrol? There are 159 sheriff departments in Georgia and maybe hundreds of city and county police forces. Do we really need the State Patrol to patrol state highways?

Yep! Unless we change the constitution, small items like rights and jurisdictions come into legal play.

But I’m on board with cut what we can before we tax and tax some more.

CJ

January 11th, 2011
10:27 am

Michael H. Smith: “On the part of Tennessee: YES, because the state actually has constitutional authority.”

Smitty,

FYI, TVA was organized as part of FDR’s New Deal. It was created using federal tax dollars, and it provides services in several states.

Brad

January 11th, 2011
10:44 am

Given that, Michael, did the end result justify the means? I would say yes, as the actions “promote the general Welfare”.

Michael H. Smith

January 11th, 2011
10:47 am

So what you said means that sets aside the constitution and gave FDR the authority to go beyond the enumerated rights?

Well it doesn’t and those federal dollars come from the states.

Michael H. Smith

January 11th, 2011
10:57 am

Tell me Brad what do you mean or think promote the general Welfare means?

However, fact remains the enumeration limits what the federal government can do to promote the general welfare.

Did the end justify the means? Nope, because there was no end my friend, as we now plainly see in healthcare.

Brad

January 11th, 2011
11:04 am

The quote I gave is from the Preamble:

“We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.”

I wasn’t looking for a legal argument, as that is far beyond my capability. Rather, I’d like to get your personal opinion as to whether or not we, as a people, are better off with or without the infrastructure built by the Corps and the TVA.

Brad

January 11th, 2011
11:14 am

I think it’s a very tricky thing, and I certainly do not presume to say that my opinion of general welfare is better than yours. I do believe, though, in the TVA/Corps situation, that society as a whole was left better off.

Michael H. Smith

January 11th, 2011
11:22 am

The argument are we better off having the infrastructure isn’t the emotional one you want Brad and it cannot be.
We live under the rule of law in this country that is what makes us a Republic, we are not governed by what our emotions tell us is better or worse.

The states can actually do more things, in most cases with a very few exceptions and do it better than the Federal Government can do them in a more representative fashion. If that were not the case Brad, as James Madison pointed out in the Federalist papers 41 and 45 there would have been no reason to have ever enumerated the rights of the federal government in article 1 section 8.

Michael H. Smith

January 11th, 2011
11:35 am

The general welfare not only appears in the preamble it first appears in the articles and there is very good reason why it was written there first, which goes directly to resolving opinions.

The general welfare means the overall well being of the country as a whole, not just a section of it , not just a state particular within it and definitely not just the individual.

Brad

January 11th, 2011
1:40 pm

I wouldn’t want to base a decision on emotion either, Michael, and I suppose we could develop economic metrics for the overall well being of the country as a whole. In any event, I appreciate your point of view and thank you for the discussion. Nice to see that civil discourse is still possible on the AJC blogs.

Dusty

January 11th, 2011
5:29 pm

Well, Brad, Kyle has moved on to another subject but…

Our government is not one of socialism. But we do have “eminent domain” which I do believe gives the government the right to take property for the good of the country and community.

Not long ago, the city of New London, Conn. decided to take away water front property from private owners in order to build a business center that would bring more taxes. A case (Kelo vs New London) was brought and the Supreme Court said that it was OK for New London to take the private proerty because it would bring good to the community. .

In that case, I think the Supreme Court was wrong to approve business over private owners. Every case like that should be taken to court.

But a reservoir that does supply essentials to thousands of people seems the right thing to do and truly advantageous. . So I would think that supplying water is an urgent need that the government filled.

Mr. Smith knows more than I about the reading and intent of the founding father’s documents. But their intent was for the good of the nation. With needed reservoirs, I will go for that.

MG

January 12th, 2011
4:33 pm

Barnes was about ready to sell the bonds to build reservoirs when Perdue took office and Perdue did 8 years of nothing. We had 8 years to build these reservoirs and during better economic times. Thanks to Perdue’s inaction we really don’t have many options and I am not so sure Deal will be able to solve it.

I would like to know what some of you recommend we do? Because if metro Atlanta doesn’t have enough water, things will get very bad and since metro Atlanta is a huge chunk of the state’s economy, the whole state will suffer as well.