Nathan Deal in The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

On Jobs: Economists don't pay attention to unemployment rates

When pressed by [Democratic opponent Jason] Carter about the state's stubborn unemployment rates--pegged at 7.9 percent for September--the governor called it an "outlier" statistic. "Unemployment rates are only good for political advertising," Deal said. "Economists don't pay any attention to them."

The bitter back-and-forth played out against months of campaign rhetoric focusing on education and the economy, the two dominant themes of this election. Deal touts more than 300,000 jobs created on his watch and an education budget this year that includes more than $300 million in new K-12 money. Carter said the state is drowning in wasted potential that he can unlock with a pledge to boost classroom funding.

Source: Atlanta Journal-Const. on 2014 Georgia Gubernatorial debate Oct 19, 2014

On Education: Criticizing Common Core diverts from advancing education

Gov. Deal has conducted a delicate dance with Common Core, the education guidelines that his Republican predecessor helped set in motion. Deal supported the program initially, but last year called for the state Board of Education to review the state's participation amid growing pushback from tea party types and other critics.

But Monday, the governor seemed to lament the controversy stoked by conservatives who see Common Core as a federal takeover of education: "It's unfortunate that that has diverted so much time and attention when I think we could have spent our efforts and resources perhaps more focused on advancing education."

Deal noted that Common Core doesn't stray into more controversial subjects, such as social studies: "We've only adopted in two areas. One is math. The other is language arts. People ought to know how to write a sentence and compose a paragraph. I have a hard time seeing the political implications of the two."

Source: Atlanta Journal Constitution: 2014 Georgia governor's race Feb 25, 2014

On Health Care: Guaranteed ER room treatment means excessive ER visits

Gov. Nathan Deal has often called on Congress to reconsider the Affordable Care Act. But on Monday evening, he pushed his former Washington colleagues to revisit a separate health care law that fewer politicians openly critique. The Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act is a 1986 law that requires hospitals to provide emergency health care treatment to anyone who needs it, regardless of citizenship or their ability to pay. It's provided life-saving care to countless people, but it's also strained hospital resources and turned emergency rooms into the first stop, instead of a last resort, for some.

"If they really want to get serious about lowering the cost of health care in this country, they would revisit another federal statute," Deal told the crowd. "It came as a result of bad facts, and bad facts make bad law. I think we should be able to figure out ways to deal with those situations but not have the excessive costs associated with unnecessary visits to the emergency room."

Source: Atlanta Journal Constitution: 2014 Georgia governor's race Feb 25, 2014

On Health Care: Refuses to expand Medicaid rolls under ObamaCare

The Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act of 1986, which requires hospitals to provide emergency health care treatment to anyone who needs it, regardless of citizenship or their ability to pay, is an important topic for Deal, given that many hospitals in rural Georgia are caught in the financial pinch caused by the governor's refusal to expand Medicaid rolls, and the Affordable Care Act's reduction of federal cash for indigent care. Source: Atlanta Journal Constitution: 2014 Georgia governor's race Feb 25, 2014

The above quotations are from Media coverage of GA political races in The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Click here for other excerpts from Media coverage of GA political races in The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Click here for other excerpts by Nathan Deal. Click here for a profile of Nathan Deal.
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