Panel meets to discuss indicted senator's fate

ATLANTA - A three-member panel meets today to determine whether a state senator from southeast Georgia should be suspended following his indictment. <br> <br> The panel will hold a hearing at 2 p-m to discuss the future of Senator Van Streat -- a Democrat from Nicholls. <br> <br> Streat has stepped aside as chairman of the Senate Transportation Committee at the request of Lieutenant Governor Mark Tayor. But he says he is NOT considering resigning or stepping down from his legislative seat. <br> <br> Last month a grand jury in Fulton County accused Streat of influencing the prison transfer of a convicted murderer and two-time prison escapee in exchange for money from the prisoner&#39;s associates. <br> <br> Streat twice helped Ronald Gaither get transferred from close-security state prisons into lower-security centers. Streat received 45-hundred dollars in political contributions from people with ties to Gaither. <br> <br> The panel faces a deadline of tomorrow to send its recommendations to Governor Barnes. <br>