ATLANTA - All three candidates for governor pledged not to raise taxes or fees if elected, as they squared off in back-to-back debates on Saturday in a last-minute effort to reach undecided voters.
Democrat Roy Barnes said he would back an end to birthright citizenship but didn't want to amend the U.S. Constitution to do so. And Republican Nathan Deal said if the state Legislature voted to boost the state's $5.15 minimum wage to the $7.25 federal rate he'd sign it into law.
The first debate was sponsored by WSB-TV and the second was sponsored by Fox 5 Atlanta.
Responding to a question from a Fox panelist, Deal provided an update on his troubled personal finances saying he's already paid off about one-third of the roughly $2.3 million debt he owes from backing his daughter's failed sporting goods store. The former congressman from Gainesville also said the failed Wilder Sporting Goods property in Habersham County is under contract but declined to say for how much. Deal said the remainder of the debt - due Feb. 1 - would be refinanced "over a long period of time." Deal says he's paid off about $750,000 by liquidating his investments, including his retirement accounts.
Deal's personal finances have become an issue in the race after it was revealed that he and his wife, Sandra, were so deeply in debt after that sporting goods venture failed that they are trying to sell their home.
In something of a surprise, Deal tossed a question to John Monds, asking the Libertarian - who has said he supports decriminalizing marijuana - whether he would also support such a move for "harder drugs" and prostitution. Monds said he would not.
There is some concern the Libertarian could draw enough votes to send the race into a runoff and Deal seemed to have his eye on cutting into Monds' support.
Barnes quizzed Deal about why he voted against the minimum wage hike in Congress.
Deal replied that he believed it was a states' right issue.
"This is something the states ought to be taking on themselves," Deal said.
After the debate, Barnes -who signed Georgia's last minimum wage hike into law in 2001 - called that argument "outrageous."
All three candidates pledged not to raise taxes or fees, although Deal added a caveat saying he would make an exception if the state's tax reform council made recommendations that the state Legislature approved overwhelmingly.
Deal was an early supporter in Congress of ending birthright citizenship for the children born to illegal immigrants.
Barnes has been silent on the issue but staked out a position Saturday calling it "offensive" that they should be granted automatic citizenship.
"I am reluctant however to start amending the 14th amendment ... which gave us the integration of the public schools," Barnes said. "If there's any way to do without amending the Constitution I would be in favor."
Monds also expressed some concern about amending the Constitution.
At the earlier WSB debate, Barnes found himself on the defensive over his ties to Obama, a fellow Democrat, in a year in which the president's popularity has sunk.
Barnes argued the race is about Georgia - not Washington.
"You know I've been all through Georgia," Barnes said. "I've been through every nook and corner from Enigma to Willacoochee and every other place, and I haven't run across President Obama at any one of those places.
"But if you would listen to what is being said you would have thought that this was an election for president of the United States."
Republican Nathan Deal again fought back against ethics allegations and a new charge that taxes had not been paid on a plane Deal uses for travel. The plane is owned by HRPW Investments; Deal owns a partial stake in the company.
"Roy, there you go again," Deal said "Sales taxes have all been paid.
"This is another attempt to divert from the issues that are really important to Georgians and I believe this is an illustration of the fact that Mr. Barnes has a desperate campaign on his hands."
But the Barnes camp distributed a tax lien from the city of Gainesville showing some $4,000 in delinquent city taxes.
"If you cannot pay your own taxes, how can you expect to run a state effectively, efficiently and with honor and integrity?" Barnes asked.
Deal, Barnes and Monds all agreed they would support an end to lobbyist-funded travel for state lawmakers.
Friday
October 11th, 2024
6:27PM
