Barnes, Deal split on release of tax returns

ATLANTA - Republican gubernatorial nominee Nathan Deal has so far declined to release his tax returns for public review. Deal faced questions about his taxes as part of a congressional ethics probe after investigators found a discrepancy between his 2008 tax return and a financial disclosure the same year.

Deal's opponent, Democrat Roy Barnes, has made available 25 years of business and personal tax returns and called upon Deal to do the same. Republican Gov. Sonny Perdue and his Democratic challenger offered their tax returns for inspection in 2006.

Deal's spokesman Brian Robinson says the former congressman from north Georgia has not ruled out releasing his tax returns, but could not say when a decision would be made or how many years might be released.