Barnes, Deal: Sparks fly over water war

SMYRNA - The tri-state water war was a hot topic at the first debate between gubernatorial candidates Roy Barnes and Nathan Deal.

Barnes took aim at Deal Saturday in Smryna over Congressional inaction on the dispute.

"Nathan, at least you have introduced a bill to change the purpose (of Lake Lanier)," Barnes asserted. "Maye, if you had talked to your colleagues...that what we send members of Congress up there to do, that you might have gotten the purpose changed."

But Deal fired back, saying Barnes, a former governor, was given a four-year window by Congress to get something done.

"He wants to know why Congress didn't solve the problem, Congress gave him a compact that put on hold all the litigation. They gave him four years to negotiate, to settle with the other two governors, and nothing happened and the time line expired."

Deal won the Republican nomination earlier this month. Barnes secured the Democratic nomination in July.