ATLANTA - On the eve of a legislative session that's expected to be heavy on budget-cutting, state lawmakers, lobbyists and other elected officials on Sunday indulged in some pork.<br />
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Hundreds of politicos crowded into the annual wild hog supper near the state Capitol on Sunday night. Now in its 49th year, the gathering - complete with heaping plates of barbecue - is a tradition for ushering in a new legislative session that begins Monday.<br />
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Last year, Nathan Deal attended as one of eight candidates for the Republican nomination for governor. This year, he was there as the governor-elect and the crowd of well-wishers clustered around him - cameras capturing his every move - told the story of his new stature.<br />
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Deal is set to be sworn in as Georgia's 82nd governor on Monday. But a a severe winter storm barreling into the state has put a damper on his inaugural festivities, prompting officials to cancel Monday night's inaugural gala and moving the swearing in ceremony from the Capitol steps inside to the shelter of the House chamber.<br />
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On Sunday night, Deal expressed some disappointment at the change.<br />
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"We had hoped to have one of the few outdoor inaugurals," Deal said. He said he's hoping to reschedule the gala for spring.<br />
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The weather and the state's budget woes were the hot topics of conversation at the Georgia Freight Depot, where barbecue and peach cobbler were consumed with gusto.<br />
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Deal will present his first budget recommendation as governor on Wednesday and there has been speculation around the state Capitol about how bad this year's cuts will be as the state copes with the expected end of federal stimulus dollars. Some estimates have placed this year's shortfall at $1.8 billion.<br />
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But Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle painted a slightly rosier forecast saying he thought the budget gap would be closer to $1 billion.
