Ga. Dems take issue with Deal's declaration that state is 'strong and growing stronger every day'

ATLANTA - Democratic Party of Georgia Chairman DuBose Porter Wednesday took issue with Gov. Nathan Deal's declaration during his State of the State address that Georgia is "strong and growing stronger."<br /> <br /> Porter said the facts clearly show otherwise - that Georgia is at risk of getting even further behind. Under Deal's watch, Porter said, Georgia's middle class has withered, its school rooms are overcrowded, and the promise of opportunity has become a faded memory. Instead of laying out a path forward for Georgia, Porter said what Deal offered in his speech are the same policies that crashed Georgia's economy and crushed its middle class.<br /> <br /> "Georgia prospers when hard work pays off, responsibility is rewarded, and every single Georgian has a fair shot," Porter added. "If we're to become competitive in the country once again, we need to invest in our teachers, keep our workforce healthy, help send more students to college and provide them with job training, and tap in to the greatest resource we have-the talent and grit of the people of Georgia. We've tried the GOP's top-down approach for more than a decade. And while it has benefited a handful of folks at the top, it has wrecked our economy and devastated the middle class.<br /> <br /> He said Deal needs to work with Democratic leaders in the legislature and "craft a vision for Georgia that invests in our workers and grows our economy from the middle out."<br /> <br />

http://accesswdun.com/article/2015/1/284020