Democrats praise his openness while expressing optimism over his policies. Environmentalists appreciate his realism. Republican lawmakers compliment him on his collaborative spirit.
Nathan Deal has impressed a disparate group of interests in his first month as governor and has won high marks as much for what he has done as for who he isn’t. In short, he isn’t Sonny Perdue.
Sen. Vincent Fort, D-Atlanta, a self-described liberal, said he has already been to Deal’s office twice. That’s twice more than under Perdue, he said.
It’s not just Fort who’s seeing the governor more. Deal is making time to talk with lawmakers daily. Plus, groups visiting the Capitol have a chance at getting a picture taken with Deal.
Deal has faced criticism on some issues, from the handling of the response to January’s snowstorm to several hirings and staff salaries, but his overall style has won him fans.
Perdue, the Republican governor whom Deal succeeded in January, was often criticized by lawmakers and others at the Capitol for an aggressive style and a seeming lack of interest in making nice with legislators. Deal has changed that, those inside the Capitol said.
“I could not imagine our relationship with the governor being any better,” Senate Majority Leader Chip Rogers, R-Woodstock, said. “He has been an absolute joy to work with.”
Winning praise from fellow Republicans is not a surprise, given party unity and the honeymoon period typically extended to any new chief executive. But Rogers and other Republicans, while not directly criticizing Perdue or even referring to the former governor by name, say Deal has done the little things right.
“He asks our ideas, seeks input, seeks to form a consensus,” Rogers said. “The good thing about his interests and his agenda, he comes to us and seeks further input and wants to know how we can add to that or criticize that. He’s open to criticism.”
That is not to say Deal’s transition and first month in office have been without difficulties.
He took heat for being slow to show leadership in the hours after his Jan. 10 inauguration as much of metro Atlanta remained frozen and stilled from the snow and ice storm that forced him to postpone his own inaugural gala.
Ethics watchdogs criticized Deal for hiring lobbyists for key positions and for high salaries top aides were awarded.
Perhaps his greatest criticism has come from within the GOP. Deal has inserted himself into the race for the chairmanship of the state Republican Party by backing Tricia Pridemore, a campaign supporter who led his inaugural committee, over two-term chairwoman Sue Everhart, who led the party to historic gains in November’s election.
Everhart has said Deal has been calling Republican activists to urge them to vote for Pridemore. Anthony-Scott Hobbs, a Cobb County Republican who supports Everhart, said Deal is welcome to have a preferred candidate but should leave the decision to the grass roots.
“I don’t think any type of pressure should be made,” Hobbs said. “Let the delegates decide who they want. Let the candidates run on their own merits.”
Inside the Capitol, however, criticism of the new governor is difficult to find — even from groups that typically would find little to like about a Republican governor.
Deal knows, however, that disagreements are possible, even likely.
“The more we can come to trust each other, then we may not agree with our final conclusions, but at least we trust each other to make that judgment call,” Deal said.
Fort said Deal earned respect from Democrats when he invited Atlanta lawmakers to talk about the ongoing crisis in Atlanta’s public schools that has threatened the system’s accreditation
While many were alarmed when Deal named Beth Beskin, a Republican who last year challenged Horacena Tate, D-Atlanta, as one of two people charged with keeping him updated on the situation, many were also equally pleased that he asked House Minority Leader Stacey Abrams, D-Atlanta, to do the same.
After a debate over Beskin’s appointment, “the rest of the meeting, he did for at least 30 minutes listen to Atlanta legislators,” Fort said.
That meeting was not an anomaly. Deal sets aside time every day to meet with any lawmaker who wants to talk to him. He also has “picture time” most mornings for any group visiting the Capitol. Former Gov. Roy Barnes, a Democrat who lost to Perdue in 2002 and to Deal in 2010, did the same. Zell Miller, who was governor before Barnes, had a similar setup. Perdue did not, although Perdue regularly met with legislative leaders.
That level of access has won Deal respect.
Neill Herring, a veteran environmental lobbyist and frequent critic of Republican leaders and Republican policies, likewise sees positive steps in Deal’s first month in office.
Herring said Deal has been candid in doubting whether Georgia, which is embroiled in a decades-long fight with Florida and Alabama over access to drinking water, will win a court fight.
“He’s the first sitting governor to take a realistic view about Georgia’s chances in tri-state water litigation,” said Herring, who lobbies for the Sierra Club. “It’s a level of realism we’re unaccustomed to.”
While Fort sees positive signs in Deal’s style, he is wary of what is to come. He knows there will be disagreements. The future of the HOPE scholarship is a likely subject. Lawmakers have vowed to resolve the popular lottery-funded scholarship’s funding this year. HOPE’s costs have exceeded lottery profits, and Deal has said it cannot continue to dip into lottery reserves to make up the difference.
Thus far, Deal has not said how he would prefer that be done, but he has said he does not believe the scholarship should be based on a student’s or family’s income. Fort hopes the governor reconsiders.
“I’m open-minded, but at the same time, I wish he would consider means testing,” Fort said. “It’s become an entitlement, and means testing is the best way to forestall any problems with HOPE.”
But even as Fort has concerns about HOPE, he sees promise in another of Deal’s proposals. The governor has said the state should explore alternatives to incarceration for nonviolent drug users. Fort has long advocated for the same idea.
And just this week, Deal surprised many when he urged lawmakers to move cautiously on legislation aimed at curtailing illegal immigration.
Deal spokesman Brian Robinson said his boss will always operate from a firm set of principles.
“The governor is a conservative Republican,” Robinson said. “That’s always going to be the boundaries in which he works.”
Still, Robinson said, he will listen to opposing views and give lawmakers his ear and a chance to find agreement.
“The governor comes from a legislative background and served in the state Senate,” Robinson said. “He knows that not all great ideas start in the governor’s office.”
PROGRESS REPORT
Where Gov. Nathan Deal’s top priorities stand a month into his term.
Taxes
Deal’s plan to cut the corporate income tax by a third was included in recommendations made by a special tax council studying the state’s tax code. That report has yet to be acted on by lawmakers.
HOPE
Lawmakers continue to consider ways of resolving funding problems with the scholarships, but no legislation has been introduced.
K-12 education
During the campaign, Deal promised to protect teacher pensions, to encourage top science and math students to become teachers and to develop specialized charter schools. Thus far, his primary education initiatives have been to try to boost the k-12 budget and to create a system of advisory groups to provide him feedback.
Job creation
Deal has made several internal changes designed to spur economic development, including creating a new “competitiveness council” to study how the state competes with its neighbors.
Transportation
Deal has continued to offer support for the 2012 referendums on transportation funding. Thus far, there’s been little other movement on campaign promises to build more HOV and toll lanes.
Water
In December, Deal told lawmakers he wanted money for new reservoirs in the coming state budget. His proposed spending plan included that money and is now up to lawmakers.
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