Georgia Republicans seem to have drawn a target on Better Georgia, the left-leaning group that’s known for harassing Gov. Nathan Deal.
Two separate complaints were lodged with the state ethics commission in the past two weeks, both by residents with ties to the GOP. Both claimed the group, registered as a nonprofit social welfare organization, has failed to abide by the restrictions of its federal tax category.
The first complaint, filed by James Burnham of St. Marys, said that an email he received from the group in May that slammed Deal amounted to political conduct that doesn't comport with its tax status.
The second complaint, filed Tuesday by GOP activist Cade Joiner of Macon, said that the overwhelming majority of Better Georgia's posts and emails attack Deal or advocated against his re-election as governor.
Better Georgia head Bryan Long said his group has the same tax status as many tea party organizations, and that it was reviewed by the Internal Revenue Service in a process that took more than 500 days. He called the allegations an election-year tactic “as evidenced by the fact that the press was tipped off about the complaint” before his organization received it.
The complaints come as the November contest pitting Deal against Democrat Jason Carter is heating up. While Deal has the well-funded Republican Governors Association and other GOP funds at his back, Better Georgia has been Carter’s most active third-party ally.
About the Author
