Gov. Nathan Deal: Carter Plays Politics, Votes Against Georgia Jobs and Classrooms

Your Georgia Desk:

From Nathan Deal For Governor

Carter plays politics, votes against Georgia jobs and classrooms

State Senator Jason Carter today voted against the FY15 budget, which contains millions of dollars of funding for deepening the Port of Savannah, safeguarding Georgia’s water supply, and protecting our state’s most vulnerable children. It also includes $8 billion in education investments. The budget passed the Senate in a 51-4 vote.

“This marks the first time that Senator Carter has ever voted against Gov. Deal’s budget, which includes funding priorities like education, strengthening the rainy day fund, and implementing criminal justice reforms,” said Deal campaign spokesperson Jen Talaber.  “Given its overwhelming bipartisan support, and the fact that he has voted for similar budgets for the past three years, you have to wonder what’s changed, his principles or his political calculations? Georgians prefer their elected officials to support job creation, economic development initiatives and education investments even if it is an election year.

“As one of only four ‘no’ votes against a common sense, bipartisan budget, Senator Carter has planted his flag firmly with the most extreme faction of his party, discrediting his hollow praise of bipartisanship. The new Jason Carter has made it clear he thinks Georgians need to pay higher taxes and state government needs to spend more of their money.”

The FY15 budget contains funding for the following:

• $8 billion towards education funding
• $35 million for Savannah Harbor Expansion Project
• $45 million to connect rural classrooms to broadband Internet
• $66 million towards protecting Georgia’s water supply
• $10 million to Division of Family and Children Services