Nathan Deal: Statewide grand jury worth a conversation | Political Insider | www.ajc.com

State Sen. Josh McKoon, R-Columbus, won’t exactly be the most popular guy at the state Capitol next year when he revives a decades-old GOP quest to create a statewide grand jury aimed at rooting out public corruption.

But his effort earned some qualified support – if not the full-fledged endorsement – of a key figure on Tuesday: Gov. Nathan Deal, who is wrestling with his own frustrations with the law as well as growing questions about his office’s involvement in an ethics complaint.

Deal said the notion that a statewide grand jury is needed to focus on far-flung areas of the state where it would be difficult for a district attorney to secure an indictment against an elected official “has merit and needs to be discussed.” “I’m not ready to endorse it,” he said. “But I think it’s something the General Assembly should talk about.”

Such grand juries would be called by the Georgia attorney general, an enhancement of powers currently allotted the office.

McKoon, R-Columbus, wants to hold hearings on his proposed constitutional amendment early next year. He hopes to get the required two-thirds passage by the House and Senate during the legislative session so that it can be placed on the November ballot for voter approval.

Deal, though, wants any proposal to include a hard-and-fast dividing line between McKoon’s notion and administrative inquests into campaign issues.

via Nathan Deal: Statewide grand jury worth a conversation | Political Insider | www.ajc.com.