Keeping track of the day’s political news, I came across this article from Jim Galloway over at the AJC’s Political Insider.
The particularly interesting tidbit, particularly considering some of the things he mentions in it and some things I just discussed when analyzing Nathan Deal’s disclosure, is this, regarding a potential Special Session of the General Assembly and fundraising:
Candidates for governor who hold state office — including Republicans Eric Johnson, Karen Handel, John Oxendine and Austin Scott — would be barred from raising money.
But U.S. Rep. Nathan Deal, the choice of House Republican leaders, would not be prohibited — because his current office is federal.
Now, what makes this interesting is that per Article 5, Section 2, Paragraph 7(b) of the Constitution of Georgia, the General Assembly CAN convene itself in Special Session. All it takes is a written certification from three-fifths of each chamber of the Assembly. In other words, 108 Representatives and 34 Senators would be needed, meaning it would have to be at least slightly bipartisan. But while only two Democrats – DuBose Porter and Thurbert Baker – would thus be banned from fundraising during this Special Session, all but two Republicans would be banned – Nathan Deal and Ray McBerry.
And Nathan Deal already has the monetary support of the top three officials in the House, and two very influential Senators.
Do I honestly see this situation happening for this reason – even if it is only acknowledged behind closed doors, if ever? Not really. But it is certainly a possibility, and given what I’ve come to know and understand about the highest levels of politics in this State over the past several months, I certainly wouldn’t completely discount it either.
