Via Peach Pundit through reporting by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution I came across a story on what’s going on in GA simply because a particular project — the centerpiece of the dear Governor’s agenda — happens to be commencing near his home town:

Amid state employee furloughs and calls for massive spending cuts, work is set to begin this week on the $23 million Go Fish Center down the road from Gov. Sonny Perdue’s home in Houston County.

Department of Natural Resources officials said Perdue signed the contract to get the project moving earlier this month. That was two months after he told state agencies to cut spending 6 percent to make up for a projected $1.6 billion budget shortfall.

Yes, that is correct. The great State of Georgia is projecting a $1.6 ba-ba-billion budget shortfall. And, according to our State constitution, we have to have a balanced budget, else the Governor is required, by law, to call the General Assembly (Georgia’s State Legislature) into special session in order to rectify the situation. This is why Assemblypersons are falling over each other to figure out what to get cut and what not to cut.

While it is true that, technically, the Governor was able to get this project bonded for FY2007. But, I happen to know for a fact that other bonded projects have had to be cut in other State agencies, so why not this one as well?

In my view, regardless of party affiliation, even if you’re technically in the right, you are wrong if things reek of bad publicity, even if you’re near the end of your term in office.

Bad call, Mr. Governor.

-Phil