Former Congressman Nathan Deal was Wednesday's first guest on the “Mornings unPHILtered” show. Deal resigned from his post in Washington to focus on his run for the Republican Party's nomination in the gubernatorial race.
    Deal said the two issues people are most concerned about are the state of the economy and the enforcement of laws concerning illegal immigration and those people who are in the country illegally.
    Deal said he supported the recent actions of the Arizona legislature that cracked down on illegal immigrants, including requiring people to show proof of citizenship if required by a police officer. He said that there is a provision in the 1998 immigration law that allows local law enforcement to enforce federal immigration law. However, Deal said, very few counties have chosen to take advantage of this provision.
    He said even though Georgia is not located on the Mexican border, the state has serious immigration issues that he will address.
    Deal told host Phil Boyum about his family network in the Bulloch County area, reminding the show's listeners that both of his parents were Bulloch Countians. He added that he is looking forward to the May 7 Republican primary gubernatorial debate at Statesboro High School.
    Deal then discussed the need stimulate the local economy so when Georgia Southern University's students graduate they can find jobs at home.
    Asked about the Congressional Ethics Panel's inconclusive report about his activities, Deal said this panel, created by Speaker Nancy Pelosi released its report, incomplete as it was, to punish him for his vote against the Health Care bill.
    Deal said that the Republican Party, of whom Georgia's Republicans are some of the most conservative, must return to its original values. He declared that, faced with serious economic difficulties, America must establish a new set of priorities.
    Deal said law enforcement must be properly funded, and the public education system must be given the money it needs to do the job it is supposed to do. In addition, the state of Georgia transportation system must be maintained and expanded where necessary.
    Finally, the state of Georgia, under the recently passed health care bill will most likely see huge increases in their health costs that the state is forced to cover. Deal said above all the money must be found to pay for these essential services.
    Boyum next welcomed David Maslanka, the “composer-in-Residence” at Georgia Southern University, to the show.
    Maslanka came to GSU at the invitation of the college's band director, Dr. Robert Dunham. Maslanka said many of his pieces come from the music he heard as a youth, including church music, American folk songs, and others.
    Maslanka said the process of composing classical music takes a long time. He said he taught at the university level for some 20 years, with his last job being at Kingsborough Community College in New York.
    Maslanka said Dr. Dunham has already done a great deal of work with the students he will be “coaching.” Maslanka will be giving three lectures to the students from schools around Bulloch County at the college.
    At the end of this week, Maslanka will finish his guest residency with a performance of his “Symphony #7” in a GSU Symphonic Wind Ensemble Concert. This concert will be held on Friday at 7:30 pm. at the Performing Arts Center, and is free and open to all.