United States Congressman Nathan Deal from North Georgia was the first guest on Tuesday's “Mornings unPHILtered” show. Deal is running for the Republican nomination for governor.
    Deal told host Phil Boyum that he has many family ties to the Statesboro area, being related to the Bulloch County Deal and Mallard families. Deal was born in Millen, raised in Sandersville and attended Mercer University in Macon.
    Deal said he is running because Georgia is at a critical juncture, and needs an experienced hand at its helm who knows that state and who also has the political experience to run the state. Deal serves in Georgia's Ninth District, which borders three states, and has 15 counties.
    Deal previously served 12 years in the State Senate, even serving as Senate President Pro-tem, before running for Congress. Deal referred to his desire to keep Georgia on an even keel, maintaining the conservative position the state government has been followed.
    Asked about his “Facebook” and “Twitter” sites, Deal stated thousands have signed up to aid his campaign. Deal said he is putting videos on his Web site of those things which are important to his campaign. He said that he has visited Bulloch County once already while on the campaign trail, and looks forward to his next visit.
    Deal told Boyum that he has fought hard to ensure the Savannah port is deepened so that larger cargo ships can get in and out of the port, rather than going to larger ports elsewhere. In addition, he supports the efforts to create a transportation corridor so that rail cargo can be trans-shipped to trucks for further shipment.
    Deal said by keeping taxes low, and regulations non-intrusive, he said Georgia can convince more business to come and set up business. Deal said both his parents and his wife are former educators, and they are very concerned about the status of Georgia's public education.
    Deal said that there are ways to approach education at a lower cost, such as building charter and private schools. However, he said, public school “Career Academies,” which link high schools with technical colleges are experiencing a much higher graduation rate than regular high schools.
    Deal spoke of how he has been leading the fight to better Georgia's healthcare. Deal said he is very concerned about the potential passage of “Obamacare.” Deal stated Medicaid might be most negatively affected by “Obamacare.”
    Deal said he has opposed the new healthcare bill every time it reached the floor. He said Republicans were basically kept out of the process, and maneuvers were taken to prevent them from having much input. Deal said the American public wants an open and transparent process, and for people to play by the rules.
    Deal said that as governor of this state, he would defend the right of Georgia to withdraw from public programs with which they don't agree. As chairman of a House Subcommitee in 2005-06, he said he worked to help every state create a pool of high-risk uninsured, which could be funded at the federal level.
    Deal said that plan would cost much less than the proposed “Obamacare,” and would bring those who needed health insurance the most across the nation.
    Concerning illegal aliens who use, or abuse, America's public health care, Deal said that he had authored the “Birth Right Citizenship Bill, which was intended to clarify the meaning of the 14th Amendment.
    Deal said that this issue concerns this challenge to the basic rule of law. People who illegally enter this country and then bear children are not automatically qualified for citizenship almost anywhere across the globe except in America. This makes America a magnet for illegal aliens.
    As many as 47 states and the District of Columbia have a self-declaration of eligibility to be considered for benefits in the Medicaid Program, which requires no documentation to prove your claim. Deal said he, as Chairman, put in language that documents be provided in order to claim benefits.
    Obama's administration is challenging the requirement for documentation. Citizenship, Deal said, is obtained by following the rules and process. At the same time, Deal said the agricultural community throughout Bulloch County and Georgia need a dependable workforce.
    Deal supports a program that allows the needed workers to come in as they are needed, but under time limits and conditions to which the workers must agree. Deal said if he were elected, he would immediately reach out to all politicians, to try to bring them together so that Georgia's needs are addressed and the future becomes as bright as possible.
    
    “Mornings unPHILtered” airs live Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. on statesboroherald.com and also simulcast on WWNS-AM 1240 on the radio. You also can listen anytime at BoroLive.com on statesboroherald.com