Sonny's legacy

As his eight year term as GA governor ends, Sonny Purdue's legacy may well turn out to be this: He left the state taxpayers saddled with the cost of paying off bonds on three pet projects for his home county that will amount to nearly $4 million annually for the next 20 years. That totals about $80,000,000.

This, at a time that an austerity budget forced the state to lay off teachers and limit health care for needy citizens.

What projects?

(1) The "Go Fish" aquatic wildlife and fishing education center. That sounds essential, doesn't it? Do Georgians really need a $14 million facility (total cost with debt service: $19,275,260) to teach them how to fish?

(2) New horse and lifestock facilities at the Georgia National Fairgrounds. Umm. State Fairs are important. But would you travel to Houston County to see their prize pigs? Well, it is in the middle of the state. Anyone can get there within a few hours by car. And don't forget: 135,715 Georgians actually live there. Price tag: $25 million.

(3) Purchase of the Oaky Woods conservation property at a price of $2,874 per acre that sold six years ago for $1,600 per acre. Many legislators protested that the price was too high, but the governor pushed for the purchase, pushed really hard. Oh, yes, the property is adjacent to land owned by the governor, and the plan was for a multi-use development project, obviously set to increase surrounding land values as well. We borrowed $17.8 million for that purchase.

What's the defense? These things will benefit the state in the long run; and, besides, all governors do it.

Tell that to the teacher who lost her job or the parent with a sick child and no affordable health care.

Mike Luckowich's cartoon depicts his everyman couple, who loom large, looking down at a tiny pair of shoes. The caption: "Purdue left shoes for the next governor to fill." And, in the background, an even tinier Nathan Deal saying, "I promise to grow into them."

Of course you will, Little Nathan. Your history promises that you already know how to manipulate state agencies to benefit your own private business interests, even when you sat doing nothing in Washington all those years. We expect more of the same from you.

Ralph