Nathan's Sweetheart Deal
Recently dishonored by being named one of the 15 most corrupt members of Congress by Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, gubernatorial candidate Nathan Deal has over 20 years of experience in looking out for number one.
According to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, over twenty years of no-bid contracts, as much as $3,000,000 might have found its way into Deal's pockets in a lucrative sweetheart deal between Deal's auto salvage business and the Georgia Department of Revenue.
- Deal’s business raked in millions from a backroom, no-bid contract with the state of Georgia.
In 1990, Deal and a business partner incorporated Recovery Services, Inc.1 Despite the business being new, that very year, Deal's company managed to get one of only eight contracts to provide salvaged vehicle inspection services to the state of Georgia.2 More surprisingly, Recovery Services, Inc. got the contract without even placing bid.3
- Deal's "Sweetheart Deal" was worth millions.
Over just the last four years, Deal’s business made over $1.5 million from this contract alone.4 The contract, which has existed since 1990, is worth up to $150,000.00 per year in profit to Deal.5
- Deal used his political position to pressure the state into protecting his business interests.
When the Georgia Revenue Commissioner considered eliminating the program, Deal and his staff had Lt. Governor Casey Cagle arrange three meetings with the Commissioner to pressure him not to cut the program.6 The Commissioner resisted the Deal’s bullying and sent the proposed elimination of the program to the legislature. Deal then had his Chief of Staff put the screws to state officials to have the program restored -- and succeeded in saving the program despite its waste of taxpayer dollars.7
- Because of his "sweetheart deal," Nathan was named one of the "Fifteen Most Corrupt Members of Congress" by the nonpartisan group Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW).8
- Late in 2009, the Office of Congressional Ethics and the U.S. House Committee on Standards of Official Conduct began investigating Deal, interviewing Department of Revenue employees and exploring the option of issuing subpoenas.9
According to an official with CREW, "It's so infrequent that they get to that stage [of issuing subpoenas] they have to be concerned there is serious wrongdoing."10
- Deal's "Mythical Money"
When is a quarter of a million dollars not a quarter of a million dollars? When Nathan Deal's dirty dealings are at work. To beef up the fundraising for his campaign, Nathan Deal took the unheard of step of depositing $250,000 in an account and then using the account to justify taking out a $250,000 loan from the same bank.11 Deal's campaign then added the numbers together to claim he made half a million dollars. The mythical money is just another example of Deal abusing the system to benefit his quest for power.
1. Georgia Secretary of State, Corporations Division, accessed 10/13/2009
2 - 7. "Agreement with state benefits Deal’s firm" Atlanta Journal-Constitution: 08/22/2009
8. "CREW's Most Corrupt: Nathan Deal" Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, accessed 10/13/2009
9. "Congressional ethics committees inquire about Deal's business" Atlanta Journal-Constitution: 12/14/2009
10. "Congressional ethics committees inquire about Deal's business" Atlanta Journal-Constitution: 12/14/2009
11. "Deal: Georgia bank CD used to secure $250K credit line" Savannah Morning News: 01/22/2010
