Georgia House Republican to Retire, Make It Easier to Pass Obamacare

The Atlanta Journal Constitution reports:

U.S. Rep. Nathan Deal (R-Ga.) said Monday morning he will resign from Congress to “devote my full energies to the campaign for governor.”

Deal is one of seven Republicans seeking the GOP nomination for governor. He will resign from the U.S. House on March 8.

Deal, whose departure apparently voids a U.S. House ethics investigation into his business dealing with the state, announced his resignation at the Gainesville Civic Center before a crowd of about 100 supporters, who applauded his remarks.

“This is not a time for untested leadership in the governor’s office,” Deal said. “The economic future of our state is in peril.”

Deal's retirement (along with John Murtha's death and the retirements of Robert Wexler and Neil Abercrombie) will make 216 the new number for a majority in the House. As you might imagine, giving Obamacare a little more hope probably isn't going to help Deal in the Georgia Republican primary. If he wants to stand a chance maybe he'll reconsider. More likely, he'll follow through on his resignation to escape an ongoing ethics investigation.

Not that Charlie Rangel would let a pesky ethics violation to keep him from serving his country.

Hat tip: Ben Smith