Does the Congressman think it is Republican money -- Hang tough Mayor Franklin

In the previous post I noted that I've been asleep at the wheel. Somehow I missed reading Saturday's ajc, and found my unread hard copy tonight.

A most interesting article on Mayor Franklin and a Congressman and a Congressional candidate. I can't believe I missed it and haven't seen anything about it anywhere else.

Anyway, the headline in the 8-21-04 ajc reads "Mayor toes party line --- will city foot the bill?"

It seems that Mayor Franklin, during the primary, endorsed John Barrow of Athens for Congress who is running against Republican Congressman Max Burns. She says "she saw it as nothing more than one Democrat helping another."

"But the mayor's involvement in the 12th District congressional race set off a political storm in Washington and around Georgia that now threatens Atlanta's efforts to win tens of millions of dollars in federal aid to repair the city's crumbling sewer system."

Burns "is among the most vulnerable incumbent lawmakers in the country this fall. Burns' re-election is a top priority for the national party."

"It is also a personal cause for Rep. Jack Kingston of Savannah, chairman of the House Republican Caucus. Kingston is the only Georgia lawmaker chairing an appropriations subcommittee, and his support for the Atlanta funding has been crucial."

"But Franklin's endorsement of Burns' opponent so angered Kingston that he warned other lawmakers this summer he was withdrawing his support for Atlanta's sewer project, according to interviews with more than a dozen people directly involved in the funding effort."

I know Rep. Jack Kingston. He has been my Congressman ever since the Democrats redistricted Sen. Chambliss out of his district and this led to his runing for the U.S. Senate. I know him to be a fair and reasonable man. This does not appear either fair or reasonable.

Thankfully, all Republicans don't wear red glasses. At least a couple recognize that federal funds do not belong to the Republicans or Democrats who agree to toe the line and not campaign for fellow Democrats.

"Georgia Sen. Saxby Chambliss, a Republican, has gone to Senate appropriations committee members to assure them that the Atlanta project remains a priority for the delegation despite Kingston's lack of support."

"Rep. Johnny Isakson, a Republican now running for Georgia's other Senate seat to succeed retiring Democrat Zell Miller, took the same message to House appropriations committee members. Two weeks ago, Isakson brought top staff from the House appropriations committee to Atlanta to view the sewer project and dine with Franklin."

The article reports that there is an open question of whether Franklin will campaign for Barrow this fall in the general election.

Here's to hoping that the Mayor will allow her conscience, and not what is alleged to be a quid pro quo trade-off, to be her guide. We recognize that in politics to get along sometimes one must go along. But in matters that involve fair play and right and wrong, doing what is right will probably best serve her and Atlanta, including its dilapidated sewer system, in both the short and long run.