ATLANTA – Republican gubernatorial hopeful Nathan Deal is pushing back his resignation date from Congress citing the looming vote on health care.
Deal said in a statement on Thursday that he would step down from the U.S. House on March 31, instead of March 8, as originally planned. He says he changed his mind after President Barack Obama pledged to push for a quick vote on health care.
Critics had blasted Deal’s decision to leave arguing it would make it easier for Democrats to push through a health care overhaul bill. Deal, of Gainesville, said he was stepping aside to focus full-time on his GOP gubernatorial bid.
He has represented the 9th District in north Georgia since 1992.