Governor Nathan Deal and many other state Republican leaders want you to vote for a new transportation sales tax, but they're getting pushback from members of their own party.
Monday, Republican Party in leaders in Lowndes County rallied against the Regional T-SPLOST.
They claim the Governor is trying to find out what elected and party leaders support it and they don't like that effort.
Opponents of the T-SPLOST gathered at Valdosta City Hall to protest what they say is an unprecedented request the Valdosta city manager got in an email.
"And asked him for a list of the councilmen and where they stood on T-SPLOST," said Lowndes Republican party chairman Nolen Cox. "He was saying that in return he would support them and his campaign efforts."
Supporters say the tax is vital to improve infrastructure and create jobs, but the Valdosta chamber recently polled more than 1500 of their members and found most don't like the tax.
"Of the replies that they got, approximately 70% of their members that replied were against T-SPLOST," said Lowndes Republican Vice- President Roy E. Taylor Sr.
Cox says the Governor's office denied that he made the request for names of supporters. He says the state Chamber is behind it. Cox says it still does not add up.
"What I am asking is, who authorized you to do that," Cox said. "How was that deal going to be completed, the support for the Governor, if he did not know about it."
And if he did know about it, Cox believes there will be some consequences.
"If the Governor is willing to make those kind of deals and is willing to stake his reputation on it, he is a big boy, he is a professional politician, let him go for it," Cox said.
It is a pivotal vote for taxpayers.
"We are just going to work like the devil to defeat it," Taylor said. "I don't think it will pass. I think it has no chance. We are going to be working hard until July 31st to unseat it and any politician that votes for it."
The party says they keep following up with the Governor until they know who made the request.
We talked to the Governor's office this afternoon, a spokesperson says that e-mail did not come from the Governor.
The Lowndes Republican party says the T-SPLOST is a bad tax in a bad economy.
The referendum will be on the ballot July 31st.
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