David Ralston

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Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal steps to the podium to deliver the State of the State address on the House floor while applauded by Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle, left, and House Speaker David Ralston, right, in Atlanta, Wednesday, Jan. 11, 2017. Deal is asking Georgia lawmakers to support a new plan for fixing low-performing schools after voters last fall rejected a proposal for state takeovers of schools that consistently struggle. The Republican governor said in his State of the State speech Wednesday that nearly 89,000 students were stuck in failing schools last year and their number "will grow with each passing school year" if nothing is done. (AP Photo/David Goldman)