A Weekly e-Newsletter from
Senator Johnny Isakson (R-GA)

February 3, 2006

Dear Friends,

This week, Georgia and America lost a great pioneer in the Civil Rights Movement with the death of Coretta Scott King.  On Tuesday, I spoke on the Senate floor in remembrance of Mrs. King, the wife and partner of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.  I had the privilege of knowing her since my days in the Georgia legislature, and I saw her as an equal with Dr. King in the movement.  I saw her as a loving mother in the raising of their four children, and I saw her after the loss of Dr. King as an undying advocate, ensuring that the legacy of Dr. King and his movement is perpetuated in American history.  As we pause in sympathy for the loss of Coretta Scott King, let us remember that she joins Rosa Parks as a great woman in American history and as a tireless advocate for equality for all Americans.  I am proud to announce that on Tuesday, the Senate unanimously passed a resolution honoring the life of Coretta Scott King.

On Monday, an attempt to filibuster Judge Samuel Alito’s nomination to the United States Supreme Court failed. On Tuesday, Judge Alito was confirmed by a vote of 58 to 42.  I was honored to cast my vote on behalf of the people of Georgia to confirm Samuel Alito as Associate Justice of the United States Supreme Court and was pleased to see him in his new judge's robes at the State of the Union speech on Tuesday night.

Also on Tuesday, President Bush delivered his State of the Union address to a joint session of Congress and outlined his goals for our country over the next year.  Much of his speech focused on the War on Terror and building on the progress that has been made in Iraq.  I believe the President is exactly right on this: Democracy is spreading across  Afghanistan and  Iraq. We have a critical role to play. The War on Terror is not over until terror is wiped out.  The President also recognized what I’ve known as a former chairman of the Board of Education, and that is math and science and technical knowledge are important to economic competitiveness. Recent studies show we should make an investment in that for the future. But competitiveness is far more than just education. It’s also a good tax policy, and that’s why extending the tax cuts is so important to the vibrant economy we enjoy. We’re in a world economy, not an isolated one. The President’s position on trade is right; his position on training for math and science is right; and his position on tax cuts and making them permanent is right. 

President Bush also discussed new advances in energy sources and said Americans are addicted to foreign oil.  The only way we can cure that addiction is to expand domestic exploration, find alternative renewable sources of energy and invest in energy independence. The bill we passed in Congress this past year was a good start, but this country has been without an energy plan for 11 years and we’re now paying the price for it. It’s important we develop all our resources. We should drill in ANWR for our natural resources and our own domestic supply. We should start licensing nuclear power plants. It’s cleaner; it’s more efficient; and it’s cheaper than any power possible. We need to explore natural gas in new areas that are currently unchartered, and we need to always be investing in new sources of energy like the hydrogen engine.

Also this week, I visited North Cobb High School and talked to 200 of their upper grade students about our National Security and the War on Terrorism, the recent Palestinian elections and the new Hamas leadership, as well as about the partisan tone in Washington, D.C.   I particularly enjoyed many of the questions I was asked and was proud to meet with such bright, young students in our state.

This month, I had new interns begin in both my Atlanta and Washington, D.C. offices.  Interns in my Washington office include Gabe Allen, Kelly Cassetori, Jason Hodges, Lauren Hunt, Liz Kolshak and Alex Sabbag.  Our interns in Atlanta are Kathleen Bennett and Chase Davidson.  I look forward to getting to know these young people better, and my staff and I appreciate all of their hard work. 

What’s on Tap for Next Week?

I will attend the funeral for Coretta Scott King on Tuesday, and the Senate will begin debate on asbestos legislation. 

Sincerely,
Johnny Isakson