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

April 20, 2007

Dear Friends,                              

This week, Virginia Tech and our nation suffered a terrible tragedy.  So many promising young lives were lost and the victims are not only those killed, but everyone whose lives were touched by this senseless crime. 

Two of the victims were from Georgia – Ryan Clark, 22, a senior from Martinez, and Christopher “Jamie” Bishop, 35, a German instructor from Pine Mountain. I am very proud as a Georgian to have learned of their accomplishments, and I send their families my prayers and my hopes that they will accept our sympathy as they endure the heartbreaking loss of these fine young men.

I also extend my deepest sympathy to all of the victims and their families, along with the Virginia Tech campus, that we will find reconciliations out of tragedy.

Southeast Georgia Fires

On Wednesday, Senator Chambliss and I received word that federal funding assistance would be coming to Georgia in response to the fires in the Southeastern part of the state that have affected some 20,000 acres of federal, state and private land.  Governor Perdue made the request on Tuesday, and funding was made available through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) on Wednesday.  The authorization includes a 75 percent federal cost share to be applied to all fire management assistance grants.  I am very pleased that the citizens of southeast Georgia will be able to take advantage of this federal assistance as they recover from these widespread fires.  I applaud the heroic efforts of the emergency personnel and the firefighters who battled this unwieldy and fast-spreading fire and protected our citizens, and I join with Senator Chambliss in crediting Governor Perdue’s quick action in seeking federal aid for the region.

Medicare Drug Price Negotiation

This week I voted against proceeding to consideration of legislation that would have made changes to the successful Medicare Prescription drug benefit program.

Under Medicare Part D, public hospitals, private providers, insurance companies and pharmacies all negotiate their drug prices with the drug companies. With this many providers negotiating with drug companies, you get maximum competition and better prices.

This legislation would have replaced the existing free-market competition that has driven down drug costs for both seniors and taxpayers with government price controls that limit access and choice.  

Immigration Reform

The White House and Congress continue discussions on immigration reform and it looks like a new package could come before the Senate this summer.  I continue to fight for immigration legislation that includes a ‘trigger’ prohibiting implementation of any temporary worker program until the Department of Homeland Security certifies to the President and to the Congress that the border security provisions in the immigration legislation are fully funded and operational.

What’s on Tap for Next Week?

Next week, the Senate will begin debate on S. 761, the Competitiveness bill.

Sincerely,
Johnny Isakson