Johnny Isakson, United States Senator from Georgia


A Weekly e-Newsletter from Senator Johnny Isakson (R-GA) February 1, 2008 Dear Friends, This week the Senate continued debate on the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, known as FISA. On Wednesday, the Senate extended the current version of FISA for 15 more days in order to continue debate on the amendments. I believe it is critical to act immediately to amend this legislation in order to bring it up to date with current communication technologies. The intelligence gathered through foreign intelligence surveillance saves American lives, and the absence of any catastrophic attacks in America since September 11, 2001, is the product of hard work by Americans in intelligence, law enforcement and the military. I support S.2248, the bipartisan legislation amending FISA that passed out of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence almost unanimously. This legislation makes needed changes to FISA so the government’s counter-terrorism intelligence-gathering can continue uninterrupted. Additionally, S.2248 includes retroactive immunity for private telecommunications carriers who assisted the United States in conducting intelligence surveillance post-9/11. The assistance of private telecommunications carriers is essential to carrying out the intelligence-gathering contemplated in FISA, and those who assist the government in tracking terrorists should not be punished with lawsuits. Tax Credits for Home Buyers On Wednesday, I introduced legislation to provide a $15,000 tax credit spread out over three tax years for anyone purchasing a new home, a foreclosed home or a home where foreclosure is pending. Our country and our economy face a serious challenge in the next 12 months. The number of unsold new homes and foreclosed resale homes will reach unprecedented numbers. Lenders will be forced to liquidate their real estate holdings, which will result in lower home values and less equity for homeowners. Today, we need a bold incentive to restore the housing market and consumer confidence. Just as it did in the mid-1970s, this proposal will reduce inventories, reduce foreclosures and stabilize market values. Specifically, my legislation, S.2566, would provide a direct tax credit for the purchase of a single-family home in the amount of $5,000 a year for three years on homes purchased between March 1, 2008, and February 28, 2009. Buyers must occupy the homes as their principle residences to be eligible, and purchases of homes from investors or by investors are ineligible. Homes eligible for the tax credit would include: New homes where the building permit was issued and construction began on or before September 1, 2007; Owner-occupied homes whose first mortgage loan is in default; and A single-family home that has been foreclosed on and is owned by the mortgagor or its agent. Economic Stimulus Package I believe there is a commitment within both parties to find common ground and pass an economic stimulus package quickly. Whatever happens in our economy will largely be determined by how we choose to respond to the current situation, including what action the government takes. We need to be focusing on prudent and appropriate steps that will put money back in the pockets of consumers and have an immediate and positive impact on the economy. Then Congress can focus on taking long-term steps to stabilize the economy. This includes reducing the federal deficit, changing our budget process and sticking to spending priorities and pursuing fundamental changes to our tax system. The House-passed bill, agreed upon with the White House, is strategic and surgical. It does put money in the hands of the consumer, it does advance both expensing and depreciation to small business and it does partially address the mortgage industry problem by raising Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and FHA limits. In addition, I am opposed to illegal immigrants receiving the rebates contained in the stimulus package and will support every effort to fix that issue. Corps of Engineers to Update Water Control Manual for ACF River Basin On Wednesday, Senator Chambliss and I announced that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has now committed to begin to update its outdated water control plan for the second drought-ravaged river basin that serves Georgia, Alabama and Florida. Secretary of the Army, Pete Geren, notified us by telephone that the Corps will start the process for updating the water control manual for the Apalachicola-Chattahoochee-Flint River Basin. Secretary Geren has previously committed to updating the water control manual for the other river basin that serves Georgia – the Alabama-Coosa-Tallapoosa river basin. Senator Chambliss and I have continually worked to get Georgia, Florida and Alabama together and to force the Corp of Engineers to update a 20-year-old Water Control Plan for the Alabama-Coosa-Tallapoosa and Apalachicola-Chattahoochee-Flint River Basins. The action taken by the Corps today is a good first step, but there is still much work to be done in order to achieve a more realistic and fair management of Georgia’s water resources. The water control plans governing these two critical river basins are decades old and no longer serve the needs of the state of Georgia. It is imperative that we update the water control plan to reflect 21st century demand and usage. U.S. Troop Progress in Iraq On Tuesday, I spoke on the floor of the Senate to highlight the progress our troops are making in Iraq. During my recent visit to Iraq on January 5-6, 2008, I witnessed firsthand the progress President Bush cited Monday night in his State of the Union address. The progress that the president described is real and it is tangible. Things are changing in Iraq and they’re changing for the better for the Iraqis and for us. We have brought back two groups of troops, as the president said, we will bring back five more without replacing them this year. Our troop level will be going down. We’re going from a combat confrontation to an oversight role in terms of helping and providing logistics to the Iraqis. The practical matter is this, whatever mistakes may have been made in the past, whatever differences we may have had, the young men and women of the United States have performed magnificently. General Petraeus has lived up to every single promise of hope that we had for him. In the name and the memory of the tragic loss of life in Iraq, Georgia soldiers such as Diego Rincon, Lieutenant Noah Harris, Sergeant Mike Stokely and the other 119, the sacrifice they made has not been in vain, and we are on the doorstep hopefully building a democracy that will last and endure in the Middle East. Hopefully, it will be the first step of many to accomplish the hope of peace, freedom and liberty that we enjoy in this country. State of the Union Address I am glad the President finally delineated the problem when it comes to earmarks during his speech on Monday night. He pointed out that the last-minute, drop them in at the dead of night, conference committee earmarks are wrong. Authorizations are right, but last minute spending of the taxpayer’s money without accountability is dead wrong and should be stopped. The President is absolutely right. The President was right also to highlight the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act and how critical it is to the security of the United States of America. The petty differences that may be exhibited right now on the floor of the House and the Senate pale in comparison to the importance of knowing who is trying to do harm to the United States. I fully endorse the President’s call to immediately pass FISA so we may ensure that the flow of critical intelligence is not disrupted. As the President said, this year we must reauthorize No Child Left Behind. This landmark law has demonstrated improvements in the children it set out to help the most. I look forward to working with him again to strengthen our nation’s public schools, because I believe our commitment to the principles in No Child Left Behind will continue to improve educational achievement around the country in all subject areas. Border Security Update From the very beginning of my term in the U.S. Senate, I have argued that without true border security we can have no meaningful immigration reform. Last year, the Department of Homeland Security pledged to build 145 miles of border fencing along the U.S. border with Mexico by the end of September 2007, and they constructed of 150 miles of pedestrian fence by that deadline. They plan to build another 225 miles of pedestrian fence by the end of 2008. At the same time, they will also be building several hundred miles of vehicle fence to complement the pedestrian fence with barriers to prevent vehicles from illegally entering the United States. At the end of 2008, the Omnibus bill that passed the Senate included border security provisions as well. It appropriated $3 billion for emergency border spending, as well as required that 700 miles of additional fencing be built. I was pleased that Homeland Security Secretary Chertoff announced yesterday that the President will seek a 19 percent increase in funding for border security and border enforcement in his fiscal year 2009 budget. As you know I have previously introduced legislation that spelled out in detail the increased manpower, equipment and technology necessary to stop the flood of illegal immigrants into our country. The best way to address the illegal immigration crisis is to make the commitment to secure and seal the border as the required first step of immigration reform. To view my full position on border security and immigration reform, click here. What’s on Tap for Next Week? The Senate is expected to debate an economic stimulus bill. In addition, Georgia will hold its Presidential Primary on Tuesday, February 5, 2008. I encourage you to get out and support the candidate of your choice to be your party’s presidential nominee. I am always happy to receive your comments on these and other issues that affect you. Please feel free to contact my office via phone at (770) 661-0999 in Atlanta, Ga., (202) 224-3643 in Washington, D.C., or via e-mail at http://isakson.senate.gov/contact.cfm. Sincerely, Johnny Isakson
E-mail: http://isakson.senate.gov/contact.cfm Washington: United States Senate, 120 Russell Senate Office Building, Washington, DC 20510 Tel: (202) 224-3643 Fax: (202) 228-0724 Atlanta: One Overton Park, 3625 Cumberland Blvd, Suite 970, Atlanta, GA 30339 Tel: (770) 661-0999 Fax: (770) 661-0768

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

February 1, 2008

Dear Friends,

This week the Senate continued debate on the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, known as FISA. On Wednesday, the Senate extended the current version of FISA for 15 more days in order to continue debate on the amendments. I believe it is critical to act immediately to amend this legislation in order to bring it up to date with current communication technologies. The intelligence gathered through foreign intelligence surveillance saves American lives, and the absence of any catastrophic attacks in

America

since September 11, 2001, is the product of hard work by Americans in intelligence, law enforcement and the military.

I support S.2248, the bipartisan legislation amending FISA that passed out of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence almost unanimously. This legislation makes needed changes to FISA so the government’s counter-terrorism intelligence-gathering can continue uninterrupted. Additionally, S.2248 includes retroactive immunity for private telecommunications carriers who assisted the

United States

in conducting intelligence surveillance post-9/11. The assistance of private telecommunications carriers is essential to carrying out the intelligence-gathering contemplated in FISA, and those who assist the government in tracking terrorists should not be punished with lawsuits.

Tax Credits for Home Buyers
On Wednesday, I introduced legislation to provide a $15,000 tax credit spread out over three tax years for anyone purchasing a new home, a foreclosed home or a home where foreclosure is pending. Our country and our economy face a serious challenge in the next 12 months. The number of unsold new homes and foreclosed resale homes will reach unprecedented numbers. Lenders will be forced to liquidate their real estate holdings, which will result in lower home values and less equity for homeowners. Today, we need a bold incentive to restore the housing market and consumer confidence. Just as it did in the mid-1970s, this proposal will reduce inventories, reduce foreclosures and stabilize market values.

Specifically, my legislation, S.2566, would provide a direct tax credit for the purchase of a single-family home in the amount of $5,000 a year for three years on homes purchased between March 1, 2008, and February 28, 2009. Buyers must occupy the homes as their principle residences to be eligible, and purchases of homes from investors or by investors are ineligible. Homes eligible for the tax credit would include:

New homes where the building permit was issued and construction began on or before September 1, 2007;
Owner-occupied homes whose first mortgage loan is in default; and
A single-family home that has been foreclosed on and is owned by the mortgagor or its agent.

Economic Stimulus Package
I believe there is a commitment within both parties to find common ground and pass an economic stimulus package quickly. Whatever happens in our economy will largely be determined by how we choose to respond to the current situation, including what action the government takes. We need to be focusing on prudent and appropriate steps that will put money back in the pockets of consumers and have an immediate and positive impact on the economy. Then Congress can focus on taking long-term steps to stabilize the economy. This includes reducing the federal deficit, changing our budget process and sticking to spending priorities and pursuing fundamental changes to our tax system. The House-passed bill, agreed upon with the White House, is strategic and surgical. It does put money in the hands of the consumer, it does advance both expensing and depreciation to small business and it does partially address the mortgage industry problem by raising Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and FHA limits. In addition, I am opposed to illegal immigrants receiving the rebates contained in the stimulus package and will support every effort to fix that issue.

Corps of Engineers to Update Water Control Manual for ACF River Basin
On Wednesday, Senator Chambliss and I announced that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has now committed to begin to update its outdated water control plan for the second drought-ravaged river basin that serves Georgia, Alabama and Florida. Secretary of the Army, Pete Geren, notified us by telephone that the Corps will start the process for updating the water control manual for the Apalachicola-Chattahoochee-Flint River Basin. Secretary Geren has previously committed to updating the water control manual for the other river basin that serves Georgia – the Alabama-Coosa-Tallapoosa river basin.

Senator Chambliss and I have continually worked to get Georgia, Florida and Alabama together and to force the Corp of Engineers to update a 20-year-old Water Control Plan for the Alabama-Coosa-Tallapoosa and Apalachicola-Chattahoochee-Flint River Basins. The action taken by the Corps today is a good first step, but there is still much work to be done in order to achieve a more realistic and fair management of

Georgia

’s water resources. The water control plans governing these two critical river basins are decades old and no longer serve the needs of the state of

Georgia

. It is imperative that we update the water control plan to reflect 21st century demand and usage.

U.S. Troop Progress in Iraq
On Tuesday, I spoke on the floor of the Senate to highlight the progress our troops are making in Iraq. During my recent visit to Iraq on January 5-6, 2008, I witnessed firsthand the progress President Bush cited Monday night in his State of the Union address. The progress that the president described is real and it is tangible. Things are changing in Iraq and they’re changing for the better for the Iraqis and for us. We have brought back two groups of troops, as the president said, we will bring back five more without replacing them this year. Our troop level will be going down. We’re going from a combat confrontation to an oversight role in terms of helping and providing logistics to the Iraqis.

The practical matter is this, whatever mistakes may have been made in the past, whatever differences we may have had, the young men and women of the United States have performed magnificently. General Petraeus has lived up to every single promise of hope that we had for him. In the name and the memory of the tragic loss of life in Iraq, Georgia soldiers such as Diego Rincon, Lieutenant Noah Harris, Sergeant Mike Stokely and the other 119, the sacrifice they made has not been in vain, and we are on the doorstep hopefully building a democracy that will last and endure in the Middle East. Hopefully, it will be the first step of many to accomplish the hope of peace, freedom and liberty that we enjoy in this country.

State of the Union Address
I am glad the President finally delineated the problem when it comes to earmarks during his speech on Monday night. He pointed out that the last-minute, drop them in at the dead of night, conference committee earmarks are wrong. Authorizations are right, but last minute spending of the taxpayer’s money without accountability is dead wrong and should be stopped. The President is absolutely right.

The President was right also to highlight the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act and how critical it is to the security of the United States of America. The petty differences that may be exhibited right now on the floor of the House and the Senate pale in comparison to the importance of knowing who is trying to do harm to the United States. I fully endorse the President’s call to immediately pass FISA so we may ensure that the flow of critical intelligence is not disrupted.

As the President said, this year we must reauthorize No Child Left Behind. This landmark law has demonstrated improvements in the children it set out to help the most. I look forward to working with him again to strengthen our nation’s public schools, because I believe our commitment to the principles in No Child Left Behind will continue to improve educational achievement around the country in all subject areas.

Border Security Update
From the very beginning of my term in the U.S. Senate, I have argued that without true border security we can have no meaningful immigration reform. Last year, the Department of Homeland Security pledged to build 145 miles of border fencing along the U.S. border with Mexico by the end of September 2007, and they constructed of 150 miles of pedestrian fence by that deadline. They plan to build another 225 miles of pedestrian fence by the end of 2008. At the same time, they will also be building several hundred miles of vehicle fence to complement the pedestrian fence with barriers to prevent vehicles from illegally entering the United States. At the end of 2008, the Omnibus bill that passed the Senate included border security provisions as well. It appropriated $3 billion for emergency border spending, as well as required that 700 miles of additional fencing be built. I was pleased that Homeland Security Secretary Chertoff announced yesterday that the President will seek a 19 percent increase in funding for border security and border enforcement in his fiscal year 2009 budget.

As you know I have previously introduced legislation that spelled out in detail the increased manpower, equipment and technology necessary to stop the flood of illegal immigrants into our country. The best way to address the illegal immigration crisis is to make the commitment to secure and seal the border as the required first step of immigration reform. To view my full position on border security and immigration reform, click here.

What’s on Tap for Next Week?
The Senate is expected to debate an economic stimulus bill. In addition, Georgia will hold its Presidential Primary on Tuesday, February 5, 2008. I encourage you to get out and support the candidate of your choice to be your party’s presidential nominee.

I am always happy to receive your comments on these and other issues that affect you. Please feel free to contact my office via phone at (770) 661-0999 in Atlanta, Ga., (202) 224-3643 in Washington, D.C., or via e-mail at http://isakson.senate.gov/contact.cfm.

Sincerely,
Johnny Isakson

E-mail: http://isakson.senate.gov/contact.cfm

Washington: United States Senate, 120 Russell Senate Office Building, Washington, DC 20510
Tel: (202) 224-3643 Fax: (202) 228-0724
Atlanta: One Overton Park, 3625 Cumberland Blvd, Suite 970, Atlanta, GA 30339
Tel: (770) 661-0999 Fax: (770) 661-0768