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

February 29, 2008

Dear Friends,

Last week, I had the pleasure of visiting with many of you around Georgia. The Presidents Day recess was a wonderful opportunity for me to travel the state and hear directly from you about what’s on your minds. I learned a great deal and enjoyed seeing many old friends and meeting many new ones. I would especially like to thank my hosts in Americus, Andersonville, Athens, Bainbridge, Boston, Cairo, Ft. Valley, Jefferson, Leesburg, Quitman, Thomasville, Valdosta and Watkinsville.

Economic Stimulus Payments
On February 13, 2008, President Bush signed an economic stimulus bill that is designed to boost the nation’s economy by issuing rebate checks to taxpayers and by providing employers greater incentives to invest and create jobs.

Starting in May, the Department of Treasury will begin sending stimulus payments to more than 130 million individuals. The stimulus payments will go out through the late spring and summer. The vast majority of people receiving a payment only need to file a 2007 tax return as they normally would. The IRS will then do all the rest, including determining eligibility and payment amounts. For recipients of Social Security and certain veterans’ benefits and low-income workers who don’t normally need to file a tax return, the IRS also released a special version of a Form 1040A that highlights the simple, specific sections of the return that can be filled out by people in these categories to qualify for a stimulus payment.

I have added a special page to my website dealing with this issue at www.isakson.senate.gov/rebates.htm. The webpage features my position as well as frequently asked questions regarding the rebates and links to the IRS website. Please feel free to visit the page for answers to any questions you may have.

In addition to the economic stimulus bill, I have introduced legislation for long-term relief that would help stimulate our nation’s floundering housing market. The legislation would 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. To learn more about the legislation, click here.

FISA
On February 16, the House allowed a temporary surveillance law to expire by refusing to compromise with the Senate on legislation to amend the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, known as FISA, in order to bring it up to date with current communication technologies. Our intelligence community is losing information daily as a direct result of Congress’ failure to act on this law.

I believe it is critical that Congress act now to pass this legislation and will help put pressure on the House take immediate action. 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.

Iraq
This week, the Senate began debate on a proposal that would cut off funds for troop deployments to Iraq. I believe a precipitous and final withdrawal that is notwithstanding whatever action may be taking place on the ground or what progress may have been made is wrong. The Senate has overwhelmingly rejected attempts to cut off funding for troops in Iraq on four separate occasions, and I do not believe the outcome will change considering the enormous progress both militarily and politically by the Iraqis.

On my third trip to Iraq in January 2008, I witnessed the enormous progress that has been made regarding security. Furthermore, I believe the Iraqis have capitalized on the security gains to make political progress by adopting the Law on Accountability and Justice, also known as De-Ba’athification Reform, and passing their 2008 Budget, which represents a significant milestone in Iraq’s transition toward using its own resources to provide for security, economic reconstruction and essential services. The Iraqi Council of Representatives also has passed an amnesty law for Sunni security detainees, which will greatly improve the unification process, as well as compromising on a Provincial Powers law, an important step toward establishing the right balance of power the Iraqi people seek between central government authority and local government authority.

The Iraqi government’s passage of this legislation is a positive first step, but the Iraqi government must not stop there. It must commit to full and fair implementation of these laws. I will continue to work with my Senate colleagues to urge the Iraqi government to work quickly to ensure lasting stability in Iraq, and I remain hopeful that troop withdrawals can be decided by military leaders and be conducted in a manner that won’t affect recent security success on the ground.

Funding for the Campbell Center
Last week, Senator Chambliss and I sent a letter to the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture expressing our concerns about funding for the J. Phil Campbell, Sr. Natural Resource Conservation Center in Watkinsville, Ga. The facility may face closure because the President’s Fiscal Year 2009 budget will reduce or terminate funding for some U.S. Department of Agriculture research facilities. The Campbell Center works in partnership with farmers, environmental leaders, commodity groups, agri-business leaders and state and federal agencies to transfer improved agricultural systems to landowners and managers that protect and sustain the natural resource base, build accord with non-agricultural sectors and support healthy rural economies. To view the text of the letter, click here.

What’s on Tap for Next Week?

The Senate will continue to debate a proposal to stimulate the economy by targeting the housing market.

I also encourage you to visit my website at http://www.isakson.senate.gov/contact.cfm to let me know your thoughts on this or any of my newsletters or any issues that may be of particular concern to you. This is by far the most effective and expedient way of communicating with me for a prompt response.

Sincerely,
Johnny Isakson