Chambliss Statement on Supreme Court Nominee

U.S. Senator Saxby Chambliss, R-Ga., today made the following statement regarding Judge Sonia Sotomayor’s nomination for the Supreme Court.

“I have consistently stated that Supreme Court nominees must not engage in legislating from the bench, but must interpret the laws as they have been passed. The Senate deserves an appropriate amount of time to review this nominee. I look forward to a dignified and thorough confirmation process.”

Isakson Statement on Supreme Court Nominee

U.S. Senator Johnny Isakson, R-Ga., today issued the following statement on the President’s nomination of federal appeals court Judge Sonia Sotomayor for the Supreme Court. Isakson is traveling in Africa this week on Senate business, but issued the statement through his Washington, DC, office.

“I look forward to a thorough examination and debate of her credentials and legal views during the Senate confirmation process.” Isakson said. “I believe a qualified judge is one who understands the value and the strength and the power of the Constitution of the United States of America, who will rule based on the law, and who will not legislate based on the position.”

Westmoreland Condemns Cover-up on Pelosi Charges

U.S. Rep. Lynn Westmoreland today condemned House Democrats’ attempt to sweep Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s allegations against the CIA under the rug.

“Speaker Pelosi has made serious charges against the CIA, saying point blank that the agency misled her and other members of Congress,” Westmoreland said. “I think she needs to produce evidence to support her claims or she needs to apologize to the agents at the CIA charged with collecting information vital to safeguarding our nation.”

House Democrats today voted down a motion to create bipartisan Select Intelligence Subcommittee to investigate the allegation that Central Intelligence Agency professionals lied to the speaker of the House during a Sept. 4, 2002, briefing on its interrogation program.

“The speaker promised the American people the most open and honest Congress in American history and now she’s stonewalling a bipartisan investigation,” Westmoreland said. “How can Nancy Pelosi say she wants a truth commission to look into torture allegations and then quash a probe into her own involvement? The speaker seems to think this is all about her. This isn’t just about Nancy. If the CIA lied to members of Congress, that’s a big deal, and members of Congress need to act on that. If the CIA can prove that it did fully brief her on enhanced interrogation techniques, on the other hand, that presents another problem for Congress. Either way, we need to do something, and it appears the Democrats are doing everything they can to protect their speaker by covering this up.”

Note: A Gallup poll shows that Americans don’t believe the speaker’s claims that the CIA lied to her. The poll asked: “Do you approve or disapprove of how each of the following has handled the matter of interrogation techniques used against terrorism suspects?”

Pelosi:
30% Approve
63% Disapprove

CIA:
63% Approve
33% Disapprove

Gallup; conducted May 19, 2009; Survey of 997 Adults Nationwide.
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Isakson Praises Signing of Law to Investigate Economic Crisis

Independent, Bipartisan Financial Crisis Commission Would Have Subpoena Power

Yesterday U.S. Senator Johnny Isakson, R-Ga., praised the signing by President Obama of a financial fraud bill that includes his proposal with U.S. Senator Kent Conrad, D-N.D., to create a Financial Crisis Inquiry Commission charged with fully investigating the causes of the near collapse of our financial markets and our economy.

“This is a great day for the American people, who demand and deserve some answers. I’m pleased the President understood the importance of signing this bill into law quickly so we can get those answers to what caused this financial collapse,” Isakson said. “We need a forensic audit of the damage to the financial markets and our economy so we can find out where mistakes were made and ensure we don’t make them again.”

“My constituents deserve answers. The American people deserve answers. They have every right to know where mistakes were made, and why our financial system spiraled downward so far, so fast. If it is discovered that laws were broken or any wrongdoing led our nation down this path, people must be held accountable,” Senator Conrad said.Isakson and Conrad originally introduced legislation in January 2009 to examine the causes of the current economic crisis. On April 22, the Senate overwhelmingly passed an amendment by Isakson and Conrad to the Senate’s version of the financial fraud bill that would create a Financial Crisis Commission.

On May 6, the House of Representatives passed the financial fraud bill, including the Financial Crisis Commission, with amendments by a vote of 367 to 59. On May 14, the Senate, on a unanimous consent motion, agreed to relatively small changes to the bill and sent it back to the House. On May 18, the House agreed to the Senate’s changes and sent the bill to President Obama for his signature.

The 10-member, bipartisan Financial Crisis Commission will have until December 2010 to investigate all the circumstances that led to this financial crisis. The panel will have subpoena power and will have the authority to refer to the U.S. Attorney General and state attorneys general any evidence that institutions or individuals may have violated existing laws. At the end of its investigation, the Commission will report its findings and conclusions to the Congress and the President.

This bipartisan Commission will be appointed by Democrats and Republicans in Congress. The Speaker and Senate Democratic Leader would choose the commission’s chair. The Senate and House Republican Leaders would select the vice-chair. Members of Congress as well as federal and state employees would be prohibited from serving on the Commission.
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Isakson Continues Push to Stimulate Housing Market, Expand Tax Credit for Homebuyers

Seeks to Add Homebuyer Tax Credit to Supplemental

Yesterday U.S. Senator Johnny Isakson, R-Ga., introduced an amendment to the Fiscal Year 2009 Supplemental Appropriations bill that seeks to stimulate the nation’s declining housing market by expanding the current $8,000 homebuyer tax credit to include all individuals who purchase a home in the next year.

Specifically, Isakson’s amendment would expand the current $8,000 homebuyer tax credit so that it applies to any buyer of any home, not just first-time buyers. The amendment also would eliminate the income caps of $75,000 for an individual and $150,000 for a couple under the current tax credit so that there is no income limit for eligibility. Finally, the amendment would extend the tax credit to June 10, 2010, and would still allow homebuyers to claim the credit on their 2008 tax return.

“By removing the income and first-time buyer restrictions from the current homebuyer tax credit, I am confident many more buyers will take advantage of this tax credit and we will have a significant improvement in the housing market and in our economy,” Isakson said. “As has happened in 1968, 1974 and 1990-1991, housing took America into a recession and it was only when the housing market recovered that the America economy improved.”

Isakson has pushed hard for a non-repayable tax credit for homebuyers because he knows that it will work. In the mid-1970s, America faced a similar housing crisis when a period of easy credit and loose underwriting flooded the market with new construction. Interest rates rose, the economy slowed and America was left with a three-year supply of vacant homes. Congress responded by passing a $2,000 tax credit for anyone purchasing a new home for their principal residence. Isakson, who was in the real estate industry in Atlanta at the time, says the results were clear and swift as home values stabilized, housing inventory dropped and the market recovered.

Last year, Isakson introduced legislation to specifically target those homes that were causing the unprecedented increase in housing inventory by offering tax credits to individuals purchasing a foreclosed home or a home where foreclosure is pending. In April 2008, the Senate passed legislation to stimulate the nation’s declining housing market that included Isakson’s proposal. However, the final version of the legislation that was signed into law included only a $7,500 tax credit for first-time homebuyers that must be repaid over a 15-year period.

On Feb. 4, 2009, the Senate unanimously approved an amendment by Isakson to the economic stimulus bill would have provided a direct tax credit to any homebuyer who purchases any home. The amount of the tax credit would be $15,000 or 10 percent of the purchase price, whichever is less. During conference negotiations between the House and Senate on the final version of the bill, Isakson’s $15,000 tax credit for all purchasers of any home was removed. Instead, House and Senate negotiators made only small modifications to the first-time homebuyer tax credit that was enacted in 2008 as part of the Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008.

Isakson spent more than three decades in the real estate business, beginning his business career in 1967 when he opened the first Cobb County, Ga., office of a small, family-owned real estate business, Northside Realty. Isakson later served as president of Northside for 20 years, presiding over the company’s growth into the largest independent residential real estate brokerage company in the Southeast and one of the largest in America.
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Congressman Phil Gingrey in Memory of Specialist Ryan Charles King

Congressman Gingrey delivered the following remarks on the House Floor in memory of Specialist Ryan King, who was killed in action in Afghanistan on May 1, 2009. Click HERE to view a video of Congressman Gingrey's remarks.Remarks by Congressman Phil GingreyIn memory of Specialist Ryan Charles KingMay 12, 2009

Remarks by Congressman Phil Gingrey
In memory of Specialist Ryan Charles King
May 12, 2009

Madame Speaker, today the residents of Northwest Georgia are saying goodbye to a native son who died while bravely serving his nation in Afghanistan. Specialist Ryan Charles King was killed in action on May 1, 2009 in Afghanistan when his unit came under enemy fire while on a night mission.

Last night, I joined Specialist King’s family, friends, and supporters at his visitation to honor the life of this brave soldier.

In speaking with Specialist King’s parents, I found out that he and I have a history together – I actually delivered Ryan King a little over 22 years ago on Veteran’s Day in 1986. How fitting that this brave soldier who made the ultimate sacrifice for his country was born on such a special day. We remember Ryan as a man of the highest character, whose receipt of the Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, and NATO Medal are testament to the supreme sense of duty he felt to his country and his comrades.

Born in Marietta, Georgia, Ryan attended Faith Lutheran Church for many years. Ryan was a talented and spirited baseball player, leaving his mark on baseball diamonds throughout Canton, Powder Springs, and Dallas, Georgia. A few months after graduating from East Paulding County High School, Ryan King fulfilled a lifelong dream and enlisted in the Army. He went to basic training at Fort Sill in Oklahoma, followed by Advanced Individual Training at Fort Huachuca in Arizona. After completing his training, Specialist King was stationed in Korea for a year, where he met his wife, Sergeant Rachel Nicole Smith King. As a member of the Special Troops Battalion, 3rd Brigade, 1st Infantry, he left for deployment to Eastern Afghanistan in July of 2008 and was scheduled to return to Fort Hood in Texas in June of 2009.

Specialist King leaves behind his wife, Sergeant King, his father, Charles King of Temple, Georgia, his mother, Candice R. King, of Decatur, Georgia, younger brothers, Tyler King of Temple, and Dante Moore of Decatur, grandparents, Dorothea King of Temple and Tommy and Nancy Roberts of Dallas, Georgia, as well as many aunts, uncles, and cousins.

Madame Speaker, my prayers go out to his family, and my deepest gratitude goes out to Specialist King for his selfless sacrifice for our nation. I ask all Members to join me in honoring the distinguished memory of Specialist Ryan Charles King, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Herman Cain Speaks at GA GOP Convention

Herman Cain energized the crowd at the 2009 Georgia State Republican Convention 5/16/09. Over 2,500 were on hand for the 2-day convention held in Savannah. Cain is a radio talk show host on "The Herman Cain Show" out of Atlantas WSB 750am and is a FOX News Business Commentator. Cain remains President and CEO of THE New Voice, Inc. and serves on the Boards of Directors for AGCO Corporation, Hallmark Cards Incorporated and Whirlpool Corporation. In 2004, he ran as a candidate for the United States Senate from Georgia. For more information on Herman Cain and to learn about his "Intelligent Thinkers Movement" visit www.HermanCain.com. Visit www.GeorgiaFrontPage.com for Georgia political news and views.

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Rand Paul Forms Exploratory Committee to Run for US Senate

(BUSINESS WIRE)--Rand Paul, Bowling Green Eye Surgeon and son of former Republican presidential candidate Ron Paul, today announces the formation of an Exploratory Committee for the US Senate. For the past fifteen years, Dr. Paul has been the chairman of the Kentucky Taxpayers United, a group that monitors and rates the State Legislature.

Dr. Paul has been respectful of incumbent senator Jim Bunning’s difficult decision and courage in opposing the bank bailout. As such, Dr. Paul waited until Senator Bunning publicly gave the green light for other candidates to form committees.

Rand Paul's entry into this race will nationalize the Kentucky campaign as can be witnessed by his appearance last night on MSNBC and several national talk radio programs.

www.RandPaul2010.com will be the official website. Dr. Paul has hired the California political consulting firm of PolAction LLC.

In Liberty,
Christopher Hightower
Rand Paul for US Senate Exploratory Committee
Campaign Coordinator

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Boehner Raises Questions About White House Announcement on Health Care

House Republican Leader John Boehner (R-OH) yesterday issued the following statement on the health policy savings announced by the White House:

“Republicans want to work with Democrats to ensure every American has access to affordable, high quality health coverage. We support some of the voluntary reforms announced today, including increasing the use of modern information technologies to lower health care costs, and we hope they move forward. But today’s announcement promises savings with no concrete plan to achieve them and no enforcement mechanism if they don’t. The Administration has yet to answer the fundamental question of how to pay for its massive multi-trillion health dollar care plan. Will the Administration raise taxes on families and small businesses? Will it ration care so that families and seniors face long waits for medical treatment? Will it borrow even more money and pass the debt on to our kids and grandkids?

“Our House Republican solutions group is working on our vision of health care reform to make quality health care coverage affordable and accessible for every American, and we hope the ideas this group produces will be considered by the President as this debate goes forward.”

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Isakson, Conrad Praise House Passage of Legislation to Investigate Economic Crisis

Independent, Bipartisan Financial Markets Commission Would Have Subpoena Power

U.S. Senators Johnny Isakson, R-Ga., and Kent Conrad, D-N.D., today praised the House’s passage of a financial fraud bill that includes their proposal to create a Financial Markets Commission charged with fully investigating the causes of the current financial and economic crisis in the United States. The House passed the legislation by a vote of 367 to 59.

Isakson and Conrad originally introduced legislation to examine the causes of the current economic crisis in January 2009. On April 22, the Senate overwhelmingly passed an amendment by Isakson and Conrad to the Senate’s version of the financial fraud bill that would create a Financial Markets Commission. The bill now goes back to the Senate, which must decide whether to accept the changes made to the bill by the House.

“The only way to get an objective evaluation of where mistakes were made is to create an independent commission of experts to ask what went right, what went wrong and what could we have done to prevent this. We need a forensic audit of the laws of the United States as it relates to the financial markets and our economy,” Isakson said. “I want to thank Senator Conrad who has been diligent in his effort to help pass this legislation. I’m pleased our colleagues in the House understand the importance of making sure we don't miss the mark, that we stay focused, and we get the answers to what caused this financial collapse. It’s what the American people deserve.”

“After seeing their retirement accounts cut in half and the nation's economy teeter on the brink of total collapse, the American people deserve to know what caused our financial system to spiral downward so far so fast. We must hold those responsible for this calamity to account,” Senator Conrad said. “I appreciate the commitment Senator Isakson has shown to unearthing the details of this collapse. The commission the House voted to create today will investigate wrongdoing and help ensure this never happens again.”

The 10-member, bipartisan Financial Markets Commission would be modeled after the 9-11 Commission, which thoroughly and independently investigated the failures leading up to the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks and made sound recommendations on where we needed to improve to prevent another attack in the future.

Likewise, the Financial Markets Commission would have until December 2010 to investigate all the circumstances that led to this financial crisis. The panel would have the authority to refer to the U.S. Attorney General and state attorneys general any evidence that institutions or individuals may have violated existing laws. At the end of its investigation, the Commission would report its findings and conclusions to the Congress and the President.

This bipartisan Commission would be appointed by Democrats and Republicans in Congress.

The Speaker and Senate Democratic Leader would choose the commission’s chair. The Senate and House Republican Leaders would select the vice-chair. Members of Congress as well as federal and state employees would be prohibited from serving on the Commission.
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