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

May 20, 2010

Dear Friends,

This e-newsletter will be my last edition until after the Primary Elections in Georgia on July 20, 2010.  Senate ethics rules require that, “no member of the Senate may mail any mass mailings… if such mass mailing is mailed fewer than 60 days immediately before the date of any primary election or general election (whether regular, special or runoff), for any national, State, or local office in which such member is a candidate for election…”  Therefore, my next e-newsletter will be sent on Friday, July 23.

However, I will take this opportunity to remind you to please visit my website during this time for any information on my actions in the Senate.  I encourage you to access my news center , issue statements and voting record , and you can also contact us any time in our Washington, D.C. office at (202) 224-3643 or state office at (770) 661-0999 or e-mail me to share your views.

Funding Cuts to the Coast Guard’s Maritime Safety and Security Teams
On Monday, Senator Chambliss and I, along with a bipartisan group of our colleagues, sent a letter to Senate appropriators expressing our strong opposition to the proposed cuts in the president’s budget that would eliminate five of the Coast Guard’s Maritime Safety and Security Teams, including one in St. Marys, Ga.

The letter argues that these units were created as a direct response to 9/11 to meet a shortfall in capability in maritime security and are part of the Coast Guard’s Deployable Operations Group. They provide enhanced port safety and security and law enforcement capabilities to the port where they are based, and are designed to be deployed, many times on an as needed basis, anywhere in the country within 12 hours.

The letter reads that, “Given the critical missions that MSSTs perform we were surprised that the President’s budget would target the MSSTs in St Marys, GA; New York, NY; New Orleans, LA; San Francisco, CA; and Anchorage, AK. The decision to eliminate these MSSTs does not make sense from a strategic or budgetary perspective and we strongly urge you include funding in the FY 2011 Homeland Security Appropriations Act for these five teams. The decommissioning of these unites will lead to a reduced security presence on our shores, and now is not the time for reductions in our security resources.”

Our hope is that full and deliberate consideration will be given to these issues before a final funding decision is made.

MAGE SOLAR Announces North American Headquarters to Open in Dublin, Ga.
On Monday, MAGE SOLAR GMBH, a Germany-based manufacturer of solar energy products, announced its decision to locate its North American headquarters in Dublin, Ga.

MAGE SOLAR’s Laurens County operation represents a $30 million investment and will create 350 jobs over five years. It will also include a manufacturing facility for solar panels. The facility will include a division for engineering and integration solutions for solar parks and building installations.  In addition to the manufacturing facility and headquarters, the company also plans to build an academy for solar education.

I am delighted that MAGE SOLAR has chosen Dublin as the site of its North American headquarters.  This is great news for our state and reflects the world-class workforce and location that Georgia provides.

Supreme Court Nominee
On April 9, 2010, Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens announced his plans to retire from the court later this year. This week President Obama nominated Solicitor General Elena Kagan to replace Justice Stevens.

On March 19, 2009, I voted against the confirmation of Elena Kagan to be Solicitor General.

A nomination to the Supreme Court is another matter and I look forward to a thorough examination and debate of Elena Kagan’s credentials for the U.S. Supreme Court. 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 through activist judicial decisions.  Therefore, I will pay particular attention to her judicial philosophy and temperament.  The Senate hearing is scheduled to begin on June 28, 2010.

What’s on Tap?
                                                        
Since I will be unable to send this e-newsletter again until after the July 20 primary, I will send my best wishes to all of you for your celebrations of Memorial Day and July 4th.

Sincerely,
Johnny Isakson