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Isakson Hints at One Last Piece of Legislation

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Sen. Johnny Isakson (R-GA) “returned to his beloved Senate this week for the first time since announcing his retirement armed with a secret plan,” the Atlanta Journal Constitution reports.

“The three-term Republican, who over two decades on Capitol Hill has honed a reputation as an affable dealmaker, is determined to pull off one last major bipartisan policy coup before his Dec. 31 departure date. On which thorny policy issue, he refused to say.”

Said Isakson: “I’m getting close to something I can tell you about, that I’ve been working on for some time. I’m not quite there yet.”

Republicans Could Be Down Another Vote in the Senate

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Sen. Johnny Isakson (R-GA), a reliable supporter of the GOP leadership’s legislative priorities, “is out indefinitely after two back surgeries. His office says he is trying to come back to the Senate as quickly as possible but it’s not clear whether he will return in time for the Obamacare debate,” Politico reports.

Without Isakson, it may be impossible to pass a health care bill before the recess.

Said Sen. David Perdue (R-GA): “We’ve got all these big votes coming up. He’ll be here as quick as he can. I just know Johnny well enough to know he’ll be here before his doctors even say it’s OK. He’ll be back here when we need him.”

GOP Senator Would Have Started War with Russia

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Sen. Johnny Isakson (R-GA), a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, told Georgia Public Radio that the United States “should really have physically gone in” to Ukraine after it was invaded by Russia because of Washington’s NATO commitments.

Said Isakson: “You know, when Crimea was invaded by the Russians, and later the Ukraine, under Article 5, we really should have physically gone in to their aid. We didn’t because we’re stretched too thin. But NATO’s an important part of our national defense and the defense of our own country.”


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Isakson Says He Has Parkinson’s Disease

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Sen. Johnny Isakson (R-GA) said that “he has been receiving treatment for Parkinson’s disease, but added that the illness will not prevent him from seeking re-election next year,” the New York Times reports.

“Disclosures about health problems are challenging for politicians, and Mr. Isakson said that he wrestled with whether to go public with his illness. However, he said that his family decided that transparency was the best route.”

Isakson Will Run for Third Term

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Sen. Johnny Isakson (R-GA) “wants there to be no doubt he’s running for re-election,” the Atlanta Journal Constitution.

“Georgia’s soon-to-be senior senator is formally announcing he will seek a third term at 11 a.m. on Monday at the state capitol… Isakson has been eager to put to rest rumors that he wouldn’t run for another term – and scare off any potential GOP rivals. Among them is former Florida Rep. Allen West, though he has dismissed such talk, and a gaggle of ambitious up-and-coming Republicans.”

“Several rising Democratic contenders are also closely watching the race, though it’s unclear whether a marquee candidate would risk challenging Isakson.”

About Political Wire

goddard-bw-snapshotTaegan Goddard is the founder of Political Wire, one of the earliest and most influential political web sites. He also runs Political Job Hunt, Electoral Vote Map and the Political Dictionary.

Goddard spent more than a decade as managing director and chief operating officer of a prominent investment firm in New York City. Previously, he was a policy adviser to a U.S. Senator and Governor.

Goddard is also co-author of You Won - Now What? (Scribner, 1998), a political management book hailed by prominent journalists and politicians from both parties. In addition, Goddard's essays on politics and public policy have appeared in dozens of newspapers across the country.

Goddard earned degrees from Vassar College and Harvard University. He lives in New York with his wife and three sons.

Goddard is the owner of Goddard Media LLC.

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