Isakson: Reform won't pass

ALBANY - There are pressing issues currently stirring in the political arena ranging from health care reform to the economy to a Central Intelligence Agency probe. On Tuesday, one of Georgia's senators was in the Good Life City to address those issues.

By Jennifer Parks, The Albany Herald — Sep 02, 2009

Sen. Johnny Isakson, R-Atlanta, after visiting Alice Coachman Elementary School, was at Tuesday’s Dougherty Rotary meeting to give constituents a legislative update and listen to what they had to say.

Isakson said he was for making changes to the health care industry without negatively impacting those already with health coverage, as well as the private industry.

“I don’t want to destroy the system that serves 86 percent of the public,” the junior senator said. “While I’m opposed to turning over health care (to the public sector), I do believe we should fix problems.

“In the end, I don’t think it will pass. We need to come together to solve the problems of the 14 percent (without health coverage).”

The reform Isakson said he would support includes a look into how health insurance companies operate.

“In this debate, it’s time to take a close look at the evaluation of insurance companies in this country,” he said. “I think people aren’t as informed of the coverage they have (as they should be).”

The senator, who worked in real estate before embarking on a political career, addressed the economic doldrums that have impacted communities nationwide. The credit situation is still tight, and it may take some time for the situation to resolve itself, he said.

“I would think we are at the bottom; I see us (bouncing) on the bottom,” Isakson said. “I’m doing everything I can to get better liquidity.

“I think the worst is over. Once it’s over, we’ll have a different kind of normal and be better for it.”

Isakson said roughly 70 percent of Americans are employed by small businesses, which have been directly impacted by the economic recession.

Part of the solution to the nation’s financial problems, the senator said, would be to get the trillions of dollars of accumulated debt under control.

“This unsustainable amount is going to affect our children and grandchildren,” he said. “In Washington, we have to get our arms around this debt.”

The CIA probe centers around the agency’s task of interrogating detainees suspected of terrorist activities. Despite President Obama’s previous assurances that he would not go back and scrutinize the interrogations conducted under his predecessor’s administration, the Justice Department is prepared to do so.

“I think it’s a misdirection from where they said they were going to go,” Isakson said. “As the administration thinks carefully, I hope we will return to the president’s original plan.”

The Bush administration came under criticism for the way it handled post-Sept. 11 anti-terrorism measures.

Congress is in the final days of its August break. Members are expected to return to Washington immediately after Labor Day.