Sen. David Perdue

U.S. government re-opens as talks continue on border security issues

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What a difference a day makes: The day after the U.S. Senate failed to pass votes to end the partial U.S. government shutdown, Congressional leaders worked out a temporary spending bill with President Trump on Friday.

The three-week agreement to re-open and fund government operations goes through Feb, 15 and includes no border wall funding, as the president wanted, while negotations continue.

U.S. Sen. Johnny Isakson of East Cobb, one of six Republicans who voted Thursday for a Democratic bill that didn’t get a two-thirds majority of votes, hailed Friday’s actions. His office issued the following statement:

“I’m glad the leadership of the House and the president have come to an agreement and hope that we can now sit down and negotiate in earnest to secure our border and get the government back in operating order.”

Ga. Senator David Perdue, a Republican from Warner Robins, said the following:

President Trump just announced a bipartisan solution to reopen the government while border security negotiations continue. We still have a crisis at our southern border, and President Trump is exactly right to address it. I applaud the President for continuing his efforts to enter into good faith negotiations with Democrats in the House and Senate.

Many Democrats have previously supported border security. Unfortunately, throughout this process they’ve clearly demonstrated they want to keep immigration a political issue instead of finding a real solution. If Democrats refuse to come to the negotiating table to tackle this national priority over the next three weeks, President Trump will do what is necessary to protect America.

Ultimately, this situation underscores the total dysfunction of Washington’s funding process. These conversations should have been completed last year, not four months into this fiscal year.

Trump made an announcement about the temporary deal at the White House early Friday afternoon. That followed news from the Federal Aviation Administration that flights were being grounded at East Coast airports, including LaGuardia in New York, due to shortages of air traffic controllers, and causing delays elsewhere

They were among the many thousands of federal employees who have not been paid during the shutdown, the longest in U.S. history at 35 days.

Last week, Isakson had expressed concern that the shutdown would adversely affect plans for the Super Bowl, which is being played next Sunday in Atlanta.

 

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Kavanaugh confirmed to U.S. Supreme Court as Isakson, Perdue vote ‘aye’

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Kavanaugh confirmed

The U.S. Senate voted 50-48 Saturday to confirm Brett Kavanaugh to the U.S. Supreme Court, as Georgia’s Senators voted, as expected, with the Republican majority.

Sen. David Perdue issued this statement afterward:

I just voted to confirm Judge Brett Kavanaugh to the United States Supreme Court. This has proven to be a very tumultuous time in Washington. Despite the partisan attempts to assassinate Judge Kavanaugh’s character, I’m encouraged that the U.S. Senate acted decisively about the future of America’s highest court.

The presumption of innocence is still a fundamental cornerstone of our democracy. The Senate’s Constitutional role is to offer advice and consent, and this is something I take seriously.

There is no doubt in my mind that Judge Kavanaugh is going to do exactly what he said he’d do in his testimony: “Preserve the Constitution of the United States and the American rule of law.” Judge Kavanaugh has served America well for 12 years on the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals, and I’m confident he will continued to do so on the United States Supreme Court.

Sen. Johnny Isakson of East Cobb did not speak from the Senate floor or comment after the vote, but issued this statement on Thursday about his intention to vote for Kavanaugh.

Neither Georgia senator is up for re-election this year. Republicans currently have a 51-49 majority.

Outgoing Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal said this after the vote Saturday:

Brett Kavanaugh is one of our nation’s finest legal minds and he will serve on the U.S. Supreme Court with distinction.

Republican Sen. Steve Daines of Montana was absent and did not vote Saturday, giving away his daughter at her wedding. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, a Republican swing vote, opposed Kavanaugh’s nomination and voted present as a courtesy to Daines.

Kavanaugh, the subject of intense Senate and national debate after allegations of sexual misconduct were made public, was confirmed in the closest vote since Clarence Thomas in 1991.

That confirmation also followed dramatic hearings about alleged sexual harassment from Anita Hill. The Georgia-born Thomas is now the longest-serving justice on the court.

Kavanaugh, who succeeds retiring Justice Anthony Kennedy, was sworn in late Saturday afternoon by Chief Justice John Roberts.

 

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Isakson to vote for Brett Kavanaugh confirmation to U.S. Supreme Court

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This just in from the office of Georgia Sen. Johnny Isakson, a Republican from East Cobb who has not said much publicly about the Brett Kavanaugh confirmation process for the U.S. Supreme Court:

U.S. Sen. Johnny Isakson, CHIP reathorization
U.S. Sen. Johnny Isakson

“The Senate Judiciary Committee, led by Chairman Chuck Grassley, did a remarkable job conducting the confirmation process to consider the nomination of Judge Brett Kavanaugh to serve on the U.S. Supreme Court.

After reviewing the proceedings, including more than 30 hours of testimony from Judge Kavanaugh, and reviewing all witness testimony along with the rest of the record that has been presented throughout the course of Judge Kavanaugh’s confirmation process, I will support his nomination.

“Any judge on the nation’s highest court should be one who understands and applies the law based on the U.S. Constitution, and I have confidence that Judge Kavanaugh will fulfill these duties accordingly. I’ve based my decision on the totality of the information provided during the confirmation process.

Judge Kavanaugh is a talented and experienced jurist, and I am confident he will bring a strong commitment to the Constitution and the rule of law to the Supreme Court. I look forward to voting to confirm Judge Brett Kavanaugh to serve as associate justice on the Supreme Court.”

Republican Sen. David Perdue, Georgia’s junior senator, has been a a vocal supporter of Kavanaugh and on Wednesday issued some harsh words from the Senate floor about his Democratic colleagues who have opposed the nomination, accusing them of inciting extremism.

“This is America, but these are the tactics of the brownshirts in Germany in the 1930s,” Perdue said.

Perdue has been confronted by anti-Kavanaugh protestors in recent days, including some who cornered him in a restroom at Reagan National Airport in Washington.

On Thursday, senators were viewing a supplemental report compiled the FBI to look into accusations of sexual misconduct against Kavanaugh when he was a teenager, and that formed the basis of a tense hearing last week before the Senate Judiciary Committee.

A Senate vote on confirmation has been scheduled for Saturday. Republicans hold a 51-49 edge in the Senate.

 

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Sen. David Perdue statement on Kavanaugh investigation

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Around 5 p.m. Friday the office of Sen. David Perdue sent out the following statement about the Judiciary Committee vote on Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh:

In yesterday’s hearing, we heard directly from both Dr. Ford and Judge Kavanaugh. Here is what we know:

No corroborating evidence has been presented to support these accusations.Sen. David Perdue

Judge Kavanaugh has been consistent & categorical in his denial. While Dr. Ford identified 3 witnesses, each of these witnesses stated under penalty of perjury that the events did not occur, which further corroborates Judge Kavanaugh’s testimony.

While Democrats continue to clamor for further FBI investigation, let’s look at what happened. To date, Judge Kavanaugh has been thoroughly investigated by the FBI 6 times, which is more than any other Supreme Court nominee in history.

If Senate Democrats really wanted to get at the truth, they would have immediately provided the information that only they received to the FBI & Senate Judiciary. Instead, Senator Feinstein held onto Dr. Ford’s letter for 6 weeks before it was leaked to the press.

When Chuck Grassley learned of Dr. Ford’s letter in the media, he quickly instituted a full committee investigation. Since then, the Democratic members of the committee chose not to participate.

It is clear that Senate Democrats’ demands for an FBI investigation are nothing more than an orchestrated effort to cause a delay and push this decision past the election in November.

Shame on the United States Senate if it puts political interest before its constitutional responsibility. In America, the presumption of innocence until proven guilty is a cornerstone of our democracy. That’s at the heart of what makes our country exceptional.

Now that the committee has voted to move this nomination forward, it is time to take a vote before the full Senate. It is time to put the Democrats’ partisan delays behind us. It is time to confirm Judge Brett Kavanaugh to the United States Supreme Court.

We will post a response from Sen. Johnny Isakson when that becomes available.

 

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Cobb, Georgia elected and party officials react to Sen. John McCain’s death

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State and local officials in Georgia and Cobb have offered condolences and issued statements regarding Arizona U.S. Sen. John McCains’s death on Saturday.

From U.S. Sen. Johnny Isakson of Georgia, an East Cobb Republican who served with McCain on the Senate Armed Services Committee since 2005:

U.S. Sen. Johnny Isakson, Sen. John McCain death
U.S. Sen. Johnny Isakson

“John McCain has left an example for all of us of what it takes to be an American patriot. His willingness to reach out to all to do what is right inspires us to work to find common ground. His life and work have left their indelible mark on history, and we all owe John a lot. May God bless John and his family.”

From David Perdue, a Republican from Warner Robins and Georgia’s junior senator:

“American patriot is the first thing that comes to mind when you think of John McCain. He dedicated his life to serving the country he loved so much & for that we will be eternally grateful.

“John’s wit, wisdom, and leadership will be missed in the United States Senate – especially on the Armed Services Committee.”

U.S. Congressman John Lewis, a Democrat from Atlanta:

“We have lost a great warrior who defended this nation’s honor in times of war and peace. He risked his life for America as a soldier, guarded our integrity as a prisoner of war, and dedicated his entire life to public service.  Only a few will ever be remembered for standing on the courage of their convictions.

“Sen. John McCain was one of those rare people who was never afraid to do what he believed was right. Our nation is forever indebted to men and women of  conscience who struggle—in their own way, according to the dictates of their own hearts—to act on the ideals of democracy and work to build a more perfect union. I send my deepest condolences to his family. They are in my thoughts and prayers.”

Jason Shepherd, Cobb GOP

Jason Shepherd, chairman of the Cobb County Republican Party:

“For more than a century, his family has served our nation. His grandfather entered the Navy in 1906 and died an Admiral 4 days after witnessing with his son the Japanese surrender in Tokyo Bay on September 4. He, along with his father and grandfather before him, has left his mark on American history. 
“His passing at 81 means an era in American politics is over. While each of us had our opinion of the man who lived a very public life, privately, he was still also a husband, a father, a grandfather, a brother, and a son.”

U.S. Sen Chuck Schumer, a New York Democrat, wants to rename the Russell Senate Office Building in Washington after McCain. Richard Russell was a longtime senator from Georgia, serving from 1933 to 1971.

 

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