Insurance Isakson
Johnny Isakson, Georgia's junior Senator, has made a name for himself by unashamedly working overtime for the insurance industry, regardless of how badly it hurts his constituents. In fact, Isakson has consistently fought against lower health insurance costs and even voted against Medicare. And the insurance industry has rewarded him handsomely.
And what is Johnny doing with all those campaign contributions from Big Insurance? We're not entirely sure, but he certainly has some hefty country club bills...
- Isakson has taken hundreds of thousands from the insurance industry.
Over the course of his career in Washington, DC, Johnny Isakson has raked in $349,092.00 in campaign cash from the insurance industry1, including $32.250.00 since 20092.
- And, since his election to the U.S. Senate in 2004, Isakson has voted against Medicare five times.
With 1,145,727 Medicare recipients in Georgia3, our state ranks 11th nationally in terms of total beneficiaries4, but as a Senator, Isakson has voted against the popular Medicare program five times, including three times on the same day5.
- Isakson has consistently opposed Democratic efforts to reform the health insurance system, lower costs, and get more Americans covered, while at the same time mingling with insurance industry lobbyists at lavish fundraisers.
Isakson has been a consistent critic of Democratic health insurance reform efforts6, but in July 2009, a Huffington Post reporter caught Isakson wining and dining with lobbyists from the telcommunications and health insurance industries.7
- Those greens fees get more expensive every year...
Speaking of campaign cash, Isakson's "leadership" PAC has some very interesting expenditures. Isakson's personal PAC, the "21st Century Majority Fund," has spent over 1/3 of its cash on "Entertainment, Events, and Travel," including $58,812,00 to the Atlanta Country Club, and $28,269.00 to the East Lake Golf Club.8
1. Center for Responsive Politics, accessed 10/19/09
2. Center for Responsive Politics, accessed 10/19/09
3. Kaiser Family Foundation, accessed 10/19/09
4. Kaiser Family Foundation, accessed 10/19/09
5. Vote 62, 3/16/06; Vote 363, 12/21/05; Vote 303, 11/3/05; Vote 287, 11/3/05; Vote 291, 11/3/05
6. "GOP: Dems ignore its healthcare concerns" UPI: 9/26/09
7. "Sen. Johnny Isakson's Shady Dinner With Lobbyists: Crashing The Party" Huffington Post: 07/08/09
8. ProPublica.org, accessed 10/19/09
