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... then again, he probably paid those off with the money he made as the economy collapsed.
- As the economy tettered on the brink of collapse, Isakson bet against the American dream.
During the financial crisis, Johnny Isakson invested in risky funds that would pay $2 for every $1 drop in the value of US Treasury bonds-- literally betting against America. Publically, Isakson criticized these very same bets saying it was wrong to "take unfair advantage of the values of equities that are owned by Americans all over this country for the sake of making a buck," but privately he had no problem stuffing his pockets with cash taken from the American dream.9
- Isakson has taken millions from the Wall Street firms.
Johnny Isakson has filled his reelection campaign's coffers with over a million dollars in cash from the financial services industry. Perhaps that's why he tried to block the Senate from debating Wall Street reform multiple times.10
- 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
- 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
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
9. "Congress Members Bet on Fall in Stocks" Wall Street Journal: 05/03/10
10. "Isakson sticks with Wall Street, Big Banks, GOP" Georgia Liberal, accessed 05/07/10
