GOP Sen. Johnny Isakson (Ga.) announced Wednesday that he will step down from the Senate at the end of the year, citing health issues.
“After much prayer and consultation with my family and my doctors, I have made the very tough decision to leave the U.S. Senate at the end of this year. I have informed Georgia Governor Brian Kemp today that I will resign my Senate seat effective December 31, 2019,” Isakson said in a statement.
“I am leaving a job I love because my health challenges are taking their toll on me, my family and my staff. My Parkinson’s has been progressing, and I am continuing physical therapy to recover from a fall in July. In addition, this week I had surgery to remove a growth on my kidney.“
The result of Isakson’s resignation due to health issues is that it puts both of Georgia’s senate seats in play for 2020. It comes amid a spate of House resignation announcements among Republicans (including Wisconsin Rep. Sean Duffy, who cited the expected health issues of his soon-to-be-born child), though four other senators (three Republicans) have already announced their retirement from the chamber after the 2020 election.
Today, members of Congress can lease Lexuses, BMW’s, Infinities, Mercedes, all fall within the guidelines. Not all do that, but does that send a message to our folks back home that this is the right way to do it?Rep. Rich Nugent (R-FL) • Arguing in favor of his amendment to a Congress pay bill, which would have taken away a perk for members of the House—the ability to receive a lease for a vehicle using their office budgets. Around 63 members of the House use their office budgets to pay for a car lease—at a cost of around $38,444.20 per month in taxpayer money. By the way, Nugent’s amendment failed.