TIME FOR CLEAN UP ON NASHVILLE’S CAPITOL HILL!!!

It is absolutely time for voters in Tennessee to wake up, stand up, speak up and clean up Capitol Hill in Nashville! Democrats in Tennessee are proving that while they run on a message of accountability, low taxes and low spending, and "doing what is right", their actions scream CORRUPTION, NO ACCOUNTABILITY, SPEND-TAX-SPEND-TAX, and anything but doing "what is right."

EVIDENCE:
Democrat Senator Jerry Cooper in the last 12 months has pled guilty to DUI after he flipped his SUV on I-24, faced a federal trial for fraud and has been assessed a record fine by the Registry of Finance for stealing almost $100,000 from his campaign account for personal use. Now, Democrats are asking that the fine of $120,000 be reduced to $14,000 for theft. They’re aiming to help Cooper net a profit for embezzling money from his campaign account.

Democrat Governor Phil Bredesen has increased spending to announce new entitlements after tripling the cigarette tax with a billion dollar surplus last year. NOW, with the big spending outpacing tax collections, Tennessee faces likely cuts in most departments in the upcoming year. All of this is happening while almost $20 million dollars is being spent to renovate the governor’s mansion. The problem: the "renovation" initially began as costing only $3.84 million of taxpayer funds while the balance was going to be funded with "private donations" raised by Bredesen’s wife, Andrea Conte. The presentation made to the State Building Commission for approval did NOT include information that is now being presented that includes a projected budget of $19.2 million for renovations and a grand ballroom built underground with facilities that total over 13,000 square feet. Bottom line - a home valued at $900,000 is having a ballroom added at a cost of millions of dollars while Nashville has countless venues, like the War Memorial Auditorium, recently renovated complete with "gold leafing" on the walls at taxpayer expense, to serve the needs of "entertainment" by the Governor. Our state is facing a spending crisis, not a revenue crisis!

Democrat Representative Rob Briley has now faced a judge and a grand jury in a few of his charges after a hit-and-run accident involving a family with an 8-year old child, evading arrest in a 2-county police chase at speeds up to 100mph, arrested for DUI at gun-point and a vandalism charge in attempting to kick out a squad car window. Briley has petitioned the court to have his charges "suspended," meaning that he might never face any penalty for the DUI and vandalism. A grand jury has indicted the Democrat on charges related to evading arrest. Has this man or his party thought it might be best for his constituents and for his state to resign? Apparently, not.

Tennessee Democrats in the Legislature have recently trumpeted legislation that they are extending lottery scholarships for veterans of the war on terror in Iraq and Afghanistan. Great, except…legislation has already been introduced by Republicans that would have done that by expanding the definition of "non-traditional" students eligible for lottery-funded scholarships, but Democrats played games at the end of the last legislative session to prevent its passage. Now they are offering their own bill, which actually will do less for veterans than the Republican legislation would have done. Other than talking a good game while seeking re-election, where do they really stand?

Tennessee voters and taxpayers should demand more because we deserve better! Get involved in a Republican race to defeat a Democrat!

REPUBLICANS VIGILANT ON AVAILABLE FUNDS

By REP. SUSAN LYNN

Published: Sunday, 12/02/07

State tax revenues are suffering as collections are currently $136 million below their mark. Before wish lists for the new session are even considered, many want to know how the state will manage our way through a budget already more than $100 million short in the first quarter.

Last May, legislators debated the Copeland Cap, a constitutional amendment that limits the growth of the budget to the growth in personal income. Signs of a softening economy worried Republicans as they cautioned against spending every penny of the massive $1.5 billion surplus, plus an additional $220 million cigarette tax increase on new programs. In addition, it was difficult to understand how by spending so much more money we could not have been exceeding the constitutional limit of the Copeland Cap by far more than was stated.

But we’ll have to manage. Most business managers will adjust to the economic downturn by making tough decisions like restraining spending, reducing new hires, curtailing unnecessary travel, and by putting expansion plans on hold. The state should do no less.

Not a time for wish lists

It is clear that 2008 may not be the time to fill wish lists by starting new programs or expanding old ones; after all, we can’t continue to ignore the inflationary demands of necessary commodities forever such as those needed to repair and build new roads. It is time to concentrate on government’s core basis for existence; those things that have an immediate impact on justice, health, safety or supply.

The Department of Education is hoping for an additional $133 million next year to help fully fund the newly revised basic education plan. A little more controversial is a request of $30 million to expand the pre-K program by 38 percent. The department notes that this addition to the current $80 million program would help to advance the state toward universal pre-K, a $196 million goal.

Some may call legislators who are cautious about such expansion mean-spirited; others realists. We already have a burgeoning state budget shortfall. There probably will be local government budget shortfalls. Many local school systems are struggling to afford a way to meet a desperate need to repair or to build new schools.

Many wonder, why not just concentrate on what we already know needs improvement and what will save money in the long run — accountability. How much more would taxpayer dollars be multiplied by ensuring greater accountability?

Getting through this revenue downturn will require restraint, leadership and cooperation. We were proud of how our state employees efficiently handled the departmental budget cuts in 2003 and 2004. No doubt they will handle 2008 with the very same degree of professionalism.

Republicans will continue to respect the taxpayers’ hard work by remaining good stewards of the dollars they provide, and by displaying an understanding for the pressures they face in their own family budgets every day.

Published: Sunday, 12/02/07