COAL IN THEIR STOCKINGS!

Usually the Christmas Holidays proves to be a quiet time with little political activity. NOT SO this Christmas with some Democrats
guaranteed to get coal in their stockings:

Democrat Governor Phil Bredesen took an approved $350,000 “renovation” of the Tennessee
Governor’s Mansion as planned in October 2002 and in five years has turned it into a project costing almost
$20 MILLION, complete with an underground ballroom complex twice the size of the house
itself. FYI: the War Memorial Auditorium and the Tennessee Tower, both state-owned buildings (you have already paid for them), can accommodate large gatherings and banquets that the governor claims the ballroom is needed for.

Do we need the ballroom? See the video.

Your Tennessee Republican Party has released 20 pages of state records summarized in this
press release with a blow-by-blow account of how, under the stewardship of Gov. Bredesen and his wife, Andrea Conte, a $350,000 maintenance project at the Governor’s Mansion mushroomed into a $20 million extreme home makeover complete with everything except Ty Pennington and his bullhorn - and how Bredesen and Conte have tried to hoodwink the public into thinking most of the project was covered by private funds when the truth is that most of it is being paid for with tax dollars – an ever-growing number of your tax dollars. You can see the documents for yourself
here.

While your Tennessee Republican Party is spotlighting the waste of tax dollars, and the arrogance, secrecy and lies brought to you by the executive branch of our state government, scandal continues to grip Democrats in the state legislature.

Democrat Representative Rob Briley pled guilty to a DUI but will face absolutely
NO punishment for a hit-and-run accident, evading arrest at speeds of 100 mph, vandalizing a patrol car by attempting to kick out the window. He serves a total of 10 days over the course of 5 weekends.

Former Democrat Senator Jerry Cooper just resigned after a DUI guilty plea almost a year ago, a
federal fraud trial and stealing almost $100,000 from his campaign account to spend personally. Now, one of the
architects of the Income Tax, Bob Rochelle, has resurfaced to help defend Cooper and have his find reduced from $120,000 to less than $15,000 for theft.

Even the news media increasingly is spotlighting the scandal-prone Democrat side of the aisle in the legislature. The
Nashville Scene calls it a "CULTURE OF
SLEAZE," and the Nashville City Paper called on statehouse Democrats to
clean up their
act.

And it isn’t just statehouse Democrats doing the wrong thing for
Tennessee.

"Tennessee Dems Help Defund the Fence…" Press accounts are reporting that Congressional Democrats have made it impossible to secure our borders by building a fence. H.R. 2764, a bill that provides funding for several federal departments and agencies, was brought to the House floor earlier this week and
late at night by the Democratic leadership. Not only does the bill contain
provisions removing all specific locations as outlined by the Secure Fence Act, it also removes all requirements to construct any fencing or physical barriers along the
border. This action basically repeals the Secure Fence Act and undermines past efforts to secure our
nation’s border.

Fighting for you, and for secure borders: All four of Tennessee’s Republican congressman, who voted against H.R.
2764.

GIFTS UNDER THE TREE!

Tennessee’s Republican Members of Congress spent the year focusing on solutions NOT soundbytes in meaningful discussions, legislation and leadership.

Just a few items of legislative activity while serving in the minority:

• Proposed that it is NOT a Civil Rights violation to require that English be spoken in American workplaces
• Proposed sales tax deduction for Tennessee and state who have a higher sales tax versus an income tax
• Funding the men and women protecting us in Iraq and Afghanistan fighting the war on terror
• Funding the fence to be built on the southern border to protect from domestic terror
• Proposed initiatives to permit individuals to receive earned tax credits for purchasing their own health care coverage for portability
• Authorizing the Surge that has proven effective in Iraq
• Fighting to “patch” the Alternative Minimum Tax that prevents tax increases on over 20 million taxpayers
• Preventing amnesty to be awarded to illegal immigrants
• Legislation to improve America’s competitiveness

Tennessee’s Republican State Legislators spent 2007 addressing the wishes of Tennesseans with integrity and honor:

• Proposed that Driver’s License Tests be administered in the same language as the road
  signs…English
• Proposed that voters present a picture identification to cast a ballot
• Legislation to strengthen our laws against child sexual predators
• Legislation to provide property tax relief to seniors
• Legislation to close a loophole allowing elected officials, after being convicted, to run for office
• Legislation requiring employers to use the Employment Eligibility Verification Basic Pilot Program to ensure that new hires are eligible to legally work in the United States
• Legislation to require the Department of Human Services to implement a program of substance abuse testing as a condition for public assistance
• Legislation to require the Department of Finance and Administration to develop a website that would post information regarding state spending to provide taxpayers with more openness in government spending

It cannot be stated enough…IT MATTERS WHO GOVERNS!