AND NOW ANNOUNCING…

Watch your local papers! Candidates for Republican House and Senate races are beginning to make announcements in their challenge runs to defeat Democrat incumbents. They will need your vote, your financial investment in their campaign, your volunteer time and your prayers. Get involved with a state legislative candidate!

DELEGATES

The delegates who are projected to be seated as voting committed delegates are being contacted by our staff. Due to the 45 of 95 counties that were permitted to miss the deadline for Absentee Ballot returns by the state election commission, the election results have been slow to come into our office for delegate tabulation. We appreciate your patience and your anticipated leadership in the coming months as delegates.

THE TRUTH ON 2 ISSUES:

First
Democrat Governor Phil Bredesen alleges a need to increase gas taxes in the coming year to finance road construction and maintenance. Tennessee voters deserve to know the facts on this issue:

In 2003, Phil Bredesen began taking money from the Tennessee Department of Transportation to divert funding, a total of $217 million, from building roads, maintaining infrastructure and supporting growth to avoid congestion and increases in population. According to executive vice president of the Tennessee Roadbuilder’s Association, Kent Starwalt, miles traveled in Tennessee have doubled since 1980 while “new highway miles have only increased 8%” noted in a piece written for the Tennessean. Since Democrat Bredesen became governor in 2002, there has been absolutely no new road construction to start new job-creating infrastructure due to his diverting of funds, despite the 8-10 year start-up time required. Twelve TDOT projects have actually been deferred with only maintenance as a priority.

When you and I fuel up at the pump, the state tax levied on our gas, 21.4 cents per gallon, is designated as a user fee to provide roads and infrastructure. However, big chunks of that money over the last four years have been committed to other general budget spending needs. Mr. Bredesen, it is time that you lead and make a commitment to the communities of this state that need roads and infrastructure that will stir their economies. The recurrent focus on education is absolutely required. But in attempting to keep the “best and brightest” in Tennessee, let’s not just keep them through college, but offer opportunity throughout our state that is vibrant with jobs and a healthy economy.

Second
Democrats continue to repeat their mantra, “We support the troops, but we’re against the war” and “I do put America first.” U.S. House Democrats have stalled the vote again on the FISA (Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court) bill that permits phone surveillance of calls to and from KNOWN TERRORISTS. Democrats/Progressives/Liberal Left (all interchangeable since they keep changing their identities), have attempted to confuse the issue claiming that the government would be monitoring phone conversations of average citizens. Evidence has proven that the ability to monitor terrorists’ phone calls has disrupted planned attacks and terrorist activity. Tennessee Democrats (Lincoln Davis, Steve Cohen, Jim Cooper and John Tanner) stand along side the Democrats nationally who refuse to vote on the bill for passage and continue to put our citizens and soldiers in jeopardy.

Remember in November!

WE AGREE!!!!

Democrat Phil Bredesen has made additional comments to support the increased coverage of Long Term Health care to Tennesseans and join Republicans on this issue. GREAT! Tennessee Republicans led by Sen. Diane Black and Rep. Debra Maggart have been working for years to allow funding for the elderly to remain in the care of their homes rather than be placed in nursing homes. After 37 nursing homes have been closed by Tennessee since 2005, the governor now agrees that reform is needed so that state nursing home dollars also can be used for home-based care and other alternatives to nursing home care. Currently 98% of state dollars for elderly care go to nursing home care, and the closure of 37 nursing homes across the state has left many patients and their families stranded with no other options. Home-based care also offers a better quality of life for patients in their senior years, and is more economical for taxpayers than nursing home care. More consumer choice, better quality of life and less burden on taxpayers – that’s why Republicans have been pushing for this reform for years. We welcome Bredesen finally agreeing with us. Congratulations! Tennesseans win!

MORE AGREEMENT!

Legislation is now being presented on Tennessee’s Capitol Hill that would address the line of succession to the Governor. This legislation would allow citizens to vote on the Lt. Governor and Secretary of State…both positions in the line to serve as Governor in an emergency. There are several Democrats who are supportive of the role of a need to vote for these key positions on the ballot. Republicans are working to make things happen and make Tennessee better!

TORTURE!!!

The paint is not thick enough on the Democrats’ façade to hide the liberal, blame-America-first, anti-military views. “Waterboarding,” the tactic used to obtain information from terrorists, has been voted on in the U.S. Congress. Senator Clinton was too busy to vote along with the other Democrats that get their orders from the MoveOn.org/CodePink/Blame-America-First crowd, but Barack Obama again stood against those working to keep us safe by supporting the ban. Senators Lamar Alexander and Bob Corker voted against the ban. Senator John McCain voted against the ban. Let’s see, Republicans are voting against terrorists and, well, hum…you make the connection.