THANK YOU!…

For the men and women who have stepped forward as an act of leadership to run in the legislative races this year. It is a tremendous commitment and personal sacrifice for these folks to run for office in pursuit of victories in November. On behalf of the Tennessee Republican Party, we are blessed and excited about the opportunities that are at hand.

COMPLETING THE PARTY

Shannon Reeves, RNC Director of State and Local Development, spent time in Tennessee working with the TRP Development Council this week (See Video Message from Shannon). The message is clear: the principles of the Republican Party value the individual, equal opportunity rather than equal outcome, and the hope for the future rather than hope based on the division of the past.

My thanks are sincerely extended to Kevin Glasco of the TRP Development Council, Rod Loggins, Edd Peyton, Paul Boyd of the Shelby County GOP and the other leaders who participated in our work session.

LISTEN TO TRP CHAIRMAN ROBIN SMITH ON THE MICHAEL DELGIORNO SHOW - SUPERTALK 99.7 WTN

MCCAIN’S MARCH TO THE WHITE HOUSE

Leadership versus Appeasement

General David Petraeus and Ambassador Ryan Crocker returned to offer testimony before the Senate Armed Services Committee regarding the progress in the War on Terror in Iraq. In the exchange between the two leaders who reported true, measurable progress, the stark contrasts between the candidates running for president could not have been more obvious. Senator Clinton called for an end to the war in Iraq with a commitment to victory only in Afghanistan, ringing especially hollow when surrender in Iraq would embolden the terrorists in all parts of the world. Senator Barack Obama called for a “diplomatic surge” displaying his willingness to sit at the table with known terrorists who are unified by their hatred for Israel and America and are currently funding the insurgent apparatus fighting against American troops. Senator Obama clearly demonstrates a pattern of comfort in associating with those who spew anti-American and anti-Israel rants, whether Rev. Jeremiah Wright or Iran President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

John McCain spoke of “real hope and optimism” while praising the leadership of General Petraeus and Ambassador Crocker. Based in a rational vision for peace in the Middle East, McCain noted that much work remains in Iraq but the situation is no longer like “staring into the abyss.”

TAX FREEDOM DAY!

April 11 is Tennessee’s Tax Freedom Day - the date each year on which the average Tennessee taxpayer has worked enough to pay their combined federal, state and local taxes - according to the nonpartisan Tax Foundation. Nationally, Tax Freedom Day is April 23rd, twelve days later than Tennessee’s - and Tennesseans have Republican principles of limited government and low taxation to thank for that extra bit of freedom from the tax man.

According to the Tax Foundation (www.taxfoundation.org), Americans, as a whole, work a significant number of days each year to pay for things other than government, but nothing else is so expensive. According to the Tax Foundation, Americans will work longer to pay for government (113 days) than they will for food, clothing and housing combined (108 days). In fact, Americans will work longer to afford federal taxes alone (74 days) than they will to afford housing (60 days). As a group, Americans will also work longer to pay state and local taxes than they will to pay for food.

Tennesseans work an average of 101 days to pay all their taxes, the Tax Foundation calculates. Since 1970, Tax Freedom Day for Tennesseans has fluctuated from early to late April, coming as early as April 8th and as late as April 26th. The good news for Tennesseans: Tax Freedom Day comes earlier for Tennesseans than for taxpayers in 43 other states.

SOLUTIONS FROM THE SENATOR

Senator Lamar Alexander is working to bring a solution to illegal immigration in Tennessee. Praising the 287 (g) program in place in Davidson County permitting citizen status confirmation and begin the deportation process for illegals under arrest, Sen. Alexander is now requesting that an immigration judge be placed in Davidson County to save Tennesseans taxpayer money by making the deportation process by making this process more efficient and timely.

TENNESSEE JOBS FROM COLUMBIA…SOUTH AMERICA

Congressman Marsha Blackburn exposed the Congressional Democrats obstruction of legislation that will directly impact jobs here in Tennessee. U.S. House rules are being ignored in addressing the Columbia Free Trade agreement, legislation that will reduce tariffs on products entering the South American nation from our state. Tennessee exported $21.8 billion in 2007, with $151 million to Columbia alone.