Archive for November, 2008

A SPECIAL TRP WEEKLY REPORT (11-25-08)

Tuesday, November 25th, 2008

Thankful Giving

The Tennessee Republican Party wishes you a happy, blessed Thanksgiving holiday. May this season provide an opportunity for us to give thanks for the true blessings of life and an opportunity for us to give, in a thankful, self-less manner. There are many who will seek the provision from charities and ministries during this holiday. Make this a time of thankfulness and giving…the blessings of the season will multiply!

Give…us your thoughts

The successes of this past election cycle in Tennessee serve as a solid foundation for the future. Knowing that our Tennessee Republican Party has as its treasure our principles and our people, we want to hear from you. Please access and complete the 10-question online survey that will assist in the months ahead. We will make the results known on December 16 via the TRP Weekly Report.

Again, our sincerest thanks.

REPUBLICANS PLAN OPEN PROCESS FOR SELECTING STATE’S CONSTITUTIONAL OFFICERS (11-18-08)

Tuesday, November 18th, 2008

NASHVILLE, TN – Tennessee Republican Party Chairman Robin Smith today praised a plan by Republican leaders of the incoming Republican-majority state legislature to open up the process for selecting state’s constitutional officers.

Tennessee’s Senate and House Republican leaders today announced plans to open up the process for selecting the state’s constitutional officers to the public. Senate Majority Leader Mark Norris, R-Collierville, and new House Majority Leader Jason Mumpower, R-Bristol, said there will be a thorough review of applicants for Tennessee’s Secretary of State, Treasurer and Comptroller that will be transparent to citizens.

“This new process will help create a level playing field and more transparency in selecting these important state officials for what has long been a closed-door system of selecting political insiders,” Norris said. “It also is a business-like approach which should help in selecting the most qualified candidates to move this state forward.”

“We are honored and humbled that the voters of Tennessee have trusted Republicans to hold a constitutional majority in selecting these officers, and we take that responsibility very seriously,” said Leader Mumpower. “Tennessee voters asked for change and they are ready for transparency and accountability in government. A new day has dawned on our state and our opening up this process of selecting Tennessee’s constitutional officers is the first step in bringing about a positive change in state government.”

The leaders said information regarding the duties of the office, as well as application forms, will be posted on both the House and Senate Republican Caucus websites. Applications will be collected and reviewed by an eight-member nominating committee selected from members of each Caucus who will narrow the search to up to three applicants per position. The next step in the process will be an interview with members of that panel before going to lawmakers for a vote.

“By posting these positions, we hope to reach out to a broader talent pool,” Norris said. “At the same time, the state faces rough economic times. We will be gathering a lot of information regarding those who apply to make sure these candidates are well-vetted and have the best qualifications for the job.”

“Republicans are keeping their promise to provide transparent and accountable government,” said Smith.

In the November election, Republicans won a majority in both houses of the state legislature for the first time since 1869.

TRP Weekly Report (11-14-08)

Friday, November 14th, 2008

PURPOSE PLUS UNITY = HISTORIC CHANGE

Tennessee voters voted for change in a historic way this year, giving Republicans a majority in both chambers of the state legislature for the first time since 1869. Thanks to your support and help, the Tennessee Republican Party stands poised to make history again in early January with the election of a Republican as Speaker of the House of Representatives for the 106th General Assembly. As evidence of their commitment to lead, all 50 Republican House members and members-elect have signed this letter committing to vote for a Republican Speaker.

The hard work of Republican legislators present and past over the years, and the hard work of countless Republican volunteers across the state across the years laid the foundation for today’s tremendous achievements by Republicans on behalf of the people of Tennessee.

Winning a Republican majority in the legislature has given Tennessee Republicans the opportunity to lead our great state in the right direction and prove that, indeed, it does matter who governs.

My sincerest regards,

Robin Smith, TRP Chairman

NEWS FROM NASHVILLE

The state of Tennessee’s revenue shortfall for the current fiscal year is now projected to hit a whopping $800 million, as the true scope of Phil Bredesen’s fiscal folly continues to become clear to the taxpayers of Tennessee.

Bredesen’s refusal to keep a lid on spending growth in recent years has set the stage for this year’s fiscal crisis. The Tennessee constitution allows for a reasonable rate of growth for the state budget based on the rate of growth of the state’s economy, tying spending growth to growth of the ability of taxpayers to fund it without tax increases. But Gov. Bredesen has repeatedly proposed budgets that spend in excess of the constitutional limit.

This year’s budget is $723 million over the limit. Had the governor instead kept his spending within the limit, state government’s projected revenue shortfall for the current fiscal year would be much smaller – around $77 million.

The good news for taxpayers: Republican lawmakers committed to fiscal discipline and keeping taxes low have won a majority in the legislature.

CAMPAIGN WRAP-UP

The Tennessee Republican Party issued a statement this week rejecting efforts by some Tennessee Democrats to paint thousands of Tennessee voters like you as racists simply because you chose to vote for a true Republican conservative rather than for a Democrat who talked like a conservative in his district but voted for liberal Democrat leadership in Nashville.

Tennessee Republicans won the legislative majority through a diligent effort to offer great candidates, raise funds, organize volunteers and communicate a clear and consistent conservative message. At no time did the Tennessee Republican Party resort to racial tactics.

Tennessee faces difficult times and tough choices in the upcoming legislative session. Republicans are ready and willing to tackle the tough issues and find solutions. It appears that the Democrats, having lost their majority because they are out of step with most Tennesseans on issues ranging from taxes and spending to Second Amendment rights and the protection of innocent life, have nothing to offer other than baseless charges of racism. But placing false blame doesn’t solve Tennessee’s problems, create jobs, improve our schools or fix our roads.

The Tennessee Republican Party remains committed to offering solutions and focusing on Tennessee’s future.

DEFENDING YOUR MAJORITY

State legislatures across America will be redrawing congressional district lines in 2011, after the 2010 Census, and liberals are already aiming to use the redistricting process to reduce the number of Republicans in Congress.

The influential left-wing blog MyDD.com has identified Tennessee as one state where liberal Democrats across the nation should focus effort and resources on electing a Democrat-majority legislature in 2010 in order to gerrymander congressional districts in order to increase the number of Democrats and reduce the number of Republicans in Congress.

Says MyDD.com: “What do we need to do in those 36 states? In short, everything we can in 2009 and 2010 to make sure redistricting is controlled by Democrats, then in 2011 pressure governors, state legislators, and whoever else makes redistricting decisions to draw maps with the highest possible number of Democratic districts. … If we pay attention to and get involved in the right state-level elections, we can put control of the next round of redistricting in more Democratic hands.”

The Tennessee Republican Party, having succeeded in its campaign to “Take the Hill” and elect a Republican majority in the state legislature this year, is committed to defend your majority in 2010 so the lines for Tennessee’s nine congressional districts as well as all 33 state Senate districts and 99 state House districts can be redrawn fairly in order to ensure Republican voters are not disenfranchised and their views and voices marginalized and silenced.

AMERICAN PEOPLE SAY “DRILL NOW!” BUT PRESIDENT-ELECT OBAMA MAY HAVE OTHER PLANS

While the campaign is over, the battle over ideas, policies and the future of our great country goes on. During the campaign, candidate Barack Obama said he could support increased domestic oil drilling but now that he’s President-elect Obama, it appears the anti-drilling special interest groups may get their way. As various news media are reporting, Obama is poised to reverse Bush administration policies designed to increase domestic production of oil and reduce our dependency on oil imported from foreign, often hostile, regimes. (Obama Moving to Halt Oil Drilling, Nov. 10, 2008)

Over the last several months, the Tennessee Republican Party sold thousands of bumper stickers warning that Democrats are opposed to increased domestic oil production. The message of the stickers – YOUR WALLET: The only place Democrats want to drill – highlights how liberal Democrats are more interested in drilling deeper into your paycheck than they are in finding more domestic energy resources to help ease prices at the gasoline pump and spur the economy through lower energy costs.

The American economy requires a steady supply of energy at reasonable prices. Increased domestic oil production would be positive for consumers’ pocketbooks and also create tens of thousands of new jobs in an economy that desperately needs them. That’s why last July President Bush lifted the executive order banning drilling off U.S. coasts. Congress – under pressure from Republican lawmakers and the American people – also allowed its own ban to expire in October, and the House of Representatives even passed a comprehensive energy bill that would allow offshore drilling 50 miles from the east and west coasts if states permitted it and completely open areas more than 100 miles from the coast to oil exploration.

Oil and gasoline prices have fallen sharply in part because those decisions showed America was committed to doing whatever it took to increase the supply of oil and reduce our dependence on foreign suppliers. That’s the good news. However, Obama’s allies on the environmental fringe are pushing to reverse those decisions.

Here in Tennessee and across America, Republicans and Democrats who agree with us on the need for increased domestic energy supplies will be watching energy policy developments under the new Obama administration and urging President Obama to refrain from putting more American energy resources off-limits.

Hill Taken: GOP Wins Majority in State Legislature (11-5-08)

Wednesday, November 5th, 2008

The timeline of history has a Republican stamp on it, as of November 4, 2008. This historical moment is completely due to the tremendous work of you, the grassroots supporter, the faithful in the field, and dear precious friends of this party.

Both chambers of the legislature, for the first time since 1869, are now led by Republican majorities. The leadership of Lt. Gov. Ron Ramsey and his team in the Senate and Jason Mumpower with his team in the House have provided a core for the vision of this historical accomplishment.

The net gain reported has been 4 in the state house and 3 in the state senate for a 50-49 count in the TN House and 19-14 in the TN Senate. There were a lot of legislative victories, a total of 14 non-incumbent wins, that generated the new majority.

The Tennessee Republican Party launched “Taking the Hill” as its commitment in August 2007 as I was elected Chairman of this great state party. “Taking the Hill” is the charge heard for months regarding our political efforts to take the “hill” in D.C. and Tennessee. With great candidates, great volunteers, great staff and great contributors, we Took the Hill on November 4, 2008!

John McCain & Sarah Palin won in Tennessee with 57% of the vote.

Senator Lamar Alexander was re-elected with 65% of the vote.

All four of our Republican Congressional seats were strongly held by our Republicans: Jimmy Duncan, Zach Wamp, Marsha Blackburn, and Dr. Phil Roe.

Here’s the list of Tennessee Republican winners and new faces in new places:

Wins in the House defeating Democrats:
Tony Shipley – TnHD 2 (against incumbent)
Terri Lynn Weaver – TnHD40
Joe Carr – TnHD 48
Joshua Evans – TnHD 66 (against incumbent)
Vance Dennis – TnHD 71

Wins in House to hold GOP retirees:
Chad Faulkner – TnHD 36
Ryan Haynes – TnHD 14
Bob Ramsey – TnHD 20
Curtis Halford – TnHD 79
Barrett Rich – TnHD 94

Wins in Senate defeating Democrats-independent:
Mike Faulk – TnSD 4 (against incumbent)
Doug Overbey – TnSD 8
Ken Yager – TnSD 12
Dolores Gresham – TnSD 26

Principles and our People…our great Tennessee Republican Party!

Thanks to all!

Robin Smith, TRP Chairman

HISTORY! REPUBLICANS WIN MAJORITY IN STATE HOUSE, SENATE, FOR FIRST TIME SINCE RECONSTRUCTION (11-5-08)

Wednesday, November 5th, 2008

Tennessee Turns a Deeper Shade of Red

NASHVILLE, TN – Tennessee turned a deeper shade of red Tuesday as Republican victories in state legislative races increased the party’s majority in the state Senate and gave Republicans a majority in the state House for the first time since 1968.

For the first time since Reconstruction, Republicans hold a majority in both houses of the Tennessee General Assembly.

“The election of a Republican majority in the General Assembly is historic in its own right, and even more so given the strong Democratic tide across much of the country,” said Robin Smith, Chairman of the Tennessee Republican Party. “Our victories send a national message that Republican values still resonate with mainstream America. The power of a consistent conservative Republican message – low taxes, small government and respect for life – once again demonstrated its power to attract a majority.”

Republicans last held the Speaker’s chair for two years after the 1968 election that resulted in the House being split 49-49 with one Independent who voted for the Republican Speaker. The Republican Party had not controlled the state Senate since Reconstruction until after the 2006 election.

After the new General Assembly is sworn into office in January, the state Senate will be divided 19-14 and the state House 50-49, both with a Republican majority.

“We are indebted to our great volunteers across Tennessee and to the people of Tennessee for this historic achievement,” Smith said.






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