NASHVILLE – The Tennessee Republican Party and the Shelby County Republican Party are co-sponsoring a public forum Monday, March, 23, focusing on the crucial role of education in growing a healthy economy.

The forum, entitled Economic Opportunity Begins With Education, features an A+ panel of diverse education and public policy experts and leaders from across Tennessee who share a commitment to improving education in the state.

“Republicans across Tennessee have long been committed to putting education first in our public policy decisions – a commitment the people of Tennessee saw decades ago when a Republican governor pushed merit pay to attract and retain good teachers, and see today with Republican lawmakers committed to making education the top priority in a tough budget year,” said Robin Smith, Chairman of the Tennessee Republican Party. “We’re continuing that commitment with this non-partisan forum being held Monday in the heart of Tennessee’s largest city.”

The Economic Opportunity Begins With Education forum is scheduled for 8:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. central time at Fogelman Auditorium on the campus of the University of Memphis.

Confirmed panelists include: Lt. Gov. Ron Ramsey, State Senate Education Committee Chairman Dolores Gresham, State Senate Commerce Committee Chairman Paul Stanley, state House Education Committee member Jim Coley, Memphis School Superintendent Dr. Kriner Cash, Shelby County School Board Chairman and President of Tennessee School Boards Association David Pickler, Shelby County School Board member Diane George, and the Rev. Dwight Montgomery, Memphis area chapter President of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference.

Memphis School Board member Stephanie Gatewood will serve as moderator.

While there is no charge for attendance, the event co-sponsoring organizations are requesting attendees to bring two items, such as copier paper, USB drives or other items, as a donation, which will be given to teachers in three schools.

To confirm attendance, call the Shelby County Republican Party at 901-682-3335, or register online at http://economicopportunityforum.eventbrite.com.

CHAIRMAN’S CIRCLE

You Extremist!”
It’s been proven! There is no room in the Tennessee Democrat Party for any conservatives, maybe even any moderates. The leadership of the Tennessee Democrats, both Chairman Chip Forrester and Minority Leader Gary Odom, spoke this week of “extremists” and “out of touch” in reference to most Tennesseans.

Let’s see, you’re an extremist and out of touch if you believe:

• You believe you can spend your money better than the government
• You believe federal & state spending = your tax dollars
• You believe it is your right to bear arms to protect yourself and family
• You believe health care should be accessible & affordable, not socialized
• You believe parental choice is better than pouring money into failed schools
• You believe in the traditional family of one man and one woman
• You believe in personal rights coupled with responsibility
• You believe abortion is not to be used as contraception
• You believe in “America first”, not blame America first

Just a few of the principles of the Republican Party that the “new” Tennessee Democrats mock along with their radical twin at the national level.

You are cordially invited to work with the Tennessee Republican Party to elect common sense legislators who represent your values and principles, not those of the radical, rabid left.

TENNESSEE TRAVELS

Hardeman County
Newly elected Chairman Mike Hellums took the gavel from outgoing Chairman Ron Stallings. A great crowd with wonderful food was a treat with Senator Dolores Gresham and Representative Barrett Rich among the group. In a county that serves as the poster child of gerrymandering, it was exciting to hear of the effort to pick up another Republican House seat. I was also proud to hear of the enthusiasm to become vocal advocates for those who stand, rather than compromise. Congratulations on your growing party!

Campbell County
Wow! What a great crowd! Chairman Hobart Rice (picture: left) and his great leadership team hosted a tremendous dinner. For an “off year” in the election cycle, the folks in Jefferson City were energized and ready to go in winning Republican elections. The candidates and representatives on hand for Governor who spoke did a great job. I was privileged to enjoy a very kind introduction by Senator Mike Faulk (picture: right) and receive a replica of the bandana that was worn by Teddy Roosevelt in “Taking the Hill.”

POLICY & POLITICS

STOP Enforcing the Law, Sheriff!
In the world of the Barack Obama Democrats, a sheriff is being investigated by the new U.S. Justice Department for…drum roll…enforcing immigration laws. Joined by ACORN petition drives and rallies, Democrats in Congress have triggered activity against Sheriff Joe Arpaio in Arizona claiming he has “violated the civil rights of illegal aliens.”

Popular but not effective on Policy
“U.S. President Barack Obama and Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner received failing grades for their efforts to revive the economy from participants in the latest Wall Street Journal forecasting survey,” was the opening line in the WSJ article based on a survey conducted throughout the year of 54 economists. “The economists’ negative ratings mark a turnaround in opinion. In December, before Mr. Obama took office, three-quarters of respondents said the incoming administration’s economic team was better than the departing Bush team.”

Creating Jobs…in Switzerland
The “Stimulus” (wasteful spending) package and policies of the Obama-Pelosi-Reid Democrats have definitely made positive impact on jobs…just not in America. Reuters reports “a wave of energy companies has in the last few months announced plans to move to Switzerland — mainly for its appeal as a low-tax corporate domicile that looks relatively likely to stay out of reach of Barack Obama’s tax-seeking administration.” An economy formerly based on farming has now attracted high-paying professional jobs because they have “slashed tax rates.” Sounds like great Republican policy that continues to be ignored by the Democrats in Tennessee and in D.C. proves effective.

ALL TOGETHER NOW…

The tremendous response to the Tennessee Republican Party’s message, “Hey, Obama supporters, Honk if you’re paying my mortgage!”, has been approved by the citizens who have played by the rules, yet pay the penalty of those who don’t. Coverage in the Wall Street Journal, U.S. News, ABC News, Michelle Malkin, Dave Ramsey, Neal Boortz, and Instapundit has gotten a lot of folks speaking from their bumpers… Join us!

TENNESSEE TRAVELS
Greene County Packed House!
I had the privilege of addressing an overflow crowd at the Greene County Lincoln Day Dinner, hosted by the Greene County Republican Women, led by Nancy Wilson. Bill Gibbons, Bill Haslam, and Zach Wamp all made remarks about their campaign to be Tennessee’s next Governor and Lt. Governor Ron Ramsey announced his desire to join them in the race. Congressman Phil Roe was a treat in having 2 stacks of paper: The “Stimulus” (spending) package that was never produced in time for the legislators to read before the vote and the upcoming budget. Both intimidating piles of paper represented an incredible expansion of government rather than solving our economic problems.

Congratulations to Chairman Louis Ricker for a Party on the move!

National Association of Asian American Professionals

My thanks to the leadership of the NAAAP for allowing me to join them for their national retreat in Nashville on Saturday. Over 100 professionals assembled to strategize their organization’s agenda and growth. I was delighted to see the energy and enthusiasm present and know that Tennessee benefits from their presence.

Polk County is GROWING!
Master of Ceremonies Rep. Eric Watson did a great job in keeping a lively program (and crowd) in line at Polk County’s Lincoln Day Dinner. Senator Dewayne Bunch was the key note speaker with Rep. Mike Bell serving as a good sport in the audience. The Polk County party is growing and standing firm on the principles of our party.

PARTY LIKE IT’S 1773
On Friday, February 27, Nashville joined 49 other sites across the United States to host a “Tea Party” to allow citizens to demonstrate their opposition to the extraordinary “stimulus” (stimulates on the expansion of government, not the economy) package. More than 300 citizens rallied at the Legislative Plaza in Nashville, part of nationwide outpouring of opposition to the out-of-control spending by Obama and the Democrats and reflective of the original Tea Party in Boston Harbor in protest of “taxation without representation.”

Funny, now, Tennessee Democrats are squawking about the fact that citizens had the audacity to speak against the return to a welfare state cultivated by an overreaching federal government spending tax dollars from hard-working citizens.

As stated on countless occasions, Republicans are supportive of a genuine stimulus package with targeted spending to generate jobs, but at about half the cost of the Democrats “payback-as-you-go” plan to “redistribute the wealth.”

TENNESSEE INCOME TAX

After a tremendous swell of grassroots opposition in 2000 stopped a state income tax, Tennessee Democrats have filed a bill in the state legislature (in both chambers), to implement the state Income Tax, another vehicle for government to take your money. The Income Tax has been ruled unconstitutional in our state, yet, tax-and-spend-Democrats are proving what we already know: Democrats don’t trust you to spend your own money. They believe the government knows better. No wonder the Tennessee Democrats are mocking the right of citizens to publicly protest and even criticize Tennessee’s Democrat Governor for doing the right thing – reviewing the strings attached to non-recurring money coming to our state. Hold onto your wallet!

“GREEDY” WALL STREET
Democrats’ talking points about the freefall of the stock market in response to their fiscal irresponsibility include the term “greedy” that precedes any reference to Wall Street or the investment centers of our economy. President Obama has now declared that he and the Democrats will not view the stock market numbers as they do polls in addressing policy.

There is no argument there were some investment “tools” that were less than sound that were utilized in the investment community. That, however, does not remove the direct connection that the average man and woman has to the declining stock market.

Up to two-thirds of Americans are invested in the stock market through 401Ks and other tools. The stock market drop has resulted in the loss of up to 50% of the value of individual investments since the November 2008 elections. “Main Street” is directly impacted by “Wall Street” losses because the average worker and retiree have been careful to invest rather than depend entirely upon Social Security and government programs for their retirement.

The philosophy of socialism and class warfare that serves as the foundation for Democrats’ economic policy is killing the very existence of America’s free market.

Stand strong. Good principles yield good policy. We’ve got to elect those who stand for good principles.