TRP Monthly Review
This month brought great news on the GOP fundraising front. Democrats weren’t expecting to be hit with the numbers put up by the Tennessee Republican gubernatorial candidates. Our GOP candidates outraised Democrats by a stunning $9 million! In addition, Democrat State Senator Jim Kyle announced just today that he is discontinuing his bid for governor, leaving just two Democrats in the running. The Republican message of limited government and individual responsibility is resonating with voters and the political wind at our backs is getting stronger by the day.
While voters signal their desire for more conservative leadership, Tennessee’s Democrat congressmen keep leaning to the left and following Speaker Pelosi’s big government, big spending path. They proved their allegiance to the liberal Speaker once again earlier this month when all five Tennessee Democrats voted to increase the nation’s debt ceiling by another $1.9 trillion which helped set a new debt ceiling record of $14.3 trillion – money that will have to be paid back by our kids and grandkids. It’s no surprise that Democrat Reps. John Tanner and Bart Gordon decided to vote in favor of this increase – they’ve announced they won’t seek re-election in November. But, so-called Blue Dog Democrats Jim Cooper and Lincoln Davis who are rolling the dice this November blatantly put the will of their constituents aside and voted yes on this fiscally irresponsible proposal.
In addition to more irresponsible spending, Democrats in Washington are doing what they can to salvage what’s left of health reform. Just yesterday, President Obama hosted a health summit in which he attempted to promote his "new" health care legislation which is simply a regurgitation of the Senate bill passed in December that has already been rejected by the American people. Tennessee Republicans Sen. Lamar Alexander and Rep. Marsha Blackburn both attended the event and made strong cases for why the current health care proposals should be scrapped so that lawmakers can start over and work in a bipartisan fashion. Despite the effects the massive health care overhaul will have on states, governors and state legislators were excluded from the summit invite list signaling further this was a less-than-serious attempt to reach consensus on health reform.
While there is a lot happening in Washington, there is also a lot happening right here at the Tennessee Republican Party headquarters. Specifically, our focus over the last few months has remained two fold: fundraising and candidate recruitment. I’m happy to report that efforts on both fronts have been extremely successful. Candidates are lining up across the state to run for State House and Senate and because of continued help from supporters like you, we’re going to be able to help those candidates run competitive campaigns that will ensure victory for Republicans this November. I plan to keep each of you updated on our progress as we edge closer to election day.
As always, I want to express my appreciation for everything you do to support the Tennessee Republican Party. Thanks and God Bless.
Sincerely,
Chris Devaney
Chairman
Tennessee Republican Party
TN REPUBLICAN GUBERNATORIAL CANDIDATES OUTRAISE DEMOCRATS BY $9 MILLION: Tennessee Democrat gubernatorial candidates were given a startling wake-up call after financial reporting showed that Republicans outraised their Democrat counterparts by $9 million. The combined fundraising numbers for Democrats was just one fourth of what Republicans raised over the last year demonstrating that our GOP candidates are articulating a strong message that is resonating with voters across the state.
From the Tennessee Republican Party:
- Devaney Statement on GOP Gubernatorial Candidates Outraising Dems by $9 Million – Press Release (02/02/10)
In the News:
- GOP Hopefuls Haul in Donations – Tennessean (02/02/10)
TN DEMOCRAT CONGRESSMEN VOTE TO RAISE U.S. DEBT CEILING ANOTHER $1.9 TRILLION: Apparently Democrats didn’t think raising the debt limit $290 billion back in December was enough. At the beginning of this month, they voted for another $1.9 trillion increase to set a new debt limit record of $14.3 trillion. This is another example of Democrats not listening to voters who are sick and tired of Washington’s out-of-control spending. The proposal passed both the House and Senate with all six Tennessee Republican lawmakers voting against the increase.
From the Tennessee Republican Party:
- Devaney Statement on Tennessee Democrat Reps Voting to Raise U.S. Debt Limit Another $1.9 Trillion – Press Release (02/04/10)
From Tennessee Republican Lawmakers:
- Senator Lamar Alexander – Alexander: President Obama Should Veto Largest Debt Increase in History – Press Release (01/28/10)
- Senator Bob Corker – Corker Opposes Increasing the Federal Debt Limit to $14.3 Trillion – Press Release (01/28/10)
- Rep. Marsha Blackburn – Blackburn Votes No On Fiscal Scam – Press Release (02/04/10)
- Rep. Zach Wamp – Debt Limit Increase Will Slow Economic Growth – Press Release (02/04/10)
In the News:
- House agrees to $1.9 trillion more debt – Associated Press (02/04/10)
- Wamp, state GOP criticize 2nd debt limit rise – Chattanooga Times Free Press (02/08/10)
PRESIDENT OBAMA HOLDS PR STUNT HEALTH CARE SUMMIT: Seeing as how President Obama’s government takeover of health care is on life support, he decided to host a health care summit in which lawmakers from both sides of the aisle were invited to have a roundtable discussion on health reform. However, it seems the “summit” was nothing more than a public relations stunt to try and shift scathing public opinion of Democrats’ health care proposals. Tennessee Republicans Sen. Lamar Alexander and Rep. Marsha Blackburn attended the summit and both made clear that the President should start over on health care so that reform can be achieved in a bipartisan fashion.
From the Tennessee Republican Party:
- Alexander, Blackburn Show Strong Leadership at White House Health Care Summit – Press Release (02/25/10)
From Tennessee Senators & House Members:
- Watch video of Rep. Blackburn speaking at the summit here and here.
- Watch video of Sen. Lamar Alexander speaking at the summit here.
- Rep. Phil Roe – Roe Statement on the White House Health Care “Summit” – Press Release (02/25/10)
- Rep. Zach Wamp – White House Health Care Summit – Press Release (02/25/10)
In the News:
- Health-care summit has Tennessee flavor – Gannett (02/25/10)
- Poll: Expectations low on health summit – USA Today (02/25/10)
- Lamar Alexander point man for GOP at health-care reform summit – Gannett (02/26/10)
- More Talk, No Deal At Health Summit – Wall Street Journal (02/26/10)
OTHER ITEMS OF NOTE:
- The TRP is excited to announce that veteran Tennessee political operative, Gregory Gleaves, will serve as Executive Director. Read more about Gregory here.
- Democrat State Senator Jim Kyle announced he has discontinued his campaign for governor. Read more here.
- Republicans in the General Assembly have been leading an effort to make it easier for Tennessee troops deployed overseas to cast absentee ballots in an election. Read more here and here.
- Please take a look at your Republican U.S. House and Senate Members’ websites to find out what they’ve been doing on your behalf over the last month.
TRACKING CHAIRMAN DEVANEY: During the month of February, Chairman Devaney has attended a number of events around the state. Following is a list of some events in which Chairman Devaney was involved:
02/02 – Guest Speaker at Montgomery County Republican Women’s Club Luncheon
02/03 – Taped Interview for Inside Politics in Nashville
02/04 – Live Interview on the Steve Gill Radio Show
02/06 – Guest Speaker at Benton/Henry/Stewart County Reagan Day Dinner
02/06 – Guest Speaker at Madison County Reagan Day Dinner
02/11 – Guest Speaker at the Tennessee Press Association Forum
02/16 – Attended TRP fundraiser with special guest U.S. Sen. Bob Corker
02/18 – Guest Speaker at the Cumberland County GOP Meeting
02/26 – Guest Speaker at the Greene County Lincoln Day Dinner
