WELCOME

Dear Friends,

There is no doubt that 2008 is shaping up to be a very challenging year. This year, being in the minority in Congress has taught me how quickly Nancy Pelosi and her allies can dismantle the things that we have fought for during those years in the majority.

The Democrat budget that just passed the House raises taxes $683 billion dollars over a 5 year period of time! This is the LARGEST tax hike in history. There are $280 billion dollars in new earmarks. Every Democrat on the Budget Committee voted AGAINST continuing the sales tax deductibility to Tennessee and other non income tax states.

This just may be the beginning. The Heritage Foundation projects taxes over 10 years will go up by $3.911 trillion dollars which is $3,135.00 per household annually. They estimate by the year 2012 the annual loss to the Tennessee economy at over $1.9 billion. Raising taxes is never good, and with a shaky economy this is the last thing we need right now. While most families are tightening their budgets, the Democrats’ plan does not terminate a single wasteful program.

Look at their agenda: Efforts to seriously undermine our intelligence agencies and their work fighting radical Islamists, even less spending discipline, another large increase in the national debt, thousands of new regulations and new attempts to put our health care system under near total government control. These are all steps that put more money into the hands of trial lawyers and decision-making power in the hands of the court.

Facing up to critical longterm structural issues like reform of Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid isn’t even discussed anymore.

People ask me every day what is going to happen in the elections this fall. I simply don’t know. I do know that Hillary Clinton or Barack Obama as President would be a disaster. An even greater disaster would be a Democrat Congress happily rubberstamping their liberal agenda! That is a very real possibility.

It is no secret that the Democrats are out-raising us this election cycle. Powerful organizations are pouring unprecedented amounts of money into the Democrats’ efforts to increase their majority in Congress.

Billionaire George Soros, the creator of the “Shadow Democratic Party”, has spent several hundred million dollars funding such organizations as MoveOn.org. The Soros money is piled on top of the $200 million already raised by big labor, $72.5 million from trial lawyers and law firms, and $10 million from Planned Parenthood. This doesn’t even include the Democrat National Committee, the Democrat Congressional Committees or the record amounts of money being raised by both Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama.

My support does not come from the National Republican organizations. My support comes from you. The filing deadline for Congressional races is April 3rd. Having a strong financial report will send a message to our opponent that I continue to be in a strong financial position with a broad base of support.

Democrats and their liberal financial allies have greatly expanded their list of targeted seats. We are hearing that I will be targeted. Demonstrating strength with a strong financial report on April 3rd, along with a strong grassroots campaign team which we have in place, could determine if my seat will be put on their “hit list”.

As always, I welcome your thoughts on the important issues that face America. We value you as part of our team. It’s going to be an uphill fight for us all this cycle. We need your support to muscle through. Your contribution of $50, $100, $500 or more will be put to work immediately. Thank you in advance for your support. I look forward to hearing from you soon.

My Best,

Marsha Blackburn

P.S. I want you to remember that just as in my years in the State Senate, you can depend on me to fight to protect all of us from the expansion of government into your pockets.