Hello, I’m Congressman Marsha Blackburn, and I have the privilege to represent the people of Tennessee’s Seventh District.
When I go home and talk with my constituents, they tell me they are sick and tired of the way hard-earned tax dollars sent to Washington each year are being wasted, and that they’re getting too little value for their sacrifice.
And I tell them what I tell every audience I speak to, that Washington doesn't have a revenue problem -- it has a spending problem, and if we don't do something about it, it's only going to get worse.
Take earmark reform. In today's political climate the word "earmark" is a dirty word. It conjures up images of corruption and shady backroom deals, which sends millions of your hard-earned taxpayer dollars to frivolous and unnecessary federal projects.
But what you don't hear is that many earmarks are worthwhile. They help build roads, water treatment plants, and schools. Earmarks themselves are not the problem--it's the way they are granted that needs to be changed.
Despite election year promises of transparency, accountability, and reform, House Democrats' actions since assuming control of the Congress speak louder than words. In an effort to expand the Federal government, the new Majority has wreaked havoc on the budget process by violating their own budget rules, hiding multi-million dollar earmarks in confusing legislative language, and even establishing a secret slush fund for billions in special interest earmarks during the appropriations process.
What’s worse is that billions of your tax dollars are being spent on projects without public scrutiny on the House floor – no vote, no debate, no nothing. In other words, for the guys in power it’s the easiest of easy money.
This behavior is unacceptable and House Republicans will not stand by and allow it to continue. This is why Republicans are pushing a petition that will amend House rules to require the clear disclosure of all earmarks and their sponsors in every bill that comes to the Floor.
If we are able to get 218 members of the House to sign the petition we have filed, we can force the Democrat majority to hold a vote on the House floor to see whether we can make this much-needed reform a reality.
But we need your help. I urge you to contact your Congressman or Congresswoman’s office at once and ask whether they have signed the earmark reform petition.
I hope you will join us in our quest to bring long-overdue fiscal accountability and transparency to Washington. This isn’t a partisan issue; it’s just plain old-fashioned common sense.
Thank you for listening.
Congresswoman Marsha Blackburn Radio Address September 21, 2007
Hello, I’m Congressman Marsha Blackburn, and I have the privilege to represent the people of Tennessee’s Seventh District.
When I go home and talk with my constituents, they tell me they are sick and tired of the way hard-earned tax dollars sent to Washington each year are being wasted, and that they’re getting too little value for their sacrifice.
And I tell them what I tell every audience I speak to, that Washington doesn't have a revenue problem -- it has a spending problem, and if we don't do something about it, it's only going to get worse.
Take earmark reform. In today's political climate the word "earmark" is a dirty word. It conjures up images of corruption and shady backroom deals, which sends millions of your hard-earned taxpayer dollars to frivolous and unnecessary federal projects.
But what you don't hear is that many earmarks are worthwhile. They help build roads, water treatment plants, and schools. Earmarks themselves are not the problem--it's the way they are granted that needs to be changed.
Despite election year promises of transparency, accountability, and reform, House Democrats' actions since assuming control of the Congress speak louder than words. In an effort to expand the Federal government, the new Majority has wreaked havoc on the budget process by violating their own budget rules, hiding multi-million dollar earmarks in confusing legislative language, and even establishing a secret slush fund for billions in special interest earmarks during the appropriations process.
What’s worse is that billions of your tax dollars are being spent on projects without public scrutiny on the House floor – no vote, no debate, no nothing. In other words, for the guys in power it’s the easiest of easy money.
This behavior is unacceptable and House Republicans will not stand by and allow it to continue. This is why Republicans are pushing a petition that will amend House rules to require the clear disclosure of all earmarks and their sponsors in every bill that comes to the Floor.
If we are able to get 218 members of the House to sign the petition we have filed, we can force the Democrat majority to hold a vote on the House floor to see whether we can make this much-needed reform a reality.
But we need your help. I urge you to contact your Congressman or Congresswoman’s office at once and ask whether they have signed the earmark reform petition.
I hope you will join us in our quest to bring long-overdue fiscal accountability and transparency to Washington. This isn’t a partisan issue; it’s just plain old-fashioned common sense.
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