Conservatives for Corker

A CALL to Action with Congressman Blackburn

TrumanBlog@comcast.net (Truman Bean) — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 15:10:00 +0000

Yesterday afternoon, while waiting to pick up our daughter from Lipscomb, I participated in a conference call with Congressman Marsha Blackburn. I sat in my truck, with the windows open, listening to the chatter and laughter of students milling about and watching the colorful foliage swirl about....very relaxing.

This serene atmosphere was in stark contrast to the maelstrom building in Washington after Tuesday's election results and the build-up to this weekend's possible healthcare House vote.

John Scott, Ben Cunningham, Ken Marrero, and yours truly took part in this Q & A chat that went for about 30 minutes (ending just before Chatty C bounced into the truck).

Congressman Blackburn (remember she prefers this title) highlighted the Health Care Bill's growing waistline and its creation of a mammoth government structure.

House Schedule - Debate beginning Friday afternoon with an endgame vote on Saturday.

Important Opposition Rally today at 12 PM on the Capitol steps

$1.2 to $2.4 TRILLION estimated cost over 10 years.

Employer dis-incentives to provide private insurance for their employees, possibly causing over 114 million Americans to lose their private insurance plans.

The Standard Growth Rate is NOT affixed to this bill (hiding another $240 Billion in cost)

Not PATIENT-CENTERED and ANTI- FREE MARKET.

She stressed the importance of calling all of our Congressional representation to shore up the opposition and sway the fence sitters of this proposed legislation.

A follow-up on the bill's more defined schedule is to be sent out and circulated today, hopefully.

All said, an encouraging chat with a member of Congress that can talk articulately with pundits of the national media in Washington and comfortably and candid with the folk that live in her district in Tennessee.

Marsha Blackburn on the House Health Care Bill
Posted on November 4, 2009 by rightathomeblog

Nancy Pelosi’s current plan is for debate to begin Friday on the $2.4 trillion House health care plan, and for the bill to be voted on Saturday.

In a conference call with Tennessee bloggers today, Rep. Marsha Blackburn stated that she is concerned with the effect that unfunded mandates currently contained in the House healthcare bill will have on the Tennessee state budget, hospitals in Tennessee, and delivery of health care in our communities. As a result, she says she plans to offer an amendment to the bill this weekend on behalf of every Tennessee taxpayer that would ban all unfunded mandates in the bill.

While the Democratic leadership may allow amendments to be offered, they probably will not accept any except the GOP alternative bill.

Congressman Blackburn reiterated her concerns regarding the cost of the bill, with the latest estimates running at as much as $2.4 trillion dollars when fully implemented over ten years. She says that will raise taxes, and will increase the burden on Tennessee as Medicaid eligibility increases. There are also additional costs – likely around another $245 billion – that will run as a separate piece of legislation since the decision has been made not to include the SGR fix in the bill.

Continue.....

Helpful Links Provided by Americans for Prosperity
If you are able to come to Washington, DC, we encourage you to attend Congresswoman Michele Bachmann's National Congressional House Call on the West Front Steps of the U.S. Capitol (House Side) from 12:00-1:00pm. Click here to watch Congresswoman Bachmann's invitation to the Congressional House Call.
The final battle in the House is this Friday and Saturday. It's crunch time and if you are going to make your voice heard, this "Congressional House Call" is it. Make sure to download the Patients First Reform Prescription .

Corker on Fox News: Americans Should Have "Antennae Up" Regarding Cost of Health Care Reform

TrumanBlog@comcast.net (Truman Bean) — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 13:49:00 +0000

10-23-09 - On Fox News Channel, U.S. Senator Bob Corker, R-Tenn., said Americans should have their "antennae up" regarding the cost of health care reform proposals being considered in Congress. In the first vote on health care reform this week, Corker joined a majority of senators, Democrats and Republicans, in rejecting legislation (S.1776) that would have added $247 billion to the nation's record $1.4 trillion deficit.

10-20-09 Corker: Washington is Embracing Selfish, Short-sighted Solutions to Health Care Reform

TrumanBlog@comcast.net (Truman Bean) — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 14:16:00 +0000

U.S. Senator Bob Corker (R-TN) delivers floor remarks opposing S. 1776, the Medicare Physicians Fairness Act, sponsored by Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-MI). The legislation adds $246.9 billion to the debt and eliminates the SGR (Sustainable Growth Rate) Medicare payment model without replacing it with another.

Sen. Bob Corker on Doctors' Medicare Payments

TrumanBlog@comcast.net (Truman Bean) — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 14:14:00 +0000

Corker: Health Reform Shouldn't Be Paid For With Unfunded Mandates and Medicare Cuts

TrumanBlog@comcast.net (Truman Bean) — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 10:53:00 +0000

October 7, 2009 - Senator Corker delivers a Senate floor speech expressing support for a bipartisan approach to health insurance reform that doesn't impose unfunded mandates on state governments or cuts in Medicare.

State Rep. Susan Lynn fired off a letter chiding Sen. Alexander

TrumanBlog@comcast.net (Truman Bean) — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 10:35:00 +0000

Tennessee Pols to Lamar Alexander: Forget About Low-Carbon Fuel Standards
In certain circles, Tennessee senator Lamar Alexander is a hero on energy matters. His relentless crusade for nuclear power, for instance, became virtually the sum total of GOP energy prescriptions. But that doesn’t mean all of Sen. Alexander’s energy ideas get a warm welcome—even within the Republican party.

His support for a low-carbon fuel standard—essentially a plan to penalize “dirty” fuels such as Canadian oil sands–is rankling some rank-and-file Republicans back in his native Tennessee.
State Rep. Susan Lynn fired off a letter last Friday chiding Sen. Alexander for even flirting with the idea; Sen. Alexander has repeatedly said that such a standard could help the environment without raising energy prices.
“At its core, a [low carbon fuel standard] would initiate a direct ban on the importation of some of our most secure and affordable sources of energy,” she wrote. “It would necessarily expand America’s already dangerous dependence on foreign, unstable energy from suppliers half-a-world away…”
She urged Sen. Alexander to use his position on the Senate Environment and Public Works committee “to stand up for the energy interests of Tennessee and prevent this plan from advancing any further.”
This is just the latest salvo in the low-carbon fuel wars—a public broadside against an energy policy that doesn’t actually exist.
There was a low-carbon fuel standard in the first version of the Waxman-Markey bill; it later disappeared. It has yet to appear in the Senate climate bill. Yet the very idea of a low-carbon fuel standard that could put Canadian oil off limits has the energy-security crowd mobilizing.
What’s interesting is that Rep. Lynn doesn’t just represent Tennessee’s 57th district. She also chairs the American Legislative Exchange Council’s task force on commerce, insurance, and economic development. ALEC is a group of about 2,000 state legislators fighting for free-market, small-government solutions and helps craft state-level legislation.
ALEC already bitterly opposed the cap-and-trade plans in Congress this year; it apparently finds a low-carbon fuel standard a sorry alternative. That doesn’t leave many options if Washington—or states—are going to tackle carbon emissions.

Corker Named Ranking Member of Aging Committee

TrumanBlog@comcast.net (Truman Bean) — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 10:59:00 +0000

Corker Named Ranking Member of Aging Committee
Tuesday, September 22nd, 2009, by Nina Cardona
Tennessee Senator Bob Corker is now the lead Republican on the Special Committee on Aging.He replaces retiring Florida Senator Mel Martinez as Ranking Member.
The committee deals with Medicare, Social Security, and pension plans. It also looks into fraudulent schemes that target older people.
Corker also serves on the Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee, the Energy and Natural Resources Committee, and the Foreign Relations Committee.

09.09.09 CNBC's Larry Kudlow Interview's Sen. Corker about Health Care Reform

TrumanBlog@comcast.net (Truman Bean) — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 14:03:00 +0000

CNBC's Larry Kudlow interviews Sens. Mark Warner and Bob Corker about health care reform.

Will Corker make a Presidential run in 2012?

TrumanBlog@comcast.net (Truman Bean) — Sat, 05 Sep 2009 17:52:00 +0000

Will Corker run in 2012?

It will depend on how much jogging he does in Iowa over the next several months......

Corker Doesn’t Rule Out Presidential Run In ‘12

By Kleinheider Posted on September 4, 2009 at 8:09 am
From Knoxville News Sentinel editor Jack McElroy:
“Will you say you will definitely not run for president in 2012?”
He responded by saying his wife would be surprised if he did, that interersted candidates would be showing up in Iowa and that no one in his office was working in that direction.
In other words, no, he’s not ruling out a bid for the presidency.
It will be interesting to see if any trips to Iowa do turn up on his calendar next year.

Former Union Organizer Makes the Case Against Card Check

TrumanBlog@comcast.net (Truman Bean) — Sat, 29 Aug 2009 15:01:00 +0000

A former union organizer we met at RightOnline in Pittsburgh talked to us about how the Employee Free Choice Act would destroy the secret ballot and make unemployment worse in the United States.

Dear Truman,

Ever wonder if we can win tough public policy battles like health care and cap-and-trade?

Well, today we scored a big victory on a crucial issue that looked impossible just a few months ago.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid announced that the outrageously mis-named Employee Free Choice Act -- or Card Check -- is NOT going to be brought to a vote this year!

Card Check would effectively take the secret ballot away from American workers when it comes to deciding whether or not they want to join a union. It would take a cherished freedom away from millions of Americans, and at Americans for Prosperity we've been fighting it tooth-and-nail throughout the year.

A few months ago, President Obama, Speaker Pelosi and their Big Labor allies were confident of passing this legislation, which would dramatically expand the power of unions by giving them millions of new union members along with their "forced dues."

We launched a "Save Our Secret Ballot" effort with rallies in key states like Pennsylvania (where union organizers aggressively attacked us), North Carolina, Arkansas and Virginia. We urged grassroots activists like you to call and email your Senators and House members. AFP was one of several free-market groups who took up the fight to stop this union power grab. TO SEE PHOTOS AND COVERAGE OF OUR GRASSROOTS EVENTS CLICK HERE.

Faced with this grassroots uprising, the big-government side had to back away -- and today they did.

So, we should take heart! Yes, we face a big challenge on stopping the health care takeover. Sure, the cap-and-trade battle is not easy. But, if we fight aggressively, fight hard and remain committed we can win -- just like we won the Card Check battle.

Today, I was in Wisconsin where Americans for Prosperity Foundation hosted a series of Town Hall meetings across this great state with special guest John Stossel of ABC's "20/20". AFP Foundation provided citizens with a forum to discuss a government takeover of health care. The crowds were huge and energetic: 1,900 in Madison (last night), 500 in La Crosse today and over 1,200 earlier this evening in Wausau, which is the home district of House Appropriations Chairman David Obey, who has refused to hold town hall meetings with his constituents.

Over 1,900 packed our town hall event in Madison, Wisconsin

You could feel the electricity in the room from seniors, small business owners, young couples, students, all committed to making sure the government keeps its "hands off our health care." CLICK HERE FOR PHOTOS AND COVERAGE OF THE EVENTS.

Crowd of over 1,200 in Wausau

We've got a long way to go on the health care and cap-and-trade battles. Several Senators are now saying Congress will stay in session deep into December in an attempt to wear us down.

While we gird for the long road ahead, let's take a moment to savor a victory for freedom today on the Card Check issue.

Then, let's get up and back to the fight for freedom!

Sincerely,

Tim Phillips

PS: You may have seen AFP's very own Phil Kerpen on Glenn Beck's FOX News show on Monday and Tuesday as Phil exposed the influence of the Apollo Alliance of big environmental groups, labor unions, and social justice community organizers on the stimulus bill. If you missed it, you can watch it here!

Americans for Prosperity (AFP) is the nation's premier grassroots organization committed to advancing every individual's right to economic freedom and opportunity. AFP believes reducing the size and scope of government is the best safeguard to ensuring individual productivity and prosperity for all Americans. AFP educates and engages citizens in support of restraining state and federal government growth, and returning government to its constitutional limits. AFP has more than 700,000 members, including members in all 50 states, and 25 state chapters.

For more information, visit www.americansforprosperity.org

If you no longer wish to receive e-mail from us, please click here.

Corker to Hold Town Hall Meeting in Rutherford County on Wednesday, August 26

TrumanBlog@comcast.net (Truman Bean) — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 11:15:00 +0000

For immediate release: Laura Lefler Herzog, 202-224-3467
August 18, 2009
MEDIA ADVISORY
Corker to Hold Town Hall Meeting in Rutherford County on Wednesday, August 26

WASHINGTON U.S. Senator Bob Corker (R-TN) will hold a town hall meeting in Murfreesboro on Wednesday, August 26 to speak with citizens and community leaders about health care reform and the economic challenges facing our state and country. This event is open to the public.

During the Senate¹s August recess, Corker is visiting 30 counties across the state and holding 20 town hall meetings to listen to his constituents¹ concerns and provide an update on his work in Tennessee and Washington on their behalf.

Tennesseans seeking more information about the event should contact Senator Corker¹s Nashville field office at 615-279-8125.

All media inquiries should be directed to Laura Lefler Herzog at 202-224-3467.

WHO: U.S. Senator Bob Corker

WHAT: Rutherford County Town Hall Meeting

WHEN: Wednesday, August 26, 2009
9:30 A.M. CT

WHERE: Stones River Country Club
1830 North West Broad Street
Murfreesboro, TN 37129

CONTACTS: Beth Cope (Rutherford Chamber of Commerce), 615-579-0735

Laura Lefler Herzog (Corker), 202-224-3467

Bob Corker was elected to the United States Senate in November 2006 and serves on the Banking, Energy, and Foreign Relations committees. During his service in Washington, Senator Corker has focused on economic and fiscal issues, energy security, and health insurance, and demonstrated a strong commitment to providing exceptional constituent service for Tennesseans through his six offices across the state. Corker has gained a reputation as a hard working senator who has tried to intelligently and thoughtfully shape debate on key policy issues with a willingness to reach across the aisle to gain consensus. Corker grew up in Chattanooga, Tenn. and graduated from the University of Tennessee. He was a successful businessman before serving as Tennessee commissioner of finance and administration and mayor of Chattanooga. He and his wife, Elizabeth, have been married for twenty-two years and have two daughters, Julia and Emily.

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Corker says no on the Sotomayor Nomination

TrumanBlog@comcast.net (Truman Bean) — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 16:01:00 +0000

That a boy Bob!

For immediate release: Laura Lefler Herzog, 202-224-3467
July 29, 2009

Corker Announces His Intentions on the Sotomayor Nomination

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Bob Corker, R-Tenn., made the following statement today regarding the nomination of Judge Sonia Sotomayor for the U.S. Supreme Court.

“Judge Sotomayor has an impressive background and an inspiring American story. I enjoyed meeting with her in June and let her know I would reserve judgment on her nomination until the conclusion of a fair and thorough hearings process,” said Corker. “After much deliberation and careful review, I have determined that Judge Sotomayor’s record and many of her past statements reflect a view of the Supreme Court that is different from my own. I view the Supreme Court as a body charged with impartially deciding what the law means as it is applied to a specific case. I believe Judge Sotomayor views the Supreme Court as more of a policy-making body where laws are shaped based on the personal views of the justices. Unfortunately, nothing I heard during Judge Sotomayor’s confirmation hearings or in my meeting with her in June sufficiently allayed this concern. For this reason, I’m disappointed to say, I will not be able to support Judge Sotomayor’s nomination.”

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Senate Judiciary Cmte. Vote on Judge Sotomayor's Nomination

TrumanBlog@comcast.net (Truman Bean) — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 11:21:00 +0000

The Senate Judiciary Cmte., by a vote of 13-6, approved the nomination of Supreme Court Justice Nominee Sonia Sotomayor.

07.22.09 Sen. Corker Comments on Health Care Reform Debate

TrumanBlog@comcast.net (Truman Bean) — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 12:20:00 +0000

07.16.09 Corker Says Medicare Savings Should Be Used to Help Restore Program's Solvency

TrumanBlog@comcast.net (Truman Bean) — Sat, 18 Jul 2009 15:57:00 +0000

In a speech on the Senate floor, Senator Bob Corker says Medicare savings should only be used to restore the solvency of the Medicare system. Corker and 35 Republican Senators sent a letter to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid announcing their opposition to using cuts in Medicare to pay for creation of a new government-run health care plan.

Patients First Ad

TrumanBlog@comcast.net (Truman Bean) — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 19:56:00 +0000

06.18.09 Sen. Corker Questions Treasury Sec. Tim Geithner about Financial Regulatory Reform

TrumanBlog@comcast.net (Truman Bean) — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 13:04:00 +0000

At a Senate Banking Committee hearing, Sen. Bob Corker questions Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner about a new financial regulatory reform proposal unveiled yesterday by President Barack Obama.

Corker & Blackburn Comment on Financial Regulatory Reform

TrumanBlog@comcast.net (Truman Bean) — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 11:10:00 +0000

During an appearance on CNBC's Squawk Box, Sen. Bob Corker, a member of the Senate Banking Committee, provides his initial reaction to financial regulatory reform proposals being introduced by President Obama today.

Blackburn on CNBC discussing President Obama's regulatory reform proposals.

CBO Report and the Healthcare Timetable

TrumanBlog@comcast.net (Truman Bean) — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 11:24:00 +0000

New healthcare cost estimate sends Dems back to drawing board

Just one day after President Obama told the AMA that his health care plan would cost $1 trillion the first 10 years, Senate Democrats conceded that $1.6 trillion is a more realistic figure – and they are openly disagreeing on how to pay for it. So, they are proposing to scale back planned subsidies. Several officials said the Congressional Budget Office had issued a cost estimate of $1.6 trillion, with only about $560 billion paid for. At the Senate Health panel, officials said that after penciling in subsidies for families with incomes as high as $110,000, or 500 percent of the federal poverty level, they would limit the help to families up to $88,000 in income, or 400 percent of the poverty level. To pay for the legislation, Sen. Max Baucus has signaled he intends to propose a tax on health insurance benefits for individuals with the costliest health insurance coverage. I'm glad to see the Democratic senators are willing to scale back their plans as the cost estimate increases. Maybe if the real cost were told, they would drop their plans altogether.

Senate health overhaul costs top $1.6 Trillion...

Republicans and Democrats clash on the timetable for major Healthcare Reform legislation after the release of the CBO's scoring of the bill's projected cost.

Senate Republicans Oppose Washington Takeover of Health Care

TrumanBlog@comcast.net (Truman Bean) — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 17:09:00 +0000

On Capitol Hill, Senate Republicans emphasized their opposition to any health care plan that would allow Washington bureaucrats to make decisions that should be made by patients and their doctors.

Blogger Conference Call with Senator Lamar Alexander

TrumanBlog@comcast.net (Truman Bean) — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 11:33:00 +0000

On June 10, 2008, Senator Lamar Alexander, Chairman of the Senate Republican Conference, held a blogger conference call to discuss his Auto Stock for Every Taxpayer Act and his Car Czar award.

06.08.09 Corker Guest Host's CNBC's "Squawk Box"

TrumanBlog@comcast.net (Truman Bean) — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 11:30:00 +0000

Knowledgeable, candid, and very relaxed.

Are we sure Senator Corker is a U.S. Senator?

Senator Corker appears as a guest host on CNBC's "Squawk Box." During the show, Corker discusses the bankruptcies of GM and Chrysler, regulatory reform of our financial system, and the upcoming Congressional debate over health care reform. Additional guests include: Eric Dinallo, former New York State Insurance Department Superintendent, and Donna Shalala, former Secretary of Health & Human Services (1993-2001) and current president of the University of Miami.

Watch Corker Monday, June 8 on CNBC's "Squawk Box"

TrumanBlog@comcast.net (Truman Bean) — Sun, 07 Jun 2009 20:49:00 +0000

Watch Corker Monday, June 8 on CNBC’s “Squawk Box”

Senator Corker will be a guest host on CNBC’s “Squawk Box,” Monday, June 8, from 8-9 a.m. ET.

Senator Lamar Alexander Talks about General Motors and Health Care on MSNBC

TrumanBlog@comcast.net (Truman Bean) — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 11:56:00 +0000

Senator Lamar Alexander appeared on MSNBC to talk about his idea to distribute stock in General Motors to individual taxpayers. Visit Sen. Alexander's website for more information: http://cli.gs/WZVden.

Cap and Trade's Hot Air Tour Blows on to Nashville Fairground

TrumanBlog@comcast.net (Truman Bean) — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 19:33:00 +0000

This morning me and the youngest member of the clan, drove over to Nashville's Fairgrounds to join in the outcry of stopping the Cap and Trade Environmental hysteria.

Chatty C. and I were greeted with free donuts, "Truth is Cool" t-shirt giveaways, and lots of global warming / climate change HOT AIR.

AFP President Tim Phillips rallied the troops to get out their cell phones right then and call their two state senators (Alexander & Corker). Who he said, both appeared to be facilitating on whether each would completely oppose this Cap & Trade legislation.

Giving out their office numbers, he asked everyone to call them right then and there and raise your hand if you got through. Hands began to trickle up periodically throughout the crowd of a couple of hundred.

Ben Cunningham and Lee Beaman were a few of the more notables seen in the crowd.
Good friends from church, Wayne and Ruth Hickman (Wayne seen in sunglasses in picture foreground) gave me a copy of the Media Malpractice Movie that was shown at the CoolSprings Thoroughbred last night. They told me that they did not want it back, just pass it along to someone else, so anyone who wants to see it, just let me know and I will pass it along to you.

Phil Valentine and Johnny B. reminded the folk that although numbers of current office holders might be in the clear majority to pass this legislation, similar odds were being played against when a few horn honkers started a ground swell that stopped the state income tax in Tennessee

He also mentioned a conversation with Senator Corker regarding his proposal for an amendment to allow the tax but give back the monies to the taxpayer. A shell game he would be very wary, one in which the return would surely be a smaller percentage than what was originally taken.

This Cap and Trade should be opposed not amended or made more palatable because of it's feared inevitability.

TCPR's Shaka Mitchell ended the rally with another cheer against the Cap and Trade proposal, preferring the Cap and Tax Moniker instead. Warning of much higher electrical cost at a time in Nashville where several thousand cannot pay their current utility bills.

As the balloon illustrates....Cap and Trade means: Lost Jobs-Higher Taxes-Less Freedom. An issue that many struggling in the current economic slow-down should hearken to educate themselves, their friends, and ultimately those policy makers representing them.