Hartline: The 40th Vote

June 28, 2010, by Jeff Harrline

I want to be the 40th vote.

Assuming the Republican Party can retain every seat it currently holds in the U.S. House of Representatives, we would regain a majority in the House by one vote if 40 new conservatives were elected in November. This is a critical number for working families across America because this number will guarantee that a conservative majority controls the checkbook, debit and credit cards for the government.

While Jim Cooper, our current Representative, votes consistently on increased federal spending with Speaker Nancy Pelosi, unemployment remains high in Tennessee, resting at 10.1% through June. Some reports across the country speculate that unemployment is actually much higher and that many who were looking for work have simply stopped looking. And while nationally the real unemployment rate is estimated to be somewhere around 16.5%, the federal government continues its government-centered attempts at job creation while raising taxes and burdening small businesses, the real engine of job creation, with a mind boggling array of new regulations.

A poll released by the Tennessean this week indicates that 54% of Tennesseans are most concerned about jobs and the economy. The People have spoken, and yet. Rep. Jim Cooper voted to pass a stimulus bill that provided a reported $870 million to Tennessee’s Fifth District and created only 10,518 jobs through March 31st as reported by recovery.gov, a government run transparency website. A February article in the Nashville City Paper referred to lower job numbers and a higher total amount, but also contains the caveat that many of the jobs created were government jobs.

We know that more than half of Tennesseans believe jobs and our economy are the most important issues facing our state. It is clear that Rep. Cooper, his votes and his policies are making the situation worse. He and his political party have failed Americans. While Jim Cooper sells himself to the district as a fiscal conservative, he votes with the party that “deemed” a budget with a $1.47 trillion deficit for 2011. He votes with the party that passed a stimulus bill that will cost us $800 billion in borrowed money and that many believe has been a massive failure to actually create sustainable jobs. He has racked up trillions of dollars in debt and deficit spending and refuses to meet with his constituents in any open forum to explain if he can how these votes benefit Middle Tennesseans who are worried about their economic future.

So what can 40 conservatives do for America?

We will elect a new Speaker of the House that has the future of America and her citizens in mind. We will begin to rein in federal spending and reduce job killing regulations. We will work to extend the Bush Tax cuts so small businesses can have access to the capital they need to continue operating and providing jobs. We will begin the process of de-funding ObamaCare and moving toward a full repeal of the bill. We will work to improve our tax code and make the system more fair.

It is time to send a New Voice for the People to Washington. The self-proclaimed “Strong Voice for Middle Tennessee” is obviously the Strong Voice for the Wrong things.

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