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Blackburn Rejects Obama's Assault on Freedom

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 05:00:00 GMT

Congressman Marsha Blackburn (TN-7) today issued the following statement rejecting President Obama's so-called accommodation in regards to the Obamacare mandate that would violate religious freedom in America.

"Only President Obama would replace a mandate with another mandate. It begs the question: Is government run health care more important than freedom? I reject the President's so-called accommodation. It does nothing to make up for his latest assault on our freedoms. It might be a humbling experience, but President Obama should look the American people in the eye, admit he's wrong, and repeal the law. It's time we scrapped the idea of government run health care."

Blackburn Votes To Repeal CLASS Act

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 05:00:00 GMT

Congressman Marsha Blackburn (TN-7) today voted to repeal the CLASS Act, which Democrats originally touted as a way to save $80 billion over ten years for program operations and deficit reduction in President Obama's health care plan. The program has since been proven to be fiscally unsustainable and last October Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius even admitted there was no path forward. Congressman Blackburn issued the following statement

"Almost two years ago, against the will of the American people, Congress approved the Presidents job-killing health care bill. Since it’s passage Republicans have made it one of our top priorities to repeal Obamacare. It has become obvious that the President’s plan costs too much money and has no hope of working. We must continue to work to tear it down brick by brick.

"Repealing the CLASS Act is just another step toward getting Obamacare off the books. While Democrats wanted people to believe that the CLASS Act would save money, Republicans knew better. Hardworking taxpayers are sick and tired of budget gimmicks like the CLASS Act. We need to eliminate these kind of failed programs so Congress can consider real long-term care reform proposals that work for the American people and the Federal budget."

Blackburn Statement on the Obama Administration's Plan to Cut America's Military

Thu, 26 Jan 2012 05:00:00 GMT

Congressman Marsha Blackburn (TN-7) issued the following statement in response to the Obama Administration's announcement today that the president plans to cut America's military with two rounds of Base Realignment And Closure (BRAC) starting in 2013.

"The number one priority of our government is to protect the American people from threats to our nation. It is extremely dangerous for President Obama to gut our nation's defense when we all know it is already spread too thin. Despite what the President's plan calls for, we shouldn't be throwing 100,000 military personnel on the unemployment line.

"Unlike our President, I regularly speak with our commanders on the ground and take their concerns seriously. I have assured General McConville that my focus will remain to support our troops and military families stationed at Fort Campbell. I will fight to ensure that the brave men and women of the 101st Airborne, who played such a vital role fighting in the Global War on Terror over the last ten years, continue to have the resources they need to remain the best fighting force in the world. I will also continue to work with General Haston and do everything within my power to maintain the National Guard and Reserves that this President seems to want to destroy."

Blackburn Questions Google's Motives on Privacy

Thu, 26 Jan 2012 05:00:00 GMT

Congressman Marsha Blackburn (TN-7) today joined a bipartisan group of House lawmakers in a letter to Google demanding answers about the company's latest shift in the application of their privacy policy for American consumers. Blackburn issued the following statement:

“After all the controversies Google has become entangled, the question people keep asking is – how can we ever begin to trust Google? I’ve always said private industry needs to take the lead in providing consumer choice and transparency before big government rushes in to regulate. But Google’s move to eradicate consumer choice all together across their various platforms raises additional questions about how the company’s monopoly power might hurt competition and how their action might unilaterally and unnecessarily invite even broader government regulations on everyone else.”

Blackburn Statement on President Obama's State of the Union Address

Tue, 24 Jan 2012 05:00:00 GMT

Congressman Marsha Blackburn (TN-7) issued the following statement in response to President Barack Obama's State of the Union Address.

"Tonight’s speech contained no shortage of ideas, but it also raised one very important question: How will we pay for all these empty promises? After 1000 days without a budget, this president and his cohorts in the Senate seem to think that budgets aren’t necessary. Budgets ARE necessary; budgeting allows us to set priorities. If American families have to tighten their belts, Washington can do the same.

"It's not right that President Obama refuses to take responsibility for his failed policies: blocking energy projects that would lead to sustainable job growth, attempting to heap the national debt on to the backs of hard-working taxpayers, and reducing the fighting power of our nation's military. We all know that the Obama economy is stifling the ability of hard-working taxpayers and small business owners to achieve their hopes and dreams.

"The way forward to creating an environment for more innovation and job creation is through less regulation, less taxation, and less litigation. I’m willing to work with President Obama to undo the damage done in the last three years and get this great nation back on track. But I won’t do it at the cost of higher taxes, unnecessary government intervention, and job-killing legislation."

Blackburn Blasts Obama's Decision to Block Keystone Project

Wed, 18 Jan 2012 05:00:00 GMT

Congressman Marsha Blackburn (TN-7) issued the following statement regarding the Obama Administration's block of the Keystone Project.

“The Keystone Pipeline XL project would not only serve as a valuable energy resource for our nation, but would create thousands of truly shovel-ready jobs here at home. The Obama administration's decision to block this project from moving forward is further evidence that when it comes to job creation, the President just doesn't have a clue. It's extremely disappointing that after 40 months of review, he has chosen to cater to the liberal special interests in making this decision that will ship thousands of jobs overseas."

Blackburn to President Obama: 'Welcome To The Party'

Fri, 13 Jan 2012 05:00:00 GMT

Congressman Marsha Blackburn (TN-7) issued the following statement in response to President Obama's sudden revelation on the need to reduce the size of government.

"Republicans have been saying for years that we need to reduce the size of government and eliminate wasteful programs. Welcome to the party, Mr. President.

"Hopefully, since President Obama finally seems to agree with us that we need to downsize government to a more affordable and efficient size, he will get his party to focus on streamlining and not increasing the size of government. He can start with the repeal of Obamacare, reducing the IRS workforce, and eliminating the EPA."

Blackburn Statement on President Obama's Flawed Defense Strategy

Thu, 05 Jan 2012 05:00:00 GMT

Congressman Marsha Blackburn (TN-7) issued the following statement regarding the new defense strategy announced by President Obama today.

"In light of the current geopolitical environment, the plan announced by President Obama today for our nation's military is at best an ill-advised attempt to lower defense spending. The Obama defense strategy is a significant departure from past administrations that could cripple America’s fighting forces and render aid to those who seek to do us harm. I'll be the first to say that we must do everything we can to get our fiscal house in order and that includes taking a fine-toothed comb to all federal agencies; but it should not be done at the expense of our men and women in uniform.

"While we do need to cut excess waste and rein in run-away bureaucracies, we have a sacred obligation to support those who serve to protect this country from harm. I have serious concerns that the President’s plan will leave our Armed Forces unprepared to meet the future challenges we may face and that it may unfairly reduce the benefits of our veterans and their families who have served nobly over the last ten years in the Global War on Terror. There is a great difference between cutting what is expensive and unnecessary and boldly announcing strategic guidance that is just plain wrong. America's patriots deserve better from their Commander-in-Chief."

Blackburn Co-Sponsors Bill to Keep America's Military Strong

Thu, 15 Dec 2011 05:00:00 GMT

Congressman Marsha Blackburn (TN-7) participated today in a press conference unvieling H.R. 3662, the Down Payment to Protect National Security Act. Introduced by House Armed Services Committee Chairman Buck McKeon, H.R. 3662 is an effort to pay for the first year of sequestration cuts without causing great harm to America’s fighting force. Through attrition and extending by three years the pay freeze for federal employees, this legislation would deliver $234 billion in savings and would pay for the first year of sequestration; deferring the disastrous impacts on America’s military. Congressman Blackburn issued the following statement in support of the Down Payment to Protect National Security Act:

“Shortly after the Supercomittee failed to reach an agreement, I met with Ft. Campbell leaders, the boots who had been on the ground, and asked how the sequestration would affect their ability to lead and protect. They warned me about critical personnel shortages and cuts to family programs. Yes, our debt crisis is a national security problem, but we can’t address national security problems by hollowing out our armed forces. You solve the problem by shrinking the bureaucracy. This legislation is another in a long line of pro-defense, common sense legislation that works to protect our strength and position in the world while making substantive and commonsense cuts to the expanding bureaucracy. From the National Defense Authorization Act to the Down Payment to Protect National Security Act, we work hard to make sure the needs of the men and women of Ft. Campbell, the 101st Screaming Eagles, are met and protected.”

Blackburn Statement on the Passage of the Middle Class Tax Relief & Job Creation Act

Tue, 13 Dec 2011 05:00:00 GMT

Congressman Marsha Blackburn (TN-7) issued the following statement on the passage of the Middle Class Tax Relief & Job Creation Act.

“The American people have said again and again that it’s time to take away the president’s credit card and the Job Creation Act does just that. It does not raise taxes, it reduces debt, it extends payroll tax cuts, and it protects the promises we’ve made to seniors by cutting spending not through job-destroying tax increases. Everything in the Job Creation Act is offset by spending cuts and that’s the way things need to be done around here. This isn’t our money, it belongs to the American people, and I’m thankful the Job Creation Act allows taxpayers to keep more of their hard-earned money. I’m proud this legislation accelerates a decision on the bipartisan Keystone XL energy pipeline. I hope President Obama reconsiders his veto threat of this 100,000 high-paying, domestic-job-creating project.”