*** COVER LETTER / STATEMENT ***

January 4, 2008

Statement by Tennesseans for Accountability in Government

As the discussions on the renovations of the Executive Mansion and ballroom/entertainment center addition heat up, there are attempts to portray Tennesseans for Accountability in Government’s (TAG) opposition as based on something other than the facts and the concern for wasteful government spending.

Opponents say it is POLITICAL and that it is Republicans trying to embarrass a Democrat governor. First, people can only be embarrassed when they are caught doing something marginal or wrong. But a close look at many of the TAG supporters and of the Oak Hill residents would find that many of them supported Phil Bredesen during his campaign, donated to his cause and voted for him.

The next accusation is that this is a PERSONAL attack on the First Lady and the Governor. Bearing in mind the above, why would supporters turn on the Bredesen’s. Most thinking Tennesseans, including TAG and Oak Hill residents, give the Governor high marks for how he has managed the state through some difficult issues like TennCare reform, the uninsureds, etc. He has been fiscally responsible and socially conscious. Nothing has caused us to shift that support for the way he is governing Tennessee.

The First Lady has been a leader on a number of critical social issues, has demonstrated a government with a big heart and has established organizations and programs that will have positive effects on needy Tennesseans long after she and the Governor are gone.

TAG is very appreciative of their efforts and believes that Tennessee is better off because of both of the Bredesens. What is so surprising to TAG members is that this extravagant and expensive use of taxpayer funds is totally out of character for the Governor and First Lady.

The final canard is that this is rich people with the NIMBY (Not In My Back Yard) syndrome. The issue is critical to the local residents, who are interested in maintaining their neighborhood’s residential character, who are concerned about the addition’s physical impact, who adhere to the local government’s ordinances and who care about their tax dollars.

To further explain and clarify TAG’s position, we have included 2 items for your review. First is a chart with a history of the expenditures for both the renovations and the ballroom addition. The source is the minutes of the State Building Commission and we have cited the dates and page numbers for your information and use.

Second, we have listed statements made and clarification of each from TAG’s perspective. Where there are contradictions from state officials or pro ballroom proponents, we have responded.

TAG’s sole concern is the unnecessary and wasteful expenditure of taxpayer dollars. We see the ballroom/entertainment center as totally unnecessary, extravagant, expensive to excavate and build and a drain on state maintenance funds in the future.

Especially in the context of the state budget revenue shortfall, we respectfully ask the Governor and First Lady to complete the renovations of the Executive Mansion but to cancel the ballroom addition.

Tennesseans for Accountability in Government, (T.A.G.) has been established as a non-partisan 501 (c) (4) not-for-profit corporation to educate and to inform the public on issues relating to the expenditure of state tax revenue by government officials and agents for the purpose of holding those officials accountable to the citizens of Tennessee for the use of State funds for the public welfare.

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For further information, please contact:

Susan Kaestner
615-948-8867

Steve Brumfield
(o) 615-244-7104, ext.12
(c) 615-804-5925

www.taxwastestopshere.org