Marsha Blackburn - U.S. House of Representatives

U.S. House of Representatives

Blackburn is a fiscal and social conservative. She was defeated in November 2007 for the position of Republican Conference chairman. Some had speculated she would run for Bill Frist's U.S. Senate seat in 2006; however, she chose to run for a third House term. Unlike most female Representatives, she prefers to be called "Congressman Blackburn." She was also mentioned as a possible candidate for governor in 2010.

Congresswoman Blackburn initially backed former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney's presidential campaign, joining his campaign as a senior advisor. On May 25, 2007, Blackburn resigned her position in the Romney campaign and endorsed former Senator Fred Thompson for President. On 2012 GOP primary, Blackburn did not endorse a presidential candidate, though she expected tea-party supporters would prefer Rick Santorum.

Since 2007, Blackburn has not made a special spending request in federal budget earmarks.

Blackburn is a vocal opponent of President Obama's Health Care Reform Legislation, which she characterizes as "a government run, government ensured, government financed, government delivered healthcare system". When pressed by MSNBC's Joe Scarborough on opponents of Health Care Reform's claim that the legislation includes "death panels" for the elderly, Blackburn would not reject this assertion although nonpartisan FactCheck.org considers it incorrect.

According to her campaign website, Blackburn has received the following honors:

• National Journal described Blackburn as a "freshman to watch" and a "top House conservative" in 2003 and 2004.
• Americans for Tax Reform called Blackburn a "taxpayer hero" in 2003.
• The Family Research Council gave Blackburn the "true blue" award for the first half of the 108th Congress.
• National Right to Life praised Blackburn for supporting the Medicare Prescription Drug and Modernization Act.

Blackburn served as an assistant whip in the 108th and 109th Congress, and served as a deputy whip for the 110th and 111th Congress. During the 110th Congress she was the Communications Chairman for the Republican Study Committee. She is also serving as a member of the House Energy & Commerce Committee for third consecutive term.

In 2008 Blackburn won her GOP primary race by gaining 62 percent of the vote against Shelby County register of deeds, and former fellow state senator, moderate Republican Tom Leatherwood.

Blackburn scored 100% on American Conservative Union’s 2004, 2005, 2007, 2009 Ratings of Congress.　

In 2008, Congresswoman Blackburn was named one of CREW's Most Corrupt Members of Congress by government watchdog group Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington.

In April 2009, Blackburn questioned former Vice President Al Gore during an energy-related congressional hearing: "The legislation that we are discussing here today, is that something that you are going to personally benefit from?”. The Independent, a London-based periodical, has credited her for "famously put on the spot about his business interests in the industry" during this confrontation. Gore vociferously refuted the implied accusation, pointing out that every penny he makes from renewable technology investment goes to a non-profit.

Blackburn introduced H.R. 3608, the Stop TSA’s Reach in Policy Act (STRIP Act), in 2011. The bill is intended to "..prevent Transportation Security Administration officers from wearing law enforcement uniforms and police-like badges and calling themselves officers unless they receive law enforcement training." The bill has drawn 29 co-sponsors so far and aims to prohibit TSA employees "who not received federal law enforcement training or not eligible for federal law enforcement benefits" from using the title of officer or wearing a uniform or police badge resembling that of a federal law enforcement officer.