WASHINGTON – U.S. Representative Todd Tiahrt (R-KS) sent the following letter to his House Republican colleagues.

January 09, 2006

Our majority is at risk.

Our country and our Conference are at a crossroad. We can go with the status quo, which could lead down the road to the minority, or we can take a different path. I have concluded our Conference must head in a new direction, and I am asking for your support in the race for Majority Whip.

We must regain the confidence and faith the American people placed in us in 1994.

Following that historic election, there was a clear distinction between the Republican and Democrat parties. If you are hearing in your districts what I am hearing in mine, you know that distinction no longer exits. We should remember who we are and why we came to Washington: our shared values of lower taxes, less government, individual liberty, fiscal responsibility and the security of our nation. Unfortunately, that is not how we are currently perceived.

As a member of the Whip organization since my freshman year in 1995, I have seen the impact on vulnerable Members who were forced to make tough votes while safe Members took a pass. In getting 218 votes, the Whip must also be sensitive to the needs of all Members, especially vulnerable Members. In a year where our majority is clearly at stake, we cannot force our Members to take unnecessary votes on legislation that has no chance of making it to the President’s desk.

Our majority is only as strong as our most vulnerable member, and we cannot take any seat for granted. I know what it is like to run in a tough district and how difficult it can be to raise money. In my first re-election bid in 1996, the unions ran ads against me for 9 months and 1 day. I won that race with 50.1 percent of the vote. Over the years, through hard work and clear communication of our core Republican values, I won with 68 percent of the vote in 2004.

We all understand the importance of protecting Americans here and abroad, and I have fought for those principles as a member of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense and the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence. It is vital we create and keep jobs in America, and I have worked hard to lead that effort in the House through the Jobs Action Team, the Economic Competitiveness Public Affairs Team and the Economic Competitiveness Caucus. We must also continue to reform the federal government, including the tax system, healthcare and how we conduct ourselves as an institution.

This race is about a new direction for our Conference and our country. It is not about personalities nor who made the first phone calls. I hope your decision is based on experience, vision and who you believe will be the best Whip to navigate through the minefield of the 2006 election. Maintaining the status quo is the wrong direction.

We all share a deep love for our country, the House and our party. Please join me as we set course in a new direction that will rekindle the optimism of doing what is right, restore the integrity of this institution and remind the American people we are the same party they entrusted with the majority in 1994. I look forward to discussing this with you personally over the days and weeks ahead.

Sincerely,

Todd Tiahrt
Member of Congress