Welcome to the first edition of the Bachmann Blast for 2009. It's a new year and though there are many challenges ahead of us, there are also many opportunities. So, let's get to work!

I hope to use this newsletter over the coming months to keep you informed about what Congress is doing. The mainstream press and media only tell you what they want to tell you. And, if the Democrat leadership in Washington has its way on the Fairness Doctrine, you may not be able to get fair and balanced news from talk radio either!

This past week, for instance, the 111th Congress was sworn in and its first act of business was to pass a rules package that takes away the Republican minority's ability to offer alternatives in debate. They virtually eliminated the Motion to Recommit -- the only tool available to Republicans to revise and improve bills the Democrats bring to the floor.

And, the rules package also neuters important PAYGO, or "pay as you go," rules, making it harder to cut spending and easier to raise taxes. PAYGO rules are similar to ones that state and local governments and families across the nation have to live by. That is, if you want to spend money on something you've got to cut money from something else. Speaker Pelosi apparently doesn't think that applies to Congress.

But, I doubt you'll hear about these changes on the nightly news!

Before recessing for the weekend, the House also passed two so-called "pay equity" bills that would demolish four decades of employment law, encourage frivolous lawsuits, expand class action lawsuit opportunities, and line the pockets of one of the Democrat Party's nearest and dearest allies, the Trial Lawyers. Republicans offered a modest suggestion for improvement - limiting attorneys' fees in cases brought under these laws to $2000 an hour - but the Democrats defeated it on a nearly party-line vote.

Coming up soon will be the ever-expanding stimulus package, which started at $500 billion last month and is gradually creeping up to more than $1 trillion - and it hasn't even come to committee yet! The bill is expected to include hundreds of billions of dollars for local transportation and infrastructure projects.

It's no coincidence that the U.S. Conference of Mayors released a list of more than 11,000 pet projects while the negotiations were in progress. Some of the projects that they contend will stimulate the economy include snow-making in Minnesota and water parks in Miami.

Looks like the so-called stimulus package will be a pork barrel buffet. More on that in coming newsletters, I'm sure.

Thank you and God bless,

Congresswoman Michele Bachmann

Your support is so very much appreciated!

We won in November 2008 thanks to your dedication, hard work and financial support. I need to refill those campaign coffers now to defend this seat against the Democrat onslaught to come.

If you can help me, I'd sure appreciate your contribution today. November 2010 may seem far away, but the stronger my campaign, the less likely the Democrats will focus their resources here.

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I am so grateful for your support. Thank you.