That’s why I voted to give small businesses a 20% tax cut to help them get the government off their backs and start hiring again. And why we’ve passed more than 25 bills through the House with the goal of growing the economy and creating a better environment for our job creators.

And it’s why I continue to fight everyday against President Obama for your jobs and businesses.

We won’t see an economic recovery and get our friends and neighbors back to work until we defeat Barack Obama’s liberal agenda, reign in spending, create a simple and fair tax rate, and slash burdensome red tape. We cannot expect America’s small businesses to start hiring again until we create a friendly and stable environment in which they can prosper.

I’m fighting Barack Obama everyday.

Tomorrow is Election Day and I’m counting on your support. Will you vote for me and send me back to Washington so I can continue to fight everyday for small businesses and families throughout North Carolina and around the country?

You can find more information about where to vote and what districts you live in at the State Board of Elections website.

“I am very pleased and honored to announce I have been recommended to serve on the Agriculture, Small Business and Foreign Affairs committees in the 112^th Congress.  These assignments will put me in a unique position to work on issues particularly important to the constituents of the Second District.”

Congressman Bob Goodlatte (R-VA) contacted Ms. Ellmers to let her know that the House Steering Committee had recommended her for the three committee assignments.  Ms. Ellmers will be sworn in as the Representative for North Carolina’s Second Congressional District on January 5, 2011.

North Carolina’s Second District has a rich agricultural history and is home to many farmers.  It is also home to many active members of the military stationed at Fort Bragg in Fayetteville, NC.  The seats on the Agriculture and Foreign Affairs Committees are particularly important to those communities.  The Small Business Committee addresses a wide range of diverse issues including those related to health care, contracting and technology, rural areas and trade.

“I am delighted that the Steering Committee has made these recommendations.  I look forward to getting to work on these three very important committees to address the concerns of the farmers, small business owners, men and women of the armed forces, the constituents of the Second District and the state of North Carolina,” Ellmers said.

This is the way American Democracy works: Through elections. That, inevitably, leads to debate and conflict which can be bruising. It is, I can now say from experience, at times a harsh endeavor. But it has served our democracy well for over 200 years.

After receiving a gracious call from Congressman Etheridge,  the election is over and rather than debating our problems we begin work on how to solve them and as I begin my part in that work I want to wish Congressman Etheridge and his family the best.

This election Americans voted to change Washington. And I have been elected to play a role in bringing that change to Congress. I will do all that I can to meet that challenge. I ask for your prayers and I ask you to join me in praying for Congressman Etheridge and his family during this transition. Thank you.

Renee

The Boards of Election in three counties have met and counted their ‘provisional’ ballots. Congressman Etheridge has gained 33 votes. Overall, I lead by 1,600 votes.

What is a ‘provisional’ ballot? When a voter shows up at a precinct, but is not on the list of registered voters, then he or she is given a ‘provisional’ ballot. Then, later, the local Elections Board determines if he or she is entitled to vote.

What happened Monday night in Franklin County – one of the ten counties in my district – is an example: On Election Day 187 people cast ‘provisional’ ballots. The Board approved 70 of those ballots. And disapproved 101. It took no action on 16, asking the State Board of Elections for assistance.

The remaining seven counties in my district will count their ‘provisional’ ballots by Friday. Then every County Board will meet and conduct a ‘canvas’ to verify the updated vote totals. If, at that point, I lead by over 1% of the vote, unless Congressman Etheridge brings a legal challenge, I will be certified as the winner of the election. If I lead by less than 1% (as I do now) then there will be a recount of all the ballots.

We have volunteers and attorneys observing each count in each Board of Elections and, so far, they report only one questionable development.

Here is what happened: There are three Congressional Districts in Nash County. On Election Day some voters who live in my district (the 2nd District) voted in one of the other Congressional Districts.

When the Nash County Board of Elections counted those ballots they found some of the voters had cast straight Democratic ballots.

A Democratic observer immediately spoke up and urged the Board to count those votes for my opponent Congressman Etheridge.

In other words, the Democratic observer was saying if a voter had supported Democratic Congressman G.K. Butterfield in the 1st District – then his vote should be counted for Democrat Congressman Bob Etheridge in the 2nd District.

The Republican Board member objected and, after discussing the issue, the Board threw out the ballots.

The Democrats made the same argument in another county and that Board, quite properly, disallowed the ballots as well.

I want to thank everyone who has contributed or helped me raise money. Due to your support we have been able to identify and resolve problems like the one above.

By Friday, when the Boards meet we will have spent nearly $70,000, and if we proceed with a recount (which Congressman Etheridge has already announced he will request) we are facing another $150,000 in various bills and operating expenses.

If you have not given please consider making a contribution today.

Nancy Pelosi and the Democrats in Washington want Congressman Etheridge’s vote back in Congress. With your help we can insure an honest victory.

Yours,

Renee

P.S. Nancy Pelosi’s Democrat Congressional Committee is raising money for Congressman Etheridge, telling donors to give to pay for his recount to defeat me because I will vote to repeal Obama-care!