January 4, 2003

New Income Tax Task Force Starts Badly

The new "Independent Tax Structure Study Commission" that is ostensibly supposed to be neutral as it "studies" Tennessee's tax xstructure and makes recommendations for "reform" is anything but neutral. It's very mission - tax reform - and the fact that 10 of its 15 members are appointed by outspoken supporters of the income tax indicate the results of its work are predetermined.

So it is good news that the committee is starting off under a cloud, under fire for failing to adequately represent women and minorities. In fact, of the first 14 appointees named, all 14 are white men. Gov. Don Sundquist appointed five white men, including Nelson Andrews, an income tax supporter, as chairman of the committee, and former state Sen. Robert Rochelle, the Senate's leading proponent of the state income. Rochelle resigned his 2002 senate campaign after polls showed him losing badly to an anti-income tax legislator, Mae Beavers, who eventually won the seat. Lt. Gov. John Wilder appointed five white men At least one of them, Tennessee AFL-CIO head Jim Neeley, is an income tax supporter.

If you have documented proof of the pro- or anti-income tax leanings of the remaining members of the tax panel appointed by Sunquist, Wilder or Naifeh, please send that information here. My email address is listed in the right-hand column. The more members "outed" as pro-income tax, the less credible the commission's final report will be to the general public.

I've posted more commentary on the tax study commission at PolState.com, including why I think the July 1, 2004, deadline for the commission to issue its report is good timing for opponents of the income tax.