May 24, 2007

No Tax, No Pork

While a handful of Republicans in the Tennessee state Senate appear ready to go along with Democratic Gov. Phil Bredesen and the Democrats in raising taxes despite, incredibly, the state's $1.3 billion revenue surplus, the House Republican Caucus is standing up for fiscal sanity by proposing a budget that provides the governor with the extra education funding he is seeking without raising taxes. Instead, the House GOP Caucus proposes to cut the state's onerous food tax. You can read a summary of the "No Tax, No Pork" budget here and a longer explanation of it here.

State Rep. Stacey Campfield, R-Knoxville, comments on his blog:

In a year with unprecedented growth, $1.5 billion in new revenue, we should not even be contemplating a tax increase, but should be looking at how to return the taxpayers money.

We are growing Government at an unprecedented level. By spending so much in good times, the growth is simply unsustainable in lean times and we will be forced into another income tax debate.

The Governor has said we have to pass a tax increase to fund education. That is simply not true. You can fund the new BEP formula, take care of state employees, add more to the rainy day fund, provide sales tax relief on food, live within our means by not busting the Copeland cap and still not raise taxes!