December 22, 2002

Pushing TABOR

My guest column in the Memphis Commercial Appeal today offers up the Colorado model as a solution to the twin problems of tax reform and the public's lack of faith in their state government.

Several recent studies by good-government groups lead to the reasonable conclusion that many Tennessee elected officials are more beholden to their own interests, or to the influence of special-interest lobbyists who fund their campaigns, than they are to the interests of the average taxpayer. Locking taxpayers out of the Capitol during the income tax debate, and saying the state open meetings law doesn't apply to lawmakers, didn't help.

Even if the legislature were to pass tough new ethics laws, though, that still would not be enough to restore public confidence and persuade skeptical Tennesseans to accept tax reform. But there is a way: Combine real reform with a "taxpayers bill of rights" amendment to the state Constitution similar to Colorado's, and put the latter on the ballot.