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« Dean.net | Main | Indicators of the Bush Boom » January 16, 2004The Coming Tennessee Income Tax WarThe "independent" study commission studying Tennessee's tax structure is leaning toward an income tax. That's the message of this story in today's Tennessean, and it's no surprise - the commission was stacked with former elected officials and others well-known for their support for adding a state income tax to Tennessee's long list of existing taxes. I'll make another prediction: the commission won't include anything like the Colorado Taxpayers Bill of Rights in its recommendation for tax reform. Commission member and former state Sen. Bob Rochelle says even a suggested "supermajority" requirement for the legislature to raise taxes would be "arrogant' by tying the hands of future legislators. Ironically, just a few years ago Rochelle was arrogantly seeking to ram through the General Assembly an income tax the people overwhelmingly opposed. But if Rochelle's opposition to tax-increase-limiting provisions is based only on a desire to not tie the hands of future legislators, I suggest strongly he support the Taxpayers Bill of Rights. In Colorado, it does not tie the hands of legislators - it empowers them to raise taxes by simply passing legislation outlining the proposed tax and what it would be spent on, and asking voters to approve it in a referendum. The result is increased dialog between The People and their elected representatives, and increased interest in and involvement in politics at the grassroots level. Posted in Taxpayers Bill of Rights
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I'm with you, Bill. Hopefully most people, including present and future legislators, will put as much stock in this report as I do - ZILCH! The creation of this committee and its report was a parting shot from a corrupt legislative and executive branch that tried and failed to get away with TAXATION WITHOUT REPRESENTATION. Remember that we still have more work to do to clean the legislative ranks of the corrupt influence that still exists. They are easy to identify because most of them have the longest tenure in office. They need to be replaced in upcoming elections period. Though I didn't trust Governor Bredesen at first, he has so far shown that taxation isn't a party issue but one of responsible government. New legislators need to be elected, regardless of their party affiliation, based on their desire to be responsible government officials. Remember, like most people I thought Republican candidates could be trusted with my money more then the other party, but Don Sundquist proved that axiom wrong! Posted by: Jody at January 16, 2004 10:14 AMPost a comment
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