March 8, 2005

Wheel Tax Bill: Key Senator Withdraws Support

News Flash: State Sen. Douglas Henry, D-Nashville, has just withdrawn his support for Senate Bill 698, which would make it easier for county commissions across Tennessee to increase car tag taxes and also strip citizens of their current right to defeat such tax increases via a petition drive and referendum. An email from Nancy Russell, analyst with the Sente Finance, Ways and Means Committee, which Sen. Henry chairs, has just been forwarded which says that "After researching the wheel tax bill, Senator Douglas Henry has withdrawn it from the Senate."

Uh. Shouldn't Sen. Henry have researched the bill before he agreed to sponsor it and carry it before the Senate State and Local Government Committee last week?

For past coverage of this story, see these blog entries:
Breaking News - March 7 Wheel Tax Greaser Update 4 - March 4 Wheel Tax Spin: Another Legislator Makes Stupid Claims - March 3 Wheel Tax Greaser Update 3 - March 2 Wheel Tax Greaser Update 2 - March 1 Wheel Tax Greaser Update - Feb. 28 Wheel Tax Spin - Feb. 25 Wheel Tax Legislation Gets a Flat - Feb. 25 Legislation Greases Wheels for Wheel-Tax Increases Across Tennessee - Feb. 24

It is worth noting that, even though Sen. Henry has withdrawn the bill, there are other legislators - such as Rep. Sherry Jones, D-Nashville, - who remain committed to its passage. And the legislation's content could re-appear in other forms including as an amendment to the budget or other legislation.

This story may or may not be over. For ongoing coverage of this story that far surpasses anything you're likely to get from the Tennessee news media, stick with HobbsOnline.