March 19, 2005

Larry Daughtrey Is Right

Tennessean political columnist Larry Daughtrey is usually wrong, and doesn't disappoint today in his column today about TennCare. But he gets one thing right about the politics of TennCare: Tennessee Gov. Phil Bredesen is in a political pickle:

The centerpiece of Bredesen’s campaign in 2002 was that he had the experience and ability to " fix " TennCare. He would like to get the whole issue resolved, and the fallout mostly diminished, by the time he starts campaigning for a second term next year. That’s understandable.

Bredesen's only proposal - slashing 320,000 people from the TennCare rolls - is a huge political risk given that TennCare is the state's Medicaid program for the elderly and lower-income people and it is likely that most of the 320,000 are very likely Democratic voters.

Daughtrey is right that Bredesen would like to get the mess behind him soon enough so that it doesn't harm his re-election chances - as I have stated before, Bredesen's mishandling of TennCare has made him politically vulnerable - but the rest of his column is a mess.

The one option not on the table so far is putting more money into TennCare. That’s because Bredesen, like all governors before him, wants to get through his first term without a tax increase. And, in case someone hasn’t noticed, Tennessee is in the grips of a severe case of tax phobia. Anti-tax rhetoric has become almost a religious obsession with too many public officials, including those in the legislature.

Contrary to popular belief, Tennesseans are not overtaxed, and too many special interests are excluded from an already limited tax base. Putting even half the regular sales tax rate on health services — taxing those who enjoy private health benefits — would cover most of the TennCare shortfall. There are other sources, including the tobacco tax Bredesen dismissed last week.

Larry, you claim rather condescendingly that "anti-tax rhetoric has become almost a religious obsession with too many public officials, including those in the legislature." But those public officials, Larry, are merely reflecting the wishes of their constituents. Do you have a problem with that? Of course you do, Larry, because you believe that liberals like you should decide how much taxes people pay, and the people should be sheep and do the liberals' bidding.

Here's a thought you should think about, Larry. TennCare is a gift provided by the taxpayers of Tennessee. Government doesn't pay for TennCare, the people do. And it is rude to demand that someone giving you a gift buy you something more expensive.

TennCare costs too much because of waste and fraud and mismanagement but mostly it costs too much because the people paying for it don't wish to pay more. And Tennesseans are overtaxed for the simple reason that they do not wish to pay more taxes.