The Scoop: Do tax protesters really know facts?
The latest news from Nashville is that more and more state lawmakers are now carrying handguns. This comes after a number of our legislators have received threatening phone calls and e-mails concerning the nightmare that’s become the state budget.
I should say most of us probably don’t have to worry about lawmakers ever using those weapons. Considering it takes them about three years to reach a decision, they would never get a chance to pull the trigger.
By now, we should all be aware of the state’s dire financial crisis. Tennessee, with an 8.75 percent sales tax rate in many counties, is heavily reliant on the sales tax. Thus, when the economy takes a dip, the state doesn’t generate enough money to pay its bills. This means state employees can’t collect paychecks and services, such as public schools, can’t be sustained at their current level.
This wasn’t a monumental problem in the past because Tennessee used to have reserve funds available to compensate for any shortfall. But that’s no longer a luxury because the current state budget is $480 million short. To make ends meet, virtually every reserve and rainy day fund will be spent this year.
So what are our state leaders going to do about tax reform? Apparently nothing. The House of Representatives couldn’t get enough votes to pass an income tax Wednesday, putting Tennessee one step closer to a bare-bones budget which will bring devastating consequences.
Am I in favor of passing a state income tax? Not especially.
But I fully support raising enough money so Tennessee can operate without slashing education dollars and eliminating important agencies such as the Department of Tourism. For a state that leans on the sales tax like a crutch, you would think encouraging people to come spend their money here would be somewhat valuable.
A state income tax is as fair a way to balance the budget as, say, taxing a trip to the doctor or a 10-day hospital stay. What I am tired of hearing is the same old refrain, “We’re taxed to death. No more taxes.”
This year the state will collect less money in taxes – meaning Tennesseans will pay fewer taxes – than two years ago. And Tennesseans already fork over fewer tax dollars than 95 percent of the country.
What gets me is how ignorant people can be – even candidates running for governor. I say this after hearing Van Hilleary’s comments after the income tax failed Wednesday.
“For all the single mothers out there with twins who are struggling to get by, this is a great victory,” said Hilleary.
Before we ask for a tissue to dry our crying eyes, we should probably remember the struggling mother would pay LESS in taxes if an income tax was passed. Since she could file as single head of household, with two exemptions, she would have to earn in the neighborhood of $50,000 just to pay the SAME amount of tax she does right now.
Most Warren countians would pay significantly less in taxes under the income tax plan which also removes sales tax from food and clothing purchases. The vast majority of Tennesseans would pay less. Only the upper middle class would pay more.
The toothless rednecks we all see interviewed on the news demanding “No new taxes” would probably all pay less. They’re just not smart enough to figure that out.
I put them in the same boat with the people who say we should slash government spending. That’s easy to say and it sure sounds good doesn’t it. But it’s not so easy to pick which prisoners you’re going to turn loose, which teachers you’re going to fire, and which students you’re going to deny college scholarships. That’s just for starters.
If state lawmakers can’t find a way to balance the budget and pay for services we desperately need, it’s a good thing they have easy access to firearms. Because they’ll need to be shot.
(James Clark is editor of the Standard. He can be reached at 473-2191 or by e-mail at standard@blomand.net.)