Some state lawmakers in bad need of courage
The resolution proposed by Commissioner Swanson Bennett during the last County Commission meeting deserves Warren County’s support.
Bennett’s resolution asked commissioners to support lawmakers who are trying to implement an income tax to save Tennessee before the state plunges into financial ruin. The measure failed, 14-10, and might not seem like a major issue since it would accomplish nothing more than providing written encouragement.
However, the resolution has greater importance when considering the catastrophe on Capitol Hill. State legislators are grasping at ways to solve the state’s budget crisis and an income tax remains very much an option.
Gradually, more and more Tennesseans are realizing an income tax – or some sort of tax reform – is a necessary evil. And more and more people are realizing an income tax is a viable solution.
It’s hard to argue with hard facts and the sad fact is lawmakers are coming up $800 million short of funding next year’s budget. What continually hinders progress toward balancing the budget is all the do-nothing politicians who simply don’t care or who believe $800 million can be trimmed.
While keeping a close eye on government spending is always the best policy, there’s a distinct difference between cutting $50,000 from a budget and eliminating $800 million. For those people who want to cut state employees, and who want to remove services to balance the budget, the math doesn’t work.
If state employees make an average of $40,000 a year, for example, lawmakers would have to fire 20 million employees to compensate for the $800 million shortfall. It simply won’t work.
Most logical legislators fully realize this point and Warren County is fortunate to have two of them in Sen. Jerry Cooper and Rep. Charles Curtiss. They appear willing to fight for change. They look ready to make the hard decisions and take action.
They also need our support. That’s why Bennett’s resolution is a refreshing surprise.
Without much advance warning, Bennett’s resolution only failed by a slim margin. That’s an encouraging sign in itself and it is indicative of the mood among Tennesseans.
Most of us don’t want our state to be reduced to shambles. We like the idea of our kids having the option to play on the school football team. It makes life easier when children can ride the school bus for transportation. If we have an accident on the interstate, we expect to receive assistance from the highway patrol.
These are simple services most of us take for granted. But if $800 million has to be slashed because legislators are too stubborn to do what’s right, a number of state services will be eliminated. If the budget isn’t balanced by June 30, by constitutional mandate, the state must shut down.
This would be nothing short of disaster and lawmakers need every ounce of encouragement we can provide.
We applaud Swanson Bennett for having the courage to do what’s right for Warren County and what’s right for Tennessee. It often takes courage to take action. And courage is something a number of our state lawmakers are badly lacking.