Like a country song, state woes back again
The Tennessee General Assembly is back in session. If you know of a problem currently facing state government, take a number. Problems of greatest importance will be addressed first.
It’s still early in the session but lawmakers and new Gov. Phil Bredesen are already singing their version of the “Budget Blues.” It’s a song which is released about this time every year.
The only problem is this is a year Tennesseans weren’t supposed to hear about all the state’s sorrows. We weren’t supposed to hear politicians sing the blues.
But that’s exactly what’s happening. Like country musicians who continually sing about losing their job, their pickup, and even their dog, our lawmakers always need money because Tennessee is close to going broke.
After passing a 1 cent sales tax increase last year — the largest tax increase in state history — there was supposed to be a buffer of two or three years where state funding wasn’t an issue. These were supposed to be the so-called good times where revenue flowed into Capitol Hill faster than an income tax protester could honk.
As Bredesen and Van Hilleary campaigned for governor, onlookers talked about how our new state leader would have it easy. Any talks of an income tax were going to be sent into hibernation. State employees could feel secure about their jobs. Education funding might even receive a boost.
At least that was the theory offered by political experts. The reality is this year has once again brought that familiar refrain and thousands of state jobs appear on the chopping block.
Even Bredesen himself has agreed to forfeit his salary as governor because, millionaire that he is, he doesn’t need the money. Bredesen says he doesn’t have the conscience to accept his salary knowing three or four other state employees may have to lose their jobs as a result.
That’s a sad sign. Here we are supposedly on solid financial ground and it turns out the state is so poor we can’t afford to pay our own governor. It leaves us only to scratch our heads and wonder what went wrong.
As lawmakers begin to sort through the pieces of what’s sure to be a ripe session, let your voice be heard. State Sen. Jerry Cooper and state Rep. Charles Curtiss have always been eager for feedback from their constituents. Cooper even publishes an annual survey which will be coming to the Standard in the near future.
We’re confident new state Rep. Judd Matheny will also be open to suggestions. It’s his first term in office and he will hopefully base his decisions on what he hears from the people he represents in Warren and Coffee counties.
Our state representatives may be reached on Capitol Hill by calling the following numbers: Cooper (615) 741-6694; Curtiss (615) 741-1963; and Matheny (615) 741-3879.