Tax group says Tennessee lags behind neighbors

Knoxville News-Sentinel ^ | Oct 18, 2006 | Scott Barker

[eyedigress]

A new report commissioned by a pro-income tax group states that Tennessee lags $3.4 billion behind the average of its eight neighboring states in public investment, with the bulk of the shortfall in education. Tennesseans for Fair Taxation officials say the disparity hurts the state in many ways, from lower literacy levels to higher crime rates.

[eyedigress]

After reading about the forced food stamp program in Ohio, and now finding that Tennessee's taxes are lower than neiboring states, how in the world have we survived? Sheesh!

[EagleUSA]

Yes, the liberals look upon this as "falling short" which is their way of saying Tennessee has control over its taxing and spending -- something that is not found in the liberal Manifesto....

[Sybeck1]

Take the lotto money and put it towards primary and secondary education, instead of middle class college scholarships. I worked to go to college, so can they.

I am anti-lottery, and voted against it, before moving back to MS, but if its there, use it wiser.

[Warren_Piece]

Something tells me that we could commission a study comparing the economic growth of TN to these other 8 high-tax states, and TN would come out quite favorably. But I'm sure they wouldn't want you to see that.

[eyedigress]

The report states that Tennessee needs to raise spending by 16 percent in order to match spending by the other states. A state income tax is their goal.

[bert]

.....Take the lotto money....

It is my understanding that there were not enough qualified takers to use up all the lottery money.

The excess will be used to fund the Governors new preK welfare for educators program.

[eyedigress]

Those Lotto kids have a 50 percent pass rate. Extend the education plan to all citizens and you will get somewhere.

[eyedigress]

Tennessee's no income tax stance has attracted alot of big business to the state.

[sticker]

No it was voted in for college scholarships,the problem is that certain members of the legislature demanded that levels be for a scholarship be lowered. Raise the required grades and test scores and give more money to the kids that can use it.

Three things have to happen before much improvement can be made in primary and secondary education: 1. Remove the teachers unions. 2. Reward the good teachers 3. Get rid of the current colleges of education

[sportutegrl]

This group is not pro education. They are not even pro education spending, they are just pro higher taxes. If they were concerned about education, they would donate the time and money that they now spend on trying to steal more of your paycheck and instead put that effort towards improving education.

[edcoil]

"Tennesseans for Fair Taxation officials say the disparity hurts the state in many ways, from lower literacy levels to higher crime rates."

The disparity in eduction did in fact hurt Al Gore - look at what and how little he knows. This must be the reason.

I wonder if Fair Taxation says to tax everyone to fund their government or just tax the rich to distribute income to government hack pensions.

[Thermalseeker]

A state income tax is their goal.

'Rats and Rinos have been pushing for a state income tax for at least 10 years. It's against the state constitution, though. Last time they tried this nonsense the voters encircled the capital building in a very vocal protest, whilst the supporters of the tax hid in fear inside like the cowards that they are......

[eyedigress]

Very true. They have a "My State Wastes More Money Than Your State so Were Better Than You!"

[eyedigress]

I was working in Davidson County at the time. Steve Gill and Phil Valentine had some good turnouts for the events at the Capitol.

[Ingtar]

I do not care for our liberal governor here in TN, but I have to give him some kudos. He has brought wildly out of control spending down to just out of control levels and turned around things like the bond rating for the state. I know he favors an income tax, but he seems to be one of the few that understand that it would be political suicide to try to implement it... at least before his second and final term begins.

[eyedigress]

His best work yet was to reign in TennCare and start rounding up the crooks abusing it.

[Thermalseeker]

I was working in Davidson County at the time. Steve Gill and Phil Valentine had some good turnouts for the events at the Capitol.

Yeah, I know, I was there for some of it. They pulled folks in from as far away as Memphis and, in my case, Chattanooga.

I'd love to see Phil Valentine get national syndication for his radio show!

[eyedigress]

I listen to him nearly everyday. He's just as good as anyone else out there. (Well maybe not the Maha Rushie!)

[zendari]

"pro-income tax group"? Frightening.