Tax protest now moves to state's ballot boxes
By Time Chavez The Tennessean 5/30/02
Of state income tax protests this year, yesterday's was by far the largest.
That didn't count all the vehicles. More than 70 circled the block in front of the state Capitol and around Legislative Plaza. Another 30 vehicles were backed up on Charlotte Avenue west to James Robertson Parkway, waiting to get into horn-honking range.
Most vehicles had more than one occupant. One, an old Army truck, had a bunch of people, including a fella dressed as a gorilla. His sign read, ''Jimmy Naifeh is using guerrilla tactics.''
No one ever said conservatives were kings of comedy, but they're great in organizing.
Sequels usually don't do as well as the original. Another call this week to protest could have easily been ignored by many. But the cause is uncannily growing stronger, and it is attracting new recruits like June Williams of Henrietta in Cheatham County.
A few hundred yards from protest epicenter, Williams was watching her 3-year-old grandson, Lucas Bagwell. He had a piece of paper attached to the back of his T-shirt with the message, ''Even I know what 'no' means.''
It referred to a majority of Tennesseans opposing an income tax.
''He does'' know what no means, she said. ''I take care of him during the day.''
Lucas' mom and aunt are Cheatham County schoolteachers. Williams pointed to the mass of protesters for their location. It was the first protest for all of them.
Didn't Williams see a contradiction in her teacher daughters' protesting an income tax when supporters say it will greatly boost funding for education? Williams says that's not necessarily true. She's right. Spending per student (adjusted for regional cost differences) is $7,079 for states with an income tax vs. $6,820 for non-income tax states, according to the Tennessee Advisory Commission on Intergovernmental Relations.
Despite success yesterday, many protesters stressed that defeating an income tax is only a first step. They are stressing the ballot box, so they won't have to turn out consecutive weeks to defeat legislation most Tennesseans oppose. They spoke of Republicans' taking control of the House, thanks to Speaker Naifeh putting some Democratic incumbents on record of supporting the income tax last week.
Protesters like retired Army Maj. Bob Ousley of Mt. Juliet were collecting money for state Rep. Mae Beavers in her campaign against Democratic Sen. Bob Rochelle. By 2 p.m., protesters had filled a water cooler jug with cash. Ousley was fuming over the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation probe of Beavers.
''Anyone who didn't believe Tennessee has a Mafia knows now,'' Ousley said.
The investigation is to show other lawmakers not to cross Naifeh, Ousley said.
Early in the day, a squabble broke out between a few protesters and about a dozen income tax supporters who had seized the protest high ground.
They were first to the overlook in front of the Capitol. It's the prime spot for media picture-taking. Their large signs spelled, ''Yes on Naifeh Plan.'' Some anti-tax protesters tried to squeeze in through tiny openings to let their signs be seen. Tempers flared. State troopers cleared the overlook. Both sides probably could have agreed on the unfairness of the sales tax on food. But protests aren't that conducive to consensus.
The next battlefield, unless there's another tax vote, will be at the polls. From statements yesterday, that's where protesters plan their biggest turnout and victory.