Posted on 03/19/2002 10:34:52 AM PST by GailA
Gubernatorial candidates differ on state income tax By Joe White
Candidates for governor gave a range of views on tax changes to the Tennessee Health Care Association at a Monday afternoon forum at the downtown Sheraton.
Democratic hopeful Phil Bredesen said, “I’m not a believer that an income tax is the right answer to this problem.”
His Democratic opponent Randy Nichols of Knoxville said, “I’m the guy who’s running on the income tax. This state has a crisis ... we have got to have enough to pay the necessary bills.”
Republican front-runner Van Hilleary emphasized, “I am against the income tax. It will not happen on my watch, end of story.”
And fellow Republican Jim Henry said, “I’m not for an income tax, but I am for a constitutional convention” to draft a new tax system. “I’m not going sit up here and misrepresent the facts in order to get elected governor,” he said.
Talking to the executives of Tennessee’s nursing home industry, the candidates unanimously agreed the industry does not need new regulations. “One thing we don’t need is another round of punitive regulations,” Bredesen said, prompting applause.
Addressing the issue of “home health care” sharing in the money now flowing into nursing homes, Bredesen said, “Home health care has a place in the world. It should not replace the nursing home industry. As we expand home health care, the bulk of it should come from new revenues.”
Jim Henry concentrated on the larger aspects of the race, nipping his opponent, U.S. Rep. Hilleary, by saying, “Unless congressmen and senators stop sending mandates” to perform certain services without sending federal money to fund it, the state’s tax system can’t move “into the future.
“There are real problems in this state,” he said. “The only governor who going to be able to deal with them is one who recognizes them.”
Hilleary scored the current state leadership by saying, “One of the biggest problems is that there have been a lot of untruths told to us.” He said the budget issue has been marked by “demagogery,” which he called a “$12 dollar word for dishonesty.”
Revenue to the state has gone up “at greater than the rate of inflation, and greater than the rate of population growth,” he said.
Nichols, district attorney general in Knoxville, told the nursing home executives “there is a crucial disconnect between those who write the rules and those expected to abide by them.”
Nichols tied his support for education issues to the employment needs of the nursing home industry. “When I’m finally there, I want someone who’s taking care of me to be a loving, caring and educated person.”
But the needs for revenue tied into that issue too, he said. “We’ve been in a four-year struggle over how we collect revenue in this state. It’s draining the energy from this state.”
On the issue of highway funds, Wamp said the House budget up for a vote this week would restore $4.4 billion that was cut by the White House, which would soften the blow of a projected $159 million drop in federal highway funds to Tennessee.
On taxes, Sundquist said he believes lawmakers are moving closer to a state income tax, after the House delayed a vote on a temporary sales tax increase last week.
House Finance Committee Chairman Matt Kisber, D-Jackson, said the House does not have a majority willing to support deep cuts to state programs, including $400 million from K-12 classrooms.
''That means we're closer to a solution,'' Sundquist said. ''We've ruled out all those other things.''
By the way, Phil Valentine had Bob Clement & Lamar Alexander on yesterday afternoon. Even though they are running for Senate, Phil asked both about a State Income tax. Surprisingly, Clement said "We do not need a State Income Tax."
Lamar did the old hat dance. Comments like, "I'm running for Senate and will have no say in a State tax." "My administration studied an income tax but in the end we did not implement one." Phil also asked him about the Sundquist endorsement. Lamar said that he was happy to have the Governor's endorsement and that he wants Sundquist's vote just like he wants all of our votes.
Also, the Public Forum-Teddy Bart's Roundtable has rotating Lamar! guest hosts. It has been interesting to hear Ted Welch, Forrest Shoaf, Daniel Casse, Mark Tipps, etc. play down the differences in Bryant and Alexander. It's all in our heads. Lamar is just as conservative as Bryant. Dream on!
If you want to hear some Alexander leeches sweat and spin, visit The Public Forum
Click on Teddy Bart's roundtable and listen to any show from the past week, each 2 hours long.
Good site for politician profiles, charts where the candidates fall:
1. The old line moderates, godfather is Howard Baker, anointed prince is Lamar Alexander, and includes Don Sundquist, Jim Henry, Victor Ashe, Ted Welch, Lou Connor, Daniel Casse, Tom Ingram, etc. They don't oppose a State income tax, don't care much about social issues, actually like big government as long as it does what they want, are supported by the big money bankers and corporate types, and are basically Democrats except in their views about easing limits on big business. These folks tend to live in isolation in their Belle Meade mansions, gated communities, and government enclaves.
2. The Reagan hard-core conservative believers. They stand for smaller government, against a State income tax, care about family oriented and societal issues, tend to come from a religious background, and see the good of the common man and woman and our society as a whole as paramount. They live in the small towns and suburbs and mingle with the regular people. Van Hilleary, Ed Bryant, Marsha Blackburn, Donna Rowland, David Fowler, Tommy Hopper, Steve Gill, Phil Valentine are members. There was talk on the radio this morning of the likelihood that people will vote for Alexander & Henry as a team or Hilleary & Bryant as a team. As you might well guess, I am a Hilleary & Bryant supporter.
Lamar Alexander is Al Gore with a republican label. He proposed a state income tax while he was governor.
Ed Bryant has my support for the senate.
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