Greg Johnson: Conservative agenda on the right track in Tennessee

Knoxville News Sentinel ^ | 3/18/11 | Greg Johnson

[SmithL]

As expected - at least here in these parts - Gov. Bill Haslam presented a common-sense budget this week, reducing state spending to $30.2 billion for 2011-2012 from anticipated 2010-2011 levels of $32 billion. It's a good start.

Haslam spoke of our tepid economic and fiscal conditions as being the "new normal," even though Tennessee tax revenues are rising and income for the current year is projected to come in almost $500 million more than originally anticipated. Haslam held the line anyway.

Within the budget, Haslam proposes investment. Almost $100 million will go to get an Electrolux plant up and running in West Tennessee. He invested in people, too, proposing a 1.6 percent raise for state workers and teachers. But he also took a scalpel to 1,180 state jobs, slicing mostly positions that were already empty or jobs funded by President Barack Obama's ill-conceived stimulus plan.

The raises and the light touch on job cuts likely won't mollify union-types, especially those who are itching for a fight, like the members of the University of Memphis Progressive Student Alliance and Ash-Lee Henderson, who showed up in Nashville Tuesday. Henderson and the students were arrested for disrupting a Senate committee meeting on ending collective bargaining by the teachers' unions as they lobbied loudly against what they called "union busting."

Haslam stayed silent on the arrests, but Lt. Gov. Ron Ramsey, R-Blountville, did not. "The right of all citizens to protest and assemble peacefully is sacred in the State of Tennessee," Ramsey said in a statement. "However, this General Assembly will not be intimidated by nomadic bands of professional agitators on spring break bent on disruption. We talk through our differences here. Tennessee is not Wisconsin."

[napscoordinator]

If I was the governor, I would immediately cut all property taxes to ZERO. Education would be paid by the parents. The parents could chose whatever school they want to send their children because they are paying. The education standards would increase because parents would actually be paying. Fire and police would become a civil job again. EVERYONE would pay 200 dollars a year for these services and whatever amount they receive is what they receive in their paychecks. This would work and be successful and I would be elected again and again and again. Taxpayers would win handedly. Parents would win with school choice. Homeschool would increase because some parents would want to save money and teach their own children. Love this idea!!!!!

[Parley Baer]

“or jobs funded by President Barack Obama’s ill-conceived stimulus plan”

Hehehehe.

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks SmithL.

Gov. Bill Haslam presented a common-sense budget this week, reducing state spending to $30.2 billion for 2011-2012 from anticipated 2010-2011 levels of $32 billion. It's a good start... even though Tennessee tax revenues are rising and income for the current year is projected to come in almost $500 million more than originally anticipated. Haslam held the line anyway... Almost $100 million will go to get an Electrolux plant up and running in West Tennessee... a 1.6 percent raise for state workers and teachers. But he also took a scalpel to 1,180 state jobs, slicing mostly positions that were already empty or jobs funded by President Barack Obama's ill-conceived stimulus plan. The raises and the light touch on job cuts likely won't mollify union-types...

The more often the union thugs are disappointed and defeated, the less attractive and less powerful they will look to workers. IOW, hold the line.

[PastorBooks]

Tennessee is looking pretty good.

[oyez]

Tennessee will provide the light that enables the states to see.

[GailA]

Who is going to come up with the $5M for the earthquake study for the Pyramid in Memphis so Bass Pro can take it over? Durn thing was STATE of the ART when it was built for earthquake design.