Posted on 05/16/2002 5:20:45 AM PDT by GailA
Though fewer than last year, Capitol protesters just as vocal
By Rebecca Ferrar, The Knoxville News-Sentinel May 16, 2002
NASHVILLE - Despite days of urging by radio talk show hosts, turnout at Wednesday's anti-tax rally at the State Capitol was relatively skimpy by past standards.
During the morning rush hour and in the afternoon as the General Assembly convened with the possibility of floor votes on two tax reform measures, the number of pickets on the sidewalks swelled to just over 200 at any one time. They were joined by scores of horn-honking motorists circling the block across from the Capitol.
Anti-tax talk show host Steve Gill, who broadcast his morning show from the sidewalk, said he had given out more than 350 stickers to demonstrators by 9 a.m., but many left as the morning wore on. A core group of about 65 remained through midmorning until the 1 p.m. floor session.
The colorful crowd brandished signs proclaiming, "Honk if You Hate Socialism," "No Income Tax," "Tennessee Tax Revolt," and "Ax the Tax." Cars, sport utility vehicles, pickups and two stretch limousines circled the War Memorial Plaza.
Lawmakers postponed a vote on either of the two tax bills.
Earlier in the day, a group of 15 tax protesters from Memphis left Parkway Village in a six-car caravan to Nashville led by County Commissioner-elect John Willingham.
"Tennessee is at a pivotal point in its history now. We can strike out on a completely new path and we can do things differently," said Bill Wood, president of the Tennessee Anti-Tax Caravan.
"If this tax increase passes, we'll just be doing the same old thing the same old way."
The group got a send-off from Dr. George Flinn (R), (MY NOTE: HOPEFULLY THE NEXT MAYOR OF SHELBY CO.)Republican candidate for county mayor. "The main thing is to re-prioritize and find a way to spend our dollars wisely and to actually find a way to cut taxes," Flinn said.
In Nashville, as hundreds of schoolchildren walked by for tours of the Capitol and nearby State Museum, one woman shouted through a bullhorn such epithets as, "Sundquist is a scumbag!" "Naifeh is a low life!" "Sundquist is a liar!" "Rochelle is a crook!" and "Throw the bums out!"
Gov. Don Sundquist backs Naifeh's income tax proposal, and Sen. Robert Rochelle (D-Lebanon) is sponsoring an income tax bill in the Senate.
Although Capitol Hill media have been reporting for weeks on Naifeh's tax plan, Gill said, "For months, a lot of folks have been saying the income tax is dead. Today is a wakeup call that it is still alive."
Last year, an income tax protest brought out more than 1,000 people, some of whom broke windows in the Capitol, pounded on the Capitol doors and chanted anti-tax slogans.
Two weeks ago, an estimated 2,000 people showed up at a Capitol rally host ed by the Coalition for Tennessee's Future, made up of pro-education groups, including the Tennessee Education Association. The rally protested proposed budget cuts of up to $400 million from education. Many of the teachers at that event said they support tax reform, specifically a state income tax, as a way to avoid the cuts.
"We don't want an income tax," said Karen Jackson, a first-grade teacher from Shelbyville, who carried a sign Wednesday indicating that not all teachers support the income tax. "We don't want them (legislators) to cut schools. We want them to restructure the budget."
Chuck Samsel, a maintenance man from Nashville who came out to join the protesters Wednesday, said an income tax would undermine his efforts to save money for retirement. "I'm 50 years old, and I'm trying to put money away," Samsel said. "We don't need this tax."
Across the street, a group of senior citizens from Memphis's Idlewild Presbyterian Church stepped off their van into the middle of the protest - and quickly distanced themselves from it. The group was led by Memphis lawyer Lewis Donelson, a Republican and longtime advocate of a state income tax.
"We just happened to be here on this day," said Donelson, who led the group of 14 called OWLS - Older, Wiser, Livelier Seniors. "I believe the public has finally realized there could be a problem."
"Personally I think it's terrible," said Idlewild member Tom McKnight of the protesters. "I know it's democracy, though."
Contact Rebecca Ferrar at (615) 242-7783 or rferrar@mindspring.com.
Staff reporters Richard Locker and Bill Dries contributed to this story.
I think their crowd estimates is more fuzzy math. It was a WORK DAY and in the middle of the week when few Tax Serfs can take time off from work.
I was there around 1:30 and the crowd looked liked it was at least 500 maybe more. Then again maybe the reporter was standing behind the BUSES that they used for noise abatment and couldn't see all the protesters???????????
Illegitimus Carborundum...
The bastards know that we can only take so much time off from being productive, and they're down there every day and we're not nor can we be. They'll try to wait us out, then pass the damn thing in the middle of the night.
I agree that this is the scariest scenario.
Protesters return to Hill as lawmakers consider tax
Dave Cole of Sparta, Tenn., drives a convertible full of tax protesters along Charlotte Avenue outside the state Capitol yesterday.
By CHRISTIAN BOTTORFF Staff Writer
Prodded by talk-radio hosts, nearly 200 people swarmed the base of Capitol Hill yesterday, yelling and waving signs, hoping to send a clear message to legislators to vote ''no'' on a state income tax.
Motorists traveled from all across the state to join the noisy throng. A stream of cars passed in front of War Memorial Plaza, their horns blaring.
''It's a very important day because I feel the legislators are viewing the income tax as an easy way out,'' said William Fisher of Spring Hill, who sat back and quietly observed.
Fisher, a retired 30-year educator, said even as a former state employee he believes the income tax would give legislators an open-ended revenue stream. He suggested taxing alcohol and tobacco, and using road money to repair the short-term budget needs.
Polly Callahan of Hendersonville, who works in the payroll department for a Hermitage business, stood on the sidewalk as cars passed. By noon, she had already been protesting for four hours.
''I can't afford it — I'm on a fixed income,'' Callahan said. She had never protested before, but she ''had been wanting to do this.'' She listened to radio host Steve Gill yesterday morning before arriving.
''I wanted to say I did my part in trying to prevent an income tax,'' Callahan said.
''This is supposed to be government by the people, not against the people,'' said Benny Byrum, a White House resident, who along with a co-worker spent his lunch break chiming in with protesters.
Law enforcement officers said there were no incidents yesterday. Tennessee Highway Patrol officers were positioned all around the Capitol, watching as angry protesters hurled insults toward legislators and Gov. Don Sundquist.
Several, however, said yesterday's crowd didn't match the numbers present at other protests and rallies. Sundquist said he observed the protest ''from a distance.''
''I had trouble finding them out there,'' he said, an apparent jab at the size of the protest.
Staff Writer Bonna De La Cruz contributed to this report.
He's just diggin' his own grave, Gail.
(I was carryin' my Culpeper flag)
See ya there! I'll be lookin' for the flag. ;-)
Michael
When you go to vote for Senator, you might remember this little fact:
CCA lobbyist: In Tennessee, Betty Anderson, wife of House Speaker Jimmy Naifeh; Lewis Donelson of Baker Donelson Bearman & Caldwell and also finance commissioner under former Gov. Lamar Alexander
Kind of tells you where Lamar has always been on taxes.
full article on CCA and its cronies: Private Prisons, Politics & Profits
Mr. Donelson is a law partner at Howard Baker's law firm.
Here is his link: LEWIS R. DONELSON, III
Here is the firm's link: Baker Donelson Bearman & Caldwell
Look under Senior Policy Advisors: First Listed: Linda Daschle (good ol' Tom's wife). Now they wouldn't be for higher taxes would they?
"...tea bags and pigs with the hog trough sloppers..."
What time, approximately, where you down there?? ??
I think that I remember seeing a sign like that - I'll run thru my videotape and see if you're there. . .
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