Democratic candidate for governor Phil Bredesen, left, Republican candidate Van Hilleary and Gov. Don Sundquist
Posted on 09/26/2002 5:47:38 AM PDT by GailA
Democratic candidate for governor Phil Bredesen, left, Republican candidate Van Hilleary and Gov. Don Sundquist
Hilleary tax ad links Bredesen to Sundquist
By ROB JOHNSON Staff Writer
Ex-mayor says he's opposed to state income tax
Van Hilleary's latest statewide television advertisement lists tax-related statements that his opponent, Phil Bredesen, has made over the past 30 years of political activity, including a trio of property tax increases that Bredesen supported as Nashville's mayor.
The kicker comes when the ad takes aim at the current governor, too: ''Phil BredeSundquist,'' it declares at the end. It's a dig at Hilleary's fellow Republican, Gov. Don Sundquist, who has championed a state income tax.
On the stump in his campaign for governor, Hilleary repeatedly tries to paint Bredesen with the same brush — and the theme carries through in the ad.
He details statements Bredesen made during the 1970s in support of a graduated income tax in Massachusetts; his possible support for a Nashville payroll tax in the 1980s; the three property tax increases while he was mayor during the 1990s; and his refusal to declare an unequivocal opposition to a state income tax should he win a second term as governor.
Bredesen held a brief press conference yesterday at his Music Row headquarters to proclaim his opposition to a state income tax and to respond to the Hilleary ad:
''His approach to campaigning has always been wait until toward the end and then run a lot of really negative stuff at the end,'' Bredesen said of Hilleary, the U.S. congressman from Tennessee's 4th District. ''… I don't think he's come up against anybody before who could fight back. ... I do want him to know that this time, he's gone hunting for something with teeth and claws.''
Bredesen said that nothing in the Hilleary ad was untrue. But he took issue with its selective focus on things he said more than 15 years ago.
As for a payroll tax, he said he once discussed its possible benefits but that, as mayor, he never advocated a payroll tax.
Running for Nashville mayor in 1987, Bredesen suggested a payroll tax would be a good way for commuters who lived outside Davidson County to help pay for services used when they came into the county to work. He said that could help keep Davidson County property taxes lower.
The Hilleary ad points out the three property tax increases that were passed when Bredesen was mayor:
• In 1993, Nashville property owners got an increase in the tax rate of 74 cents per $100 of assessed value. The increase was used, among other things, to fund an arena, give Metro workers a 5% pay raise and to pay for school improvements.
• Four years later, the rate increased 54 cents, this time for a school system overhaul, a downtown library and to renovate several branch libraries.
• In 1998, Metro Council voted to raise the tax rate by 12 cents, to fund a $206 million plan to get the city out from under a 27-year-old federal court order that imposed busing to achieve school desegregation.
The Hilleary campaign calls its latest advertisement, now playing statewide, ''a contrast ad.''
''It makes it clear where both candidates stand on the issue,'' Hilleary press secretary Jennifer Coxe said. ''We have 43 days left, and it's time we started making people aware of the difference between the candidates. Before this state can move forward, we have to put this income-tax issue aside. Phil Bredesen was given the chance during the debate, and he wouldn't do it.''
Bredesen preferred to call it something other than a ''contrast ad.''
''I think it's negative in the sense that it's certainly picking statements that were made 30-odd years ago or 15-odd years ago, which have never been acted on, which are little, single isolated statements and sort of crafting somehow that there's a strategy behind all of that.''
Coxe countered that ''Van has always been against a state income tax.''
Bredesen accused Hilleary's campaign of having a single dimension. ''He's become a one-trick pony. It's all about taxes. It's all about taxes. It's all about taxes.
''I think they're important. I've got a position on it, but there's a lot of important things in this state right now. There's issues of the economy and the issues of how you fix TennCare without hurting a lot of people in the process — the issue of how you fix education.''
Here is a transcript of the campaign ad that U.S. Rep. Van Hilleary has started running across the state:
Announcer: ''Phil Bredesen and higher taxes ...They go way back!''
(Graphic: Phil Bredesen: ''... a graduated income tax.'' (Lexington, MA Minute Man 10/15/70)
Announcer: ''In the '70s, in Massachusetts, Bredesen campaigned for a graduated income tax.''
(Graphic: ''... Bredesen proposes a payroll tax on all Nashville workers ...'' The Tennessean)
Announcer: ''The '80s, he proposed a payroll tax in Tennessee.''
(Graphic: Mayor Bredesen raised property taxes three times. 1992-93 1996-97 1997-98 Nashville Scene 9/17/98)
Announcer: ''The '90s, Mayor Bredesen raised Nashville's property taxes three times.
''Now he's running for governor ... and read his lips ... he says he could change his mind and support the income tax in his next term.''
(Graphic: ''If I were to change my mind.'' Aug 14, 2002 Debate)
Announcer: ''Where have we heard that before?
''Maybe we should call him Phil BredeSundquist.''
If Bredesen wants to prove he is truly against a state income tax, then why doesn't he sign the anti-income tax pledge just like Van Hilleary did?
I would hope this ad awakens some of the more moderate Republicans who have been leaning towards Bredesen's side because they think he brings a better business pedigree to the governors' office than Hilleary.
Van's ad highlights that Bredesen has no core beliefs on taxes and sways with the times and situation. How can we ever trust someone like that? Too much like Al Gore & Bill Clinton. Van has a rock-hard opposition to tax increases and we can trust folks who have real principles that are a part of their belief system.
Bredesen's people have already been trying to paint Van as another Sundquist, a Congressman out of touch with Tennesseans. This ad heads off that attack by showing that it is Bredesen who is most like Sundquist.
The RINOs who support Bredesen are not going to change. They want an income tax because they get to trade off the Hall tax on investments and come out ahead. They want someone like Bredesen who will funnel money into corporate welfare on the backs of tax payers. I have been steamed at the whole Frist clan for this attitude and have written the Senator. I never received a reply.
This was all a big topic on the Teddy Bart show this morning. At least Bredesen now is on record as saying "Yes, I raised property taxes 3 times in 8 years and I am proud of what we got for it." This is great in 2 ways:
1. He now admits that he raised taxes about every 2.5 years. That will stick with most voters.
2. What did we get for his tax increases: The school system actually underachieved vs. the rest of the State. The arena and stadium lose millions every year further depleting available funds. The condition of city owned property and assets hit an alarming low. So now we can even point out that even if you do not mind a tax increase, Phil Bredesen is not the one to lead. He has increased taxes and failed to produce any results. That makes him a horrible manager.
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