Posted on 07/10/2002 6:27:24 AM PDT by GailA
Henry is the RINO tax reformer (READ MORE TAXES ESPECIALLY AN INCOME TAX endorsed by Gov Spendquist and RINO Shelby Co mayor jim rout). Need I say more?
Budget, taxes, schools, TennCare dominate questions to Democrats
By Lydia McCoy, News Sentinel staff writer
July 10, 2002
The three Democratic gubernatorial candidates met Tuesday for the first time since the Legislature passed an increase in the sales tax.
Former Nashville mayor Phil Bredesen, Randy Nichols and Charles Smith sat in comfortable easy chairs before about 30 people at the WATE-TV, Channel 6 studios and debated four main issues: the state's budget, job creation, children and education, and health care.
As in previous debates, they disagreed on many of the issues.
The budget was a main concern of the audience and the panelists in light of last week's partial shutdown of state government. Each candidate was confident in his ability to have handled the situation.
Nichols stood his ground in favor of a state income tax and against a state lottery.
"It amazes me that everyone says this is a bad idea," said Nichols, Knox County's district attorney general. "The increase is on our poorest people in the state. We have to do some fundamental reform on how we collect taxes in this state."
Smith, a former Tennessee commissioner of education, agreed. "There is great irony in what happened last week," he said. "There is a trade in balance. Money and people are flowing out, and our lower and middle class are paying more. I want the chance to reform that."
Bredesen said it was important to work with all the individual counties because each has different needs.
The candidates said they oppose school vouchers but support education.
"We have got to show that we are committed to education," Smith said. "And we have to change the philosophy that Nashville knows what's best for the state. We have to build a plan from the grass roots and build up."
Bredesen said, "We have to re-up our commitment and reinvest in our education."
The debate moderator was WATE co-anchor Gene Patterson. WATE co-anchor Lori Tucker, Metro Pulse editor Joe Sullivan, and radio talk show host Hallerin Hilton Hill were panelists.
WATE sponsored the forum, with The Leadership Knoxville and League of Women Voters.
The candidates have previously debated twice. This time, the audience was able to pose questions
Candidates briefly talked about gave their stances on health care, particularly TennCare.
Smith said there is some confusion on who should be served and who qualifies. "People are saying it should've worked or it could've worked and under my adminstration it will work." Nichols said that he's not sure that Tennesseans fully know what it is. "I don't know why" legislators "picked on most helpless to balance our budget," Nichols said.
Bredesen said, "Rules weren't being followed, and I believe I can help."
Lydia McCoy may be reached at 865-342-6336 or mccoyl@knews.com.
Rochelle's frustration ends run in state Senate
By Richard Locker locker@gomemphis.com
July 10, 2002
NASHVILLE - State Sen. Robert Rochelle, the Senate's speaker pro tem and its chief tax reform advocate, ended his bid for re-election Tuesday after 20 years in the legislature.
Rochelle (D-Lebanon) had suspended his campaign Friday, two days after legislative leaders conceded defeat in trying to pass a state income tax. He said then he needed time to think through whether he wanted to continue in the General Assembly.
After three days of reflection on his Wilson County farm he concluded Tuesday he did not want to serve in a legislative climate that will likely require cuts in state programs and services in the next few years.
"The fact is that I do not want to spend the next four years tearing down what I have spent 20 years helping to build up. Tennessee can be a great state again. That return to greatness will begin when the legislature solves the state's biggest problem: an inadequate and unfair revenue system," Rochelle, 56, said in a statement issued by his office.
"I do not desire to serve the next four years in the Senate. If necessary I will file the appropriate documents to withdraw after the August primary. It is my belief that a write-in campaign for a quality Democratic candidate can be successful," he said in the statement. Rochelle, the lone Democrat on the ballot in his district, was not available for further comment.
As speaker pro tem, Rochelle was the second-ranking official in the Senate behind Speaker John Wilder (D-Somerville).
The timing of the withdrawal could make it easier for Republicans to gain control of the Senate in the November elections. Democrats outnumber Republicans 18-15 and Rochelle was being challenged by state Rep. Mae Beavers (R-Mt. Juliet), an anti-tax legislator who did not vote for any of the tax increases and budget-cutting plans that reached the floor of the House this year.
Rochelle was generally considered to be the front-runner in the race.
Under state election law Rochelle's name will still appear on the Aug. 1 Democratic primary. A write-in candidate would have to receive more votes than Rochelle in order to win the party's nomination and appear opposite Beavers on the Nov. 5 general election ballot, state Election Coordinator Brook Thomp son said.
Tennessee Democratic Party chairman William E. Farmer, who like Rochelle is a Lebanon attorney, said he believes the party will find a write-in candidate and will hold the seat but it will take considerable work.
"Bob Rochelle is a friend of mine and Senator Rochelle will be missed by the people of Tennessee and this area. I'm disappointed but I understand his decision and the pain and suffering his family has endured," Farmer said.
Rochelle and his family received death threats during the long tax reform battle. At some points in the debate income-tax opponents drove past his home honking their horns, as they did at the Capitol.
Rochelle's Senate District 17 includes seven counties just east of Nashville: Wilson, Trousdale, Macon, Smith, DeKalb, Cannon and Clay.
News of Rochelle's withdrawal was greeted with dismay by Senate colleagues.
"Bob Rochelle is by far the most skilled tactician in passing legislation," said Sen. Jim Kyle (D-Memphis). "He played a very hardball game of politics. He played to win. But even among those he played against I think everyone thought he played fair. He will be missed by those who played with him and against him."
When the legislature's monumental struggle over tax reform began in February 1999 Rochelle became an early advocate of an income tax - after opposing it earlier in his career - as a fairer and more adequate way of raising revenue for the state and its programs and services.
Although it was eclipsed this year by a flat-rate income tax plan proposed by House Speaker Jimmy Naifeh, Rochelle had advocated a graduated rate income tax with high exemption levels that would abolish the sales tax on grocery food.
Both plans ultimately failed and the legislature instead increased the state sales tax. Contact Nashville Bureau chief Richard Locker at (615) 255-4923.
On WHAT planet ?!? Unless they mean the front runner to be LOSING. Good riddance to my trash state senator, I'll miss you like I miss a raging case of herpes."
Historically, no Mayor of Nashville, Memphis, Chattanooga, or Knoxville has ever been elected Governor. There is too much rivalry between the cities to accept the other guy's Mayor. Gail can answer this, but I suspect the Memphis folks, even Democrats, have little desire to be ruled by Nashville's Mayor. The same goes here. Nashvillians do not want to governed by Memphis politicians.
You saw a lot of that in the tax debate among the Democrats. West TN Dems rallying for an income tax while Middle TN Dems floated other taxes. Pharaoh Phil also used Memphis to steal a team that sport fans there wanted for over 20 years. How does that play over there?
Finally, the big guns have yet to enter the race. Even Tommy Burnett was concerned that Bredesen might be running to many ads early on. He might peak out an Van comes charging hard in September and October.
President Bush will be very active in the Tennessee campaigns. If Republicans win, that finishes Al Gore once and for all. It will prove once and for all that those who know him best do not like him or his party. If the Dems pickup offices, you are going to see Big Al out there telling everyone that this proves he has mended fences, Tennessee loves him (they just hated Clinton), and everyone can get behind him and take the White House from Bush. This is going to be a major war in all the Tennessee races.
I don't agree with him but at least Nicholls is honest intelling us he wants and income tax. Bredesen simply will NOT ever say NO to an income tax. Try to ask him and watch the slippery double-talk that leaves all doors open for future policies.
I am a native Nashvillian but readily admit that people around here think the whole State revolves around Nashville. The hometown media cheerleaders pump out the propaganda that we have the best businesses, best politicians, best environment, blah blah blah.
Phil Valentine asked the Tennessean why they had not covered the drivers' license scandal and death in Memphis. They told him "We don't do West Tennessee stories." That pretty much sums up the smug Nashville outlook. That stance causes much anger among the other folks in Tennessee.
NOW Memphis voters will overwhelmingly vote for oily phil. Memphis is 60% minority. 10 year olds along with their parents and the dead are bussed into the polls on election day (this is how albore won Shelby Co.) It is common knowledge and ignored. We in the County portion can't out vote Memphis, they out number us by at least 2-1.
There is also another factor playing here with voting in Memphis this election. We have a minority pol hollering racisim after getting his hand caught in the cookie jar. He is exhorting the churches to come to his aid to help defeat the evil GOP whities. I've posted the story, and the link to the original story.WILBURN hollers racisim
This also applies to lamar, he is running ads all over the place, radio & TV, I've yet to hear one for Bryant on the radio. I watch very little TV, and don't often catch the local news of late. So I can't say for sure if Ed is running ads on TV yet. Not seen any campaign lit on them in the last couple of weeks either.
We also have a good chance to replace joe kent (RINO) with a REAL Ronald Reagan Conservative in Chuck Bates. Who is a trained economist, son of a former banker and former TN legislator Dr. Larry Bates who hosts Unraveling the New World Order on Christian talk radio.
A part of me would like to see Pharaoh Phil win so I can sit back and laugh at all the fools who bought his pack of lies. As the taxes go up, the liberal social policies spread, and the income tax resurfaces under Phil the Shill, I don't want to hear any crying.
If the people of this state want a liberal northeastern tax-and-spend Harvard lefty who has supported an income tax, legalization of marijuana, and free needles for heroin addicts, then they deserve the hell that will ensue.
They also of course will pave the way for the re-emergence of Al Gore. President Bush will be here to campaign haevily for Van Hilleary and other Republican candidates. I have personally heard Bredesen on local radio castigate Bush in the worst terms. If the Republicans win in Tennessee, Gore is finished. The Dems will never back him again when he proves that he still cannot win his own state!
If Bredesen and other Dems win, Gore will be out front and center taking credit. It will be "I have mended my fences, Tennessee loves me and all Democrats, let's roll to the White House." I hope your "friends" realize a vote for Bredesen is a vote for Gore. But then, maybe this state is so stupid that it really prefers Big Al and Clintoon to Bush.
Lamar! has never had to answer these charges in front of voting Tennesseans. He was asked about them in a confirmation hearing for Secretary of Education under Bush Sr. Of course the other politicians were not going to hit Lamar! on any of this since so many of them are guilty of the same dealings. I am also sure Bush Sr. leaned on some folks for their approval of Lamar! Answering these charges before the Tennessee voters after all the mess of "insider trading" and corruption on Wall Street will be much more difficult. Bob Clement has already promised that if it is he and Lamar! for the prize, Clement will hit Lamar! with all of these charges.
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