Free Republic

http://www.wsmv.com/global/Fra meset.asp?P=/default.asp Decision 2002 Influential lawmaker suspends his re-election bid July 5, 2002 Tennessee Senator Robert Rochelle says he's suspending his re-election campaign to reassess his political future. The Democrat from Lebanon said in a statement he wants to discuss the issue with his family. In his words, Rochelle will "take a break, get some rest and think about what (he) wants to do next." Rochelle is a strong supporter of a state income tax and says his wife has received violent, threatening telephone calls -- as recently as this week. Rochelle says he'll think through whether he wants to...

Nobody likes the DOGS budget The Associated Press NASHVILLE -- A budget that makes deep cuts in education, health care and eliminates the departments of tourism and economic development has a label at Legislative Plaza: the Downsizing Ongoing Government Services or DOGS budget. Some lawmakers say passing it would throw the state's future to the dogs. Nobody likes it. Department after department uses "devastating" when describing its potential effects. "It would not set this state back years, it would set us back generations," says House Speaker Jimmy Naifeh, who favors an income tax to raise revenue. But it remains a...

<p>Two polar extremes in the state tax debate — a state income tax or deep cuts in state spending — are emerging as the top two choices to balance the state budget after other options have been knocked off the table, several legislative leaders say.</p>

Income tax is most equitable solution to state's budget problems By Sen. Bob Rochelle, (D) Lebanon When I was asked to give a description of what is wrong with our tax structure in Tennessee, I was a little surprised. I'm no economist, but I hope I can offer some insight into what is wrong with our state's revenue system. No one likes taxes, especially the politicians who have to raise them. In 1997, a commission I chaired was directed by the Legislature to study taxes in Tennessee. We looked at sales taxes, property taxes, the Hall tax, personal income taxes,...