Tipper's big adventure
Paralyzed by fear
A howling mob of conservative radio talk-show listeners laid siege to the state Capitol, bombarding lawmakers with e-mails and phone calls denouncing the special legislative session on taxes. Gov. Don Sundquist slammed the protesters as “absolutely irresponsible.” But lawmakers were petrified, and the governor’s income-tax bill seemed dead on arrival. Sundquist gave an impassioned speech to open the special session. He was interrupted by applause 13 times, but afterward, reporters could find no lawmaker who had been swayed by the speech to vote with the governor.
Hoping to calm opposition to his income tax, the governor proposed legislation to shore up TennCare. The legislation hits health insurance companies with higher premium taxes unless they participate in the state program. Administration officials said they want to discourage health plans from dumping patients with costly medical conditions onto TennCare. Business groups, saying health plans would pass along the tax hike to employers, squealed in protest.
Tipper Gore went bowling with senior citizens in Toledo, Ohio, to try to forge a bond with blue-collar workers. She wore a Toledo Mud Hens sweatshirt and posed for pictures before lacing up her bowling shoes. Is there no indignity she will not suffer in this campaign?
