Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Legislature / Politics / Woods Open Revolt in House Democratic Caucus: Odom on the Hot Seat for Bashing Naifeh
Posted by Jeff Woods on Wed, Feb 25, 2009 at 10:39 AM
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Odom says: ""He was the one always pushing the income tax," Odom said, "and that was the single greatest reason for the Democrats' decline in Tennessee over the last few years. It was why Al Gore lost the state in 2000, and it was why we kept losing seats after that, until finally we were in the minority."
Um. First of all the income tax was constructed and pushed by the Republican Governor Don Sundquist.
Second, the income tax fight was AFTER the 2000 election and had nothing to do with Al Gore losing the state. It actually happened in 2001 and I remember the Democrats being horrified they were going to lose everything in the '02 elections because of it. Turned out the only Democrat who lost his seat based on that issue was Bob Rochelle. Other incumbents lost seats over the income tax fight, but they were all Republicans in the primary.
Good lord, Gary Odom. Your recollection (and interpretation) of events leaves something to be desired.
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Spaz is absolutely correct. It was on the ballot in 2002, and the fallout was just beginning to settle when I moved back here in early 2003.
The income tax failed in the state house May 22, 2002. Horns were honked, rocks were thrown. The vote was 49-45 against. At that point there were 58 democrats in the house. 6 months later there were 54. I guess Chip Forrester somehow is responsible for that as well.
I'm not defending Odom or his interpretation of events, but actually, Spaz, the income tax fight started in 1999. For the record, Rochelle did not run for re-election. Granted, he probably did so because of the income tax.
If I remember correctly, Forrester passed his pro-income tax resolution through the Tennessee Democrat Party executive committee in 1999.
Forget the income tax. Let's hold open wealthy tax loopholes for my friends Bill Freeman and Waller Lansden while public schools, health care and the general state revenue picture are all going down the shitter. What does Chip Forrester have to say about this wealthy tax loophole? Is he willing to buck his treasurer/Republican donor on this?
