Monday, August 10, 2009
Politics / Woods The Coming Budget Crisis: Candidates for Governor Are Clueless
Posted by Jeff Woods on Mon, Aug 10, 2009 at 8:03 AM
"So they're going to have to make some hard choices. And that's going to be the next governor and the next legislature. Fiscal year 2012 and 2013 are probably going to be when it really hits the fan. They're going to have to make some really tough decisions."OK, it will be ugly, but no worries. The candidates for governor are all over this problem, right? Hah! Andy Sher asked them to explain how they will deal with the recession's expected lasting impact on state revenues. Their answers would be funny if this situation weren't so serious.
We won't raise taxes. Oh no, won't even think about that. Well then, what will we do? Bill Gibbons would "set some clear priorities." Good idea. Roy Herron says, "we'll look and see where we are then" when the shit's hitting the fan. That's decisive. Mike McWherter knows "in tough economic times you have to have someone who can manage in tough economic times." No kidding.
In short, Dear Pith reader, these guys are clueless. Isn't that reassuring? Here are the candidates' full responses, pathetic as they may be:
* Democrat Ward Cammack: Could not be reached.* Republican Bill Gibbons: Assuming there is no growth, "I would set some clear priorities for state spending. My priorities would be making sure we have the infrastructure for economic growth, safety and public schools."
* Republican Bill Haslam: "I would argue that the next governor, whoever it is, has to be prepared to take a whole new look at state government because the revenues are not going to be there. You're not going to raise taxes, and there's no choice but to come back and look at the expense structure."
* Democrat Roy Herron: "I think the economy will rebound, but if it's slower than I believe it will be, then we'll look and see where we are then. You're talking a year and a half from now, and that's a long time."
* Democrat Kim McMillan: "I don't think we need a tax increase. ... You figure out what's the most important to the state and to the people to spend your money on."
* Democrat Mike McWherter: Could not be reached. Campaign manager Kim Sasser-Hayden said that "in tough economic times you have to have someone who can manage in tough economic times. ... It's a challenge he's aware of, and he's certainly taken on tough economic challenges in his own business."
* Republican Ron Ramsey: Could not be reached.
* Republican Zach Wamp: "We've got to get (government) down to the most limited place to start with and then have an ambitious economic development agenda centered in production. ... We're going to grow our way out of this problem. If I'm governor, I'm not going to tax our way out."
Comments (14)
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I suggest we eliminate Tenncare to balance the budget. I must agree that the absence of a plan is no plan.
Oh, by the way, sorry I missed your call for comment.
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Was Wamp joking when he made the above statement? He's been one of the biggest pork kings in Congress. Newt put him on the appropriations committee & dumped tons of pork into that district in order to retain a formerly democrat district. From WPLN:
http://wpln.org/newstranscripts/?p=5111
Is Wamp really this stupid or just believes Tennessee voters are?
Is there a number lower than 50th state for level of education and health care and other evil services provided by the state that most famously and beiigerently loves its children more than all others?
Because we have a real chance to compete for that title soon..
"The economy knocked a billion-dollar hole in the tax base, an unprecedented revenue loss, and that money isn't coming back because we're so heavily reliant on the regressive and inelastic sales tax."
Nope, the tax revenue structure has absolutely nothing whatsoever to do with it and you aren't the least bit capable of proving the case is otherwise.
The states that have income taxes are in no better shape that Tennessee and in some cases they're in a lot worse shape - like California.
Oh come on! Comparing our third world state to California where everything is provided, paid for and has been for years is merely silly! We have a regressive tax structure. State income tax would help, at least we wouldn't have all the Brentwoods full of "tax protestors" who of course, think they have no need for governmental services, and therefore cook up the same old garbage about "living within our budget."
Let's face it, if the people in the state who make the appropriate income don't pay for state services to all the citizens in the state, sales taxes aren't going to make it up. Economy up or economy down.
As for Stamp out Tenncare guy, where were you when we made our Tenncare conform only with the basic Medicaid requirements that are mandated, get it, mandated for all the 50 states to provide health care for the very needy? We can't stamp it out any more, much as those who don't need it would like to.
Does this Kirkpatrick yahoo think he can win the governor's race by making stupid comments on blogs?
Gilbert - someday, when you reach college age, you'll wish Tennessee had universities of the caliber of California's.
"Let's face it, if the people in the state who make the appropriate income don't pay for state services to all the citizens in the state, sales taxes aren't going to make it up"
Spoken like a charter member of the sponge, leech and parasite class.
You aren't "entitled" to anything paid for by somebody else.
The "appropriate" level of taxes for anyone to pay has nothing to do with their income level. It has to do with the value of services provided to that specific individual calculated on a user fee basis.
"The "appropriate" level of taxes for anyone to pay has nothing to do with their income level. It has to do with the value of services provided to that specific individual calculated on a user fee basis."
Great idea, Gilbert!
The republicans should pursue this. It worked wonders for Maggie Thatcher ;). Labor has been in power ever since.
"The Community Charge was a poll tax to fund local government in the United Kingdom, instituted in 1989 by the government of Margaret Thatcher. It replaced the rates that were based on the notional rental value of a house. It was a fixed tax per adult resident. The system was deeply unpopular. It seemed to shift the tax burden from rich to poor, as it was based on the number of people living in a house rather than its estimated price."
"The fall of Prime Minister Thatcher
It is thought that the riot in central London, with the countrywide opposition to the Community Charge (especially vehement in the North of England and Scotland) contributed to the downfall of Margaret Thatcher, who resigned as Prime Minister in November the same year, defending the tax when opinion polls were showing 2% support for it. The next Prime Minister, John Major, announced it would be abolished."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poll_Tax_Riots
ROFL!
No Gilbert, not a sponge, leech or parasite, only a social worker, Christ follower and civil servant, who has seen first hand how the truly needy are helped by our sponge, leech and parasite programs and how this society as a whole has a moral responsibility to care for its weaker members, instead of saying, "Go, be ye clothed and fed!" I am proud to be a member of a society where we are committed to helping each member live a better life, at least an adequate life.
Get all you can, can all you get and sit on the can, praising yourself for having done so well, judging everyone else for not being blessed like you, is a pretty miserable way to be. Screaming bloody hell when they try to touch your righteous income to help others isn't quite what our beliefs would indicate we should do.
People say that due to their religion, they do not believe in Darwinism, but they still believe in Malthus (who was a big follower of Darwin). "Let 'em starve in the streets, it'll cut down on the population and keep the quality of the citizens around here up!"
"The Community Charge was a poll tax to fund local government in the United Kingdom, instituted in 1989 by the government of Margaret Thatcher. It replaced the rates that were based on the notional rental value of a house. It was a fixed tax per adult resident. The system was deeply unpopular. It seemed to shift the tax burden from rich to poor, as it was based on the number of people living in a house rather than its estimated price."
If you think that's an example of a user fee, you are sadly mistaken.
"No Gilbert, not a sponge, leech or parasite, only a social worker, Christ follower and civil servant, who has seen first hand how the truly needy are helped by our sponge, leech and parasite programs and how this society as a whole has a moral responsibility to care for its weaker members"
Spare me the sactimonious drivel.
Christ didn't march around at the head of a Roman legion shaking people down for "contributions". As you libs are so fond of saying,we are supposed to have a separation of church and state.
Morality is a matter of personal opinion. You haven't accomplished anything in your life that proves your opinion of what constitutes it is one iota wiser than mine in any way.
HYPERINFLATION will drastically impact the lives of average Americans in coming months. Devaluation of the dollar will make prices for almost everything unaffordable. The federal government will NOT be there for most of us when disasters strike! Do you have a water well or a well-stocked pantry?
AMERICAN STATES must disengage from federal government entanglements. Survival of citizens will not be possible if we allow our resources to be squandered by DC degenerates! We are fast becoming a “dog-eat-dog” civilization. Do you have a gun to protect your family and home from street thugs?
Democrats and Republicans are not what they pretend to be! The two-party system is a corrupt, media promoted political machine that keeps like-minded idiots in power. Voting for them changes nothing but names and faces. Liars cannot be trusted to honor the ideas, dreams, or heartfelt desires of voters.
As a White Horse Independent gubernatorial candidate, I have been proposing a seven-year transition to cut the size of state government and lower taxes by 30-50 %...disengage from federal entanglements... create a Mind Formation System to educate citizens... and drop two stars from our flag to symbolize unity.
