Guess what, kids! There’s an election around the corner so this must mean it’s time for the Tennessee Republican Party to fearmonger about — wait for it — the state income tax! I know, whocouldathunkit, right? It’s true:
The Tennessee Republican Party is using an edited audio tape to raise the specter of Democrats pushing for a state income tax.
In a statement Tuesday, the TNGOP claimed that Flo Matheson, who is running against incumbent Rep. Cameron Sexton in House District 25, had “promoted the implementation of a progressive income tax and a living wage, and keeping in place the death tax.”
[...]
At the candidate forum where the clip was recorded, however, Matheson said she expressed support for a progressive income tax at the national level but not in Tennessee, and that the complete quote makes that clear.
Informed of the TNGOP’s version of her remarks, Matheson said her remarks were about the federal income tax, not a plan to push for one on the state level. She sounded stunned that they had been presented in any other way.
Every single election, Tennessee Republicans trot out the old state income tax canard, which last time I checked was pretty much killed forever when Republican Governor Don Sundquist proposed it and got summarily run out of town just inches ahead of a pitchfork-and-torch-bearing mob. But no, Tennessee Republicans love to trot the issue out every election, with constitutional amendments reaffirming an already existing ban on a state income tax. Such things are a part of pretty much every election — that and bans on abortion and gay marriage. Lather, rinse, repeat. If Tennessee’s Republican Party had a new idea it would die of loneliness.
As the City Paper article states, the Tennessee Supreme Court has ruled not once, not twice, but three times that the state constitution bans a state income tax. But without fearmongering about a state income tax, I guess Tennesseans have no reason to vote Republican.
Oh, but it gets better:
The release, which does not identify Matheson by name, included an eight-minute audio recording of some of Matheson’s remarks at the Monday morning candidates forum in the East Tennessee district. In the tape, Matheson can be heard expressing support for a living wage, and opposition to the repeal of the estate tax. Her remarks about an income tax, however, begin with less than 10 seconds left in the tape and are quickly cut off.
“Also, I support a progressive income tax, which would mean, you know, more taxes on the wealthy. I do know that fe… ,” she can be heard saying, at which point the tape ends.
“Fe…?” What could that be? I’m thinking … thinking … could it be “feta,” like the Greek cheese? “Fetid,” perhaps? “Feminism,” maybe? Or what about “federal,” like in federal taxes? Ya think?
This is weak, TNGOP. Really weak. And lame. Just the fact that you guys went to such great lengths to try to twist a candidates’ words into what is so obviously not her meaning, and that you’re sticking with it and running with it, speaks volumes about you. You’ve descended into self-parody.
Democrats, I hope you run with this one. I really do.
Well, LyinRyan will be probably mention it while in East Tennessee today – FEARMONGERING and LIES, that is all the RePiggery has left.
Dems are having a hard time of it in Red States. I’m from California, but from the North where republicans are more comfortable.
I don’t know how much you can complain about the effectiveness of recent Republican campaigning in TN. I mean over the last several state wide elections the Republicans have kicked ass on the Democrats. Seems like they know what they are doing in terms of getting people elected right now.
I’m not complaining. I’m mocking. I’m laughing at you idiots. If you have to lie, distort and scare the crap out of people to get them to vote for you than clearly your ideas suck. And that ploy is only so effective for a limited time. I think after the fourth or fifth time we’ve banned a state income tax people will wonder why Republicans keep raising the issue.
I think the State GOP will put up with your mocking if they keep winning elections. I would also give the GOP a break on what material they have to work with as the Democrats have pretty much just given up in TN. Heck they are asking party members not to vote for their own Senate candidate. Overall TN is doing well financially under the Republican control and I don’t see the Democrats having much success here for a long time. The one Democratic stronghold in the state is Memphis and it is the worst city in the state.
I’m thinking the state GOP won’t keep winning too many elections for much longer. They’ve only done as well as they have because our state Dem party is pretty moribund. That won’t stay this way for long.
Does Tennessee tax food still?
I mean, if these folks are against excess, haywire, can’t-possibly-reinforce-good-choices taxation…
Of course we do! Although our noble, bold governor showed how much he cares by cutting the food tax from 5.5% to 5.25%, which he crowed about like the good tax-cutting compassionate conservative that he is. That’s a whopping 25 cents off a $100 grocery bill. Excuse me if I’m underwhelmed.
If you don’t see the big deal in collecting an extra 25 cents for a $100 grocery bill, then what is the big deal with the $5.50 added to the $100 grocery bill to begin with?
Huh??
I don’t think SAVING 25-cents per $100 is a big whup to the average family. And I think it’s immoral to tax food in the first place. Food, water and medicine should not be taxed. Period.
Rich assholes who rake in millions because Grandaddy died and left them a lot of dough? Tax the shit out of them.
Guess what? Our Noble Governor hosted Paul Ryan today here in Knoxville and the fund raiser came up with $1 million for the RR campaign. And this is the sum and total of ANY ideas the GOP, the TEAs will ever have about politics in this country. “Let’s tell a bunch of lies, over and over, so our racist backers will pay us our bonuses, and they will pay for our election, after which we will turn over the country to evil, power hungry billionaires. WE DO NOT NEED IDEAS, PLANS, CHARACTER, INTEGRITY, INTELLIGENCE. We will repeat our nasty lies over and over, call them new ideas. We have used this same plan since Nixon, Reagan twice, Bush twice…”. Any questions?
Every time I see a comment by Mr. Self-reliant Jim and THEN see the “No trolls allowed” sign, I think, “Southern Beale, URdoin’itrong!”.
Jim:
Are you incredibly stupid that you don’t know when you’re getting fucked by your own party? Sales tax, on food, is possibly the most regressive tax on individuals that exists.
DC – I was questioning SB logic in dismissing the palrty 25 cent per $100 spent reduction in the tax. If she doesn’t think 25 cents is a big deal, then what is the problem with the $5.50 to begin with? Personally, I would not mind to see the sales tax removed from food if that is what a majority of the citizens want to see happen. I would say that any tax cut should be accompanied by an equal reduction in spending, but almost nobody will go for that. I am not in favor of “taxing the shit” out of anyone as that seems to be more of a class warfare tactic to me.
Jim, I said it’s immoral to tax food in the first place, and if the governor really gave two shits about the poor he’d have just eliminated the entire tax altogether, instead of making an empty gesture like a tiny reduction. If you don’t think taxes are such a big deal why is your side always whining, pissing and moaning about it?
You never make any sense when you comment over here.
SB – The sales tax is a broad base tax where everyone pays their fair share based on their consumption. You are the one in favor of “taxing the shit” out of people based on what you view to be an unfair advantage that they have over other people. I guess we will get to see how well the “tax the shit out of them” works in France. They just raised the top income tax bracket to 75%. It will be interesting to see if their tax revenues increase or decrease over the next several years with that top tax rate. Sort of a Laffer curve test so to speak right?
No, Jim. Everyone does not “pay their fair share.” Someone who earns $10,000 a year pays a far larger share of their income in sales taxes to eat than someone who earns $100,000 a year. Surely even YOU can see that. Unless you’re being intentionally obtuse.
I don’t think it has occurred to Jim that he isn’t doing the conservative movement any favors by displaying his ignorance on liberal blogs. But thanks for making the Republican case for taxing food. Now we know.