"You will hear from those who say we ought to  preserve special breaks for some businesses and impose an income tax on working Tennesseans.  That's not tax relief; it's not tax reform; it's not tax simplification; and it's not tax fairness. All an income tax does is raise the tax burden on Tennesseans and create a way to finance the easy and endless expansion of government. Tennessee does not need a state income tax."

"I know you will be heavily lobbied--especially since our tax applies to lobbyist, too--but make sure the lobbyist aren't the only ones you listen to.  Listen as well to the softer and more numerous voices of those who will pay less: the thousands of businesses who whom we provide fairness and lower rates; the millions of families for who we provide sales tax relief. "

Governor Don Sundquist -1999 State of the State Address February 8, 1999

To Read the entire  State of the State Address Click Here.

Below are our representatives and what their comments are regarding the proposed state income tax.  We will keep updating these statements as they come in.  We have been caught off guard by this since after the 2000 budget we were under the impression that the state income tax was dead. 

Click Here to see how our legislators voted on to override the Governors Veto of the No New Taxes Budget.

You can email all of the state representatives at once with this email address teaparty@nashville.com.  - This address is courtesy of Phil Valentine

Press Release July 26, 2001 Tennessee's Surpluses Add Up'  You read right a surplus!  Read the complete release here.  We want to thank Sen. Marsha Blackburn for keeping us in the loop. 

Taxing food ... and other tidbits and morsels
Commentary By Bill Hobbs


House of Representatives                                                 Vote on State Income Tax

Rep. Steve Godsey (REP)
Rep. Stancil Ford (REP)
Rep. Ronald Davis (REP)
Rep. Richard Montgomery (REP)
Rep. Harry Tindell (DEM)
Rep. H. E. Bittle (REP)
Rep. Joseph Armstrong (DEM)
Rep. Bill Dunn (REP)
Rep. Jamie Hagood (REP)
Rep. Steven Buttry (REP)
Rep. Jim Boyer (REP)
Rep. Keith Westmoreland (REP)
Rep. Doug Overbey (REP)
Rep. Russell Johnson (REP)
Rep. J. Newton (REP)
Rep. Bob McKee (REP)
Rep. Dewayne Bunch (REP)
Rep. Raymond Walker (REP)
Rep. Bobby Wood (REP)
Rep. Chris  Clem (REP) - Read Chris' comments here
Rep. Tommie Brown (DEM)
Rep. Brenda Turner (DEM)
Rep. Jason Mumpower (REP)
Rep. Jack Sharp (REP)
Rep. James Vincent (REP)
Rep. Dennis Ferguson (DEM)
Rep. Gene Caldwell (DEM)
Rep. Mark Goins (REP)
Rep. Dennis Roach (REP)
Rep. William Baird (REP)
Rep. Shelby Rhinehart (DEM)
Rep. Leslie Winningham (DEM)
Rep. George Fraley (DEM)
Rep. Ralph Cole (REP)
Rep. Frank Buck (DEM)
Rep. John Windle (DEM)
Rep. Jere Hargrove (DEM)
Rep. Charles Curtiss (DEM)
Rep. Michael McDonald (DEM)
Rep. Diane Black (REP)
Rep. Stratton Bone (DEM)
Rep. Doyle Lewis (DEM)
Rep. John Hood (DEM)
Rep. Donna Rowland (REP) - Click here to read her comments.
Rep. Zane Whitson (REP)
Rep. Tim Garrett (DEM) -Thank you for your letter.   I will continue to vote no for an income tax.  Please keep me informed on this and other issues as you feel necessary.
Rep. Michael Turner (DEM)
Rep. Rob Briley (DEM)
Rep. John Arriola (DEM)
Rep. Edith Langster (DEM)
Rep. Gary Odom (DEM)
Rep. Beth Halteman Harwell (REP)
Rep. Mae Beavers (REP) -I will continue to fight the income tax and fight for spending reform.
Rep. Mary Pruitt (DEM)
Rep. Sherry Jones (DEM)
Rep. David Davis (REP)
Rep. Ben West (DEM) --I am against the state income tax and I have signed a pledge to vote NO in the House of Representatives. To me and my constituents, the budget problems are a question of spending, not a question of revenue.

Rep. Charles Sargent (REP) -I have and continue to be opposed to a state income tax.  I know that this legislation will have a tremendous impact on Tennessee residents and business.  You can rest assured that I am opposed to any form of a state income tax that will burden the people of Tennessee.

Rep. Clarence Phillips (DEM)
Rep. Mike Williams (DEM)
Rep. Bobby Sands (DEM)
Rep. Joe Fowlkes (DEM)
Rep. Eugene Davidson (DEM)
Rep. Kim McMillan (DEM)
Rep. Tommy Head (DEM)
Rep. David Shepard (DEM)
Rep. Robert Patton (REP)
Rep. John White (DEM)
Rep. Randy Rinks (DEM)
Rep. Steve McDaniel (REP) -Thank you for your e-mail message. Your comments are always welcome and I will keep them in mind as we continue to work toward a balanced state budget.
Rep. Matthew Kisber (DEM)
Rep. John Tidwell (DEM)
Rep. L. Ridgeway (DEM)
Rep. Mark Maddox (DEM) -I am not opposed to an income tax, but I am not pushing it either.
Rep. Phillip Pinion (DEM)
Rep. Ronnie Cole (DEM)
Rep. Paul Phelan (DEM)
Rep. Joe McCord (REP)
Rep. Johnny Shaw (DEM)
Rep. James Naifeh (DEM)
Rep. Craig Fitzhugh (DEM)
Rep. Joe Kent (REP)
Rep. Joe Towns (DEM)
Rep. Larry Turner (DEM)
Rep. Barbara Cooper (DEM)
Rep. Kathryn Bowers (DEM)
Rep. Larry Miller (DEM)
Rep. Carol Chumney (DEM)
Rep. Ken Givens (DEM)
Rep. John DeBerry (DEM)
Rep. Lois DeBerry (DEM)
Rep. Henri Brooks (DEM)
Rep. Michael Kernell (DEM)
Rep. Larry Scroggs (REP)
Rep. Curry Todd (REP)
Rep. Paul Stanley (REP)
Rep. Tre Hargett (REP)
Rep. Ulysses Jones (DEM)
Rep. W. C. Pleasant (REP)


Senate                                                                        Vote on State Income Tax
 
Sen. Tommy Haun (REP)
Sen. Ward Crutchfield (DEM)
Sen. David Fowler (REP) -We appreciate the fact that  David Fowler didn't feel he could say 'yes' or 'no' but instead sent this justification click here to read it.
Sen. Lincoln Davis (DEM)
Sen. Gene Elsea (REP)
Sen. Jerry Cooper (DEM)
Sen. Charlotte Burks (DEM)
Sen. Larry Trail (DEM)
Sen. Robert Rochelle (DEM)
Sen. Jo Ann Graves (DEM)
Sen. Thelma Harper (DEM)
Sen. Ron Ramsey (REP)
Sen. Joe Haynes (DEM)
Sen. Douglas Henry (DEM)
Sen. Rosalind Kurita (DEM)
Sen. Marsha Blackburn (REP)  -I have no intentions of voting for a state income tax.  I support spending and governmental reform.

Sen. Roy Herron (DEM)
Sen. Doug Jackson (DEM)
Sen. John Wilder (DEM)
Sen. Bobby Carter (REP) - I am NOT undecided on the state income tax.  I am AGAINST it.
Sen. James Kyle (DEM)
Sen. John Ford (DEM)
Sen. Rusty Crowe (REP)
Sen. Stephen Cohen (DEM)
Sen. Curtis Person (REP)
Sen. Mark Norris (REP)
Sen. Roscoe Dixon (DEM)
Sen. Micheal Williams (REP)
Sen. Randy McNally (REP)
Sen. Ben Atchley (REP)
Sen. Tim Burchett (REP)
Sen. William Clabough (REP)
Sen. Jeff Miller (REP)