Friday July 13 6:33 AM ET
Anti-Tax Protests at Tenn. Capitol
By KARIN MILLER, Associated Press Writer
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - Protesters hurled rocks through Capitol
windows, chanted ``no new tax!'' and banged on the locked doors of
the Senate chamber where Tennessee lawmakers were debating the
creation of a state income tax.
The tax plan had died before the protesters arrived Thursday, but when
word spread that lawmakers had passed a no-tax budget, cheers went
up among the hundreds of protesters.
``The people are passionate when they say, 'no income tax','' said
Steve Gill, a Nashville radio talk show host who had called on tax
opponents to swarm the Capitol.
Anti-tax protests have been frequent the past three years as lawmakers
considered implementing a state income tax, but the protests had
always been peaceful - until Thursday.
Within hours of hearing that the Legislature was considering a
last-minute income tax plan, protesters swarmed into the area, honking
car horns, waving signs reading ``Tax Revolt!'' and bringing traffic
outside the Capitol to a standstill.
The rock-throwers busted several windows, including one in the
governor's office. State troopers escorted lawmakers in the halls and
locked the doors to the Capitol. One state employee trying to lock a
side door was injured as the weight of the crowd pushed against him.
No arrests were made and no other injuries were reported.
``I appreciate the right of all Americans to free speech and peaceful
protest. I do not, however, approve of those who advocate violence
and I regret that occurred at the Capitol,'' Gov. Don Sundquist said in
a statement.
Sundquist has said he would veto any budget that didn't include a new
revenue plan.
The budget the Legislature passed doesn't include the 3.5 percent
income tax lawmakers had discussed. It instead cuts $339 million from
the governor's $19.9 billion spending plan, requires state agencies to
save an additional $100 million, and uses $560 million in tobacco
settlement money - four years worth - to balance the budget.
Sundquist wouldn't say if he would sign it.
Tennessee is one of nine states without a broad-based income tax, but
it has one of the highest sales tax rates at 6 percent, with local
governments adding up to 2.75 percent.
Sen. Bob Rochelle, a Democratic proponent of a state income tax, had
argued that the sales tax could be reduced if an income tax was
implemented. ``The day will come when we won't mistreat our citizens
any more with that tax,'' he said.
Republican Sen. David Fowler, an opponent of the income tax, said
negotiations had already broken down by the time most of the
protesters arrived.
One proposal discussed would have put plans for an income tax to a
statewide vote. Fowler said the protest may have ``effectively killed''
that as an option.
``I don't know if they knew that's what they were doing, but that's what
they were doing,'' Fowler said.
http://dailynews.yahoo.com/h/ap/20010713/us/tennessee_capitol_protest_8.html
