By Patrick Poole
A9 2000 WorldNetDaily.com
NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Civility on the part of public servants seems
to be wearing thin in Tennessee, as legislators, under pressure from
Gov. Don Sundquist to pass a state income tax, clash with voters who
have shown themselves to be overwhelmingly opposed to the measure.
As WorldNetDaily reported recently, Tennessee legislators have
been under a constant barrage of phone calls, e-mails and catcalls in
the hallways of the state Capitol since a bill that would have
implemented an income tax appeared on the verge of passing two weeks
ago. Tennessee is one of nine states without a state income tax.
But to many Tennesseans, the most disturbing aspect to the tax
battle has been the overt contempt shown them by some legislators for
having made their voices heard in regards to the state budget process.
One such incident, reported last week in the Murfreesboro Daily
News Journal, involved one the of the leading pro-income-tax
legislators, Rep. Mary Ann Eckles.
According to the news report, Eckles was approached during a
legislative recess by tax protestors David and Sandra Brunner, who said
they had brought their children to the tax rally for its educational
value. When the Brunners asked Eckles to vote against the proposed tax
increase, the legislator became agitated and stated, "The people of my
district are all for the income tax."
But when the Brunners stated that they lived in her district and
that they and many of their friends and co-workers were against the
state income tax, Eckles angrily replied, "The people of my district
don't know what they need. They haven't studied it like I have."
Eckles did not respond to requests by WorldNetDaily for comment
for this story.
In response to Eckles' comments, Sandra Brunner stated that it's
hard for legislators to believe that citizens can have intelligent
thoughts of their own.
"It seems to be OK when we blindly accept their take on all
issues, but then they blame the most outspoken and visible individuals,
like talk radio, for 'leading us astray' if anyone differs from their
viewpoint," she said.
Republicans are also reacting with dismay at the huge numbers of
constituents contacting their representatives through the new democratic
medium -- e-mail.
During a House floor session last Tuesday, Rep. Bob Patton derided
the efforts of those expressing their opinions on the income-tax issue.
"All those e-mails we get, I just wipe them off. I don't read
them. I'd like them to know they are wasting their time," he said.
Legislative contempt is nothing new for Tennesseans, who have seen
three attempts to pass a state income tax in the past 14 months. During
a special legislative session dedicated to the income tax issue last
November, Rep. Tommy Head, one of the leading state budget negotiators,
told an audience gathered for an income tax debate sponsored by a local
talk radio station that decisions on important state matters shouldn't
be left to the people, but rather to legislators.
"We don't need a referendum to make our decisions. We're the ones
who are supposed to be educated and know about the issues," Head said.
The phenomenon isn't exclusive to just to House members either.
After a constituent contacted Sen. Steve Cohen during last year's budget
battle, Cohen replied with a message left on the constituent's answering
machine inviting him to call back.
Thinking that the call had been disconnected, Cohen turned to an
aide and called his constituent an "S.O.B." and complained that the
constituent had used an 800 number that allowed him to connect to
legislators' offices toll-free.
Ironically, Cohen was the Senate sponsor of the legislation
authorizing the toll-free line to the state Capitol to increase
accessibility to legislators.
However, the constituent's answering machine was still recording
and captured Cohen's comments, a tape of which was passed off to a local
Memphis radio station. When confronted by reporters about his derogatory
comments, Cohen replied, "I felt no need to encourage additional
comments from this particular person."
The income tax is not the only issue to have generated legislative
ire over the past year. After several state legislators were caught by a
Nashville TV station's hidden camera accepting a free golf trip to the
Gulf Coast last year courtesy of a state contractor, Jack Morgan sent a
critical e-mail to his representative, Rep. Paul Phelan, one of the
offending legislators.
Nothing could have prepared Morgan for Phelan's blistering
response.
"Dear whatever your name is, I was on the plane with Ron Cooper
(the state contractor). Ron and I have been friends for 11 years. I've
been in the House for seven, you do the math, imbecile," Phelan wrote.
After letting loose a string of obscenities, Phelan said, "Why
don't you put your name on the ballot since you're so high and mighty.
Thank you for reminding me why it is important to run for re-election to
keep our state out of the hands of people like you."
He concluded his e-mail by saying, "My level of education allows
me to tolerate idiots like you."
However, it was Phelan who was soon getting an education in e-mail
technology from Morgan when Phelan's e-mail was forwarded to hundreds of
newspapers, radio and TV stations all across the state. After the
Associated Press reprinted the letter in its entirety on its news wire,
Phelan was forced to apologize.
In accepting Phelan's apology, Morgan cautioned state legislators
to remember that they were not elected to represent their own interests,
but rather those of voters.
"I would never have talked to him in such a manner. They work for
us. We don't work for them. A few of the fellows down there in Nashville
need to keep that in mind," he said.
But as Tennessee's tax battle winds to a close, relief seems to be
in sight for legislators.
Both houses passed a slimmed-down version of Sundquist's proposed
$18.2 billion budget on Thursday without any tax increases. Because the
measure doesn't include the state income tax, Sundquist has threatened
to veto it. But unlike most states, a mere 51 percent majority in both
houses is needed to override the governor's veto.
Legislators have to act before July 1, the end of the state's
fiscal year, to prevent a government shutdown. Consequently, final
action on the state budget is expected by the end of the week, but that
won't prevent another tax protest organized by Nashville talk radio
stations scheduled for later today at the state Capitol.
Only after the conclusion of the legislative session are
legislators, who face election primaries in August, allowed to begin
their reelection campaigns. All House members and half of the Senate are
up for reelection this year. Rather than face voters, several prominent
pro-income tax legislators have announced they will not be running
again, and many other legislative income-tax supporters have attracted
formidable opposition in November.
A9 2000 WorldNetDaily.com
NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Civility on the part of public servants seems
to be wearing thin in Tennessee, as legislators, under pressure from
Gov. Don Sundquist to pass a state income tax, clash with voters who
have shown themselves to be overwhelmingly opposed to the measure.
As WorldNetDaily reported recently, Tennessee legislators have
been under a constant barrage of phone calls, e-mails and catcalls in
the hallways of the state Capitol since a bill that would have
implemented an income tax appeared on the verge of passing two weeks
ago. Tennessee is one of nine states without a state income tax.
But to many Tennesseans, the most disturbing aspect to the tax
battle has been the overt contempt shown them by some legislators for
having made their voices heard in regards to the state budget process.
One such incident, reported last week in the Murfreesboro Daily
News Journal, involved one the of the leading pro-income-tax
legislators, Rep. Mary Ann Eckles.
According to the news report, Eckles was approached during a
legislative recess by tax protestors David and Sandra Brunner, who said
they had brought their children to the tax rally for its educational
value. When the Brunners asked Eckles to vote against the proposed tax
increase, the legislator became agitated and stated, "The people of my
district are all for the income tax."
But when the Brunners stated that they lived in her district and
that they and many of their friends and co-workers were against the
state income tax, Eckles angrily replied, "The people of my district
don't know what they need. They haven't studied it like I have."
Eckles did not respond to requests by WorldNetDaily for comment
for this story.
In response to Eckles' comments, Sandra Brunner stated that it's
hard for legislators to believe that citizens can have intelligent
thoughts of their own.
"It seems to be OK when we blindly accept their take on all
issues, but then they blame the most outspoken and visible individuals,
like talk radio, for 'leading us astray' if anyone differs from their
viewpoint," she said.
Republicans are also reacting with dismay at the huge numbers of
constituents contacting their representatives through the new democratic
medium -- e-mail.
During a House floor session last Tuesday, Rep. Bob Patton derided
the efforts of those expressing their opinions on the income-tax issue.
"All those e-mails we get, I just wipe them off. I don't read
them. I'd like them to know they are wasting their time," he said.
Legislative contempt is nothing new for Tennesseans, who have seen
three attempts to pass a state income tax in the past 14 months. During
a special legislative session dedicated to the income tax issue last
November, Rep. Tommy Head, one of the leading state budget negotiators,
told an audience gathered for an income tax debate sponsored by a local
talk radio station that decisions on important state matters shouldn't
be left to the people, but rather to legislators.
"We don't need a referendum to make our decisions. We're the ones
who are supposed to be educated and know about the issues," Head said.
The phenomenon isn't exclusive to just to House members either.
After a constituent contacted Sen. Steve Cohen during last year's budget
battle, Cohen replied with a message left on the constituent's answering
machine inviting him to call back.
Thinking that the call had been disconnected, Cohen turned to an
aide and called his constituent an "S.O.B." and complained that the
constituent had used an 800 number that allowed him to connect to
legislators' offices toll-free.
Ironically, Cohen was the Senate sponsor of the legislation
authorizing the toll-free line to the state Capitol to increase
accessibility to legislators.
However, the constituent's answering machine was still recording
and captured Cohen's comments, a tape of which was passed off to a local
Memphis radio station. When confronted by reporters about his derogatory
comments, Cohen replied, "I felt no need to encourage additional
comments from this particular person."
The income tax is not the only issue to have generated legislative
ire over the past year. After several state legislators were caught by a
Nashville TV station's hidden camera accepting a free golf trip to the
Gulf Coast last year courtesy of a state contractor, Jack Morgan sent a
critical e-mail to his representative, Rep. Paul Phelan, one of the
offending legislators.
Nothing could have prepared Morgan for Phelan's blistering
response.
"Dear whatever your name is, I was on the plane with Ron Cooper
(the state contractor). Ron and I have been friends for 11 years. I've
been in the House for seven, you do the math, imbecile," Phelan wrote.
After letting loose a string of obscenities, Phelan said, "Why
don't you put your name on the ballot since you're so high and mighty.
Thank you for reminding me why it is important to run for re-election to
keep our state out of the hands of people like you."
He concluded his e-mail by saying, "My level of education allows
me to tolerate idiots like you."
However, it was Phelan who was soon getting an education in e-mail
technology from Morgan when Phelan's e-mail was forwarded to hundreds of
newspapers, radio and TV stations all across the state. After the
Associated Press reprinted the letter in its entirety on its news wire,
Phelan was forced to apologize.
In accepting Phelan's apology, Morgan cautioned state legislators
to remember that they were not elected to represent their own interests,
but rather those of voters.
"I would never have talked to him in such a manner. They work for
us. We don't work for them. A few of the fellows down there in Nashville
need to keep that in mind," he said.
But as Tennessee's tax battle winds to a close, relief seems to be
in sight for legislators.
Both houses passed a slimmed-down version of Sundquist's proposed
$18.2 billion budget on Thursday without any tax increases. Because the
measure doesn't include the state income tax, Sundquist has threatened
to veto it. But unlike most states, a mere 51 percent majority in both
houses is needed to override the governor's veto.
Legislators have to act before July 1, the end of the state's
fiscal year, to prevent a government shutdown. Consequently, final
action on the state budget is expected by the end of the week, but that
won't prevent another tax protest organized by Nashville talk radio
stations scheduled for later today at the state Capitol.
Only after the conclusion of the legislative session are
legislators, who face election primaries in August, allowed to begin
their reelection campaigns. All House members and half of the Senate are
up for reelection this year. Rather than face voters, several prominent
pro-income tax legislators have announced they will not be running
again, and many other legislative income-tax supporters have attracted
formidable opposition in November.