Rep. Matthew Hill Lies: About The Prospects For A Tennessee State Income Tax

During the last week of so leading up to the November 7 election, Rep. Matthew Hill was citing within his many campaign ads of his "Great Pumpkin" belief in a supposedly impending legislative movement toward legislation for a Tennessee state income tax --- and Hill was actually sounding more like a rabid spokesman for the Tennesseans For Fair Taxation rather than a straight-talking member of the Tennessee General Assembly.

A recent article "Income tax can fly, says group - Analysis: Support not politically fatal; experts scoff" by Brad Schrade and featured within the Tennessean quotes a Middle Tennessee State Univeristy political science professor (demonstrating a recognized expertise within the field of Tennessee politics) who thinks differently than both Rep. Matthew Hill and his cronies within the Tennesseans For Fair Taxation pro-income taxgroup on the income tax matter:

[...]

The [Tennesseans For Fair Taxation] group's political read on the issue [Tennessee state income tax] based on the recent elections seems skewed, said Mark Byrnes, a Middle Tennessee State University political science professor who has written about state politics.

Byrnes said he saw no evidence in last week's results to suggest any momentum for supporting an income tax. Bredesen's stated opposition almost certainly takes it off the table for the next four years, he said.

"I think [that most] everyone seems to agree the state income tax is a dead issue," Byrnes said. "The only time it got mentioned was to try to kill it more.

"Many of the legislators are on record opposing it. I think it will take some major financial calamity to make it a viable option.

"Even then it wouldn't be easy."

[...]

What is purhaps more revealing about this newspaper article is that Tennesseans For Fair Taxation Executive Director Brian Miller is citing a MTSU study showing that public support for a Tennessee state income tax is enhanced when coupled with lowering the state sales taxes on food --- and Rep. Matthew Hill has frequently positioned himself as being the leading House member to champion a removal (not reduction) on the grocery sales tax in Tennessee:

[...]

Miller counters that part of the problem with the income tax is that it is too often discussed in a vacuum. He said MTSU's polls in recent years have shown support trends toward 60 percent for an income tax as long as cuts to the sales tax, especially sales taxes on food, are part of the proposal.

He said the talk from many candidates about cuts in the sales tax on food during this year's legislative session and during the election cycle shows the public is ready for some of the key elements of a tax system change.

[...]

Wow ---- Rep. Matthew Hill's bumbling legislative efforts to eliminate the Tennessee state sales tax on groceries are actually giving signifcant political traction to the advancement of the Tennessee Pro-Income Tax movement! Who knew???