McWherter Masquerades As Small Business Advocate, But Supported Bredesen Budget With Business Tax Hikes
Democrat Gubernatorial Candidate Mike McWherter has been out and about on his “Mike Works Tour” and touting his so-called advocacy for small businesses. What these businesses might want to know is that Mike McWherter did not rebuke Democrat Gov. Phil Bredesen’s proposal to lift the state’s $3,200 sales tax cap on big-ticket items – a tax hike the Governor himself said would mostly affect businesses. According to an article by WSMV:
| “The state currently limits sales taxes to the first $3,200 of purchases. Bredesen wants to remove that cap to allow the state to collect sales taxes on the full purchase price. The cap would remain for vehicles, boats and homes. While some consumers – like those buying expensive jewelry – would be affected, the change would mostly apply to businesses, Bredesen said." |
Just days after the proposal’s release at a forum at Middle Tennessee State University, McWherter was asked about “aligning tax revenues with expenditures” and when answering the question took the opportunity to complement Gov. Bredesen’s proposal. According to the Tennessee Report:
| “I think Governor Bredesen has done a tremendous job in presenting this budget,” McWherter said. “Ron may not agree with me. But he (Bredesen) has done a great job… He will leave [Tennessee] in much better shape than when he found it.” |
Mike McWherter’s support for the Governor’s proposal not only conflicts with the views of most Tennesseans and Republicans, but also with lawmakers within his own party. While McWherter was praising Gov. Bredesen’s tax wrought budget, lawmakers on both sides of the aisle were drafting alternative proposals that stripped the governor’s tax hikes. The Knoxville News-Sentinel explained how members of McWherter’s own party “rejected the governor’s recommendations”:
| The competing plans generally follow spending recommendations of outgoing Gov. Phil Bredesen. Both sides, however, rejected the governor’s recommendations for raising new revenue, which he had described as closing loopholes or equalizing tax levels, and they differ in about $150 million of spending details. |
Mike McWherter talks a big game on tax relief for businesses, but if he truly wants to ease their tax burden, why would he advocate for a budget that does just the opposite? As he continues his tour, perhaps Mike McWherter should “work” on listening to small business owners who don’t want or need their taxes to go up.
