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Special Session Starts with a BANG!
Several Hundred Applaud Governor.
 The
balconies were filled with hundreds of supporters at the Governor,s opening
speech of the Special Session on November 1. Nearly everyone in the balconies
were supporters (probably more than 95% of them). The roaring applauds
the Governor recieved as he arrived, as he spoke, and as he left sent a clear
message that the support for the Governor,s proposal is strong.
TFT board member Dick Williams representing Common Cause stated
afterwards, "It was good to see that many people supporting tax reform.
It was good to see the Governor that envigorated too. That energy envigorated
everyone who attended. Even the media was surprised by the strong turnout.
The group was diverse too. "There was a good mix of
people there from the University system, local teachers, AARP, the mental health
folks, and the Disability Coalition, stated Martha Wetteman after the kick off.
People came wearing different lapel stickers all supporting tax reform from
different perspectives. The stickers read "Fair Taxes Not Food Taxes,
"Tax Reform Now, and "Fund UT Now.
This Session started on a very different note from the last Special
Session. The last Special Session began with only a small number of folks
in the balconies, and the support was not as clear as it is now. Over
the summer, the groups supporting complete tax reform have had time to organize
and now that work is showing.
TFT members Mac Simpson of Knoxville state, "They (the
legislators) sure heard all that clapping in the gallery "I
was surprised and pleased, added Brian McGuire with the AARP.
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