SOCM Members Meet with McNally
October 2001
During October, members of Save Our Cumberland Mountains (SOCM),
a TFT member group, organized an in-district meeting with Sen. Randy McNally.
Although McNally did not come out supporting tax reform, the meeting was a great
success with about 30 supporters attended the meeting representing many elements
of the community.
Voicing their strong support for tax reform at the SOCM-organized
meeting were a county commissioner, a local Catholic priest, members of the
League of Women Voters, and many other SOCM members. Members learned a lot.
For starters, McNally continues to hide behind tired old excused, including
TennCare and the constitutionality question. More importantly, people walked
away with clear understanding of what needs to be done next. Follow-up meetings
are in the works.
A few days after the meeting, the following appeared in the Tennessee
Journal, strongly criticizing McNally for falling back on the constitutionality
question.
From the Tennessee Journal - 10/29/01
"I think it is still a big issue. I still have questions."
— Sen. Randy McNally (R-Oak Ridge), in the Knoxville News-Sentinel, on
why he arranged a meeting with State Attorney General Paul Summers and other
senators who questioned the constitutionality of a state income tax.
Hmm. Let's see. In 1981, McNally, then a state representative,
asked Attorney General Bill Leech if a payroll tax would be constitutional.
Leech took the occasion to opine that either a payroll or an income tax would
be constitutional. In '85, McNally asked a new attorney general, Mike Cody,
if an income or payroll tax would be constitutional. Cody said yes to both.
It looks as if McNally just won't take yes for an answer.
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