TFT's Board Chair John Stewart was interviewed for a radio story that aired statewide about the impact of the federal stimulus. Stewart pointed out
that this stimulus is only a temporary fix that will not solve the long-term problems facing Tennessee. Real tax modernization is still needed.
Click here for more.
Two great guest editorials appear in the Tennessean [2.1.09]
On Sunday, Feb. 1, two great editorials appeared in the Tennessean. The first is TFT's formal rebuttal of the Tennessean's faulty analysis
earlier in the week claiming that the state budget had doubled in 20 years.
Click here for more. The second editorial was from Dr.
Patrick Reagan. His editorial both made the case for tax modernization while also challenging the wisdom of the proposed constitutional income tax ban.
Click here for more.
New report refutes Tennessean story about the growth of government [1.29.09]
TFT issued a report challenging the faulty analysis presented in a January 26 Tennessean news article that claimed
the state budget had doubled in 20 years. In addition to pointing out the faulty assumptions of the Tennessean analysis, the report
makes evident that the recurring budget shortfalls are an inevitable outcome of an outdated tax system.
Download report here or read related
press release.
UT students call on Peterson to sign petition supporting stimulus and income tax plan [1.27.09]
While Peterson has already gone on record criticizing our current tax system, telling the Tennessean editorial board this month that the state's reliance
on sales tax revenue was "a regressive way to run the state." Students rallying to save the university are asking him to sign a petition explicity
supporting a state income tax and the federal stimulus package for states.
Click here for full story.
TFT annouces support for Governor's plan to close FONCE loophole [1.22.09]
TFT issues a press release today announcing support for the Governor in his effort to close the FONCE loophole estimated to cost the
state $45 million per year. Dick Williams, TFT board member, says, "The State should be using that $45 million to help lower the food tax or
provide pre-K education for our young children instead of giving a tax break to rich families..."
Click here for full release.
Tennessean prints editorial series on food tax [1.21.09]
WRCB Ch. 3 in Chattanooga airs story on food tax [1.12.09]
TFT Board member Ron Naylor was featured in a news story that aired on Channel 3 in Chattanooga. The story highlighed the
revenue lost over the state line by Tennesseans shopping in Georgia to avoid the high sales tax.
View streaming video.
Knoxville News-Sentinel runs op ed from TFT Board member [1.11.09]
The News-Sentinel ran a guest editorial in the Sunday paper from Phil Schoggen entitled, "Close tax loopholes,
use public investment to jolt economy." It makes the case that public
investments, funded through our tax system, are an effective way to stimulate the economy while achieving goals that are
important to us as a community.
Read
full editorial.
The Memphis Commercial Appeal published an editorial in support of a fair and responsible
food tax reduction... "The political risk involved with mucking around in the corporate tax structure is
significant, but the General Assembly also owes Tennesseans a fair and reasonable system of taxation."
Click here to read full editorial.
Newschannel 5 in Nashville runs food tax story [1.6.09]
Newschannel 5 in Nashville ran a follow-up story to yesterday's Tennessean piece. The Newschannel 5 story features an interview
with TFT Board member and local chapter chair, Jean Harrington, who points out the need to find replacement revenue for any food
tax cut.
Click here for streaming video.
Food tax story in Tennessean features TFT [1.5.09]
The Tennessean ran a story today, quoting Rep. Hardaway and TFT Board member Ron Naylor, about the unfair impact the food tax has
on low- and moderate-income families. The story also notes TFT's support for closing corporate tax
loopholes as a way to pay for the food tax reduction.
Click here for story.
Radio story challenges proposed income tax ban [12.19.08]
TFT Board member Brian Paddock appeared on a radio story that aired on radio stations across Tennessee. Brian pointed out that the proposed income tax ban would
chain Tennessee to the old way of doing things... while making the case for tax modernization. Click here to listen to the audio.
New YouTube video points out flaws of food tax [12.18.08]
While most Tennesseans are already aware that the food tax disproportionatly hits middle- and lower-income families, this new video goes further by pointing
out how the high food tax drives shoppers across state lines, costing Tennessee much-needed revenue as the state faces a $1 billion shortfall. Click here to see the new video.
Guest column from TFT Board member appears in Tennessean [12.15.08]
Corporate tax loopholes topic of Tennessean story [11.25.08]
On November 25, the Tennessean ran a story related to closing corporate tax loopholes. While the story related to the FONCE loophole, it's
helping to open the door to discussing other loopholes such as Delaware Holding Companies and Captive REITs.
Click here for more.
All new & increased contributions get doubled! [Notice]
Thanks to a new challenge grant from the Mary Reynolds Babcock Foundation, all new and increased contributions are now matched, dollar-for-dollar. Click here to make your donation today.
Knoxville House Party a Success [11.20.08]
On Nov. 20, supporters from across East Knoxville gathered at the home of Mary Thom Adams and George Reynolds for a reception and fundraiser. The event was a great success. Special thanks to all who came!
TFT Welcomes Two New Staff [11.15.08]
In October and November, two new regional organizers have joined the TFT staff, Ebony Williamson in West Tennessee and Samantha Wallace in
East Tennessee. Click here for staff bios.
Budget shortfall may hit $800M [11.11.08]
The budget shortfall facing state legislators when they return in early 2009 may be as high as $800 million. While the Governor is proposing more cuts, TFT will work to point out the underlying revenue problem. Click here for full Tennessean story.
August 2008 Newsletter Available [8.15.08]
Click here to download the latest copy of TFT's semi-annual newsletter, "Tax Fairness News," with a celebration of our successes in 2008, an analysis of the current budget shortfalls and the need for real tax reform, and much more.
TFT launches Food & Biz Tax Fairness Act [3.5.08]
After extensive feedback from coalition members,
hundreds of individual supporters, local chapters
across the state, and the Board, TFT has decided to
focus our 2008 legislative efforts on our new Food
and Business Tax Fairness Campaign. Click
here to learn more.
Food tax victory! [1.1.08]
On January 1, 2008, the food tax reduction TFT helped to pass in 2007 took effect. This win, plus the earlier victory in preventing the 2002 sales tax increase from being applied to food, saves every Tennessee family enough to buy five-and-a-half-days worth of groceries each year. Click here for more.
Dec. 22, 2008 - For immediate release...
Primary Contacts:
John Stewart, Board Chair, 865-584-3834 (h) or 865-806-8115 (cell)
Ron Naylor, Board Member, 423-451-0074 (h) or 423-280-1801 (cell)
Other members available for interviews statewide. Contact Brian Miller at 865-712-8006 to arrange interviews.
New Video Focuses on Food for the Holidays
With a one billion dollar shortfall in the state budget and an economy in crisis, the impact of Tennessee's high food tax is getting increased attention. With the third highest food tax in the nation, the State of Tennessee takes a full 28 days worth of groceries from each family every year according to a new video released on YouTube by Tennesseans for Fair Taxation (TFT). "That's enough food to last from Thanksgiving to Christmas, or alternately, for the entire month of February," states Ron Naylor of TFT.
"Let's face it, Tennesseans, like many in the nation, are facing hard times right now," adds Naylor, "Having to give up a full month's worth of groceries on top of high gas prices, home foreclosures, and job losses is a terrible additional burden." Thirty-six states do not tax food at the state level, including South Carolina, which eliminated its food tax last year.
The newly-released video also points out the impact that Tennessee's high sales tax has on state revenues and local jobs by driving shoppers over state lines into places like Kentucky, which has a lower general sales tax and zero tax on grocery food.
"While adequate funding for education, environmental protection, health care, and other public structures is vital, there are far better ways to fund those services than taking a month's worth of groceries from families working to make ends meet," states TFT's State Chair, John G. Stewart.
TFT is supporting a package of initiatives that can help pay for further reductions in the state food tax, while also raising funds to meet the current budget shortfall. One element of the package is a plan to close a series of corporate tax loopholes by enacting "combined reporting" as 22 states already use. The plan also includes a reduction in the state food tax from 5.5% to 4.5% (local governments can add another 2.75% to the state rate). The remaining revenue, estimated to be as much as $100 million, would be used to alleviate some of the proposed budget cuts.
TFT is also continuing to push for a comprehensive tax modernization plan that will fully repeal the state and local food tax, reduce the sales tax on non-food items, and enact a broad-based state income tax with generous exemptions that will replace the current state income tax, which is limited to certain types of investment income. The new plan being developed by TFT also raises one billion dollars in new revenue while lowering taxes for 60 to 80% of Tennesseans, primarily low- and middle-income taxpayers.
"Tennessee's existing tax structure was designed in another century and cannot support 21st Century challenges," states Stewart. “Our current tax system is an antiquated disaster. It's driving shoppers and tax dollars into neighboring states, building their economies, not ours. It's taking an unfair share from working families trying to get ahead. It can't even keep up with economic growth in Tennessee, resulting in shortfalls in both good and bad years."
"The billion dollar shortfall this year should motivate legislators to enact a tax modernization plan that will lessen proposed budget cuts and also reduce the high food tax," concludes Stewart. "We can do both, but it will take courage and a willingness to embrace real change."
The new YouTube video can be viewed at www.fairtaxation.org or at www.youtube.com/taxfairness
# # #
Tennesseans for Fair Taxation | Copyright 2008 | All rights reserved
Knoxville:
865.687.9600 | Nashville:
615.289.1397 | Memphis: 901.647.8884
Statewide Tollfree Number (access to all offices): 888.671.5188
