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.

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.

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the Tennessean analysis, the report makes evident that the recurring budget shortfalls are an inevitable outcome of an outdated tax system.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.

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 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.

On Wednesday, Jan. 21, the Tennessean ran a series of editorials about the proposal to reduce the state food tax. In additon to running it's own editorial, they ran a guest esitorial from TFT Board Chair John Stewart. Click here for Tennessean editorial and click here for John Stewart's guest column.

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.

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 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.

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.

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.

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.

The Tennessean ran a guest column today (Dec. 15, 2008) on the on-line edition from TFT Board member Phil Schoggen. This column, entitled "Public investments stimulate the economy," challenges that worn-out anti-tax mantra with a little common sense.

On Dec. 1, the Tennessean ran a story about the state's inability to collect the "use" tax in lieu of sales taxes from purchases made across state lines or over the internet. With the nation's highest avg. sales tax according to the Sales Tax Clearinghouse, shoppers regularly leave the state to buy elsewhere.

TFT member Dottie Seek was interviewed for a radio news story, related to the food tax and Thanksgiving, that aired statewide on November 25, 2008. Click here to listen to the radio report from the Tenn. News Service

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.

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.

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!

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.