TABOR Update
Stay tuned for details on WSMV Channel 4's story on the Taxpayers Bill of Rights, set to air at 6 p.m. today. Republican gubernatorial candidate Van Hilleary supports bringing the TABOR concept to Tennessee from Colorado, where it has resulted in restraining the growth of state spending, preventing serious budget shortfalls and causing more than $3 billion in tax rebates for Coloradans in the past decade. Hilleary's opponent, Democrat Phil Bredesen, raised taxes three times in eight years as mayor of Nashville. He opposes TABOR, naturally.

UPDATE: The 6 p.m. version of the story had Bredesen's spokesperson Lydia Lenker saying Bredesen opposes TABOR because it would lock Tennessee into being forever 49th in spending for education. Perhaps Bredesen and Ms. Lenker are unware that, in Colorado, legislators asked voters for permission to dedicate a portion of all future TABOR surpluses to public education - instead of returning the funds to taxpayers via tax cuts or rebates. And the voters of Colorado APPROVED it. That shows the strength of the Taxpayers Bill of Rights - it allows government enough additional revenue each year to maintain current services (growth is capped at population growth plus inflation), but involves the voters in the decision over what happens to surplus revenue, and whether or not taxes will be raised or new taxes imposed. This forces legislators to set priorities within the growth cap, and do a much better job convincing taxpayers of the need for additional spending or new taxes. Perhaps Mr. Bredesen doesn't want people that involved. Perhaps he just wants to tax and spend ... as he did as mayor of Nashville.

The 10 p.m. version of the story said Bredesen opposes TABOR because it involves having an income tax. That's deceptive, and Bredesen knows it. TABOR simply caps the amount of revenue the state can keep and spend without getting voters permission - and TABOR doesn't care what kind of tax produced the revenue. TABOR will work equally well with or without an income tax.