The Great Debate
Democratic tax-and-spender Phil Bredesen tried to make people believe Republican Van Hilleary secretly favors the income tax - by lying. The news accounts Bredesen cited actually show that Hilleary opposes the income tax.

Bredesen cited interviews Hilleary gave to two east Tennessee newspapers, The Oak Ridger and The Morgan County Times, and said they show Hilleary once favored the income tax. Hilleary was running for the state senate in 1992.

But here is what Hilleary said back in 1992:

Oak Ridger: "I don't support the concept that the state needs an income tax. I would support a study on a flat tax rather than a regressive one. A lowered sales tax would have to be part of it. If there is a real need for more revenue, the people could amend the Constitution, but there is not a real need now for additional revenue."

Morgan County Times: The "people, not the legislature, should decide whether we have a state income tax."

The fact is, Hilleary is opposed to the income tax and believes that no income tax should be created unless the people approve it via voting on a constitutional amendment. Hilleary's comments regarding a study of a flat tax indicate his belief that if the people - not the legislature - chose to create an income tax, it should be a flat tax. He's right on both counts. If the people of Tennessee ever make the mistake of amending their constitution to create an income tax, it should be a flat tax.

A decade after those newspaper interviews, Hilleary has compiled a record of opposing all tax increases. His opponent, Bredesen, has compiled a record of raising taxes. And Hilleary supports adding taxpayer protections to the state constitution that would restrain the growth of spending and give the people a voice in the spending of surpluses and in the creation or raising of taxes.

Bredesen, who has consistently supported higher taxes his entire political career, opposes such sensible limits on the power of government to raid taxpayers' wallets.