Mike Williams Casts Deciding Vote: Raises Taxes $220 Million

Former GOP Senator Mike Williams, who now claims to be an Independent, sided with the other 16 Democrats in the State Senate and cast the deciding vote to raise your taxes by $225 Million in a year when the State Government has a huge surplus. All the Republicans in the State Senate voted "no" on the increase in taxes.

The Tennessee Senate GOP Caucas issued this press release this afternoon:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Chase Johnson

May 31, 2007

Phone: (615) 741-6336

Williams Votes to Raise Taxes by Over $220 Million :
Tax Increase Passed Despite Unprecedented Growth Revenue

NASHVILLE,Tenn. This afternoon the Senate’s lone independent, Sen. Micheal Williams (I – Maynardville), member joined all sixteen Senate Democrats to increase taxes by over $220 million. All sixteen members of the Republican Caucus voted against the tax increase.

The tax increase was approved despite the state having one of the largest budget surpluses in history. The state funding board has projected that the state will have at least $700 million in new recurring dollars, and roughly $500 million in new nonrecurring funds.

One of the main reasons for the growth revenue is over collection of current taxes.

“The sponsor of the bill stated on the Senate Floor that the proposed
improvements to education can be funded without a tax increase,” said Senate Republican Caucus Chairman Diane Black (RGallatin).

“Tennessee has more money this year than originally anticipated by the funding board. It does not make sense to raise taxes in a year where growth revenue is extraordinary.”

Specifically, Senate Bill 2326 will increase the tax on a pack of cigarettes by 42 cents. “It is hard to understand why they voted for 42 cents when Governor Bredesen himself funded his supplemental budget with a 25 cent increase,” said Senate Republican Leader Mark Norris (R-Collierville). “We could do much better with much less.”

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